- The GMAT is now three 45 minute sections, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and Data Insights, totalling 64 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes, and Analytical Writing has been removed
- The GRE General Test runs about 1 hour 58 minutes
- The digital SAT is section adaptive with 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes
- TOEFL iBT moved to a 1 to 6 score scale in January 2026, with a comparable 0 to 120 score reported during a two year transition.
Which Tests Do Scholarship Providers Actually Ask For?
Most study abroad scholarships read the same score reports universities do. Business and management awards look at the GMAT, general postgraduate awards at the GRE, undergraduate awards in the United States at the SAT, and almost every English taught course asks for IELTS or TOEFL evidence.
There is no single dedicated scholarship exam. Funders reuse the admission tests, because a score they already trust is the cheapest way to compare applicants from different school systems. That means the test you sit for admission is usually the same one your scholarship file is judged on.
- GMAT: MBA and specialist management scholarships
- GRE: master's and PhD funding across science, engineering and social science
- Digital SAT: undergraduate merit awards, mainly in the United States
- IELTS or TOEFL: proof of English for almost every destination
- No test at all: several government schemes select on academic record and income instead
| Test 2026 | Sections | Questions | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT | Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Data Insights | 64 | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| GRE General Test | Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning | 1 essay task plus 54 questions | About 1 hour 58 minutes |
| Digital SAT | Reading and Writing, Math | 98 | 2 hours 14 minutes |
What Is the GMAT and How Is It Scored in 2026?
The GMAT is built from three equally timed sections: Quantitative Reasoning with 21 questions, Verbal Reasoning with 23, and Data Insights with 20. Each runs 45 minutes, giving 64 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes plus one optional 10 minute break. Analytical Writing is no longer part of the exam.
If your scrape of an older guide told you the GMAT has four sections and an essay, that describes the retired format. GMAC now runs three sections that can be attempted in any order, and the Question Review and Edit tool lets you go back and change answers inside a section.
Business school scholarship committees usually read the GMAT alongside work experience and essays, so a strong score widens the shortlist rather than winning the award outright.
GMAT Pattern and SyllabusRead →How Is the GRE Structured in 2026?
The GRE General Test takes about 1 hour 58 minutes. Analytical Writing comes first as a single 30 minute Analyze an Issue task. Verbal Reasoning follows in two sections of 12 and 15 questions, then Quantitative Reasoning in two sections of 12 and 15 questions.
Both reasoning measures are section adaptive: how you perform on the first section of a measure sets the difficulty of the second. You can skip questions inside a section, return to them and change answers, and an on screen calculator is available for the quantitative questions.
How to Crack the GRERead →What Does the Digital SAT Test?
The digital SAT has two sections. Reading and Writing gives you 54 questions in two 32 minute modules, and Math gives 44 questions in two 35 minute modules. That is 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes, plus a 10 minute break, with adaptive second modules.
Each section is split into two equal modules. The first module carries a balanced mix of difficulty, and your performance decides whether the second module is harder or easier. Most questions are multiple choice, though some Math items ask you to enter your own answer.
SAT Exam Guide and Exam PatternRead →Which English Test Should You Take, IELTS or TOEFL?
Both are accepted almost everywhere, so pick the format that suits you. TOEFL iBT now reports four section scores and an overall score on a 1 to 6 scale, with a comparable 0 to 120 score during a two year transition after January 2026. IELTS keeps its nine band scale.
TOEFL iBT takes roughly two hours: Reading 50 items in about 30 minutes, Listening 47 items in about 29 minutes, Writing 12 items in about 23 minutes and Speaking 11 items in about 8 minutes. The overall score is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half point.
Requirements are set by the university, not the scholarship. The University of Sheffield, for example, asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and notes that individual departments may set a higher score.
| English Test 2026 | Score Scale | Approximate Test Time |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Nine band scale, half bands | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| TOEFL iBT | 1 to 6, half point increments | About 2 hours |
How Can You Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad After Class 12?
