Entrance Exam
	IELTS IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English. Close to 5,000 educational institutions, government agencies and professional organisations around the world recognise IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator of ability to communicate in English. More than 700,000 people a year are now using IELTS to open doors throughout the English-speaking world and beyond. The test is taken every year across 120 countries, and is one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world, and sets the standard in integrity, research and innovation. IELTS Test IELTS is an English Language Proficiency test that is required to be taken by non-native students for study in countries where the medium of instruction is English. Among the popular study destinations IELTS is accepted by universities in UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. IELTS is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council, and IDP: IELTS Australia. It has become a mandatory test for students of many nationalities to get student visas to Australia. You cannot be granted an Australian student visa without an IELTS score if you are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and many other countries, TOEFL is not accepted. The test is conducted by the British Council. Also some institutes runs short courses are to prepare you for IELTS. The test results are normally made available within two weeks of taking the test. You can also ask for more copies of your test results.   The test has different sections: 1. The Listening Section - Duration: 30 minutes 2. Academic reading/general training reading section - Duration: 60 minutes 3. Academic writing/general training writing section - Duration: 60 minutes 4. Speaking Section : Duration : 11 - 14 minutes Total test time : 2 hours and 45 minutes The minimum score accepted for a course ranges from 5.0 to 7.5, depending upon courses and institutes you are applying to. The most common requirement is a band score of 6 to 6.5. Test Reports have a validity of two years. You can retake the test if you do not achieve the desired score but not before three months of the first test date.   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   TOEFL TOEFL is a mandatory test to be taken for admission to any course in the USA and Canada. Some universities in the UK and New Zealand also accept the TOEFL score. The TOEFL test measures English language proficiency in reading, listening, and writing and is a computer based test in most parts of the world. A paper based test is provided in regions where computer access is limited. TOEFL measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and universities.    The computer-based TOEFL test has four sections:   Listening section measures the ability of the test taker to understand spoken English Structure section measures the ability of the test taker to recognize standard written English Reading section measures the ability of the test taker to understand short passages that are similar to the formats used in the academic texts Writing section measures the ability of the test taker to write in English on the given topic     Section  Questions  Timing Listening Section 30 - 50 questions 40 - 60 min Structure Section 20 - 25 questions 15 - 20 min Reading Section 44 - 60 questions 70 - 90 min Writing Section 1 Essay 30 min   Preparation A good score in TOEFL plays a key role in admission as well as in obtaining financial aid in the form of teaching assistantships. The higher the score, the brighter are one's chances with most U.S and Canadian universities. Maximizing the score thus becomes the key.   General Information   Website www.toefl.org http://www.ets.org/toefl/index.html  (Online Registration for test) Type of test Computer Based Test, for a max score of 300 Number of sections 4 (Listening, Reading, Structure & Writing) Duration 3 hours 30 minutes Fee US $ 140 test (CBT), US $ 150 test (iBT)   Score Reporting   To Institutions 2-5 weeks No. of Tests Throughout the year Number of Free Score Reports 4 to the universities and one to the applicant Additional Score Report Fee US $ 15 per report Validity of Test Scores 2 Years Decent Score Range 230-250   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   GMAT   The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a pre-requisite for admission into majority of business schools in the U.S. and Europe. Simply put GMAT measures the abilities and skills developed during one's schooling, including persuasive writing and logical reasoning. The test provides a fair idea of a candidate’s analytical and verbal skills, both of which are necessary to perform well in a management program. GMAT is a standardized assessment—delivered in English—that helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Schools use the test as one predictor of academic performance in an MBA program or in other graduate management programs. To score high on the GMAT, all you need is a good understanding of basic Mathematics and English Grammar. The GMAT does NOT measure one's business competence or specific academic knowledge. Importance of the GMAT: Determines a candidate’s quantitative, analytical and verbal abilities, all of which are important to succeed in a business school. The scores applicants get in the GMAT help the authorities to rank them accordingly. The score ("Percent Below") helps in determining the position of an applicant among other applicants who appear for the same test. The GMAT Verbal score is the single most important predictor of class performance. An applicant who scores high in the verbal section is supposed to be a good performer in the class. Various programs tend to be rated according to the average GMAT score. So, the schools prefer high GMAT candidates to improve the overall GMAT average for the school. A good GMAT score can to some extent help to overcome any shortcoming in one's undergraduate score and/or work experience. Although a high GMAT score alone does not guarantee admission, and the other factors such as work experience, interviews etc. play an important role, yet a high GMAT score is always advantageous and gets your foot into the door. What the GMAT Measures The GMAT exam measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that you have developed over a long period of time in your education and work. It does NOT measure: