Graduate schools and professional programs usually require applicants to take admission exams corresponding to specific graduate programs. Some of the more common admission exams include:

  • DAT: Dental Admission Test
  • GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test – Business
  • GRE: Graduate Record Examination (This includes a general exam, and also subject exams)
  • LSAT: Law School Admission Test
  • MCAT: Medical College Admission Test
  • OCAT: Optometry College Admission Test
  • PCAT: Pharmacy College Admission Test
  • VAT: Veterinary Aptitude Test

Some schools also require a GRE subject matter test. The application will clearly state which test you need to take.

Schools will vary in how heavily they weigh your test scores. Some schools will not consider candidates below a certain range, while others view test scores as part of your overall application packet.

A note for international students
Many graduate schools require that you demonstrate competency in English. You may need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam.

About the GRE

The GRE is the most commonly requested standardized test for graduate school admissions. It consists of three sections, one each on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills.

The verbal section has questions regarding reading comprehension, antonyms, analogies, and sentence completion. The quantitative section tests your problem-solving and reasoning ability. Typical questions use arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. The analytical writing section tests your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples and control the elements of standard written English.

At the end of the test, you can select which schools you wish to send your results to. Results can be sent to four schools free of charge; there is a fee for sending additional results. You can then view your results immediately. You can’t change your mind about sending your test results after you view them, however.

Take these exams as early as possible. This will allow time for a retest if necessary.  It is important that you do some practice tests, even if you normally test well don’t  just try to take the test without some preparation.

Testing booklets for each of the admission exams are available at the Testing Office, 207 Student Services Building.  These booklets include the examination registration form, fee information, examination dates and registration deadlines.

The MSU Test Preparation Consortium (Could this link to http://testprep.msu.edu/) is dedicated to helping MSU undergraduates prepare for gradate admissions tests and offers resources and tips to help.

The Learning Resource Center also provides prep classes for some of these exams. Check their website for an updated schedule of work