Entrance Exams to Study in Australia

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Mrunmayai Bobade
Updated on Apr 20, 2022 01:17 PM IST

International standardised exams and English proficiency tests allow students not only to get access to some of the top universities and colleges worldwide but also prepare them for a rigorous international college curriculum. So let us take a look at the top entrance exams required to study in Australia for Indian students.

Entrance Exams to Study in Australia

Over 40 thousand international students choose to study in Australia and this number keeps on increasing every year as Australia welcomes international students with open arms. These students from different backgrounds and nationalities select Australia to benefit from the quality of education and easy application process. However, to be eligible for admission into a top university or college, sitting for an entrance exam is the best way to get admission to your desired university.

There are various entrance exams to study in Australia and these entrance tests offer varied advantages to students, the first being that these exams showcase a candidate's critical thinking capabilities, aptitude, and English language skills. It is also important to note that merely qualifying for the exams and getting good scores will not guarantee admission. Applicants need to meet the minimum academic eligibility as per university and programme as well. However, applicants are not required to sit for all of the exams as each programme and university has its separate requirements. While some universities may ask for UMAT for undergraduate Medicine programmes, other universities may only require English proficiency scores and Class 12 subject scores. Similarly, for MBA programmes, only a handful of top universities have mandated the submission of GMAT scores. Now we come to the main question: Which exam is required for studying in Australia?

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Entrance Exams to Study in Australia - Eligibility and Application Fees

Candidates who want to pursue a bachelor's or master's abroad, especially in Australia are required to take some of the necessary exams including some standardised exams and English proficiency tests to make their chance of getting selected high. Below is a table that shows the required entrance exams to study in Australia with their eligibility and application fees:

Exam

Application Fees

Eligibility

TOEFL

INR 11,468 - 17,919

No age limit. No specific educational qualification required

IELTS

INR 14,700

Minimum age 16 years

PTE Academic

INR 13,300

Minimum age 16 years. Candidates below the age of 18 are required to give a parental consent form

GMAT

INR 18,300

Minimum age 18 years

MCAT

INR 23,400

The candidate must be pursuing or completed MBBS

LSAT

INR 3,799

No age limit

UMAT

INR 17, 833

Students who have completed their secondary schooling

ISAT

INR 7,990

Indian citizens who are below the age of 26 years can apply after completing their schooling

SAT

INR 7,500

No specific eligibility criteria

ACT

INR 11,571 - 12,429

No specific eligibility criteria

Entrance Exams to Study Bachelors in Australia

Candidates applying for bachelors in Australia are considered for admission based on standardised entrance exams or proof of English language proficiency. SAT or ACT scores can also be treated as proof of English language proficiency at some colleges or universities. Take a look at the exams needed to study in Australia for a bachelor's degree:

UCAT

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admission test that is required to be taken by students and asked by medical universities in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. It is a two-hour computer-based test to help the universities assess whether the candidate has the required ability and professionalism. This test can also be taken by Indian students who want to study abroad in the above-mentioned countries and study medicine. Thus, UCAT is one of the important entrance exams to study in Australia for Indian students if they want to heighten their admission chances for medical courses.

STAT

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), designed by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER), is an aptitude test that measures verbal and quantitative reasoning skills - a requirement for UG education. STAT has three forms - Multiple Choice Test, Written English Test and STAT. The eligibility criteria differ from university to university in terms of the minimum age required for the test. The multiple-choice questions section comes with 70 questions that need to be answered within two hours, while the written test examines the applicant's capacity to express his ideas and ideas in writing. For this, the candidate will be given only one hour.

Indian students are not required to sit for the exam as it is not compulsory for them. There are only a few universities that require STAT, so Indian applicants can check the eligibility criteria of the particular university and sit for the exam accordingly.

ISAT

ISAT is among the few important entrance exams needed to study in Australia. International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) is a computer-based examination, designed by ACER. The test backs the students' selection for undergraduate courses in Australian universities for medical, dentistry, and health programmes. The test aims to assess the knowledge, intellectual capabilities, and potential of applicants who are necessary for higher education success. It is a computer-based multiple-choice test that assesses a candidate's intellectual skills and abilities. There are a few courses that ask special categories of applicants to sit for the test. The university you are applying to will inform you accordingly.

Indian citizens with a maximum age of 26 years are eligible to sit for ISAT. It is recommended to check the university requirements first and then registers for this exam as not all universities require ISAT scores.

SAT

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is one of the popular entrance exams to study in Australia, especially for admission to bachelor programs. It is organised by the College Board. SAT is based on multiple-choice, focusing on two sections - Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The exam also comes with an optional essay section. Some colleges and universities in Australia may specifically look for SAT Essay scores depending on their eligibility criteria. Registration for the test must be completed at least five weeks before the test date. The SAT application can be submitted in two ways - online or by mail.

Indian applicants can sit for this exam as it will act as additional merit to their profile. Also, SAT is accepted worldwide so irrespective of the country or course, undergraduate applicants use the same score report for multiple universities.

ACT

American College Test (ACT) is an undergraduate entrance exam, preferred to be taken to get admission to American universities. This exam can be referred to as a common alternative to the SAT exam. The entrance exam is completely computer-based that includes subjects such as Mathematics, English, Science and Reading. ACT's writing component has been kept optional. To register for the ACT, candidates can apply online through the official website or even go offline by requesting and submitting the application form through post.

Australia offers various scholarships based on ACT scores for international students, especially Indian candidates. So, the Indian candidates should aim to score higher to get the scholarship. Similar to the SAT exam, ACT scores are also accepted worldwide. So students can benefit from one exam and use it to apply to various colleges and universities.

