US Entrance Exam Guide: Which Test You Need for Every Program

Choosing the right US entrance exam depends on your study level, your intended program, and the specific university you are applying to. SAT/ACT is generally required for undergraduate candidates. MS program candidates, as well as candidates from all other masters programs, require GRE scores, whereas MBA and all other business programs may prefer the GMAT score.

International candidates, whatever their level be, require an accepted English proficiency test like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or even Duolingo English Test. This guide breaks down exactly which USA entrance exam applies to your situation, what exams are required to study in USA, what each test actually covers, and where requirements differ by program.

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Key Takeaways

• Undergraduate applicants generally need the SAT or ACT, though a growing number of US universities have gone test-optional.
• Most MS and other masters in USA applicants may need the GRE, though many computer science and engineering departments have made it optional or waived it entirely.
• MBA and other business masters applicants typically need the GMAT, with the GRE also accepted at most business schools.
• Nearly all international applicants need an English-language proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test), unless they qualify for a waiver.
• Specialized programs carry their own exams: the MCAT for medical school and the LSAT for law school.
• Every requirement below is a general pattern, not a guarantee. Always confirm the exact list of accepted exams and minimum scores on your target university’s official admissions page.

English-Language Exams for Studying in USA

Almost every international applicant, whatever their program level, needs to demonstrate English proficiency unless they qualify for a waiver (commonly available if you completed a prior degree taught entirely in English, or in some cases based on nationality). Universities may accept one or more of the four tests below, and requirements differ, so confirm accepted exams with your specific program.

TOEFL

• Purposes: Measures proficiency in academic English reading, listening, speaking, and writing; commonly used by many US and Canadian universities.
• Format: The TOEFL iBT format was drastically changed by ETS as of January 21, 2026. The test is now approximately 90 minutes long (compared to previous three-hour test), features multistage adaptive testing in reading and listening, and replaced old integrated essay tasks with brief, practical tasks on academic and campus-related topics such as e-mails and discussion forums.
• Scoring: Implemented a new 1–6 scoring system that is connected to the CEFR system. During transition until 2028, score reports will contain both old scores on 0–120 point scale and new band scores, to facilitate the adjustment process for universities.
• Validity: Valid for 2 years from the test date.
• Fee: $200-$255 depending on the country; most major markets are charged $245-$255. Check the exact fee for your test center on ets.org website.
• Applicable Programs: Accepted across undergraduate, master’s, MBA, and PhD applications, and is generally the preferred English test for US and Canadian universities.

IELTS

• Purpose: Measures English proficiency for academic and general purposes, jointly administered by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge.
• Format: Lasts around two hours and forty-five minutes and consists of four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. When taking the test for college admission purposes, it is better to take IELTS Academic than IELTS General Training. The speaking part of the test is an oral test with a human examiner.
• Scoring: Reported on a band scale from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest), with most competitive graduate programs expecting a band of 6.5 to 7.5 or higher.
• Validity: Scores remain valid for 2 years from the test date.
• Fee: Roughly $215–$310 depending on country and test center; in India this typically runs around INR 19,000, but confirm the current figure at ielts.org or britishcouncil.in before booking.
• Applicable Programs: Widely accepted at the undergraduate, masters, and MBA level, and by many PhD programs, though somewhat less universally preferred than TOEFL by US institutions specifically.

PTE Academic

• Purpose: A computer-based English proficiency test conducted by Pearson, which uses AI scoring for the Speaking section.
• Format: Integrated test with the sections of Speaking & Writing, Reading, and Listening, taken during one session and adapted for the level of difficulty.
• Score scale: Reported using the scale from 10 to 90. A score of around 65 in PTE is considered to be equal to 7.0 band in IELTS, but equivalence tables may differ from publisher to publisher.
• Validity: Valid for 2 years from the test date.
• Price: Approximately $220 worldwide, although it differs in other countries. For the latest prices, visit pearsonpte.com.
• Relevant Programs: Is recognized by many US universities, however, its recognition is not as widespread as that of TOEFL and IELTS. It works very well for studying in Australia and the UK.

Duolingo English Test

• Purpose: A shorter, lower-cost, fully remote English proficiency test that can be taken from home at any time.
• Format: An adaptive, AI-scored test covering reading, writing, speaking, and listening, taken entirely online with no fixed test date required.
• Scoring: Reported on a scale of 10 to 160, with results typically available within about 48 hours, making it useful for applicants working against tight deadlines.
• Validity: Scores remain valid for 2 years from the test date.
• Fee: $59 for a single test, or a two-test bundle for $100, making it noticeably cheaper than TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE.
• Applicable Programs: Increasingly accepted by US universities, including several Ivy League and other top-ranked institutions, though acceptance still varies by school and program, so always verify directly with your target university.

