The grass is greener on the other side, is a well known saying. It is true that there are green pastures out there, waiting to be explored by you. The world is full of pportunities for students who aspire to study abroad. The first step is to be familiar with the rocedures and eligibility requirements. You may be fairly familiar with names of competitive entrance examinations such as SAT, GRE, GMAT and TOEFL. What exactly these examinations? How can you prepare for them? Here you go..

SAT : Scholastic Aptitude Test, The SAT is a 3 hour multiple-choice exam that tests basic math and verbal skills. In addition, the SAT tests your ability to take the SAT. What do we mean by that? Well, the SAT, like most standardized tests-primarily tests your ability to take tests. So, one of the first things you should do when preparing for the SAT is to learn about the test itself, SAT.
Tip : Understanding the Test Structure.

SAT : Scholastic Aptitude Test, The SAT is a 3 hour multiple-choice exam that tests basic math and verbal skills. In addition, the SAT tests your ability to take the SAT. What do we mean by that? Well, the SAT, like most standardized tests-primarily tests your ability to take tests. So, one of the first things you should do when preparing for the SAT is to
learn about the test itself. SAT
Tip : Understanding the Test Structure.

The LSAT consists of 5 sections (175 minutes) of multiple-choice questions, a break of 10-15 minutes, and a 30-minute writing sample. The writing sample is always administered last, and you will always receive a 10-15 minute break between multiple
choice sections three and four. However, the five 35-minute multiple choice sections can appear in any order.

GRE : The Graduate Record Examination General Test CRE is designed to test fundamental verbal, mathematical and writing skills that a student is expected to have gained during undergraduate studies. GRE scores are generally a must for consideration admission to post graduate studies (Graduate programmes) abroad.

The GRE is administered exclusively as a Computer Adaptive Test, or CAT. The GRE is taken on computer at special testing centers located throughout the U.S. and around the world. The GRE CAT consists of about 3 hours of multiple-choice testing. It consists of Verbal and Math sections and Writing Assessments comprising 2 essays in 60 minutes.

GMAT : The Graduate Management Admission Test, GMAT is a standardized test designed to assess skills relevant to graduate studies in business and management. Most Schools ask for GMAT scores for admission to graduate business programs. GMAT is being administered exclusively as a Computer Adaptive Test, or CAT. The GMAT is taken on a computer at special testing centers located throughout the U.S. and around the world.

The GMAT CAT consists of 150 minutes of multiple-choice testing, plus two 30-minute essays that you write on the computer. (Test takers are required to type their essays.)

Scoring , Your GMAT score report will include four scores; three determined by your performance on the multiple-choice Quantitative and Verbal sections and a separate score derived from your performance on the Analytical Writing Sections.

Most important is your overall scaled score which is calculated from your performance on the Verbal and Quantitative sections. This overall score ranges from 200 to 800. In addition to this overall score, you'll receive Verbal and Quantitative sub-scores, both ranging from 0 to 60. All scaled scores will be translated into corresponding percentile ranking. These percentile figures allow business schools to quickly see where you fall in the pool of applicants. An overall score of 590, for instance, corresponds to the 80 th percentile, which means that 80 percent of test takers scored 590 or less.

TOEFL Testing Program, The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is used in college and university settings. Scores on the test are required by more than 4,300 two-and four-year colleges and universities, professional schools, and sponsoring institutions.

The Computer-Based TOEFL Test (CBT) is available at more than 300 test centers around the world. The TOEFL® program provides English proficiency testing services for international students planning to study in the United States, Canada, or other countries where English is the language of instruction. Educational Testing Service (ETS) develops the test under the direction of the TOEFL Board, a board comprised of professionals drawn from the higher education community.

Test Pattern : Most of the questions are multiple choice. However, there are several new types of questions, such as ones that require selecting a visual or part of a visual, answering questions with more than one response, ordering items, and matching objects or text to categories. Official score reports are mailed approximately 14 days after testing. TOEFL test scores are kept on file for two years after the test date. Website: toefl.org.

Test Centers: All the Test Centers below offer GMAT, GRE & TOEFL Tests every year : Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Mumbai Usefi, New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram.

TSE Testing : Some unviersitites require that the applicants who want teaching positions take the TSE (Test of Spoken English). This test is also sponsored by the College Board, and created and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Website www.ets.org

ELTS : The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is recognised widely as a language requirement for entry to all courses in further and higher education in UK and other countries. It is also available in test centres around the world. IELTS is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) and The British Council. Contact British Deputy High Commission, British Council Division, 737 Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamilnadu-600 002.