This is a list of standardized tests that students may need to take for admissions to various colleges or universities. Tests of language proficiency are excluded here.
Only tests not included within a certain secondary schooling curriculum are listed. Therefore, those tests initially focused on secondary–school–leaving, e.g., GCE A–Levels in the UK, or French Baccalaureate, are not listed here, although they function as the de facto admission tests in those countries (see list of secondary school leaving certificates).
Undergraduate
Albania
Australia
Bangladesh
Admission processes vary depending on universities. From 2020-2021 session, most of the public universities are under some central admission tests. But, some public universities including University of Dhaka, University of Rajshahi, University of Chittagong, Jahangirnagar University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology are taking their own individual admission tests.
All private universities in the country take their own individual admission tests. The central admission tests are,
Belize
- Caribbean Examinations Council.[3]
Brazil
Burma
Canada
Chile
- Prueba de Acceso a la Educación Superior (PAES) from 2022 (formerly PDT and PSU)[4]
China
- Gaokao – Standard means of entry to Chinese universities.
Colombia
- SABER 11 Exam – Test for all undergraduate students that want to apply to a university in Colombian territory.
Cuba
- Prueba de Ingreso a la Universidad – Set of exams in different subject matters for all students who want to enter any university in Cuba.
France
- Baccalauréat (or Bac) – Test for all undergraduate students who are looking to enter a university in France.
Germany
- Abitur – Test for German students who want to apply to a university.
- TMS – Test for Medical Studies, used by most medical colleges in Germany.
- PhaST – Pharmaceutical Studies Aptitude Test, used for most pharmaceutical study programmes.
- HAM-Nat – Hamburg test for natural sciences, used by two universities for medical studies and pharmaceutical studies.
- BaPsy-DGPs - Studieneignungstest Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie, test for study programmes in psychology.
- ITB-Business – Test for business administration and social sciences, used by some universities for business administration studies.
- ITB-Science – Test for STEM studies, used by some universities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria for admission procedures.
- ITB-Technology – Test for engineering, mathematics and computer science.
Greece
- Panhellenic Examinations – Subject tests for Greek students and adults who want to enter High Education Institutions (HEIs).
Hong Kong
Admission processes differ in institutes. For secondary school students applying for degree–level programmes provided by the University Grants Committee (UGC)–funded institutes, they can only apply through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), which uses Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) and Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) as benchmark agency until academic year 2011/12, and Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) since 2011/12.
JUPAS is not used in most non-UGC/non–degree level programmes, even these institutes still use the examination results that JUPAS uses as benchmark agency.
Hungary
From 2020 all students who would like to apply for a university in Hungary will have to prove their language skills. They are required to pass a nationally accredited language exam at B2 CEFR level.
Érettségi (Matura)is the national school leaving exam, where school leavers take exams in 5 or more subjects, among which Hungarian Grammar and Literature, Maths, History and one foreign language is cumpolsory and at least 1 other subject has to be chosen.
Érettségi is divided into 2 levels. Most universities require at least one subject to be taken at Higher Level. From 2020 onwards, students wishing to enter into higher education will be required to have 1 subject taken at Higher Level.
India
Admission procedures and entry tests vary widely across states and universities/institutes. Usually, admission to a university in a state is based upon the performance of the candidates in the statewide Higher Secondary Examinations. These are usually given after completion of the twelfth standard/grade, for example, the HSC examinations of Maharashtra. Admission into federally established institutes like the Indian Institutes of Technology and the National Institutes of Technology is usually based on a combination of performance in nationwide exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination and the state–level Higher Secondary examinations. Admission to the National Law Universities is based on a national level entrance examination conducted annually by the CLAT.
National level
Professional courses entrance examinations
Other entrance examinations
- Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. – Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. is a national level entrance exam. Graduates can complete their M.Sc. or Master's from India's reputed institutes like IITs and IISc through JAM.