your knowledge of business, your job skills, specific content in your undergraduate or first university course work, your abilities in any other specific subject area, or subjective qualities—such as motivation, creativity, and interpersonal skills. Format The GMAT exam consists of three main parts, the Analytical Writing Assessment, the Quantitative section, and the Verbal section. Analytical Writing Assessment The GMAT exam begins with the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). The AWA consists of two separate writing tasks—Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an Argument. You are allowed 30 minutes to complete each one. Quantitative Section Following an optional ten-minute break, you begin the Quantitative Section of the GMAT exam. This section contains 37 multiple-choice questions of two question types—Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving. You will be allowed a maximum of 75 minutes to complete the entire section. Verbal Section After a second optional ten-minute break, you begin the Verbal Section of the GMAT exam. This section contains 41 multiple choice questions of three question types—Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. You are allowed a maximum of 75 minutes to complete the entire section.   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   GRE Graduate record Examinations or the GRE is a mandatory test to be taken by students desirous of getting admission to any masters level program in the USA (other than a business related program-MBA/Management). The GRE is also accepted/required by some universities in Canada. The GRE tests the student's verbal, mathematical and analytical skills. These can be either computer based tests or paper based tests. The GRE is broadly classified into two categories: General Tests Subject Tests General Tests The General Test measures analytical writing, verbal, and quantitative skills of the student. The analytical writing section tests the student's your critical thinking ability and analytical writing skills. The verbal section measures the student's ability to analyze the written material provided and evaluate it and synthesize information obtained from it. The quantitative section measures the student's basic mathematical skills.   Section Questions Time Analytical Writing: Analysis of an issue (choose 1 topic from 2)Analyze an Argument (no choice, only 1 topic will be presented) 1 Topic 1 Topic 45 min 30 min Verbal Section 30 30 min. Quantitative 28 45 min. Experimental Section Varies Varies   Subject Tests The GRE Subject Tests are designed to help and guide the University and College admission committees and the Scholarship committees to gauge the student's Subject knowledge. The tests also provide students with an assessment of their own qualifications.   Good Universities require a good score in relevant GRE Subject Test to consider applicants for admission too.   Subject Tests are currently available in 8 disciplines: Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology Test Preparation A good score in GRE plays a key role in admission as well as in obtaining financial aid in the form of tuition waivers (partial/full). The higher the score, the brighter are one's chances with most U.S and Canadian universities. Maximizing the score thus becomes the key.   General Information   Website www.ets.org/gre Type of test Computer Based Test, for a maximum score of 1600 Number of sections 3 (Quantitative ,Analytical and verbal) Duration 3 hours 30 minutes Test Fee US $ 140 (General Test) , $ 150 (Subject Test) D.D favouring GRE-ETS, payable at Princeton (NJ), U.S.A   Score Reporting   To institutions 2-3 weeks No. of tests Throughout the year Number of free score reports 4 to the universities and one to the applicant Additional Score Report Fee US $ 15 per report Validity of Test Scores 5 Years Decent Score Range 1100-1300   GRE, USA - Important Telephone No. for General Enquiry: Phone: 001-609-771-7670 Mon-Fri (8am-7.45 pm) EST. Except for US Holidays. Phones are busiest between 11 am and 2 pm EST and all on Mondays. Mail : GRE-ETS PO Box No 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 Fax : GRE-1-609-771-7906 Scores and/or Additional Score Reports by Phone: 001-609-771-7290 (6am-10 pm) EST, 7 days a week.   How to Register for GRE Getting The Forms/Bulletins The first step in planning to register for any of the above tests, is to obtain a Test Bulletin. The Test Bulletin, which is supplied FREE, can be obtained from the following sources: Prometric Testing Office in Gurgaon and other cities: - only in person You could visit the Prometric testing office in your city and take a form from their office. Alternatively, you may download the application form and bulletin from the websites, http://www.gre.org/ By phone (for CBT): one may register by calling: 0124-5147700 (New Delhi, India) or FAX: 91-124-5147773   NOTE:   î The lines are usually engaged because of the large number of calls that they get from all over the country. The only solution is to keep trying till you get through. There is just one number. î You do not need a passport to register for these tests. However, you will need a passport on the test day or you will not be allowed to take the test. î PLEASE NOTE THAT TWO FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION IS MANDATORY ON THE TEST DAY, ONE OF WHICH MUST BE YOUR VALID PASSPORT. î To ensure that you get a test date of your choice, register at least one to one and one half months before the required date and three months before for dates in January and March!   