Navigating Graduate School Entrance Exams: A Comprehensive Guide

Attending graduate school is a pivotal step for many seeking advanced knowledge and career opportunities. A crucial part of the application process involves graduate school entrance exams. These standardized tests assess a candidate's readiness for the rigors of advanced study. Understanding the different types of exams and how to prepare for them is essential for prospective graduate students.

The Role of Standardized Tests in Graduate Admissions

Graduate school entrance exams serve as benchmarks in candidate evaluation, assessing not just knowledge but also the potential for success in a demanding academic environment. The importance of test scores varies among graduate programs. Some schools have moved to a test-optional approach, where students elect whether to send scores. Even if you’re applying to a test-optional school, it may still be advantageous for you to take a standardized test to add to your grad school application.

Types of Graduate School Entrance Exams

Several graduate admissions tests exist, each tailored to specific fields of study. Here's a look at some of the most common exams:

1. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is a versatile test designed to assess overall academic readiness for graduate programs. It evaluates critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative skills. The GRE General Test aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of learning. The content of the GRE consists of certain specific data analysis or interpretation, arguments and reasoning, algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and vocabulary sections.

There are two variations of the GRE: the general test and the subject tests. The general test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and measures overall academic readiness for graduate school. Subject tests are content-specific exams that assess a person's mastery of a particular field of study, such as physics or psychology. Subject tests are tailored to students who have majored in or extensively studied the particular exam subject.

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The GRE, which was recently overhauled, tests verbal and quantitative reasoning as well as analytical writing and is completed in 1 hour and 58 minutes. The analytical writing section contains just one question - "Analyze an Issue" - which is completed in 30 minutes, while the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections contain 27 questions each and are completed in 47 and 41 minutes, respectively.

Scoring: Verbal and quantitative scores range from 130 to 170, and these scores are always a whole number. Writing scores range from 0 to 6, and these scores are assigned in half-point increments. Scores on GRE subject tests range from 200 to 990. On the psychology subject test, test-takers not only receive an overall score but also several subscores, ranging from 20 to 99, reflecting their knowledge of particular topics within the academic discipline.
Cost: In most locations across the world, the general test costs $220. However, those taking it in Australia pay $228 while those in China pay $231.30. Subject tests cost $150 everywhere.
Administration: The GRE tests are administered both on selected dates at certified testing sites (more than 1,000 in 160 countries). Testing sites offer an online format, on average, three times per month and virtually year-round. Students are given three hours to complete the three sections.
Acceptance: The GRE is accepted by a variety of master's, Ph.D. and professional degree programs in an array of disciplines. It has also become common in recent years for some business schools and law schools to accept GRE scores in lieu of the GMAT and LSAT.

2. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

Students weighing business school generally take the GMAT, which will have a new look come Nov. 7, 2023, when the GMAT Focus Edition launches and the previous version is phased out.

Two sections from the previous version, Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning, remain on the GMAT Focus Edition and are joined by a new Data Insights section, which tests candidates’ skills in data analysis, data interpretation, data visualization and data-driven decision-making. Each section takes 45 minutes, making the test more than an hour shorter than the previous version, at 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Scoring: The new version will have a slightly different scoring scale than the previous one, ranging from 205 to 805 rather than from 200 to 800.
Cost: the testing-center version costing $275.
Purpose: The GMAT exam is intended for business programs only. More than 70% of students rely on the GMAT to get into business school.

3. Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

The LSAT assesses whether someone is prepared for legal education, which can be rigorous and typically lasts three years. The exam, which can be taken at a test center or remotely, is made up of two parts: a multiple-choice portion divided into several sections and an unscored written essay. The multiple-choice sections test candidates on reading comprehension as well as analytical and logical reasoning. The writing portion is done online using secure software that can be installed on a personal device and taken as early as eight days prior to the date of the multiple-choice test.

Scoring: Test-takers are scored on a range from 120 to 180.
Cost: The exam costs $222 for the 2023-2024 testing cycle.
Purpose: This industry standard test is required for admission to all accredited law schools, although some law schools are now also accepting GRE scores.

4. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

Future doctors need the ability to master new information rapidly and communicate well in a patient-centered system. The MCAT assesses whether medical school applicants have those skills as well as the conceptual understanding and analytical skills necessary for success in medical education.

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Scoring: Each section is scored separately and weighted equally, with scores ranging from 472 to 528. The overall score is determined by the sum of section scores, which range from 118 to 132.
Duration: The exam lasts 7 1/2 hours, with 6 hours and 15 minutes spent on the exam, 50 minutes for breaks and about 20 to 25 minutes for logistical tasks at the beginning and end of the test. It includes four multiple-choice sections, each lasting 90 or 95 minutes.
Purpose: This test is required for admissions consideration to almost every medical school in the United States and Canada. At seven and a half hours, the MCAT is considered one of the most challenging standardized tests to take.

5. Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

The MAT is an assessment that measures advanced cognitive abilities by using analogies to assess critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a graduate-level context. The MAT scores are scaled from 200 to 600.

6. English Language Proficiency Tests

International students or students who don’t speak English as a first language may be required to take an English-language proficiency test before pursuing an academic degree.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): TOEFL scores range from 0 to 120.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System): IELTS scores range from 1 to 9.
Purpose: These tests assess the English language proficiency of non-native speakers aiming to study in English-speaking universities.