- JEST – Joint screening test for graduates or postgraduates who wish to pursue their master's studies or research in the field of science.
Indonesia
State–level
- SNBT – (Seleksi Nasional Berdasarkan Tes) A competitive test for undergraduate admissions in public universities in Indonesia.
- SNBP – (Seleksi Nasional Berdasarkan Prestasi)
Conducted jointly by some universities
- UMB – Ujian Masuk Bersama – Test for undergraduate admissions in some state and private colleges.
- SBM–PTAIN – Test for entering public Islamic universities in Indonesia.
- SBMPTMU – Test for entering Muhammadiyah universities.
By universities
- UTUL UGM – Gadjah Mada University entrance exam.
- SIMAK UI – University of Indonesia entrance exam.
- USM Unsri – The admission test conducted by Universitas Sriwijaya.
Israel
Iran
Ireland
Japan
Malaysia
Mexico
Each University in Mexico has its own admission procedures. Some of them might use the EXANI–I from Centro Nacional de Evaluación para la Educación Superior "CENEVAL" (National Center for Higher Education Assessment). Many also use the Prueba de Aptitud Académica offered by the College Board Puerto Rico y America Latina. However, due to the autonomous nature of most universities in Mexico, many universities use admissions tests that they develop themselves.
- "Examen de admisión al Nivel Superior del Instituto Politécnico Nacional" (Admission Exam to the Higher Level of the National Polytechnic Institute).
- "Examen Nacional de Ingreso a la Educación Media Superior" (National Entrance Exam to the Upper–Intermediate Education) also known as EXANI–I.
- "Acuerdo 286 Bachillerato" (286 Baccalaureate Agreement), also known as ACREDITA–BACH. High School Diploma Equivalent.
- "Examen General de Egreso de la Licenciatura" (General Egress Exam of the bachelor's degree). also known as EGEL.
- "Examen para Profesionales Técnicos en Enfermería" (Exam for Nursing Technical Professionals), also known as EGEPT–ENFER.
- "Examen General de Conocimientos y Habilidades para la Acreditación de la Licenciatura en Enseñanza del Inglés" (General Knowledge and Skills Test for the Accreditation of the English Teaching bachelor's degree), also known as EGAL–EIN.
Myanmar
Nepal
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) – a standardized test taken by colleges to take admissions for BBA and BBM.
Medical Education Common Entrance Examination (MECEE) – a common entrance examination conducted in Nepal for providing admission in Medical UG and PG courses.
Netherlands
- Eindexamen – also known as centraal examen (central exam) – a standardized test taken by Dutch students in conclusion of their high school education (voortgezet onderwijs; "continued education").
Nigeria
Pakistan
- NAT-I/II – National Aptitude Test, for admission in most universities and colleges of Pakistan.
It is conducted by the National Testing Service.
- NMDCAT– National Medical and Dental College Admission Test, for admission in public and private sector medical and dental colleges and universities in Pakistan.
It is conducted by the Pakistan Medical Commission through National Testing Service.
- ECAT – Engineering College Admission Test, for admission in public sector engineering college or university in Punjab, Pakistan.
It is conducted by the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.
- ETEA (UET) - for admission in public sector engineering college or university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It is conducted by University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar.
- HAT-UG – HEC Aptitude Test-Undergraduate, for admission in selected government and private colleges and universities.
- LAT – HEC Law admission Test, for LLB admission in all colleges and universities.
It is conducted by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.
- Pre-Admission Tests - for admission in engineering universities of Sindh such as MUET and NED.
The tests are conducted separately by the respective universities.
Poland
Universities and other institutions of higher education formerly ran their own entrance exams. Since the introduction of the "new matura" in 2005, and in particular the marking of that exam by independent examiners rather than by teachers at students' own schools, the matura now serves as the admission test for Polish students.