After Class 12 the entry route is undergraduate scholarships that read school results plus a test score. The digital SAT is the usual admission test for the United States, while IELTS or TOEFL proves English. Strong academics, evidence of leadership and early applications matter as much as the score itself.
- Shortlist countries and universities 15 to 18 months before the intake
- Sit IELTS or TOEFL early, since scores stay valid for two years
- Take the digital SAT if you are applying to the United States, allowing time for one retake
- Track every scholarship deadline separately, because many close before the course deadline
- Prepare references, transcripts and a financial need statement in advance
Which Scholarships Are Available in the UK?
The United Kingdom funds international students through Chevening and the Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, both financed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Felix Scholarship supports Indian graduates at Oxford, Reading and SOAS. Most UK universities also expect IELTS around 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component.
- Chevening Scholarships: fully funded one year master's; you need 2,800 hours of work experience and must commit to returning home for at least two years after the award
- Commonwealth Master's Scholarships: FCDO funded, covering airfare, full tuition and a stipend of 1,712 pounds a month, or 2,000 pounds in London; the 2027 to 2028 round opens on 8 September 2026 and closes at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026, by nomination only
- Felix Scholarship: for Indian nationals living in India with at least a first class bachelor's degree, covering tuition fees, living costs and a return air fare
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters: an EU programme rather than a UK one, covering participation costs plus travel, visa and living allowances
Which Scholarships Are Available in the USA?
United States funding is mostly university based rather than national. Cornell runs the Tata Scholarship for Indian undergraduates from a 25 million dollar endowment, supporting about 20 scholars at a time. The Fulbright Nehru Master's Fellowship, administered by USIEF, funds mid career Indian professionals for postgraduate study.
- Tata Scholarship at Cornell: need based aid for students who attended secondary school in India, up to eight semesters, or ten for the five year architecture programme; there is no separate form, you submit the admission application and the CSS Profile
- Fulbright Nehru Master's Fellowship: bachelor's degree with at least 55 percent plus three years of full time paid work experience, across eight fields including public health, economics and sustainable development
- Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship: a non degree programme for experienced professionals
- University merit awards: assessed from the digital SAT, school record and essays
Which Scholarships Are Available in Canada, Australia and New Zealand?
Canada's best known award is the University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, which covers tuition, books, incidental fees and residence for four years. Australia and New Zealand run comparable university entrance and research awards, and all three destinations accept IELTS, TOEFL or PTE as English evidence.
- Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship: about 37 scholars a year, school nomination required, followed by the admission application and a separate scholarship application
- University entrance awards in Australia such as merit and equity scholarships tied to a specific institution
- Research training and doctoral scholarships in both Australia and New Zealand, usually assessed on academic record and a research proposal rather than a standardised test
Does the Indian Government Fund Study Abroad?
Yes. The National Overseas Scholarship from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment funds master's and PhD study abroad for Scheduled Caste, denotified tribe, landless agricultural labourer and traditional artisan students. It offers 125 slots a year, of which 115 go to Scheduled Caste candidates and 30 percent are reserved for women.
Awards are not paid to the student directly. Funds are released to Indian diplomatic missions abroad, which settle tuition fees and maintenance allowances with the university or the scholar. Applications are made through the scheme portal after reading the published guidelines.
Note that Lancaster University scholarships, Singapore airline youth awards and the Newton Bhabha programme are sometimes listed as Indian government schemes in older articles. They are not; they are funded by universities, companies or bilateral partners.
Government Scholarships for Indian StudentsRead →How Should You Plan Your Test and Scholarship Timeline?
Work backwards from the intake. Sit your English test 12 to 15 months ahead, since IELTS and TOEFL scores stay valid two years. Take the GMAT, GRE or SAT next, leaving room for one retake. Then match each scholarship deadline, because several close before the university application does.
- 18 months out: shortlist courses and note the funding attached to each
- 15 months out: book IELTS or TOEFL
- 12 months out: sit the GMAT, GRE or digital SAT
- 10 months out: request references and prepare essays
- 9 months out: submit admission applications and scholarship forms, watching nomination deadlines for awards such as Commonwealth and Pearson