ASSESSMENT TESTS FOR ADMISSION
Students looking at studying in Canada need to demonstrate their language efficiency and aptitude to take admission in their desired University/College in Canada.
Some of the popular tests needed by international students to successfully apply to Canadian Universities are provided below:
STANDARDIZED TESTS INCLUDE:
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ACT (American College Testing)
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SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
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SAT Subject Test
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Advanced Placement Program
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GMAT (required for MBA in some Universities)
For Canadian Universities, these tests are not mandatory. These tests can be used as a substitute where prerequisite subjects have not been taken by a student. For example, if Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry are required for courses such as Applied Sciences and Engineering and the student has not taken these subjects, they can replace them with any of the Standardized Test scores. Universities like University of Toronto accept such standardized tests. These test scores can also be used to build a student's profile. A good score shows that the student has problem solving skills as well as critical thinking and comprehension skills.
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ACT: The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in some Canadian and American Universities. The test assesses the student's knowledge and skill in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. There is an optional writing section to check how effectively the student can write. Designed by ACT INC, a non-profit organization, the test is offered in paper-based and computer-based formats. The test is a multiple-choice format with close to 3 hours of time given to complete it. The fees for the test is Rs. 10,500 without the writing option and Rs. 12,500 with the Writing module.
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SAT: The SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test is a college admission test used in many American Universities. The SAT measures literacy, numeracy and writing skills that are required for academic success. It is seen as providing a better indicator of success than just the high school grades. The MCQ-based digital exam is completed in 2 hours and 14 minutes and, in India, the cost of taking the exam is approximately Rs. 10,000. Exam Centres are available in all major Indian cities. The exam is conducted seven times a year and in India it is conducted in March, May, June, August, October, November and December.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TESTS
Since the medium of instruction in most Canadian Universities is English, it is important for students wanting to study in Canada to be well versed in English for easy comprehension. Students can take any one of IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. IELTS is the most commonly accepted by Canadian Universities.
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IELTS Academic Test: IELTS is one of the more popular English Language Tests which is accepted by most Canadian Universities. This test is accepted in the United States, Australia, UK and New Zealand as well. The International English Language Training System (IELTS) scores the candidates on listening, speaking, writing and reading skills. The minimum score required for getting the study visa is 6.0 even though some Universities and Colleges have a lower minimum requirement. The sections on writing and reading vary as per the program applied for while the listening and speaking skills are the same for all courses. This exam is owned and managed by IDP Education Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. The cost of the test is around Rs. 15,500.
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TOEFL: The Test of English as a Foreign Language is another popular language test used in a number of countries. This test can be either paper based or internet based. The minimum score required for getting a study visa is between 90-100. The cost of the test is around Rs. 14,000.
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PTE: The Pearson Test for English is becoming more popular with Canadian Universities. Used only by Canada, this test is valid for two years and the cost of the test is around Rs. 13,000.