Entrance Exams for Undergraduate Study in USA

Undergraduate applicants to US universities have historically needed the SAT or ACT, though testing policy has shifted meaningfully over the past few years.

SAT

• Purpose: A standardized admissions test measuring reading, writing, and math skills for undergraduate applicants.
• Format: There are no more traditional paper-based tests of the SAT across the globe as the new Digital SAT started being implemented globally from 2023 in international test centers and from 2024 in US test centers.
• The Digital SAT exams required to study in USA takes 2 hours and 14 minutes and consist of two parts: the Reading and Writing Test and Mathematics Test. The test is conducted via the Bluebook application of College Board. A built-in graphing calculator is available throughout the entire Math section.
• Scoring: Reported on the familiar 400–1600 scale, with each section scored 200–800.
• Validity: SAT scores do not technically expire, but most universities prefer scores from within the last 1–2 years.
• Fee: The base international registration fee is $68, plus an international regional fee of roughly $43, bringing the typical total for Indian test-takers to around $111. Additional charges apply for late registration and extra score reports; confirm current fees at satsuite.collegeboard.org.
• Applicable Programs: Undergraduate admissions. May be required, optional, or not considered at all depending on the university, so check your target school’s current testing policy before registering.

ACT

• Purpose: An alternative standardized admission test to the SAT, which is accepted by nearly all US colleges equally.
• Format: Since 2025, the ACT has adopted a considerably shorter “Enhanced ACT” format with an option to skip the Science section. The test core (consisting of the English, Math, and Reading sections) is now 2 hours 5 minutes long, as opposed to its previous length of over 3 hours, and a composite score is now based solely on these sections. For those who decide to take the Science test, a separate Science score and STEM score are provided.
• Scores: All tests are still rated on the standard 1–36 scale.
• Validity: ACT scores do not expire officially, but most colleges like to see a recent one.
• Fee: Around $168.50 excluding the Writing test and around $188.50 including the Writing test for international candidates; an extra fee if you choose to take the optional Science test. Check act.org for up-to-date figures.
• Applicable Programs: Undergraduate admissions, accepted on equal footing with the SAT at nearly all US universities. May be required, optional, or not considered depending on the school.

Exams for MS and Master’s Programs in USA

Since graduate program requirements differ considerably from undergraduate ones, these exams for masters in USA matter for student looking for degrees like MBA, MIM, etc. 

GRE General Test

• Purpose: Measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills relevant to graduate-level study across nearly all fields.
• Format: Administered by ETS, the current GRE General Test runs about 1 hour 58 minutes and uses section-level adaptive testing, meaning performance on the first Verbal or Quantitative section affects the difficulty of the second section of that type. The test now includes a single analytical writing task rather than two, following a 2023 format change, and no longer includes an unscored experimental section.
• Scoring: Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are each scored 130–170, for a combined total of 260–340. Analytical Writing is scored separately on a 0–6 scale.
• Validity: Scores for this exam for study in USA remain valid for 5 years from the test date.
• Fee: $220 in India (approximately INR 22,500), though this may differ elsewhere. ETS runs a Fee Reduction Program for applicants who demonstrate financial need, cutting the fee by roughly half. Confirm the current fee at ets.org/gre.
• Applicable Programs: MS, many other master’s programs, PhD programs, and is also accepted by most MBA programs as an alternative to the GMAT. May be required, optional, or waived entirely depending on the department, with computer science and engineering programs increasingly making it optional.

GRE Subject Tests

• Objective: Measures high-level discipline-based knowledge in one particular discipline and is different from the General Test in its focus on reasoning abilities.
• Format: A limited selection of subjects includes Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Psychology and lasts approximately 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on the discipline tested.
• Scoring: Scores are reported on a scale that is unique to the Subject Test and not the same as the General Test scale.
• Validity: Valid for five years from the test date.
• Fee: INR 17,800 approximately but varies; the current fee can be confirmed on ets.org/gre.
• Programs: Required only by some specialized PhD or research-based master’s programs within particular departments. For most candidates, the Subject Test is not applicable.