Entrance Exams to Study Masters in Australia

For taking admission to a college or university to study master’s abroad courses abroad, there are a few entrance exams required to study in Australia. For the unversed, business colleges in Australia require GMAT as the GRE is not so popular examination among other universities and colleges in Australia. Usually, the following exams are needed to study in Australian universities:

GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), a computer-based exam, is preferred by most of the top universities and colleges studying in Australia. It is necessary for seeking admission to management-focused programs abroad. GMAT includes four sections: writing, integrated reasoning, and verbal and quantitative skills. Thus, it is one of the most important exams needed to study in Australia for MBA or business-related courses.

Scores of this entrance test are valid for five years from the date of examination. The registration for the examination can be done online. For the unversed, over 2 lakh candidates appear for GMAT every year from India itself, the competition is quite tough and out of such a huge number, only a small section of candidates clear the exam with a score of 700 or above. Taking the GMAT is crucial for MBA admission in Australia and hence the candidates' performance can make a difference in the selection.

MCAT

Candidates applying for post-graduation programs in Australian medical schools are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Medical schools like Griffith Medical School and Melbourne Medical School seek MCAT scores for admission. MCAT is conducted multiple times between January and September. MCAT is completely a computer-based MCQ test focused on physical sciences, biological sciences, psychology, natural, social and behavioural sciences and related portions. Candidates can apply for the examination online. Its scores are valid for three years. The total score of the examination ranges between 472 to 528, while individual section scores vary between 118 and 132.

GAMSAT

Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is set up in cooperation with ACER and is quite an important one to take admission to graduate-level medical and healthcare courses. The exam is held twice a year - March and September. Any candidate who is holding a bachelor's degree or is registered for a bachelor's degree is eligible for the GAMSAT programme in the final year. The examination is based on three components - humanities and social sciences, biological and physical sciences and writing communication. 

LSAT 

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is run by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) that supports Melbourne Law School's  JD program admission process as well as that of the West Australia University – Faculty of Law.

There are no such eligibility criteria that have been set by the LSAT, but fluency in English is a must. This test is of five parts - reading, understanding, two logical reasoning, analysis and writing (unscored section- it is not included in the LSAT score calculation). Candidates are provided 35 minutes to complete each section.

English Proficiency Tests to Study in Australia

The country's official teaching language is English so proof of language skill on the same is essential. English proficiency exams like TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic tests are another set of exams needed to study in Australia. Any one of these language competence exams can be taken by the candidate. However, the score required varies as per the university and programme the student selects.

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) evaluates a student's ability to interpret, write and communicate in English. This exam can be taken by international students to demonstrate their English skills. IELTS is one of the biggest English amongst 140 nations globally. This exam has set no such eligibility criteria for the students. Anyone who is aspiring to study in Australia can take this test. 

Its syllabus consists of four components which are required to get finished within 2 hours and 45 minutes. This test can be scored using a nine-band scale that ranges from an expert to a non-user. The approved average score is 6.5 in Australia.

TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), conducted by ETS in over 130 nations, is an international English proficiency test that is accepted by Australian colleges and universities. The exam comes in two formats - TOEFL iBT and the TOEFL PBT, they both are paper-based exams. 

TOEFL has not set any such eligibility criteria, which makes it open for everyone. It is available for students who have completed high school and want to demonstrate their English skills. Its exam pattern consists of four components that should be finished in four and a half hours. The marking scale here is 160-210.

PTE Academic

Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a three-hour fully computer-aided exam that is conducted across various cities in India, Australia and China. The PTE Academic requires four skills of candidates - reading, writing, speaking and listening.

PTE Academic registration is quite simple. The candidate is required to create an account on the official PTE Academic website. Now as things are getting back to normal, PTE testing has resumed in Australia and the other three countries.

Cambridge English Qualifications

Cambridge English Qualifications are in-depth exams that focus on a level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), helping the students to improve their writing, reading and listening skills. This exam has two types: Advanced and Proficiency. 

  • Cambridge English: Advanced - Cambridge English: Advanced, also known as Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) is an examination offered to over 110 countries. Australia, North America, the United Kingdom and several other countries accept CAE scores. This score can be used by international students as an English proficiency test score to study abroad. Moreover, there is no such age limit to sit for the exam and you can take the test as many times you want.

  • Cambridge English: Proficiency -Cambridge English: Proficiency, also known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) is the highest general English exam taken by students who prefer to study abroad for higher studies. CPE is accepted by most universities worldwide. Taking the test can be quite beneficial to getting admission to an Australian university. This can also positively impact a student's visa application when they are asked about their language ability. 

By now, it must be clear that these are a handful of exams needed to study in Australia. These entrance exams are necessary for admission as they open the doors of Australian universities and colleges. It is suggested that all applicants should take these exams seriously and do all possible things to prepare for them. At first, the candidates must ensure that they are taking a proper examination. For this, the students should verify with the college of interest and their particular study field.

The best place to start is the university's official website. It will include all kinds of information relating to tests and everything else needed to get admission there.  For further information, the applicant can also contact the school's study abroad or admissions office.

Once the applicant knows what examination they should take, they should spend more and more time preparing themselves. The level of preparation may differ depending on the demands of the learner. Though it is not so mandatory to take any kind of preparation course, it might benefit students who are anxious about their scores.

If you want to study in Australia or any other country but have queries regarding entrance exams and the application process, feel free to write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com. 

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