Getting an opportunity to walk through the grand halls of some of the best universities in the UK is something many dream of. Millions of students apply for a chance to study in the UK, however, their dreams don’t come true because of their limited knowledge about the admission tests required to study in the UK.
These admission tests are the university’s way of testing whether you’d be able to meet the rigorous requirements.
In this blog, we’ll be breaking down the entire examination process and steps you can take to ace the admission tests to earn a place in UK’s top institutes.
Popular Admission Tests Required to Study in the UK
1. English Ability Entrance Exams
The English ability entrance exams are the first hurdle in your journey to study in the UK. Fortunately, there are multiple choices you have when it comes to these exams. Here’s a breakdown of all available options.
- IELTS – International English Language Testing System
IELTS is one of the most common English ability entrance exam and it is recognized globally. The IELTS exam tests your listening, writing, speaking, and reading skills in the English language.
Once you pass this exam, you’d be able to work, migrate, or study in any English speaking nation. There are two types of IELTS exam:
- IELTS General
- IELTS Academic
The minimum qualifying score for the UK student visa is 4.0-5.5. If you’re aiming for the top UK Universities (Oxford, Cambridge), you’d need to get an IELTS score between 7.0-7.5. The fees IELTS is £160.
- TOEFL Test – Test of English as a Foreign Language
The TOEFL iBT score are accepted by all the UK universities. So, this is another exam you can give, if you can’t give the IELTS exam. The TOEFL test is broken down into 3 types:
- Paper-based exam
- Computer-based exam
- Internet-based exam
If you’re applying for a B2 level university degree course, you have to meet these qualifying scores:
- Reading – 17
- Listening – 17
- Writing – 17
- Speaking – 20
Fees for the TOEFL test is £159.
- PTE Academic Test – Pearson Test of English
PTE is an English language skill test accepted by almost all the UK Universities. The minimum score required get admission in a UK university is between 50-63. PTE academic test is suggested for students that want to pursue higher education in the UK.
PTE is a computer-based English language test to assess academic-level speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills. The fees is £117.
- Cambridge English Language Assessmnts
The primary benefit of taking the Cambridge English Language Assessment is it has no expiry date. But, some selected universities may consider scores older than 2 years invalid. The test has a grading system. If you want to obtain a tier 4 Visa, you’ll have to take either of these exams:
- B2 First (FCE)
- C1 Advanced (CAE)
- C2 Proficiency (CPE)
The fees for the Cambridge Test is £56-£66.
Top universities that accept Cambridge test:
- University of Oxford
- University of Warwick
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- ISE Test – Integrated Skills in English Test
Trinity College London provides the ISE test. If qualified with B2 or higher score, students can obtain a student Visa. The exam checks a students capabilities in 2 modules:
- Reading and writing
- Listening and speaking
There are 4 different levels of ISE test and they are dependant on the university a student has chosen.
- ISE I
- ISE II
- ISE III
- ISE IV
- Duolingo English Test
The Duolingo English Test is a standardised English test that’s accepted by over 4,000 UK institutions. The scores required for qualifications are strictly based on the type of university, course, and degree applied for.
The Duolingo exam is made up of 3 parts:
- Introduction & onboarding
- Adpative test
- Writing and speaking samples
The Duolingo score that’s accepted widely for UK universities is 105.But it can vary on different factors.
2. MBA Entrance Exams
If you’re applying for an MBA degree, then here are the exams you’ll have to give:
- GRE Test – Graduate Record Examination
GRE is a test that’s taken by applicants who want to apply for degrees like MS or MBA in the UK. The GRE test is divided into 3 sections:
- Analytical writing
- Quantitative reasoning
- Verbal reasoning
The aim of the test is to measure your algebra, arithmetic, geometry, vocabulary, and writing skills. The minimum score requirement for GRE test is 160 and the test fees is £149.
- GMAT – Graduate Management Admissions Test
GMAT is a standardised test that’s required for admission into management programs in the UK. It’s a computer based test that’s divided into 4 sections –
- Analytical assessment
- Integrated reasoning
- Quantitative reasoning
- Verbal reasoning
GMAT test fee is £174 and the minimum average score required is 600-650.
3. Law Course Entrance Exams
If you want to pursue law in a UK based university, these are the exams you have to give:
- LNAT Test – Law National Aptitude Test
LNAT is one of the most famous exams that UK universities and schools use to give admission to law students. The goal of the exam is to evaluate whether students have the skills for the law profession.
LNAT is broken down into 2 sections and the entire duration of the exam is 2 hours 15 minutes. Section A has 42 computer-based MCQs. In section B, students will get 40 minutes to answer any of the 3 essays on various subjects.
Minimum score required for LNAT test is 22-27 and the test fees is £120.
- CLT Test – Cambridge Law Test
Cambridge law test is a paper-based law entrance exam where test takers must read the essay and answer the questions. The test aims to evaluate a student’s:
- Aptitude
- Comprehension
- And exposition skills
Cambridge Law Test is conducted by the University of Cambridge and the registration is free.
4. Mathematics Course Entrance Exams
There are 2 exams you can give if you want to study mathematics in the UK. Here’s a breakdown of the exams.
- STEP Test – Sixth Term Examination Paper
STEP is a mathematics examination designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of undergrad mathematics course. The exam has 2 parts:
- Step Mathematics 2
- Step Mathematics 3
There are a handful universities that accept STEP mathematics test, such as:
- The University of Warwick
- The University of Cambridge
- Imperial College of London
- MAT Test – Mathematics Admissions Test
MAT is a standardised mathematics test conducted by University of Cambridge & University of Oxford.
The test’s focus is to check where applicants have sufficient skills in mathematics or not. The exam has 2 modes – computer-based and paper-based. Candidates that want to pursue undergraduate mathematics or computer science degree can choose to take this exam.
5. Medical Courses Entrance Exams
Students who want to study medicine in the UK can take any of the below mentioned medical course entrance exams.
- UKCAT – UK Clinical Aptitude Test
UKCAT is a computer-based test for medical and healthcare programmes. It has 5 sub sections with multiple choice questions and assessing mental abilities. The fees for this test is £117.
- HPAT Test – Health Professions Admission Test
The HPAT is a 2.5 hour online exam developed by Australian Council for Educational Research that students can take if they want to study medicine. HPAT has 3 sections:
- Logical reasoning & problem-solving
- Interpersonal understanding
- Non-verbal reasoning
Study in UK with MYiO
The entire process for studying in the UK can be confusing for students. Most students end up being disappointed, not knowing what to do. If it’s your dream to study in the UK, arrange a free consultation with our international officers today.
