- The SAT is now fully digital and about 2 hours 14 minutes long, while the enhanced ACT (from 2025) is shorter with an optional Science section
- The GRE runs about 1 hour 58 minutes and the GMAT Focus Edition uses three sections including Data Insights
- From January 2026 the TOEFL iBT moved to a shorter format of about 90 minutes with a new 1 to 6 band score alongside the 0 to 120 scale
- In the UK the BMAT has been discontinued and the UCAT is now used for medicine.
Every year thousands of Indian students head abroad for higher education, and most destinations ask for one or more standardised exams. These tests measure academic readiness and English proficiency, and strong scores improve your chances of admission and of winning scholarships or financial aid. The exact exams you need depend on your course, level of study and destination country.
Which Are the Main Competitive Exams to Study Abroad?
The main competitive exams to study abroad fall into two groups: admission tests and English-proficiency tests. Admission tests include the SAT and ACT for undergraduate study, the GRE for graduate courses, the GMAT for management, and the MCAT and LSAT for medicine and law. English tests include the IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE Academic.
The exams broadly split by the level and field you are applying for. Here are the main categories students encounter:
- SAT and ACT - undergraduate admission tests used mainly by universities in the United States
- GRE - a graduate admission test accepted for masters and PhD programmes across many countries
- GMAT Focus Edition - the management admission test used for MBA and business masters programmes
- TOEFL, IELTS and PTE Academic - English-language proficiency tests required by universities and for student visas
- MCAT, LSAT, DAT and OAT - specialised tests for medicine, law, dentistry and optometry
What Are the SAT and ACT Undergraduate Exams?
The SAT and ACT are undergraduate admission tests used mainly by universities in the United States. The SAT is now fully digital, lasts about 2 hours 14 minutes and is scored out of 1600. The enhanced ACT, updated in 2025, is shorter, makes its Science section optional and is scored out of 36.
The SAT is delivered through the College Board's Bluebook application and has two sections - Reading and Writing, and Math - with 98 questions in total. SAT Subject Tests and the optional essay were discontinued in 2021, so today only the main digital test is offered. The enhanced ACT keeps English, Reading and Math as core sections, with Science and Writing available as optional add-ons.
| Undergraduate Exam 2026 | Format | Length | Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT (Digital) | Reading & Writing, Math | About 2 hr 14 min | 400-1600 |
| Enhanced ACT | English, Reading, Math (Science optional) | 125-165 min | 1-36 |
How Do the GRE and GMAT Work for Graduate Study?
The GRE and GMAT are the main graduate admission tests. The shorter GRE General Test, revised in 2023, takes about 1 hour 58 minutes across Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections. The GMAT Focus Edition is used for MBA and business programmes and has three sections: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights.
The redesigned GRE has one Analytical Writing task, two Verbal Reasoning sections and two Quantitative Reasoning sections, with no scheduled break. The GMAT Focus Edition replaced the older GMAT and drops the separate essay; its Data Insights section measures data-literacy skills and now includes Data Sufficiency. Both tests can be taken at a test centre or online at home.
| Graduate Exam 2026 | Sections | Length |
|---|---|---|
| GRE General Test | Analytical Writing, 2 Verbal, 2 Quant | About 1 hr 58 min |
| GMAT Focus Edition | Quantitative, Verbal, Data Insights | About 2 hr 15 min |
Which English Language Tests Are Accepted Abroad?
Most universities and student visas require proof of English proficiency through the IELTS, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic. From January 2026 the TOEFL iBT uses a shorter format of about 90 minutes and adds a 1 to 6 band score alongside the 0 to 120 scale. Australia accepts nine tests taken at secure centres.
The IELTS Academic and General Training tests remain widely accepted across the UK, Australia, Canada and Europe, and are increasingly delivered on computer. PTE Academic is a fully computer-based test popular for Australian and UK admissions. For a Student visa (subclass 500), Australia raised its minimum from IELTS 5.5 to 6.0 and does not accept at-home versions of these tests.
| English Test 2026 | Delivery | Typical Score Scale |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Computer or paper | 0-9 band |
| TOEFL iBT | Computer (about 90 min) | 0-120 and new 1-6 band |
| PTE Academic | Computer | 10-90 |
What Exams Are Needed for Medicine and Law Abroad?
Specialised courses need their own admission tests. Medicine in the United States uses the MCAT, while dentistry uses the DAT and optometry the OAT. Law schools in the US use the LSAT. In the UK the BMAT has been discontinued and universities now use the UCAT for medicine; Australia and New Zealand use the UCAT ANZ.
- MCAT - Medical College Admission Test, required for medical schools in the US and Canada
- DAT and OAT - Dental and Optometry Admission Tests for those specialisations
- LSAT - Law School Admission Test for US and Canadian law programmes
- UCAT - University Clinical Aptitude Test, now used for medicine in the UK (replacing the discontinued BMAT) and, as UCAT ANZ, in Australia and New Zealand
Which Exams Do You Need After Class 10, 12 or Graduation?
The exams you take depend on your stage of study. After Class 10 or 12 you usually need an English test such as IELTS or TOEFL, plus the SAT or ACT for undergraduate courses in the US. After graduation you take the GRE for masters and PhD programmes, or the GMAT for an MBA, again with an English test.
Here is a simple stage-wise guide to the exams commonly taken by Indian students:
- After Class 10: IELTS or TOEFL for English proficiency, mainly if a guardian is based in the destination country
- After Class 12: SAT or ACT for undergraduate admission, plus IELTS, TOEFL or PTE for English proficiency; AP exams can add subject credit
- After graduation: GRE for masters and PhD, GMAT for MBA and business programmes, and LSAT, MCAT or DAT for law, medicine and dentistry
How Do Entrance Exams Differ by Country?
Beyond global tests, many countries have their own school-leaving or entrance exams. The US relies on the SAT and ACT, the UK on A-Levels and subject tests like the UCAT and LNAT, and Germany on the Abitur with a GRE for some TU9 universities. Most non-native English speakers also need IELTS, TOEFL or PTE.
| Country 2026 | Common Admission Exams |
|---|---|
| United States | SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT |
| United Kingdom | A-Levels, UCAT, LNAT, TMUA |
| Australia / New Zealand | ATAR, UCAT ANZ, GAMSAT |
| Germany | Abitur, GRE (some TU9 universities), TestDaF for German |
| Canada | SAT or ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT |
Always confirm the exact exam and minimum score on the official university and government websites before you register, as formats, fees and score requirements are updated regularly.