7. Other Specialized Tests

DAT (Dental Admission Test): Evaluates the general academic ability, understanding of scientific information, and perceptual ability of those wishing to enter dental school.
OAT (Optometry Admission Test): Measures applicants’ comprehension of scientific concepts pertinent to optometry education. Scores range from 200 to 400.
PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test): Assesses the scientific knowledge necessary for a graduate-level education in a pharmacy program.
GRE Subject Tests: Measure expertise in specific fields such as Biology, Chemistry, Literature in English, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.

Preparing for Graduate School Entrance Exams

Preparing for graduate school admission exams is crucial for pursuing advanced education. Each test has a unique format and challenges. Here are key strategies to help you succeed:

Understand the Test Format: Familiarize yourself with the specific test format you're preparing for, as each standardized test has a distinct format that assesses different skills.
Develop a Study Plan: Tailor your study plan to the learning style and schedule that works best for you. Resources such as Kaplan and Princeton Review offer structured study plans and a wealth of practice materials.
Utilize Online Resources: Platforms like Magoosh and Manhattan Prep offer interactive learning experiences that have been reported to improve scores significantly.
Take Practice Tests: Practice tests are an indispensable part of exam preparation. They familiarize you with the exam layout and timing and help identify areas in which you could improve.
Manage Time Effectively: Time management is a skill that goes hand in hand with your test prep. This is not just about managing study hours but also about effectively allocating time across different test sections. Practicing under timed conditions is essential to develop this skill.
Manage Stress and Anxiety: The stress and anxiety associated with grad school exams can be overwhelming. Engaging in relaxation techniques like mindfulness and ensuring a healthy study-life balance is crucial.

Oral Examinations

Oral examinations are the primary ways the university assesses learning by graduate students. These examinations also gauge whether students’ accomplishments meet expectations associated with earning advanced degrees.

Preliminary Oral Examination: The Graduate College requires a preliminary oral examination of doctoral degree students; most programs add a written portion to the preliminary oral examination. The doctoral degree preliminary oral examination rigorously tests a graduate student’s knowledge of major, minor, and supporting subject areas as well as the student’s ability to analyze, organize, and present subject matter relevant to the field.
Final Oral Examination: Thesis and non-thesis master’s students and all doctoral degree candidates must pass final oral examinations. The final oral examination must be held by the final oral examination deadline date for the semester in which the degree is granted. All coursework in the Academic Plan (AP) must either be completed or in progress before the final oral examination can be scheduled. This examination is oral; it may also include a written component if specified by the student’s Academic Plan Committee (APC).

The GRE: A Deeper Dive

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that is part of the admissions process for many graduate schools in the United States, Canada, and a few other countries.

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Purpose and Content

According to ETS, the GRE General Test aims to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of learning. The content of the GRE consists of certain specific data analysis or interpretation, arguments and reasoning, algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and vocabulary sections.

Test Format

The computer-based GRE General Test consists of six sections. The first section is always the analytical writing section involving separately timed issue and argument tasks. The next five sections consist of two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and either an experimental or research section. These five sections may occur in any order. The experimental section does not count towards the final score but is not distinguished from the scored sections.

The paper-based GRE General Test also consists of six sections. The analytical writing is split up into two sections, one section for each issue and argument task. The next four sections consist of two verbal and two quantitative sections in varying order.

Scoring

Verbal Reasoning: The verbal test is scored on a scale of 130-170, in 1-point increments. Each verbal section consists of about 6 text completion, 4 sentence equivalence, and 10 critical reading questions.
Quantitative Reasoning: The quantitative test is scored on a scale of 130-170, in 1-point increments. Each quantitative section consists of about 8 quantitative comparisons, 9 problem-solving items, and 3 data interpretation questions.
Analytical Writing: The writing section is graded on a scale of 0-6, in half-point increments. The test taker is given 30 minutes to write an essay about a selected topic.

Experimental Section

The experimental section, which can be either verbal or quantitative, contains new questions ETS is considering for future use. Although the experimental section does not count towards the test-taker's score, it is unidentified and appears identical to the scored sections.

Historical Changes

Prior to August 2011: The GRE was adaptive on a question-by-question basis.
August 1, 2011: The Revised GRE General test replaced the General GRE test. The revised GRE is said to be better by design and provides a better test-taking experience.

Subject Tests

In addition to the General Test, there are also GRE Subject Tests testing knowledge in the specific areas of Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. In the past, subject tests were also offered in the areas of Computer Science, Economics, Revised Education, Engineering, English Literature, French, Geography, Geology, German, History, Music, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish, and Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology.

Use in Admissions

Many graduate schools in the United States require GRE results as part of the admissions process. In addition to GRE scores, admission to graduate schools depends on several other factors, such as GPA, letters of recommendation, and statements of purpose. The use and weight of GRE scores vary considerably not only from school to school but also from department to department and program to program.

Acceptance by Business and Law Schools

Starting in 2009, many business schools began accepting the GRE in lieu of a GMAT score. As of the 2014-2015 admissions season, most business schools accept both tests equally. High GRE scores are accepted as qualifying evidence to some intellectual clubs such as Intertel and the Triple Nine Society.

Preparation Resources

A variety of resources are available for those wishing to prepare for the GRE. ETS provides preparation software called PowerPrep, which contains two practice tests of retired questions, as well as further practice questions and review material.

Criticisms and Controversies

The GRE has also been subjected to the same racial bias criticisms that have been lodged against other admissions tests. The GREs are criticized for not being a true measure of whether a student will be successful in graduate school.

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