Tests Required for PhD Abroad – GRE, GMAT, IELTS & TOEFL
by Ph.D. Admissions Team of Road to Abroad
Tests Required for PhD Abroad: Many PhD programs abroad ask PhD applicants to submit different test scores. These can be divided in to two categories: (1) Tests to determine academic preparedness [GRE & GMAT], and (2) Tests to check English language abilities [IELTS & TOEFL]. These tests help the graduate schools confirm that you have sufficient subject-related knowledge, critical thinking and logical reasoning aptitude and necessary proficiency in the English language to complete your doctorate. In this blog, we have discussed these tests in details from the perspective of PhD applications.
GRE for PhD
The GRE® General Test and GRE® Subject Tests were designed to achieve a specific intended purpose that adds value to the admissions decision-making process. GRE scores are most commonly required for PhD programs in the USA and Canada, but owing to COVID-19 pandemic many universities are offering GRE waivers. Australia and European countries like UK and Germany usually do not ask to submit GRE scores. This requirement also varies from university to university and subject to subject. However, it is always best to check the requirements on the PhD program page before deciding to appear for the GRE test.
GRE General Test (3 hour 45 minutes)
The GRE General Test measures skills that graduate and professional schools, including business and law, have identified as necessary for academic success: verbal reasoning (score scale: 130-170), quantitative reasoning (score scale: 130-170), critical thinking and analytical writing (score scale: 0-6). Institutions receive separate scores for each of the test’s three sections, which allows graduate programs to place greater weight on some skills than others, if desired. Scores identify which potential students are likely to struggle academically in a particular skill, which can help programs prepare to offer extra support to help those students be successful.
GRE Subject Tests
The GRE Subject Tests measure achievement in a particular field of study and help departments evaluate applicants’ readiness for graduate school. Some GRE Subject Tests also yield sub-scores that provide additional information about strengths and weaknesses, which can be useful for guidance and placement purposes. Some of the available subjects are Chemistry, Maths, Physics, and Psychology.
What GRE score do I need for a PhD?
Graduate Schools usually do not specify a particular score or a cut-off score for GRE test. Some programs will tell you to score as high as possible, whereas others will share the average GRE score of the previous batch so that applicants know what score they should aim for.
Also Read: Things to Consider While Planning a PhD Abroad
GMAT for PhD
The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is an important part of the business school application process. The GMAT is a multiple-choice, computer-based and computer-adaptive standardized exam that is often required for admission to graduate business programs (MBA & PhD) globally. The GMAT is a business school entrance exam that lasts nearly 3 1/2 hours, and includes the following four components:
- An analytical writing assessment (30 minutes / 1 question), which measures critical thinking and communication skills.
- An integrated reasoning section (30 minutes / 12 questions), which shows how well students can analyze data and interpret information displayed in varied formats.
- A quantitative reasoning section (62 minutes / 31 questions), which determines whether students have strong mathematical abilities and numerical literacy.
- A verbal reasoning section (65 minutes / 32 questions), which evaluates reading comprehension skills, editing abilities and whether someone can make sense of written arguments.
GMAT scores are most commonly required for PhD programs in the USA and Canada, but owing to COVID-19 pandemic many universities are offering GMAT waivers. Australia and European countries like UK and Germany usually do not ask to submit GMAT scores. This requirement also varies from university to university and subject to subject. However, it is always best to check the requirements on the PhD program page before deciding to appear for the GMAT test.
What GMAT score do I need for a PhD?
Graduate Schools usually do not specify a particular score or a cut-off score for GMAT test. Some programs will tell you to score as high as possible, whereas others will share the average GMAT score of the previous batch so that applicants know what score they should aim for. The majority of candidates score between 400 and 600. If you want to apply for a PhD in Business at a top business school, you’ll probably find that the average GMAT score will be over 700. You can use the following data to see the relationship between scaled scores and the test-takers achieving them:
- Top 10% of all test takers – 710
- Top 25% of all test takers – 650
- Top 50% of all test takers – 580
- Below 50th percentile of all test takers – 570
Also Read: Eligibility Criteria for PhD Abroad
English Language Tests for PhD
If English is not your native-language, then it is likely that you will need to provide English language test scores to the graduate school. The two most widely accepted tests are IELTS and TOEFL. Please note that if you completed Masters or Bachelors in one of the following English-speaking countries, you may be exempted from providing English language test scores:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- UK
- USA
This list is not comprehensive as many universities accept degrees from other nations like Caribbean countries, Singapore, etc for this exemption.
IELTS & TOEFL
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to help you work, study or migrate to a country where English is the native language. Your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English will be assessed during the test. IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9. For applying to PhD programs, you should appear for IELTS Academic and NOT General Training. If you need help in preparing for IELTS test, check out our online IELTS preparation portal.
Similar to the IELTS test, there are four sections in the TOEFL test which assess your listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. The most popular form of TOEFL is TOEFL iBT (internet based test) even though a paper-delivered option is also available. In both cases, you will have to book the test and go an authorised test centre to complete the test.
What IELTS and TOEFL score do I need for a PhD?
You have to take one of the two tests. TOEFL is more popular in US whereas for all other countries students usually choose IELTS. Having said that, IELTS is also accepted at US universities and there will be no problem if your choose to give IELTS test for US PhD Programs. As far as minimum score is required, it varies from university to university and program to program. So, it is always a good idea to check the requirements of the program you are planning to apply to.
