Guidance for TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT and IELTS Testing

Start preparing for the TOEFL exam and other admission tests. (e.g. GRE, GMAT, or SAT). The above examinations are for U.S. and Canada. The GMAT exam is for those who are going to study an MBA Program. The GRE exam is for those who are going to study a graduate program in the fields of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry , Computer Science, Engineering, etc…

TOEFL (Teaching of English as a Foreign Language)
Computer-Based Testing is year round. Web site www.toefl.org

The computer-based test has four sections, all of which are required:

Listening - tests your ability to understand English as it is spoken in North America. This section includes listening materials such as dialogues, short conversations, academic discussions, and talks. All listening materials relate to academic topics and situations.

Structures - measures your ability to recognize language used in standard written English. You are therefore being tested in your knowledge for formal rather than conversational language.

Reading - measures your ability to understand short passages similar in topic and style to academic texts used in North American colleges and universities. This section tests your comprehension on main ideas, factual information, inferences, and vocabulary.

Writing - measures your ability to generate, organize, and develop ideas, and to support those ideas with examples of evidence. This section evaluates your command of written English, and complements the information obtained from the structure section. You can either write your essay or type it on the computer. Please note that your scores will be delayed if you choose to hand-write your essay.

Range Comparison

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer-adaptive test that is available year-round. Visit GMAT on line at www.gmac.com.

The GMAT is designed to help graduate business schools assess the qualifications of candidates for an MBA or other advanced business/management programs.

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)

The General Test and the Writing Assessment are given year-round on the computer. Subject tests are given in the paper-based format on set dates. Visit GRE on-line at www.gre.org

Test Descriptions

The GRE General Tests measure verbal, quantitative, and analytical reasoning skills that have been developed over a long period of time and are not necessarily related to any particular field of study. The General Test is offered year-round at authorized testing centers worldwide on computer.

The GRE Subject Tests measure undergraduate achievements in eight specific fields of study. In taking a Subject Test, you should have an undergraduate major or extensive background in that discipline. The tests are given in November, December, and April at authorized paper-based testing centers worldwide.

The GRE Writing Assessment expands the range of proficiencies assessed by the General Test, to include the kinds of critical thinking and analytical writing skills generally deemed essential for graduate school success. The Writing Assessment is offered year-round on computer at authorized testing centers worldwide.

Students who are applying for U.K., Australia, and New Zealand should prepare for the IELTS exam. Each school sets its own requirements, so we have to find them out from the school web pages.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is recognized as the preferred language requirement for entry to academic courses by all institutions of further and higher education in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. It has recently been adopted by the majority of prestigious Canadian universities and is currently being promoted as a screening device in the United States of America.

IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), and IDP Education, Australia.

In addition to the score for overall language ability, ELTS provides a score for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). The score are reported on a nine band scale. Total Test Time: 2 hours 45 minutes.

Most universities and colleges in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA accept an overall band score of 6.0 or 6.5 for entry to academic programs of study.

The British Council conducts a testing session twice a month. Special test sessions can be arranged for particular sponsors or institutions.

To apply, you will need:

• One recent photo,
• IELTS test fee: US$100, payable in Baht
• A copy of your ID card or passport
• There is no limit to the number of times you can take the IELTS but there must be a gap of 3 months between each test