Exam Required to Study Abroad for Indian Students
GRE
Pursuing a bachelor’s or a master’s degree abroad is a dream for many students who work diligently to make their dreams come true. If you are planning to study abroad, the admission process will require you to take one language exam and one standardised exam. One may have to appear for different entrance exams depending on the country, course or college. This article lists all the exams required to study abroad after 12th.
Universities abroad require aspiring students to take several subject-based or language-based tests in order to be eligible for their esteemed courses. The specific exams required for studying abroad can vary depending on the country, university, and course you choose. This article contains the complete list of necessary exams required to study abroad.
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Types of Exams Required to Study Abroad After 12th
International students applying to foreign universities will have to take certain exams to be eligible to study in these foreign countries. Before moving on to check the list of required exams, students must understand that there are mainly two types of exams that they are required to take to show in their university application form and also in their student visa application forms. Universities generally require scores on both the subject exams and the language exams; however, only the language exam's marks, along with the university's acceptance letter, are required to be shown at the visa office.
Read on about all the types of exams that are mandatory for applying to study abroad.
1. Language exams
The language exams show your English proficiency skills. 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. A few of the top English language exams that 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 18,000 for Indian students.
- TOEFL: The TOEFL exam is accepted globally, including colleges in the UK. Your TOEFL scores are valid for two years post the declaration of your result. The exam lasts for 116 minutes and costs INR 16,900 for Indian students.
- PTE: The PTE exam is accepted at over 3500+ 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.
- Duolingo: The Shortest English test so far, the Duolingo English Test, also known as DET, lasts 1 hour. The exam costs only INR 6,000 and is accepted by most universities in countries like the USA and Canada.
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2. Standardised Subject-based Entrance Exams for Foreign Universities
The entrance exams for foreign universities for each course can be different, varying in the area of study or at the level of study as well. The exams required for studying various courses are different. Depending on the courses of your choice, you will be required to take only one standardised entrance exam for abroad education. So, if you are going to pursue an MS, then you have to take exams for the MS abroad. Similarly, if you are going to pursue an MBA abroad, you have to take exams for an MBA abroad. Also, there are different countries' standardised tests for different countries.
Here is a table describing exam requirements according to the course of your choice:
Courses/Programs |
Standardised Subject/Stream-based Tests |
Preferred English Language Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate |
|
|
| Postgraduate |
|
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Apart from the above-given degree programs, there are also Associate's Degrees. Check out in detail what is Associate Degree?
3. Exams for Studying Abroad with Scholarship
The most popular and important entrance exams to study abroad are the GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, SAT, and ACT. Excellent performance in these internationally competitive exams can also get students financial aid in the form of scholarships to study abroad. Many colleges and universities consider the performance of the aspirant in these international entrance exams to give scholarships to aspirants at the time of admission.
Exams Required for MBA Programs Abroad
Here is the list of exams that you need to get admitted to an MBA abroad:
| Exam | Purpose | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| GMAT | Primary entrance exam |
USA, Europe, Asia
|
| GRE | Accepted by many B-schools as an alternative | Global |
| IELTS / TOEFL / PTE | Language proficiency | All |
Exams Required to Study Abroad after 12th
Those students who have cleared their higher secondary have the option to take various entrance exams for studying abroad. SAT, ACT, GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS are some of the important standardised tests that students can take for going to study abroad. The choice of exam always depends on the course, college, and country where you want to go.
Also Read: Which English Proficiency Test do Indian Students Prefer for Studying Abroad? | Poll Insights
Exams Required to Study Abroad after 10th
There are various exams that students can take after class 10th, however, it is always a better idea to go abroad for higher studies only after the completion of your school education, i.e. class 12th exams. Students can go to study in countries like Singapore, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, and New Zealand after completing their 10th class examinations. Students can pursue foundational programs or pathway programs in their chosen country, which can pave the way for admissions to universities in the same country.
If you are someone who has just passed their class 10th class exams or are planning to take them in the upcoming year and want to move abroad for further studies, then you must be aware of the exams required to study abroad after 10th. A prior knowledge of the required exams will help you determine which exams will suit your requirements and give you enough time to prepare for them. Here is the list of exams required to study abroad after 10th:
- English tests: To study in English-speaking countries, you may need to provide proof of your proficiency in the English language. Exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo are accepted by most colleges, schools, universities and immigration offices across the globe.
- Academic Tests: Some schools may ask for or recommend taking exams like SSAT, Pre-ACT, PSAT or Cambridge Checkpoint / IGCSE (if you're transferring into a UK-style curriculum). These tests also help to prepare for tests like the SATs and ACTs, if you plan on 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.
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There is no fixed number of exams that you need to take for studying abroad. The number of exams one must take can vary depending on the country, university, and the course they choose. Typically, you may be required to take at least one of the following exams:
- Language Proficiency Exam: This is almost always required to demonstrate your ability to communicate in the language of instruction. Examples include TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE for English and DELF/DALF for French.
- Academic Subject Test: Depending on the country and program, you may also need to take an academic subject test such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT.
However, some programs may require additional exams or qualifications. For example, some law schools may require you to take LSAT.
When choosing a course to study abroad, consider factors like:
- your academic interests,
- program duration and structure
- career goals,
- the reputation of the university in your desired destination,
- the cost of education,
- language requirements,
- potential scholarship opportunities,
- and the employment prospects in that field within that country.
It is dificult to determine a single best exam to study abroad. However, universities abroad often require language tests and subject-based tests to check your readiness and competency to take one of their reputed programs.
Note that the requirement of any of these exams may be waived depending on your qualifications and the university. However, it is still noteworthy that even though your university waives off the language test requirement, you will still need to take the exam to apply for a student visa in the country. Hence, check the university and visa requirements before picking the exam that best suits your requirements.
The most common exams taken by Indian students to study abroad are IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, SAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT and ACT.
There is no fixed eligibility criteria announced by ETS for the GRE 2025 exam. Anyone, of any age or educational background, can attempt the GRE at their the nearest exam center.
Candidates are advised to complete their GRE slot booking early. In this way, they would be able to select their preferred date, test centre and time of taking the exam as per their wish. GRE slots could be filling up fast during the early days of the intake season, leaving test takers with a more limited number of test dates/test centres to choose from.
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
- Solve previous year question papers
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
- Revise regularly
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
- What are academic transcripts?
- 5 Best countries to study MS abroad
- 5 Best countries to study MBA abroad
This was all about the exams required for studying abroad. For more assistance on studying abroad, reach out for Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.
Exams Required to Study Abroad After 12th FAQs
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In most cases, no, you cannot study abroad without taking any standardised exam. Exams are typically a requirement for admission to international universities. They serve as a way to assess your academic abilities and language proficiency and ensure that you are prepared for the struggles of getting higher education abroad. However, there are a few exceptions, such as: