Exams Required to Study Abroad for Indian Students in 2026

Types of Exams Required to Study Abroad After 12th 

1. Language exams

The language exams show your proficiency in the language. Mostly, Indian students need to showcase their proficiency in English as they choose a course and university that use English as a primary language of instruction. If your course is taught in any other language, then you would need to establish your proficiency in that language. 

You need to take either one of the language exams to get admission to any university in an English-speaking country. These are required for pursuing almost all courses, i.e. undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, certificates or diplomas (unless mentioned).

Different countries give preference to one language exam over others. For English, a few top exams are used by prominent study-abroad destinations:

• IELTS: The IELTS exam is a preferred choice among Indian students for getting admission to global universities. The IELTS Score is valid for two years. The exam lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes and costs INR 19,000 for Indian students. Update: Traditional paper-based IELTS has been phased out across India. Exams are now digital/computer-delivered, though a "Writing-on-Paper" hybrid option remains.
• TOEFL: The TOEFL exam is accepted globally, including colleges in the UK. Your TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the declaration of your result. According to the new TOEFL exam format, the exam lasts 2 hours and costs INR 18,000 for Indian students.
• PTE: The PTE exam is accepted at over 3900+ colleges and universities globally. It is the simplest English language test that can be taken in just a single sitting. Further, PTE Academic scores are valid for up to two years from the date of the exam and the exam itself costs INR 18,900.
• Duolingo: The Shortest English test so far, the Duolingo English Test, also known as DET, lasts 1 hour. The exam costs only INR 6,600 to INR 6,700 and is accepted by most universities in countries like the USA and Canada.

2. Standardised Subject-based Entrance Exams for Foreign Universities

Entrance exams required for various courses in foreign universities can be different. Depending on the courses of your choice, you will be required to take only one standardised subject exam for studying abroad. So, if you are going to pursue an MBA abroad, you have to take exams for an MBA abroad like GMAT. 

Here is a table describing exam requirements according to the course of your choice:

3. Specialised Field Exams

There are certain subject-specific exams that are required by Indian students to study specific programs abroad.

1. For management courses: GRE/GMAT; on a completely different note, if you wish to learn the basic differences between GRE and GMAT exams, read this article - GRE vs IELTS: Know the Difference
2. Medicine and healthcare courses: 
   1. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): Required for entry into medical schools in the USA and Canada
   2. UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test): Mandatory for most medical and dental programs in the UK
   3. GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test): Used for graduate-entry medical programs in Australia, Ireland, and the UK
3. LSAT (Law School Admission Test): Required for JD programs in the USA and Canada. 
4. LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law): Used by elite law schools in the UK, such as Oxford and UCL
5. For engineering courses: GRE and GATE
6. For architecture and design courses: SAT/NATA
7. For general UG admissions, Advanced Placement (AP) Exams can provide university credits or strengthen applications for top-tier global institutions

4. Exams for Studying Abroad with Scholarship

Major study abroad exams are GMAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, SAT, ACT and Duolingo. Universities abroad offer scholarships while offering an offer based on your performance in these exams.

Exams Required for MBA Programs Abroad

Here is the list of exams that you need to get admitted to an MBA abroad:

Here's a short video summarising the list of exams required to study abroad after 12th 👇

Exams Required to Study Abroad after 12th

Students who've taken their class 12th exams in India need to take two types of exams: English Language Proficiency Tests (mandatory for almost all international universities) and Standardised Admission Tests (required mainly by universities in the US and Canada) for studying abroad. The choice of exam depends on the course, college, and country where you want to go. But the most common ones are SAT, GMAT, GRE, IELTS and TOEFL.

Also Read: Which English Proficiency Test do Indian Students Prefer for Studying Abroad? | Poll Insights

Exams Required to Study Abroad after 10^th

Various exams are available for students who wish to study abroad after taking class 10th exams. However, it is advised that students go abroad for higher studies only after the completion of their Class 12th exams. They can pursue foundational or pathway programs that help to get university admission abroad. 
Exams required to study abroad after 10th-

• Tests of English- Since the mother tongue of most Indian students is either Hindi or some other language, they need to take standard English exams to prove their ability to understand and communicate in the language abroad. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo are accepted by almost all universities abroad. These exams are also considered by visa authorities for student visas and beyond.
• Subject Tests- Some schools abroad may ask for or recommend taking exams like SSAT, Pre-ACT, PSAT or Cambridge Checkpoint/IGCSE. These tests also help to prepare for tests like the SATs and ACTs, if you plan to get your higher education in the USA or another foreign country.   

Apart from this, many colleges and universities demand that the aspirant must be 18 years of age and a guardian should accompany the student to take his/her care.

How to Choose the Right Exam for Your Preferred Country?

As an Indian student, it is important to choose the right exam for your future and dreams, as these exams are not easily affordable. To choose the right exam, students must first come to the point that there are some exams that are mandatory for university admissions and some for visa applications. So, after finalising a country for studying abroad, look for what all exams are accepted by most of the universities and visa officers. In the infographic below, we have provided a targeted roadmap and thinking procedure to choose the right exam for studying abroad. 

Why are these Standardised Exams Important for Studying Abroad?

The exams, as the ones listed above, are important and required for studying abroad, as these exams test your readiness and language proficiency for college. Because grading systems and curricula vary globally, these exams provide a standard and universally accepted performance benchmark, which makes it easier for universities abroad to gauge through millions of applications received from around the world. These exams use patented and researched methods of testing the potential of students. And since all students are tested on the same syllabus and similar questions, these exams provide a fair playground for all to prove their competency for college. So, whether you studied under CBSE, ICSE, or an international board, admissions committees use these exams to compare applicants objectively against global peers.

You may also check the following articles, which will be really helpful in making a decision - 

• The Role of Education Consultants in Studying Abroad
• Consequences of Choosing the Wrong University Abroad

This was all about the exams required for studying abroad. For more assistance on studying abroad, reach out to Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.