The minimum IELTS score for a PhD is usually 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each section of the exam. However, many programs may require a minimum score of 7.0 or 7.5. The minimum TOEFL iBT score for PhD programs is normally 90, but it can be as high as 100-105 for some programs.
Congratulations to our student Anisha for receiving offer letter for fully-funded PhD position at Leuphana University, Germany.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
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Congratulations to our student Isha for receiving interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position at LSM PhD Program, LMU, Germany.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
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Congratulations to our student Vishwajeet for receiving interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position at University of Cambridge, UK.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student Nandini Pant for receving on site interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position at Mainz, Germany.
The program will pay for the entire travel and lodging expenses incurred for the interview. Upon selection, her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving on site interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Life Science Graduate Program is one of the most prestigious PhD programs in the world and in EU. It involves all the major universities of Zurich like ETH, University of Zurich, etc.
The program will pay for the entire travel and lodging expenses incurred for the interview. Upon selection, her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving fully-funded MA Offer at Washington State University in USA for fully-funded Masters in Criminal Justice and Criminogy. Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 2 years
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at Leuphana University in Germany for fully-funded PhD in Statistics. His tuition fee will be paid by the program and he will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 4 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congrats to our student for getting PhD offer letter from University of East London in the UK.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship to him.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student for receving on site interview invitation for fully-funded PhD position in Dresden, Germany. The program will pay for the entire travel and lodging expenses incurred for the interview. Upon selection, her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Testimonial of our student who got selected in fully-funded PhD in Purdue University, University of Southern California, University of British Columbia and Alberta University for PhD in Chemical Engineering.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarships #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinUSA #phdinUK
Testimonial of our student who got selected in fully-funded PhD at Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana University, USA for PhD in Toxicology.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa #phdinUK
Testimonial by our PhD Consultation Student. She got fully-funded PhD at HBRS PhD Program in Molecular Medicine (Biology) in Germany.
Funding Status: Fully Funded (Full tuition fee scholarship + Generous stipend to cover living cost).
To know about our services visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa
Congratulations to our student for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at Hanover Biomedical Research School in Germany for fully-funded PhD in Molecular Medicine (Biology). Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Testimonial of our student who got selected in fully-funded PhD at Hanover Germany - Hanover Biomedical Research program (HBRS) for PhD in Molecular Medicine.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa #phdinUK
Testimonial of our student who got selected for fully-funded PhD at University of Bath for SAMBa PhD Program.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa #phdinUK
Testimonial by our PhD Consultation Student Swati Gupta. She got fully-funded PhD at UMass Amherst (photo frosted on student request).
Funding Status: Fully Funded (Full tuition fee scholarship + Generous stipend to cover living cost).
To know about our services visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa
Congratulations to our student Shruti Verma for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at University of Florida in the USA for fully-funded PhD in Chemistry. Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 5 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Congratulations to our student Swati Gupta for receving fully-funded PhD Offer at University of Massachusetts Amherst in the USA for fully-funded PhD in Chemistry. Her tuition fee will be paid by the program and she will also get a generous stipend to pay for her living expenses. The funding is guaranteed for the entire duration of the program i.e. 6 years.
The student is enrolled with us in our Exclusive package and we provided best possible mentorship.
To know about our PhD Consulatation services, visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or contact 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa #studyinusa #phdconsultation #studyinswitzer #phdinswitzerland
Testimonial of Shefali Kulkarni who got selected for fully-funded PhD at University of Southern California.
If you want to consult us for PhD applications abroad visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in or call 8383050912.
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #phdscholarship #phd #phdingermany #studyingermany #mastersingermany #phdinusa
Testimonial by our PhD Consultation Student Shefali Kulkarni. She got fully-funded PhD position at University of Southern California in the USA.
Funding Status: Fully Funded (Full tuition fee scholarship + Generous stipend to cover living cost).
To know about our services visit www.roadtoabroad.co.in
#phdabroad #fullyfundedphd #fullyfundedprogram #fullyfundedphds #phdscholarship #phdscholarships #phdscholarshipsforinternationalstudents #phdscholarshipopportunities #studyabroad #scholarships #scholarship #phdinusa
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IELTS
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Hi Sir, what is the minimum score I need in IELTS for PhD positions in USA?
Hi Asha, the requirements vary between overall score of 6.5 and 7.5. Please keep in mind that to get PhD funding in the US, you will have to qualify to work as Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant. And majority of universities require a minimum of 7.0 overall and no less than 7.0 in any section. So, to be on the safe side, aim for 7.0 overall and 7.0 in all sections.
If you need help in IELTS Preparation check out our dedicated portal on http://www.ielts.roadtoabroad.co.in
Hi Sir, I want to apply in Canada. Should I take IELTS or TOEFL? And do I need GRE or GMAT
You should take IELTS test, as IELTS is also accepted by the IRCC for visa application but not TOEFL. Canadian universities accept TOEFL but later on you will have to give IELTS for visa application. GRE and GMAT depend on program requirements, so you should check the program requirements.
Can I apply in USA without GMAT or GRE?
Hi, It really differs from university to university. While some universities do not ask for GMAT or GRE others do. It also depends on the subject area. Short answer is yes it is possible but you cannot apply this to all universities in the US.
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