Entrance exams for graduate school
One of the requirements for graduate
school is passing the entrance exam. Unlike undergraduate school, where
good scores on the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT) sufficed regardless of your chosen major, graduate school requires
high scores on a test that concentrates on your area of study. Depending
on what you want to study, you will have to take one of these tests. Your
school career center will have test bulletins containing dates and testing
center locations, announcements and supplemental resources for all of these
examinations.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
The GRE is required by schools offering
master's degrees and Ph.Ds. Paper-based testing as well as computer-based
testing are available. Scores are kept on file for five years.
The GRE is divided into General and
Subject tests. General GRE testing measures general skills with separate
scores given for verbal, quantitative and analytical abilities. Subject
Tests measure knowledge in particular fields of study biology, chemistry,
engineering, English and psychology, for example.
Some schools request both the General
and Subject Area Tests. Test preparation books are available through the
Graduate Record Examinations Board and the Educational Testing Service
on general and subject content tests.
There are a number of GRE forums
and preparatory workshops available.
Graduate Management Admission
Test (GMAT)
This test is for entrance into graduate
schools of management. The GMAT measures general verbal, mathematical and
analytical writings skills. It does not presuppose any specific knowledge
of business or of other specific content areas.
As with the GRE, there are numerous
study guides and preparatory classes available. The Official Guide to
GMAT Review offers test preparation for the GMATs. GMAT POWERPREP software
is also available, and test review courses are offered. Online resources
include Access MBA Explorer, providing online GMAT and MBA planning information,
online GMAT registration, test preparation book and school search database.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
The LSAT is designed to measure skills
that are considered essential for success in law school: reading and comprehension,
critical thinking and reasoning skills. Sections include a reading comprehension
section, one analytical reasoning section and two logical reasoning sections.
Law schools use the results of the LSATs as one of several factors in assessing
applicants' preparation for law school study. The Law School Data Assembly
Service adminsters the test and releases the scores to schools about a
month after test dates. Scores are kept on file for nine years.
Medical CollegeAdmission Test
(MCAT)
The MCAT assesses mastery of basic
concepts in biology, chemistry (general and organic) and physics, along
with scientific problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills.
Candidates are encouraged to take the MCAT about l8 months before they
plan to enter medical school. Preparing for the MCAT videocassettes
as well as MCAT practice tests are available through the Association of
American Medical Colleges.
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