Know the exam patterns to study in New Zealand

No matter what their field of interest, by qualifying the right standardized exams, aspirants can grab an opportunity to study in the internationally renowned countries.

As a matter of fact, among the well known study destinations abroad, New Zealand is one of the most sought after. To pursue studies in New Zealand, one needs to qualify some standardized exams including TOEFL, IELTS and GMAT.

Here's a lowdown on these prominent exams are:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language)

Basically, TOEFL is offered in two formats:

• Internet-based Test (iBT)
• Paper-based Test (PBT)

However, in India, the test is offered in Internet-based Test (iBT). TOEFL iBT quantifies how well the candidate can read, listen, speak and write in English and use these skills together in the university classroom. The TOEFL iBT demands candidates to combine 2 or more of these skills to respond to a question.

The structure for the TOEFL iBT is below:

Listening comprehension

• Objective: To measure the ability to understand English.
• Description/ Type of questions:

• Conversations between two or more people in academic environments
• Short conversations between students and lectures may be possible conversations
• Questions are basically of the who said what type.
• 4-6 lectures, some with classroom discussion; each 3-5 minutes long; 6 questions each
• 2-3 conversations; each 3 minutes long; 5 questions each

• Duration: 60-90 minutes
• Questions: 34-51 questions
• Score Scale: 0-30

Speaking

• Objective: Measures the ability of a candidate to speak the English language.
• Description/Type of questions:

• 2 tasks to express an opinion on a familiar topic
• 4 tasks to speak based on what is read and listened to

• Duration: 20 minutes
• Questions: 6 tasks
• Score Scale: 0-4 points converted to 0-30 score scale

Reading

• Objective: To test the candidate's reading and vocabulary skills. Also to measures the ability to understand short passages similar in topic and style to the academic texts.
• Description/Type of Questions:

• 3-5 passages from academic texts; approximately 700 words long
• 12-14 questions per passage

• Duration: 60-100 minute
• Questions: 36-70 questions
• Score scale: 0-30

Writing:

• Objective: To measure the candidate's ability to write in English on an assigned topic/ To measure their writing skills
• Description/ Type of Questions:

• 1 integrated task - write based on what is read and heard.
• 1 independent task- support an opinion on a topic

• Duration: 50 minutes
• Questions: 2 tasks
• Score scale: 0-5 points converted to 0-30 score scale

The total score for the very test should be equal to 120.

A candidate receives four sections score and a total score for TOEFL iBT. In addition, to numeric score based on the above sections a candidate also receive an examinee score card.

Examinee score card includes performance feedback that indicates the performance level and an explanation of the kind of tasks that a test taker can perform.

Candidates are required to answer at least one question in Reading section, one question in Listening section, write at least one essay and complete at least one speaking task to receive an official score report.

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IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

• Listening: In this Listening section, 4 Sections and 40 items should be answered in 30 Minutes

• Reading: The two sections under this reading test are:

• IELTS General Training Reading Section: 3 Sections & 40 items should be answered in 60 Minutes
• IELTS Academic Reading Section: 3 Sections & 40 items should be answered 60 Minutes. There is a choice between Academic and General Training in the reading module.

• Writing: The two sections under this writing test are:

• IELTS General Training Writing Section: 2 tasks (150 and 250 words) to be answered in 60 Minutes
• IELTS Academic Writing Section: 2 Tasks (150 and 250 words) to be answered in 60 Minutes There is a choice between Academic and General Training in the writing Module

• Speaking: This section's duration is 11 to 14 Minutes

Total Test Duration of IELTS Exam is 2 hours 45 minutes. The first three modules - Listening, Reading and Writing - must be completed in one day.

The Speaking Module may be taken, at the discretion of the test centre, in the period seven days before or after the other modules. The tests are designed to cover the full range of ability from non-user to expert user.

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GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

The GMAT exam consists of three main parts:

• The Analytical Writing Assessment: The GMAT exam STARTS with the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). The AWA consists of two separate writing tasks:

• Analysis of an Issue
• Analysis of an Argument

Only 30 minutes are given to complete each one.

• The Quantitative Section: Following an optional 5 minute break, candidates will have to take the Quantitative Section of the GMAT test. In this section there are 37 multiple-choice questions of two question types:

• Data Sufficiency: There are 13 questions that needs to be answered in data sufficiency
• Problem Solving: There are 24 questions on problem solving

Candidates have maximum of 75 minutes to complete this section.

• Verbal Section: The verbal section is spread over 4 sections:

• Reading comprehension: 13 questions
• Critical Reasoning: 14 questions
• Sentence correction: 15 questions

After a second optional five-minute break, candidates begin with the verbal section of GMAT. Total number of multiple choice questions that needs to be answered is 41 including the above mentioned sections. Candidates have a maximum of 75 minutes to complete the entire section.

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