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Home > Immigration > Student Visa > Student Visa Required Tests
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Student Visa - Acadamic Tests

Required Tests for International Students

1. SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test
An examination administered by the Educational Testing Service and used to predict the facility with which an individual will progress in learning college-level academic subjects.

2. GRE: Graduate Record Examination
The GRE General Test is a required examination for applicants seeking admission to graduate schools in fields other than business, law, and medicine. This is a computerized test which is offered the last 3 weeks of every calendar month year around. The test measures students on verbal skills, quantitative skills (mathematics), critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that they have acquired and honed over a long period of time during their formative years of academic studies but not related to any specific field of study.

3. GRE Subject Tests
The GRE Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in the eight disciplines listed below. Each Subject Test is intended for students who have majored in or have extensive background in that specific area. Prospective graduate applicants take the Subject Tests. GRE test scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records and other qualifications for graduate study. Any accredited graduate or professional school, or any department or division within a school, may require or recommend that its applicants take the General Test, a Subject Test, or both.

The Eight Disciplines are:
1. Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
2. Biology
3. Chemistry
4. Computer Science
5. Literature in English
6. Mathematics
7. Physics
8. Psychology

4. GMAT: General Management Aptitude Test
The GMAT is required for admission to business school. This is a computerized test which is offered the last 3 weeks of every calendar month year around. It tests students on verbal skills, quantitative skills (math) and analytical writing skills. This examination created and administered by the Educational Testing Service on behalf of the Graduate Management Admission Council. Virtually all good-quality business schools in the world require it for their full-time MBA programs.

5. TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
The TOEFL is required to assess the English proficiency of people who speak English as a non-native language. It is a required exam for those students wishing to begin undergraduate or graduate study in the US. The TOEFL is a computer exam which is given year round. There are 4 sections: listening comprehension, structure, reading comprehension and writing.

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Registering for the Required Tests

Registering for GRE General Test
The General Test is offered as a computer-based test in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. The computer-based General Test is not given every day at all international test centers. Contact the appropriate Regional Registration Center (RRC) to verify test dates.

Paper-based General Test administrations are offered in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available.

Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are adviced to register early to get their preferred test date, and to receive the test preparation material in time to prepare for the test.

For Computer-Based General Test
You can register for the computer-based test the following 4 ways:

  1. Online Registration (payment method: by credit card only)
  2. Phone Registration
    • Use American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, VISA, or a voucher number.
    • Call the test center directly or the Prometric® Candidate Services Call Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Eastern Time (New York), (excluding holidays), at 1-800-GRE-CALL (1-800-473-2255) or 1-443-751-4820.
    • A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be provided to you when you call.
    • If you use a Telephone/Teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-529-3590.
  3. Mail Registration
    1. Download, complete and mail the International Test Scheduling Form (PDF) to the appropriate RRC with appropriate payment.
    2. The form must be received at least 3 weeks before your first-choice test date.
    3. A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be faxed or mailed to you.
    4. If you do not receive a confirmation, call the appropriate RRC at least 3 business days before your first-choice test date. If you miss your appointment and did not call the RRC, your test fee will not be refunded. If you provide an e-mail address, you may receive a confirmation by e-mail.
    5. If you lose your voucher, contact the GRE Program. Only one replacement will be issued.
    6. Requests for non-standard testing accomodations must be made through ETS.
  4. Fax Registration
    • Use American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, VISA, or a voucher number.
    • Fax the International Test Scheduling Form (PDF) to the appropriate RRC.
    • The form must be received at least 7 days before your first-choice test date.
    • A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be faxed or mailed to you.
    • If you do not receive a confirmation of your appointment, call the appropriate RRC at least 3 business days before your first-choice test date. If you missed your appointment and did not call the RRC, your test fee will not be refunded. If you provide an e-mail address, you may receive a confirmation by e-mail.

For Paper-Based General Test
Paper-based GRE General Tests are offered in areas of the world where computer-based testing is not available.

You can register for a paper-based test the following 2 ways:

  1. Online Registration (payment method: credit card only)
    Note: Not available to examinees testing in Nigeria
  2. Mail Registration
    • Download and complete the registration form (PDF) and mail the completed form with payment to the address printed on the form.
    • The form must be received at ETS by the registration deadline.
    • Allow 4 weeks for processing. Registration forms cannot be faxed.
    • A confirmation number, reporting time, and the test center address will be faxed or mailed to you.
    • If you do not receive a confirmation of your appointment, call the appropriate RRC at least 3 business days before your first-choice test date. If you missed your appointment and did not call the RRC, your test fee will not be refunded. If you provide an e-mail address, you may receive a confirmation by e-mail.

Online registration is not available for the following services
You must register by mail or phone instead.

  1. Fee waivers
  2. Arrangements for non-standard testing accomodations
  3. Monday Testing
  4. Standby Testing
  5. Supplementary test centers/

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General Test Fees
Computer-Based and Paper-Based Testing
U.S., U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico $130
China (including Hong Kong), Korea, and Taiwan. $175
All Other Locations $160
Rescheduling Fee $ 40
Standby Testing (paper-based test only) $ 35

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Registering for the GRE Search Service

Don't miss this FREE opportunity to hear from graduate schools that are searching for students like you. The GRE Search Service matches prospective graduate students with participating graduate schools and fellowship sponsors. If you match the recruitment profile of a participating institution/organization, you may be sent information about graduate programs, admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, fellowships, and other graduate education opportunities.
You will automatically be included in the Search Service when you register for a GRE test unless you indicate otherwise. Anyone considering graduate study may also register for the GRE Search Service. To register for the GRE Search Service only, use the online GRE registration form.

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Repeating the General Test

  • It may be to your advantage to take the GRE General Test more than once if you think that the scores you obtained do not reflect your true abilities. If your scores seem unusually low in comparison with other indicators of your preparedness for graduate studies, you may want to consider taking the test again. Those considering repeating a test should be aware that large score increases are unusual, and for some test takers scores will go down. Keep in mind that score reports will include test results obtained within the past five-year period.
  • You may take the General Test (computer-based and/or paper-based) only once per calendar month and no more than 5 times within any 12-month period. This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously.

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Repeating a Subject Test

  • It may be to your advantage to take a GRE Subject Test more than once if you think that the scores you obtained do not reflect your true abilities. If your scores seem unusually low in comparison with other indicators of your preparedness for graduate studies, you may want to consider taking the test again. Those considering repeating a test should be aware that large score increases are unusual, and for some test takers scores will go down. Keep in mind that score reports will include test results obtained within the past five-year period.You may take Subject Tests as often as they are offered.

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