Russia
- Unified State Exam (Russian: Единый государственный экзамен, ЕГЭ, tr. Yediniy gosudarstvenniy ekzamen, EGE) – every student must pass after graduation from school to enter a university or a professional college. Since 2009, EGE is the only form of graduation examinations in schools and the main form of preliminary examinations in universities.
- Unified Republic Exam [1][2] (Russian: Единый республиканский экзамен, ЕРЭ, tr. Yediniy respublikanskiy ekzamen, ERE; Tatar: Бердәм Республика Имтиханы, БРИ, Berdäm Respublika Imtixanı, BRI) – students which graduate in the Republic of Tatarstan can choose to pass the ERE/BRI in the Tatar language. The test is not obligatory and accepted as an entry exam only by the Tatarstan universities, especially for the Tatar language faculties.
Saudi Arabia
- Qudurat and Tahseeli – by The National Center for Assessment in Higher Education AKA Qiyas.[10]
Singapore
Spain
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, A-Level is offered by governmental and non-governmental schools. The qualifications are awarded upon successful completion of examinations called Local A-Levels while most of the private schools award them upon London A-Levels. Local GCE Advanced Level qualification is offered by the Department of Examinations. Passing A-Levels is the major requirement for applying for local universities.
This exam is very competitive, where students have to study college 1st-year and 2nd-year material and pass it to get college admissions. The tough nature of the examination is due to the government funding all the college students. Students who get in to a National University through the Advanced Level Examination are not required to pay college fees.
Sweden
- Högskoleprovet – the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test.
- PIL – Test and interview, used by the Karolinska Institute for admission to some of its study programs.
- Matematik och Fysikprovet - Test used by several universities for admission to some engineering, math and physics related programs.
Switzerland
- EMS Swiss Admission Test for Medicine (Eignungstest für das Medizinsudium in der Schweiz).[11]
Somalia
- Certification Exams - (Somali: Imtixaanka Shahaadiga) Standard means of entry to Somali universities.
South Korea
Taiwan
- General Scholastic Ability Test – Standard means of entry to Taiwanese universities and colleges held in January. It consists of five subjects, namely Chinese, English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Examinees should take at least four subjects at a time (of course they can choose the whole set.)
- Advanced Subjects Test [zh] – Standard means of entry to Taiwanese universities and colleges held in July. The AST was first administered in 2002, and phased out after 2021. It consisted of ten subjects, namely Chinese, English, Mathematics (A and B), History, Geography, Citizen and Society, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Examinees could take the subject tests that were required to meet a university's standard.
Thailand
- TGAT - Thai General Aptitude Test. It is an aptitude test aimed to test the basic or general abilities of a student such as English communication, and logical thinking.
- TPAT - Thai Professional Aptitude Tests. TPAT are aptitude tests required by universities for students applying for programs in any of the five fields: medicine; liberal arts; science, technology, and engineering; architecture; and education. Students may choose to take the tests that are required by the program they are applied.
- TPAT1: Medical Aptitude Test (developed by the consortium of Thai medical schools, COTMES)
- TPAT2: Liberal arts Aptitude Test
- TPAT3: Scientific, technological, and engineering Aptitude Test
- TPAT4: Architecture Aptitude Test
- TPAT5: Teaching and educational Aptitude Test
- A-Level - Applied Knowledge Level, also known as General Subject Tests (Thai: วิชาสามัญ).
Turkey
- TYT[12] (first step of YKS) First and basic step for entry to Turkish universities. Consists the following subjects: Turkish, Mathematics (A level), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Philosophy, Religion (or added philosophy questions)
- AYT[13] (second step of YKS) Second and more advanced test for entry to Turkish universities. Examinees have to choose their domain and complete the specific tests that their aimed university requires them to. Test types are the following: advanced maths, advanced science(physics, chemistry, biology), social sciences-1(Turkish language and literature, history, geography) social sciences-2(history, geography, philosophy, sociology, psychology, logic, religion(or added philosophy questions)).
- YDT – Yabancı Dil Testi (Foreign Language Test ) hold in the following languages : English,German,Arabic,French,Russian.
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Most applicants to universities in the UK take national examinations such as A-levels or Scottish Highers. Separate admissions tests are used by a small number of universities for specific subjects (particularly Law, Mathematics and Medicine, and courses at Oxford and Cambridge), many of these administered by Cambridge University's Admissions Testing Service.[14]
Law
- Cambridge Law Test.[15]
- LNAT – National Admissions Test for Law (Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, King's College London, Nottingham, Oxford, SOAS, UCL).[16]
Mathematics
- MAT – Mathematics Admissions Test (Oxford, Imperial College).[17]
- STEP – Sixth Term Examination Paper in Mathematics (Cambridge, Imperial College, Warwick).[18]
- Test of Mathematics for University Admission (LSE, Bath, Durham, Lancaster).[19]
Medicine
- BMAT – Biomedical Admissions Test (Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Imperial College, Keele, Lancaster, UCL, Cambridge, Leeds, Oxford).[20]
- GAMSAT – Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (Cardiff; Exeter; Keele; Liverpool; Nottingham; Plymouth; St George's, University of London; Swansea).[21]
- HPAT – Health Professions Admissions Test, currently only in use for admission into Medicine in the University of Ulster.[22]
- UCAT – United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (Aberdeen; Birmingham; Bristol; Cardiff; Dundee; East Anglia; Edinburgh; Exeter; Glasgow; Hull York Medical School; Keele; King's College London; Leicester; Liverpool; Manchester; Newcastle; Nottingham; Plymouth; Queen Mary, University of London; Queen's, Belfast; Sheffield; Southampton; St Andrews, St George's, University of London; Warwick).[23]
Other
- CAT – Classics Admissions Test (Oxford).[24]
- ELAT – English Literature Admissions Test (Oxford, Cambridge).[25]
- GAA – Geography Admissions Assessment (Cambridge)[26]
- HAT – History Aptitude Test (Oxford).[27]
- PAT – Physics Aptitude Test (Oxford).[28]
- MLAT – Modern Languages Admissions Tests (Oxford).[29]
- MML – Modern and Medieval Languages Test; provided and required by the Faculty of Modern & Medieval Languages of the University of Cambridge.[30]
- OLAT – Oriental Languages Admissions Test (Oxford).[31]
- TSA – Thinking Skills Assessment (Oxford, Cambridge, UCL).[32]
- University of Oxford Philosophy Test.[33]
United States
- SAT – formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test, now Scholastic Assessment Test.
- ACT – formerly American College Testing Program or American College Test.
- Advanced Placement (AP).
- CLT – Classic Learning Test.
- THEA – Texas Higher Education Assessment.
- GED – HSE or High School Diploma Equivalent; GED, HiSET or TASC brand of tests, depending on the State.
- PERT – Replaced Accuplacer as the standard college placement test in Florida.
Vietnam
- TSĐHCĐ – Universities and Colleges Selection Examination (Tuyển sinh đại học và cao đẳng) (2002–2014)
- THPTQG – National High School Examination (Kỳ thi trung học phổ thông quốc gia) (2015–2019)
- TNTHPT – High School Graduation Examination (Kỳ thi tốt nghiệp trung học phổ thông) (2020–present)
- ĐGNL – Aptitude Test (Đánh giá năng lực) (National University Hanoi, National University HCMC, Vietnamese police academies, Hanoi National University of Education, HCMC University of Education)
- TSA – Thinking Skills Assessment (Đánh giá tư duy) (Hanoi University of Science and Technology)
Postgraduate/Professional schools
Australia
- GAMSAT – Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test.
- LSAT – Law School Admission Test (some Juris Doctor programs).
- IELTS (academic) – International English Language Test (for international students).
Bangladesh
- Postgraduate Admission Test – Each university in Bangladesh applies a different methodology to admit prospective Masters students. But usually, they have to appear in the Masters/Postgraduate Admission Test (different subject have different names). Some universities do not require any admission test.
