Standardized Testing for Higher Education

In the United States, standardized test scores are a key part of the admissions process for undergraduate, graduate, and other degree programs. A variety of standardized tests may be used according to the program, student, and college or university being applied to. The test may be subject-specific or test the student’s abilities in a number of domains. For international students, English language proficiency is often tested. In higher education settings, standardized testing is used to help rank applicants from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Test scores are mandatory for the majority applicants; if you wish to get into a college or university program, you must take the required tests and submit your test scores to the school. Your test score will play a role in determining whether or not you are admitted to the school.

Undergraduate Admissions Tests

There are a variety of standardized tests required for admission into college and university programs in the United States. The test required depends on the school and program in question. Most schools list the application requirements, including standardized test scores, on their websites. One of the most widely-known test is the Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT, which was introduced in 1926. The test assesses college readiness and takes three hours and 45 minutes to complete. The SAT is not based on the high school curriculum in the United States, but rather, assesses students’ ability in three domains: mathematics, critical reading, and writing. Other similar tests required to apply for undergraduate programs include the American College Test or ACT. The GED is a standardized equivalence test for mature students who never obtained a high school diploma and would like to apply to college or university.

Graduate and Professional Tests

Test scores required to apply to graduate and professional programs are generally more specific than undergraduate admissions tests. These include the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), which is required for students who would like to pursue further education in mathematics, liberal arts, and science or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), which is a requirement when applying to business programs such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is used for students applying to law school and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is used for students applying to medical school. These tests help to identify applicant knowledge and aptitude in specific areas related to the profession or graduate degree program. Departments may look at scores in specific areas, weighing them differently.

International Students

International students applying to American universities or other tertiary institutions are usually asked to provide scores from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL is a standardized test that assesses student proficiency in English, including grammar, speaking, listening, reading, and writing. TOEFL scores may be used by an admissions department to determine whether or not the student’s level is sufficient for him or her to complete a two- to four-year degree. Certain fields of study may place more emphasis on certain skills, such as listening and speaking in the case of engineering, computer science, or mathematics degrees, where students are less likely to be required to read written material and write essays.