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   SAT The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is administered by the College Board not-for-profit corporation in the United States and is developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The current "SAT Reasoning Test" is administered in about 3 hours and 45 minutes. Function College Board says that the SAT measures critical thinking skills that are needed for academic success in college. It is claimed that the SAT assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. There are substantial differences in funding, curricula, grading, and difficulty among U.S. Structure SAT consists of three major sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading, and Writing. Each section receives a score on the scale of 200–800. All scores are multiples of 10. Total scores are calculated by adding up scores of the three sections. Each major section is divided into three parts. There are 10 sub-sections, including an experimental section that may be in any of the three major sections. The experimental section is used to normalize questions for future administrations of the SAT and does not count toward the final score. The test contains 3 hours and 45 minutes of actual timed sections, although most administrations, including orientation, distribution of materials, and completion of the biographical sections, run about 5 hours (15–25 minutes per each section) long. Critical Reading The Critical Reading, formally verbal, section of the SAT is made up of three scored sections, two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section, with varying types of questions, including sentence completions and questions about short and long reading passages. Critical Reading sections normally begin with 5 to 8 sentence completion questions; the remainder of the questions are focused on the reading passages. Sentence completions generally test the student's vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure and organization by requiring the student to select one or two words that best complete a given sentence. The bulk of the Critical Reading questions is made up of questions regarding reading passages, in which students read short excerpts on social sciences, humanities, physical sciences, or personal narratives and answer questions based on the passage. Certain sections contain passages asking the student to compare two related passages; generally, these consist of short reading passages as well as longer passages. Mathematics The Mathematics section of the SAT consists of three scored sections. There are two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section, as follows: One of the 25-minute sections is entirely multiple choice, with 20 questions. The other 25-minute section contains eight multiple choice questions and 10 grid-in questions. The shorter section is all multiple choice, with only 16 questions. Notably, the SAT has done away with quantitative comparison questions on the math section, leaving only questions with straightforward symbolic or numerical answers. Since the quantitative comparison questions were well-known for their deceptive nature — often turning on the student's recognition of a single exception to a rule or pattern — this choice has been equated to a philosophical shift away from "trickery" and toward "straight math" on the SAT. Also, many test experts have attributed this change, like the addition of the new writing section, to an attempt to make the SAT. Writing The writing section of the SAT, based on but not comparable to the old SAT II in writing, includes multiple choice questions and a brief essay. The multiple choice questions include error identification questions, sentence improvement questions, and paragraph improvement questions. Error identification and sentence improvement questions test the student's knowledge of grammar, presenting an awkward or grammatically incorrect sentence; in the error identification section, the student must locate the word producing the source of the error or indicate that the sentence has no error, while the sentence improvement section requires the student to select an acceptable fix to the awkward sentence. The paragraph improvement questions test the student's understanding of logical organization of ideas, presenting a poorly written student essay and asking a series of questions as to what changes might be made to best improve it. The essay section, which is always administered as the first section of the test, is 25 minutes long. All essays must be in response to a given prompt. The prompts are broad and often philosophical and are designed to be accessible to students regardless of their educational and social backgrounds. For instance, test takers may be asked to expound on such ideas as their opinion on the value of work in human life or whether democracy represents an ideal system of government. No particular essay structure is required, and the College Board accepts examples "taken from [the student's] reading, studies, experience, or observations." Two trained readers assign each essay a score between 1 and 6, where a score of 0 is reserved for essays that are blank, off-topic, non-English, not written with no. 2 pencil, or considered illegible after several attempts at reading. The scores are summed to produce a final score from 2 to 12 (or 0). If the two readers' scores differ by more than one point, then a senior third reader decides. The essay score accounts for roughly 30% of the writing score; the multiple choice component accounts for roughly 70%. Questions Most of the questions on the SAT are multiple choice; all multiple-choice questions have five answer choices, one of which is correct. The questions of each section of the same type are generally ordered by difficulty. However, an important exception exists: Questions that follow the long and short reading passages are organized chronologically, rather than by difficulty. Ten of the questions in one of the math sub-sections are not multiple choice. They instead require the test taker to bubble in a number in a four-column grid. The questions are weighted equally. For each correct answer, one raw point is added. For each incorrect answer one-fourth of a point is deducted. No points are deducted for incorrect math grid-in questions. This ensures that a student's mathematically expected gain from guessing is zero. The final score is derived from the raw score; the precise conversion chart varies between test administrations. The SAT therefore recommends only making "educated" guesses, that is, when the test taker can eliminate at least one answer he or she thinks is wrong. Without eliminating any answers one's probability of answering correctly is 20%. Eliminating one wrong answer increases this probability to 25%; two, a 33.3% probability; three, a 50% probability of choosing the correct answer and thus earning the full point for the question.   Section  Average Score  Time (Minutes) Content Writing 497 60 Grammar, usage, and word choice Mathematics 518 70 Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis Critical Reading 503 70 Critical reading and sentence-level reading       Top