Dreaming of getting an MBA admission abroad. You are not alone; thousands of students aspire to get into a business school every year. However, to get into those prestigious universities, it is important to be eligible to secure one.

Students are required to take some entrance exams to beat the competition and get into an MBA program abroad. In this blog, we have converted the entrance exams that students need to clear to secure MBA admission. In addition, we have also covered the syllabus and the required eligibility for those exams. Read further for more details.

Why do Institutes ask for an Entrance Exam for an MBA abroad?

MBA universities receive thousands of applications every year from different backgrounds. Entrance exams help them to

  • Compare applications and pick the best.

  • Assess skills needed for management studies

  • To check English proficiency

  • Award scholarships based on Merit

A good score in these exams improves your chance of admission to top business schools.

Common entrance exams for MBA abroad

There are a few common entrance exams that are widely accepted by most of the institutes across the world.

  • Standardised Tests - GMAT, GRE

  • English Language Tests -  IELTS, TOEFL,Duolingo,PTE

A detailed breakdown of each exam in detail is given below.

GMAT

Most graduate management institutions accept the GMAT worldwide. GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test, a standardised, computer-based test for graduate business programs, such as an MBA.

The present GMAT Focus Edition includes three sections - 

  • Quantitative reasoning

  • Verbal reasoning and

  • Data insights

Each section lasts for 45 minutes, taking the whole exam 2 Hr 45  minutes.GMAT score ranges from 200 - 800, and this score is valid for 5 years. The exam costs around ₹25,600-₹26,400

To get into the top business schools, a minimum GMAT score ranging between 650 to 700 is required.

GMAT Syllabus

  • Quantitative reasoning: 

    • Algebra ( eg, equations, inequalities, and exponents)

    • Arithmetic( Percentages, Ratios, data analysis ,and probability)

  • Verbal reasoning :

    • Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning

  • Data insights :

    • Test data literacy and analytical skills using different formats.

GRE

GRE stands for Graduate Record Examination. This test is usually taken to study MS abroad. However, many educational institutes use the GRE test to assess the eligibility for an MBA entrance as well.

The present GRE includes three sections.

  • Verbal reasoning 

  • Quantitative Reasoning

  • Analytical writing

The GRE test lasts about 3 hr 45 minutes, with a score range of 260 - 340.  The GRE score validity is for 5 years. The average score required to get into the top business schools is ideally 300 or more. The GRE costs around 18000 INR per exam.

GRE Syllabus

  • Verbal reasoning: 

    • Reading Comprehension

    • Text completion

    • Sentence evaluation

  • Quantitative reasoning :

    • Arithmetic

    • Algebra

    • Geometry

    • Data Analysis

  • Data insights :

    • Analyse and issue Task

    • Analyse an argument task

IELTS

A common English language proficiency test is required to be given by international students, including Indians. IELTS is one such exam that determines international students' English proficiency. IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. This is one of the important tests that any student needs to take if they want to apply for education abroad, including an MBA.

The IELTS exam includes four sections.

  • Listening

  • Reading

  • Writing 

  • speaking

The Test score ranges between 0 and- 9bandsd.  The exam validity lasts for 2 years. The cost of the IELTS exam ranges between 15,000 to 20,000. The average IELTS score required to get into business school is 7-7.5 band. The exam duration lasts for 2 hr 45 minutes.

IELTS Syllabus

 The IELTS exam syllabus focuses more on the real world and academic communication scenarios.

  • Everyday conversation

  • Monologue on daily topics

  • Group discussion in an academic context

  • Academic lecture or talk

TOEFL

TOEFL is one of the language tests that is widely accepted across 190-plus countries across the globe. A good score on the TOEFL can help you get admission to a top MBA college.

 The TOEFL exam has four sections.ns

  • Listening

  • Reading

  • Writing 

  • speaking

The total TOEFL score is 120; each section has a score range of 0-30. The cost of the TOEFL test ranges from INR 15,000 to INR 18,00. The exam duration is about 3 hrs. The TOEFL score validity is for 2 years.

TOEFL Syllabus

  • Listening- Understanding lectures and classroom discussions, and connecting information

  • Reading- Reading academic texts, vocabulary, comprehension, and inference

  • Writing - Summarising information and stating and supporting an opinion on a topic

  • Speaking- Expressing personal and academic opinions and summarising content from both reading and listening tasks

PTE- Pearson Test of English

The PTE is a widely accepted, computer-based English language test that assesses the English proficiency of the student. This test is widely preferred for students who wish to study in Australia and New Zealand.

The PTE exam has four sections.

  • Listening

  • Reading

  • Writing 

  • Speaking

The cost of the PTE exam ranges from 15,000 to 18,000 with he duration of 18,000. The score ranges from 10- 90. The PTE score is valid for 2 years. The average score required for students to get an MBA seat is 65-75.

PTE Syllabus

Common tasks include 

  • Read Aloud

  •  Repeat Sentence

  •  Describe Image

  •  Summarise Written Text

  •  Essay

  •  Fill in the Blank

  • and various questions and reordering formats 

Students require basic English communication and analysing skills.

Duolingo

Duolingo is the most affordable, convenient way for an MBA aspirant to get English accessibility done. The Duolingo score ranges from 10-160 and is widely accepted in many countries.

The Duolingo exam has four sections.s

  • Listening

  • Reading

  • Writing 

  • Speaking

The Duolingo test costs 4000,  and the test lasts for 1 hour. The validity of the test score lasts for 2 years. The average required Duolingo score to get an MBA admission is 120 or above.

Duolingo Syllabus

The Duolingo syllabus is not very complicated. You can take help from any English material to practice. You should first understand what type of questions are asked, then prepare accordingly.

The Eligibility required for the above tests

  • No age limit

  • Student must complete their graduation

  • Must have a valid passport

Conclusion

Getting an MBA admission abroad requires a good strategy and proper entrance exam planning. Exams like the GRE, GMAT assess the eligibility of the students. English language tests like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo help students improve their communication skills. The above blog covers the details and the exam syllabus, helping students to prepare well for the standardised tests.