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5th Dec 2022
Afia Azmi

Minimum Entrance Exam Score Required To Study Abroad (Germany, USA, UK, Australia, Canada) - IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, & GMAT

One of the biggest hurdles that one needs to cross for studying abroad is to score excellently in language and other entrance tests. Globally, the recognised and popular tests include IELTS (International English Language Testing System), GRE (Graduate Record Examinations), GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Their scores make you stand out in a stack of thousands of applications from around the world. With the world becoming more competitive every day, these tests are a tool for aspiring students to make their dream of studying abroad a tangible, comprehensive reality,know the entrance exam score required.

These exams also have certain entrance exam score that make your probability calculation into abroad universities quite easier. Let’s have a look at them in detail!

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

This is an English language test meant for applications from non-native English-speaking countries to study or work abroad. It is graded on a scale of 1-9. Most of the countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada accept these scores. The four categories of this test include the ability to listen, write, read and speak English. A score of 5.5 to 6.5 is considered average. The minimum passing scores required to study abroad are:

The USA – 6.0

The popular universities of the USA accepting IELTS scores include -

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (7.0)
  • Harvard University (7.0)
  • Princeton University (7.0)
  • Los Angeles (7.0)
  • [University of Michigan] (7.0)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (6.5)
  • Brown University (8.0)
  • Purdue University (6.5)
  • Boston University (7.0)

The UK – 6.0

British universities accepting IELTS scores include -

  • University of Cambridge (7.0)
  • University of Oxford (7.0)
  • Imperial College London (7.0)
  • University of Edinburgh (6.5)
  • King's College London (7.0)
  • University of Warwick (6.5)

Germany – 6.0

IELTS scores accepted by German universities include -

  • Technical University of Munich (6.5)
  • RWTH Aachen University (6.5)
  • Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (5.5)
  • Humboldt University of Berlin (6.5)
  • Free University of Berlin (6.5)

Canada – 6.0

IELTS scores accepted by Canadian universities are the -

  • University of Toronto (6.5)
  • University of British Columbia (6.5)
  • McGill University (6.5)
  • University of Alberta (6.5)

Australia – 6.5

IELTS scores accepted by Australian universities include -

  • Victoria University (6)
  • Bond University (6.5)
  • University of Canberra (6.5)
  • Monash University (6.5)
  • University of Queensland (6.5)
  • University of Western Australia (6.5)
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language

While IELTS is partially paper-oriented, the TOEFL test is fully online. However, instead of being a 2 hours and 45 minutes test like IELTS, the TOEFL is of 4 hours, including the same four categories of examination. For the most student-friendly category of examination (the internet-based), the scoring scale is from 0 to 120, wherein a score of 78 is considered average. The minimum passing scores required to study abroad are:

The USA – 90-100

The popular universities of the USA accepting TOEFL scores include -

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (90)
  • Harvard University (100-110)
  • Princeton University (100)
  • The University of California, Los Angeles (80-100)
  • University of Michigan (88-100)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (79 and above)
  • Brown University (100 and above)
  • Yale University (100)
  • Cornell University (100)

The UK – 88-100

British universities accepting TOEFL scores include -

  • University of Cambridge (100)
  • University of Oxford (100)
  • University of Edinburgh (100)
  • King's College London (72 and above)
  • University of Warwick (92)

Germany – 80-100

TOEFL scores accepted by German universities include -

  • Technical University of Munich (88)
  • RWTH Aachen University (90)
  • Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (80)
  • Humboldt University of Berlin (79)
  • Heidelberg University (90)

Canada – 90

TOEFL scores accepted by Canadian universities are -

  • University of Toronto (89-100)
  • University of British Columbia (90)
  • McGill University (79-100)
  • University of Alberta (90)

Australia – 80-100

TOEFL scores accepted by Australian universities include -

  • University of Melbourne (79)
  • RMIT University (79)
  • University of Sydney (85)
  • Monash University (79)
  • University of Queensland (87)
GRE: Graduate Record Examinations

The GRE is taken by aspirants who want to pursue their higher education forward through degrees such as master's, specialized master's in business, MBA, JD or doctoral degree, Ph.D., etc. The test includes verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. The duration is 3 hours and 45 minutes. The maximum score is 340 it ranges from 260-340, defining oscillatory scores for each of the 3 categories for the exam such as Quantitative Reasoning (130-170), Verbal Reasoning (130-170), and Analytical Writing Skills (0-6, half-increment method). A score of 300 is considered good. The minimum passing scores required to study abroad are:

The USA – 300-325

The popular universities of the USA accepting GRE scores include -

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology [310)
  • Harvard University (292-316)
  • Princeton University (324)
  • University of Chicago (320)
  • San Diego (UCSD) (300-320)
  • Stanford University (317)
  • Brown University (Min. 320)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (310 and above)
  • Cornell University (320)

The UK – 310-330

British universities accepting GRE scores include -

  • University of Oxford (320 and above)
  • London School of Economics (326)
  • Imperial College, London (327)

Germany – 315-320

GRE scores accepted by German universities include -

  • Technical University of Munich (Quant: 157; AW: 3.5)
  • RWTH Aachen University (Verbal: 145; Quant: 160; AW: 3)
  • Ludwig Maximilians University Munich (Quant: 80th percentile)

Canada – 305-315

GRE scores accepted by Canadian universities are -

  • University of Toronto (167+ in Quant and Verb)
  • University of British Columbia (307)
  • McGill University (321)
  • University of Alberta (307)

Australia – 300-315

GRE scores accepted by Australian universities include -

  • The University of Melbourne (305)
  • RMIT University (305)
  • University of Sydney (305)
  • Monash University (305)
  • University of Queensland (complete GRE with a minimum score of 0)
GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test

As the name suggests, this test is for graduate aspirants who wish to pursue management studies and business studies abroad. It has four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal. The scoring ranges from 200 to 800. The average accepted score is between 400 and 600. The minimum passing scores required to study abroad are:

The USA – 650-750

The popular universities of the USA accepting GRE scores include -

  • The University of Pennsylvania (732)
  • Harvard University (730)
  • New York University (730)
  • University of Chicago (730)
  • Yale University (720)
  • Stanford University (733)
  • Dartmouth College(720)
  • University of California—Los Angeles (719)
  • University of California—Berkeley (HAAS) (725)

The UK – 600-710

British universities accepting GRE scores include -

  • London Business School (701)
  • Durham University Business School (600 and above)
  • Cambridge Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge (690)
  • Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford (690)
  • Warwick Business School of the University of Warwick (660)

Germany – 550 and above

GRE scores accepted by German universities include -

  • Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (640)
  • WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management (600 and above)
  • Business School Pforzheim (550 and above)

Canada – 550-700

GRE scores accepted by Canadian universities are -

  • University of Toronto (550 and above)
  • Columbia (550 and above)
  • McGill University (570)
  • The University of Alberta (550)
  • Queen's University (600)

Australia – 590 and above

GRE scores accepted by Australian universities include -

  • Melbourne Business School (695)
  • Monash Business School (650)
  • Australian School of Business (650)
  • Queensland University of Technology’s Business School (610)
  • University of Sydney (550)

Besides these tests, one also needs to work on excelling in their academic qualifications in their high school and previous institution. Your application must be strongly supported by your passion to excel in your chosen field with a Statement of Purpose, your peers/guides recommending you in their letters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GMAT score requirement for studying MBA at a top US university?

The average GMAT score cut-off for business schools in the US is between 650-690. However, you must aim for 700+ if you want to ace for the top B-Schools of America. For example, the University of Pennsylvania has a cut-off of 732, Harvard Business School - 730, Stanford University - 733.

Which universities offer MBA without GMAT in the US?

The University of Hull, Ross School of Business - University of Michigan, Texas A&M University, Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University, Boston University are some of the handful universities in the US that offer MBA without GMAT.

Is IELTS required for studying in Germany?

Although IELTS is not an obligatory test for German universities, it is better on your part to pursue education in the country. The average accepted score is between 5.5-6.5.

Can I do an MBA in the UK without GMAT?

Some of the top UK universities for MBA without GMAT include the University of Reading, University of Central Lancashire, Birmingham City Business School, Lancaster University Management School, Durham University Business School, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, and Warwick School of Business and the University of Warwick.

Should I take IELTS or TOEFL to study in the US?

While IELTS is partially paper-oriented, the TOEFL test is fully online. However, instead of being a 2 hours and 45 minutes test like IELTS, the TOEFL is of 4 hours, including the same four categories of examination. However, in the US, most students opt for TOEFL as it is accepted by most US universities.

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