Whether you dream of becoming a doctor, earning your Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, or enrolling in another advanced career graduate program, applying to study in the United States requires scores from one of the entrance exams for graduate school: DAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, or the OAT. A grad school test is typically administered via computer at an official testing center and requires a few months of studying.
Read on to learn more about these grad school standardized tests so you can start preparing for your studies and scoring well on these competitive exams!
What Grad School Tests Do You Need To Take?
Choosing your particular postgraduate program is the first step in figuring out which one of the grad school standardized tests will be required. A firsthand source can provide the most accurate information on these big exams, so consider speaking with a university advisor or enrollment officer about their requirements for admission. You can also speak to an advisor through Shorelight’s international student services.
Different programs and schools may require specific grad school standardized test scores. For example, if you want to go to law school, your top-choice university may have a minimum LSAT score in order to be admitted. Alternatively, some programs may waive test score requirements for candidates who meet certain conditions (e.g., have met a minimum grade point average as an undergraduate student, or have several years of professional experience in a related field).
As international students, you may need to take additional English tests such as TOEFL or IELTS to prove your English proficiency. As these requirements can vary, it is important to clearly understand a postgraduate program’s requirements before applying for grad school standardized tests.
How to Prepare for Standardized Tests
Knowing what to expect before you begin studying for your grad school standardized tests can help you prepare. Learning more about the exact requirements early gives you a good head start to preparing more effectively, so you can work toward achieving the required scores needed for these competitive exams.
When preparing for your standardized test, taking enough time to study can make a significant difference for your final score. Usually, most standardized testing institutions recommend a 12-week preparation period, but this can be longer or shorter depending on your familiarity and confidence with the testing material.
Gather the recommended and available resources for your grad school standardized tests and use them for your study prep to score well on your entrance exams. Most testing institutions offer resources for big exams and mock exams on their websites; test prep companies, such as Kaplan and Khan Academy, may offer useful materials as well.
Read on for an overview of standardized testing in the United States and the major exams for graduate school.
What Is the DAT?
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is an entrance test that is required for admission to dental school in the US. It measures the test taker’s understanding of the survey of the natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning in relation to the study of dentistry.
Since dentistry is considered one of the best jobs in the US, graduate admissions to dental school are competitive. Like some tests needed to enter grad school, you must apply to take the test before registering.
The DAT takes five hours and 15 minutes, including an optional break, tutorial, and survey. The exam consists of the following sections:
Survey of the Natural Sciences
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)
Reading Comprehension
Quantitative Reasoning
Starting March 1, 2025, the Dental Admission Test (DAT) will transition to a new scoring system, using a three-digit scale ranging from 200 to 600 in 10-point increments. Currently, test-takers receive six scaled scores ranging from 1 to 30.
Until March 1, 2025, you will receive an unofficial score report immediately after completing the computer-based exam at the testing center. However, after this date, unofficial score reports will no longer be provided.
Official scores will be reported electronically within three to four weeks of your test date. These results will be sent to the schools you selected during your application and will also be available on your My Account page.
Non-refundable exam fees for the DAT are $560 each time you take it. DAT scores are typically valid for two to three years, but the exact timeframe may vary depending on the universities you’re applying to. You can take this big exam three times before requiring special permission to take it again.
GRAD SCHOOL TESTS PRO TIP 1
Many admission tests feature questions within the exam that do not count toward your score. However, you are not informed on which questions are experimental. With many tests, there is no penalty for guessing, which means you should attempt to answer each question.
What Is the GMAT?
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a graduate admissions entrance exam designed for students who want to go to graduate school for an MBA, master of accountancy, or master of finance. Some programs may accept GRE scores instead, depending on the applicant’s other credentials.
This graduate school admission test assesses your abilities in quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and data insights. It evaluates how effectively you can solve problems using basic math, comprehend and analyze written material, and interpret data from various sources. The ability to analyze and evaluate written material in English is important to note for English as a Second Language (ESL) students.
The GMAT consists of three sections and takes approximately two hours and 15 minutes, including optional breaks, to complete.
Quantitative Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning
Data Insights
The GMAT total score ranges from 205 to 805, with all total score values ending in a 5. Section scores range from 60 to 90, with a score interval of 1 for each section and a standard error of measurement of 3 points.
You can retake the exam only five times a year (even if scores are canceled) with a minimum gap of 16 days between each attempt, and up to eight years in your lifetime.
The GMAT exam fee is $275 for in-person testing and $300 for online testing each time you take it, and it can vary depending on your location.
As of 2025, GMAT fees are partially refundable based on cancellation timing:
More than 60 days before: $110 refund
15 to 60 days before: $80 refund
1 to 14 days before: $55 refund
Less than 24 hours: No refund
Your recorded scores are valid for five years.
January 2025 update
The online version of the GMAT, introduced by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) during the COVID-19 pandemic, is still available. It is open to all candidates globally excluding Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Sudan (because of regulatory and local data privacy rules). The GMAT online registration fee is $275 in most parts of the world, but a few countries have local prices.
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Typically, calculators, timers, mobile phones, or other electronic devices are not allowed in official testing rooms.
What Is the GRE?
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a grad school standardized test required for admission to various graduate programs at universities and colleges in the US, often those focused on the liberal arts. The GRE evaluates verbal and quantitative reasoning, as well as analytical writing and critical thinking skills, so English comprehension is important for international students preparing to take the GRE.