GMAT

• Purpose: The exams for MS in USA assesses quantitative, verbal, and data analysis abilities specifically pertinent to business school admission.
• Format: GMAT Focus Edition, the only one available now from GMAC, is 2 hours 15 minutes long with three sections of equal weight: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights. Old sections of Analytical Writing Assessment and Integrated Reasoning have been completely omitted when this format was introduced.
• Score Range: Each section is scored on 60-90 range, resulting in the total range of 205-805.
• Validity: Score remains valid for 5 years after the test date.
• Price: $275 for test center version or $300 for online version. Check mba.com for current price.
• Relevant Programs: MBA and other business master’s programs (Finance, Business Analytics, Management). Note that most business schools accept GRE as well, and it might be preferable depending on the program you are applying to.

<h2id=”special-exams”>Specialized Entrance Exams for USA

A handful of professional programs require their own dedicated USA entrance exam rather than the GRE or GMAT.

MCAT for Medical Programs

• Purpose: Tests scientific knowledge and critical reasoning skills required for medical school (MD programs) in the United States.
• Format: Administered by the AAMC, the MCAT covers four sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Total testing time runs about 6 hours 15 minutes including scheduled breaks, and the exam is entirely multiple-choice.
• Scoring: Each of the four sections is scored 118–132, for a combined total of 472–528.
• Applicable Programs: Required for nearly all MD programs in the United States. International applicants, including those from India, face significant additional hurdles for admission to US medical schools, including limited seat availability for non-citizens, so this path should be researched carefully and separately from other STEM programs.

LSAT for Law Programs

• Objective: Measures the ability to use logic and understand readings needed to be admitted to almost all American ABA-approved law schools.
• Format: The current LSAT test format, which is offered by the LSAC, contains two sections on logical reasoning, one section on reading comprehension, one unscored experimental section, and an argumentative writing section done separately online. The Logic Games section has not been offered since 2024.
• Scoring: Reported on a scale of 120–180.
• Validity: Most law schools accept LSAT scores from within the past 5 years.
• Fee: $253 for the 2025–2027 testing year, confirmed on LSAC’s official fee page. Confirm the current figure at lsac.org before registering, since LSAC updates this fee periodically.
• Applicable Programs: Required for admission to nearly all JD programs in the United States. International applicants should also budget for the mandatory Credential Assembly Service (CAS) subscription, a separate LSAC fee required by most law schools.

When Should You Take Entrance Exams for USA?

It’s crucial to understand the significance of general test scores or any entrance exam for USA, often a prerequisite for a admission in US university. American institutions have timelines to take these examinations. Here are the most common test timelines:

• Start 10 to 12 months before your application deadline: Research which exams for MS in USA your shortlisted programs actually require, since testing policies differ even within the same university.
• Sit for your primary exam 8 to 10 months before your deadline: This gives you time to review your score, retake the exam if needed, and still submit results before the university’s cutoff.
• Book English-language tests 3 to 6 months before your deadline: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo scores generally arrive faster than GRE or GMAT results, so these can be scheduled slightly later, but leave a buffer for a retake if your first attempt falls short.
• Budget time for a retake: Most exams allow retakes, but mandatory waiting periods apply (for example, the GMAT requires 16 days between attempts), so do not schedule your only sitting right before the deadline.
• Send official scores directly to universities: Most exam for study in USA charge a small fee for additional official score reports beyond the US universities with no application fee ones included at registration, so select your target universities carefully during registration where possible to avoid extra costs.

How Nomad Credit Can Support You?

The selection of the correct entrance exam for USA is just one step in the study abroad process. Nomad Credit’s is one of the best consultancy for study in USA and can help you review exam requirements and plan your applications for your study abroad journey. With determination and preparation for exams to study in the USA, you can make your dream of studying abroad a reality. 

With Nomad Credit, you can get:

• Personalized counseling based on your academic profile and career goals.
• University and course shortlisting to find programs that match your profile.
• Test guidance to understand which entrance or English-language proficiency exams may be relevant.
• Application support for SOPs, documentation, and university applications.
• Scholarship guidance to explore opportunities that can reduce your study costs.
• Education loan assistance with access to 20+ financial lenders and options including US-cosigner, no-cosigner, and INR loans.
• Visa assistance to help you prepare for the next stage after receiving an admit.

Conclusion

There is no single US entrance exam that applies to every applicant. The undergraduate applicants tend to consider SAT/ACT, the MS and other master’s applicants usually consider GRE, the MBA applicants usually consider GMAT as important exams for masters in USA; and the majority will have to take an English language test along with the main one.

Test policies often change, with the majority of programs becoming test optional or test-waived, so the best thing to do during preparation is to check the latest requirements from your prospective university admission page first.

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