Grad School Entrance Exams: Information for Potential Students

Some students must complete graduate school in order to advance in their chosen profession. However, candidates for graduate programs will probably need to pass one of several graduate school entrance tests in order to be accepted.

The Law School Admission Test is typically taken by those aiming for a career in law, whereas the Medical Colleges Admission Test is taken by those preparing for a career in medicine. The Graduate Management Admission Test will probably be taken by people considering business school.

The Graduate Record Examination, which is approved by numerous master’s, Ph.D., and professional degree programs in a range of areas, is another choice for graduate school aspirants. In recent years, it has also been usual for several law schools and business schools to accept GRE results in place of the GMAT and LSAT. On the GRE website, test takers can access a list of business schools and law schools that accept the exam.

Some schools now allow students to choose whether or not to submit test results. As a result, J.D. aspirants still need to pass the LSAT or GRE in order to be admitted to reputable law schools, despite an American Bar Association recommendation to scrap the requirement.

Graduate school counselors suggest that you must thoroughly prepare for the test you are taking and become familiar with it. Here is a general description of the exams, including their duration and cost.

LSAT

The LSAT evaluates a candidate’s readiness for the demanding and normally three-year legal school. The examination consists of two elements: a multiple-choice section separated into various sections, and an ungraded written essay. It can be taken in person or online. The multiple-choice questions assess applicants’ analytical and logical thinking skills as well as their knowledge of the text. The writing section is completed online with secure software that can be downloaded and installed on a personal device. It can be completed up to eight days before the multiple-choice exam date.

Scores for test takers range from 120 to 180. In the U.S. News Best Law Schools rankings, scores in the upper 160s are above the median among admitted students at most listed law schools; nevertheless, students enrolled in some prominent and selective programs frequently have scores of 170 or above.

For the testing cycle of 2023–2024, the exam will cost $222. If qualified, test takers who require financial aid to pay for the exam can request for a fee waiver.

The LSAT score of a candidate is a significant consideration, but it is not the only one. When deciding whether to admit a candidate, law schools frequently take into account a variety of information, including personal statements, academic records, resumes, diversity statements, and GPAs. Additionally, admissions offices take into account a candidate’s employment history and extracurricular involvement and further vetting applicants through admissions interviews.

MCAT

Future medical professionals must be able to learn new information quickly and communicate effectively in a patient-centered environment. The MCAT evaluates whether prospective medical students possess these abilities in addition to the conceptual comprehension and analytical capabilities required for success in medical education. The outcomes of this test aid admissions officers in determining a candidate’s readiness for medical school.

Four components of the test’s scores were reported after it underwent an upgrade in April 2015:

• The Biochemical and Biological Basis of Living Systems

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• Biological System Foundations: Chemical and Physical

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• Foundations of Behavior: Psychological, Social, and Biological Aspects

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• Critical Thinking and Reasoning Capabilities

Scores for each section range from 472 to 528, and each is given a separate evaluation that is equally weighted. The aggregate of the section scores, which vary from 118 to 132, determines the final grade.

The regular registration fee for the MCAT is $330 for the 2023 testing year, an increase of $5 from the 2022 testing year, according to the MCAT fee schedule published on the Association of American Medical Colleges website. However, candidates for medical school who are struggling financially may be eligible for the AAMC’s price assistance program, which would reduce the registration fee to $135.

The test lasts 7 1/2 hours, of which 6 hours and 15 minutes are spent actually taking the test, 50 minutes are used for breaks, and 20 to 25 minutes are used for logistical activities at the start and end of the examination. There are four sections of multiple-choice questions, each of which lasts 90 or 95 minutes.

According to the AAMC website, almost all medical schools in the United States and several in Canada require applicants to submit their MCAT exam results, and many of them do not accept scores that are older than three years.

On a calendar on the AAMC website, test takers in the United States and Canada can find information about MCAT test dates, registration deadlines, and score release dates. On the AAMC website, test dates are also provided for both domestic and international locations.

GMAT

The GMAT is typically taken by students considering business school; however, starting on November 7, 2023, the GMAT Focus Edition will replace the current edition.

The GMAT Focus Edition maintains the two sections from the prior edition, Quantitative Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning, and adds a new Data Insights component that assesses applicants’ proficiency in data analysis, data interpretation, data visualization, and data-driven decision-making. The test is less than an hour shorter than the previous iteration, clocking in at 2 hours and 15 minutes for each section.