The GRE is the most common general admissions exam, and it offers additional specialized standardized tests that measure knowledge for degree programs like mathematics, physics, or psychology.
The GRE General Test takes one hour and 58 minutes to complete and consists of three sections.
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Analytical Writing
Candidates receive separate scores for each section. Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning are scored on a scale of 130-170 in one-point increments, while Analytical Writing is scored on a scale of zero to six in half-point increments.
While there are no set pass or fail scores for the GRE, if you are unhappy with your scores, you can retake the grad school exam every 21 days, up to five times a year.
The GRE General Test fee for most countries is $220 in all countries except for China, where the fee is $231.30, and India, where the fee is around $260 (₹22,550), each time you take it.
January 2025 update
The ETS, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has introduced the GRE General Test at home — identical in content, format, and on-screen experience to the standard GRE. It can be taken everywhere the computerized GRE is available. If you are taking the exam in China, you must visit the official GRE site for China for specific information, policies, and procedures related to the test and registration.
For more information, please visit the GRE General Test website.
What Is the LSAT?
If you plan to pursue a law career in the US, attending law school is the typical pathway. First, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required to apply to most law school graduate programs in the US. This highly competitive exam measures reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and argumentative writing. Law schools in the US are competitive, so a good LSAT score is important in the admissions process.
Test-takers must analyze and evaluate written material, which is a consideration for international students who do not speak English as their first language.
The LSAT takes approximately three hours to complete and consists of five sections that test a candidate’s logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and writing skills.
LSAT’s scaled scores range from 120 to 180 with an average score of approximately 152. Since law school is very competitive in the US, a score above average will improve your chances of admission. Scores are typically received two to three weeks after the grad school exam.
Exam fees for LSAT are $238 each time you take it. The LSAT can be taken up to three times a year, up to five times in five years (within the current reporting period), and up to seven times in your lifetime.
January 2025 update
Since many LSAT takers preferred the availability of the online test, the LSAC continues to provide an online version of the LSAT that costs the same as the standard LSAT. For more specifics, visit the LSAT website.
What Is the MCAT?
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for admission to most medical graduate programs in the US. While knowledge of biology, physics, psychology, sociology, general and organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry is crucial, the grad school test also measures critical analysis and reasoning skills necessary to study to become a medical doctor.
Medical school in the United States is competitive, so MCAT scores factor heavily into admission decisions. Unlike most grad school standardized tests, which take around four or five hours, the MCAT takes seven hours and 30 minutes, including test-day certification, an optional tutorial, optional breaks, a void question, and a post-exam survey.
The MCAT consists of four multiple-choice sections.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Each section is scored on a scale of 118 to 132. The total MCAT score is a sum of the scale scores from the four sections and the test can be taken three times per testing year, four times over two consecutive testing years, and up to seven times in your lifetime.
The standard registration fee for the MCAT begins at $345. Those testing outside the US, Canada, or US territories will be charged a $140 international fee in addition to the initial registration fee. Rescheduling and cancellation fees range between $50-$200, depending on the date of registration.
Students with financial limitations can register for the fee assistance program by paying $140. The benefits of the fee assistance program include discounted fees, complimentary access to the MSAR online database, free MCAT Official prep products, and more. International students are eligible for the Fee Assistance Program if they have a permanent US address prior to completing their application.
January 2025 update
The American Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers 30 MCAT test dates for 2025. There are four test dates in January, and then a break before testing resumes in early March. Starting March 8, tests are administered frequently until mid-September, with the final test date being September 13, 2025, and tests are held once per day starting at 8 a.m. Scores are released roughly one month after the test date. Visit the MCAT website to see the availability of test dates for your location.
What Is the OAT?
To become an optometrist, or eye doctor, the entrance exam commonly known as the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is required for admission to Doctor of Optometry (OD) programs at the US’s 25 schools of optometry.
The grad school admission test measures aptitude in the survey of natural sciences, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. Like the DAT, you must apply to take this exam.
The OAT takes five hours and five minutes to complete, including an optional 15-minute tutorial, a 30-minute break, and a 15-minute optional post-test survey. The exam consists of four multiple-choice sections:
Survey of the Natural Sciences
Reading Comprehension
Physics
Quantitative Reasoning
OAT is scored in increments of 10 points within a range of 200 to 400. The final score is obtained by scaling the raw scores from the individual sections.
Non-refundable exam fees for the OAT are $520 each time you take it and scores are valid for two years. You can take the exam three times, with a minimum of 60 days between each attempt, before requiring special permission to retake it. Only four attempts are permitted during 12 months and after the fifth attempt, test-takers can only retake the once per 12-month period.
Next Grad School Admission Steps
Once you have completed your grad school standardized tests, you can work with your advisor to add your scores to your application materials and send all required application paperwork (including essays, references, etc.) to your universities’ admissions teams.
While you wait for a response from the university, you can start preparing and gathering the documents required for your student visa application ahead of time.
Preparing applications and meeting standardized test requirements is an important and time-consuming step in applying for graduate school, but by planning ahead, making strategic decisions on which graduate standard examination you take, and studying extensively, you can submit a strong application that helps you stand out.
Good luck and study hard!
Speak with a Shorelight advisor today to start planning your next steps toward studying in the US >