However, no admission test is required for Ph.D. studies.
Brazil
- ANPEC – Admission test for Postgraduate studies in Economics.
- ANPAD – Admission test for Postgraduate studies in Business Administration.
- POSCOMP – Admission test for Postgraduate studies in Computer Science.
China
Colombia
- ECAES – Examen de Estado de Calidad de la Educación Superior.
Germany
- TM-WISO – Admission test for master programmes in economics, business administration and social sciences.
India
- Business Admissions Test – Used by ISB for admissions to their Postgraduate Programme in Management for Family Businesses.
- Joint Entrance Examination – Main – For entry in National Institutes of Technology, Government Funded Technical Institutes, Indian Institutes of Information Technology & Indian Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology to pursue various undergraduate engineering, technical and architecture courses.
- Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced – For entry in Indian Institutes of Technology to pursue various undergraduate engineering, technical and architecture courses.
- CSIR-UGC NET – All India test for entrance into Science Ph.D. programs and for eligibility to teach at undergraduate level across India. Having qualification as a lectureship from CSIR-UGC NET is compulsory for teaching across Indian colleges and universities at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
- CBSE-UGC NET – Entrance examination for Ph.D. in humanities and languages across India.
- Common Admission Test (CAT) – For entry to the management programs at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and various other business schools in India.
- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Joint Admission Test to M.Sc. (JAM) and Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET) – Standard means of entry to various graduate courses at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- Management Aptitude Test (MAT) – For admission to Master of Business Administration, Master of Management Studies, etc. programs.
- XLRI Admission Test (XAT) – For admission to the management program at Xavier Labour Relations Institute.
- Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) – For entry to the master programs in the pharmacy.
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) – For entry to seven institutes of the Indian government.
- JEST – JEST EXAM which have two phases of examination where the first phase is objective and second phase is subjective, by getting ranked in this test the student can be admitted into affiliated universities and institutes across India, for Physics and Computer Science Ph.D. programs.
- CLAT - PG - CLAT PG is entrance test for entry in LLM course to national law Universities in India.
- Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test (TS ICET) - is a state level entrance exam for the candidates clearing the exam will be eligible to get an admission into MBA (Master of Business Administration) and MCA courses with in Telangana state.[34]
- Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test (AP ICET) - is a state level entrance exam for the candidates to pursue MBA, M.Sc. and MCA courses with in the Andhra Pradesh State.[35]
- NEET-PG - The National Eligibility Entrance Test (Postgraduate) is a qualifying and ranking examination in India, for students who wish to study various postgraduate Doctor of Medicine, Master of Surgery and diploma courses, in government or private medical colleges in India.
- NEET-MDS - National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Masters of Dental Surgery abbreviated as NEET MDS is an entrance exam conducted by NBE for providing admissions to all the postgraduate dental courses offered by the institutions in India. NEET MDS exam is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination conducted annually in online mode. Except for NEET MDS, no other exams, either at the state or institution level are valid for admission in PG dental courses.*[3]
- TISSNET - Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai conducts TISS National Entrance Test (TISSNET). It is a university-level entrance exam conducted for admission to MA programmes in the School of Management and Labour Studies. The PG programme in Human Resources Management and Labour Relations offered at TISS campuses is at par with the management programmes offered by top MBA colleges in India. The entrance exam is held in CBT mode and the exam paper comprises questions from English Proficiency, Mathematical Skills & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness.*[4]
Mexico
Each University in Mexico has its own admission procedures. The official tests can be different, depending on the university the student wishes to enter. However, many major universities in the country use the PAA.
UNAM uses its own test for the COMIPEMS selectivity contest for bachelors. They also have their own autonomous selectivity contest for undergraduate and graduate degree students, which has its own exam for each study field.
Pakistan
Turkey
- TUS – Graduate Medical Schools Admissions Test.
- ALES – Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination.
United States and Canada