Foreign Exams And Standardized Tests To Study In Canada

When an Indian student wishes to study in Canada, they must be aware of all the procedures involved. To study in any college or university in Canada, an international student has to appear for a few examinations. If they successfully clear these tests or exams, they can study in Canada.

The examinations an international student will have to appear for depend on a few factors, like the educational program level they plan to enroll in. For instance, the tests an international student planning to do their graduation would be required to appear for could differ from the examinations an individual planning to do a Ph.D. has to sit for.

Here are some of the tests and examinations an Indian student has to appear for to study in Canada:

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TESTS IN CANADA

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

The IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is a test designed for non-native English speakers who wish to pursue a course or program in Canada. Apart from assessing a student's reading and writing abilities, it also checks how well they understand and speak English. 3-4 months of preparation is sufficient for this test.

To appear for this particular exam, Indian students can choose from two methods. One is the offline method, also called the paper-based method. The other is the online method, also known as the computer-based method. If a student appears for the offline method, they can expect the result to be delivered to them in 14-15 days. Results for a computer-based method are usually published in 3-5 days.

The IELTS band score is laid out on a scale ranging from 1.0 to 9.0. To get admission to a university based in Canada, an international student needs to score a minimum of 7.0. The IELTS score requirement, however, varies based on the university and course. If the student is working towards getting a Canadian visa, they have to obtain a minimum score of 6.0.

TOEFL - Test Of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL, which happens to be an abbreviated form of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the eligibility exams a non-native English speaker can opt for while trying to go to Canada to pursue their higher education. Several universities in Canada have made it compulsory for international and Indian students to apply for a TOEFL test.

While no age criteria are associated with TOEFL, applicants must complete 10+2 before appearing for this examination. After a student decides to appear for a TOEFL test, they can choose from two different formats. The TOEFL iBT test is an online test where the scale ranges from 0 to 120. The different sections in this test comprise 30 marks. A student gets 203 minutes to finish the test.

The scale of the PBT or paper-based test, on the other hand, ranges from 0 to 677. This test has three subsections: listening, speaking and reading. A separate scale (0-6) is designed for the writing section. Regarding the TOEFL PBT, Canadian universities expect students to score a minimum score of 580.

Duolingo

The Duolingo examination can be best described as a test designed to assess the English proficiency of the student or applicant. The test determines how well the student can read, write, listen and speak in English. Since Duolingo has been designed as an online examination, many people find it convenient to appear for it.

Compared to some of the other tests that assess the English proficiency of an applicant, Duolingo is much more affordable and accessible. It has also been structured very well and Indian students wouldn't face any issues while preparing or appearing for it. Apart from a computer system, an applicant should have a few devices and tools like a microphone, camera, internet connection, and speaker to appear for this examination.

Since this is an online examination, there are some essential guidelines students must remember to follow. While appearing for this test, students must keep their phones away. There should be no notebooks around.

Throughout the test, the student should be in the test window. The proctor or supervisor should be able to see the applicant properly. During the test, the face and eyes of the applicant should be visible. The usage of software and tools like predictive text input is strictly prohibited.

To appear for a Duolingo test, a student has to pay just about USD 49. Therefore, the fee for a Duolingo test is much lower than IELTS and TOEFL. A Duolingo test lasts for an hour. It is divided into three different segments. While the introduction and setup take 5 minutes, the adaptive test lasts for 45 minutes. The duration of the video interview is 10 minutes.

PTE - Pearson English Language

The Pearson English Language Test, or PTE, is a well-structured academic test that is accepted by most universities based in Canada. The fee one needs to pay to appear for the PTE test is relatively moderate. A PTE score remains valid for two years. On a scale ranging from 0 to 90, a student has to score a minimum of 65 to be considered by Canadian universities.

FRENCH LANGUAGE TESTS IN CANADA

TEF - Test d'Evaluation de Français

TEF, which stands for Test d'Evaluation de Français, is best described as a French proficiency test in which the applicant goes through 7 levels of CLB or CEFRL. While CLB is an abbreviated form of the Canadian Language Benchmark, CEFRL stands for Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Compared to English proficiency tests, the TEF is quite expensive. Apart from writing, there are three other sections: reading, listening, and speaking.

TEFAQ -The French Evaluation Test for Access to Quebec

TEFAQ stands for the French Evaluation Test for Access to Quebec. The name of the test itself signifies what it has been designed for. Universities based in the Quebec region ask applicants to go through this test to check their command of French.

SUBJECT APTITUDE TESTS IN CANADA 

GRE - Graduate Record Examination

MOST CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES LOOK FOR the GRE or Graduate Record Examination score while reviewing the application of international students. An international student planning to enroll in a doctoral program or management course or plans to secure a fellowship must take the GRE very seriously.

A student's verbal communication, critical thinking, quantitative understanding, and analytical writing abilities are tested through the GRE. While the GRE test is offered in paper format, one can also appear for it through a computer system. The GRE is considered very important by Canadian universities as it helps determine whether a candidate has the requisite skills to do well in a business school or graduate program.

In the world, there are more than 850 centers where the GRE test is conducted. While the computer-based test lasts for 3 hours and 45 minutes, the paper-based test lasts 2 hours and 5 minutes.

The applicant must have a graduate degree to appear for a GRE test. There is no age-based restriction for the test. The computer-based test tends to be more elaborate than the one that requires the student to write everything on paper.  

GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test

Students wishing to do an MBA from a business school in Canada must prepare for the GMAT examination. While applying for this exam, students must pay around 246 CAD or 20,655 INR. The minimum GMAT score required by a particular university in Canada could be different from what another college asks for.