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Home | Alumni | Contact Info | Glossary | Links | Site Index |
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Admission Tests A. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required by all universities for graduate work in business administration. The GMAT measures general verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that are developed over a long period of time. It is to designed to help graduate schools of business assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. GMAT scores are only one predictor of academic performance in thefirst year of graduate management school. The GMAT is now administered as a computer-adaptive test (CAT) throughout North America and in many other parts of the world, including Belgium. The GMAT includes verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections. Data Sufficiency and Problem Solving questions are mingled throughout the quantitative section, and Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Reasoning questions are mingled throughout the verbal section. The verbal and quantitative sections are multiple-choice and computer-adaptive. For the analytical writing section of the test you will be presented with two essay topics and will type your responses using the computer keyboard. You can find the timing information for each section of the test in the Information Bulletin or on the website. Please refer to the International Test Center list of the GMAT Information Bulletin or the website and contact the Regional Registration Center (RRC) associated with Belgium to schedule your CAT appointment, either by phone, mail or online. If you are faxing or mailing your request, complete the International Test Scheduling Form located in the center of the Bulletin. Complete information on the GMAT CAT, as well as registration forms and books to help prepare for the test, is available in the Advising Center of the Commission. B. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required by most universities for all graduate study (except art, business and law) and is generally required of students applying for financial aid. There are two types of GRE tests: the GRE General Test and the GRE Subject Test. The GRE General Test measures verbal, quantitative and analytical skills. The GRE Program offers only the Paper-Based Testing Program for the GRE General Test in Belgium. More specific information regarding test fees and registration can be found in the GRE-Bulletin (which you can find in the Advising Center of the Commission) or on the GRE-website. The Subject Tests are available only as paper-based tests. Although universities might not ask for this test, it is to your advantage to take it because Europeans receive a stronger background in mathematics and sciences. The 8 subjects are the following: biochemistry, cell and molecularbiology - biology - chemistry - computer science - literature in English - mathematics - physics and psychology. For the scores, see the website. The GRE Subject Test is offered three times a year in Brussels, in November, December and April with registration six weeks in advance. It should be taken no later than November for September admission of the following year. Complete information on the GRE Subject Test, as well as registration forms and books to help prepare for the test, is available in the Advising Center of the Commission. C. The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is required of most American students wishing to do graduate work in law and is rarely required of foreign students wishing to do a Master's degree in law. (In the U.S., law is not offered at the undergraduate level as it is in Belgium.) The test measures certain mental abilities important to the study of law. It covers a wide range of academic disciplines and gives no advantage to students with any particular academic background. Complete information on the LSAT, as well as registration forms and books to help prepare for the test, is available in the Advising Center of the Commission as well as on the LSAT-website. D. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is now universally required of all students whose native language is not English. American universities require the TOEFL of entering first-year students, of those who have done some work in a European university and seek advanced standing, and of those who have the licence/licentiaat or doctorate and plan to undertake graduate study (post-university study) in the United States. The TOEFL is now administered as a paper-based test in many parts of the world, including Belgium. You may take the TOEFL only once per calendar month. The paper-based TOEFL is given at the International School of Brussels only a couple of times a year. You can register by using the TOEFL-Bulleting which you can find in the Advising Center of the Commission or on the TOEFL-website. Since American universities attach more importance to the results achieved on this particular test than to any other guarantee of knowledge of English, students wishing to enter an American university are strongly advised to take the test in October or November (a year before they plan to go to the United States) and thus make test results available early to American universities. The test has four sections:
Scores are valid for two years only and you may take the computer-based test only once in a calendar month. When you register for the TOEFL test, you will receive free test preparation material. The Commission owns several books which help prepare for the TOEFL. These books are available for consultation in the Advising Center. The computer-based TOEFL test is administered by Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., which gives the test at Sylvan Technology Centers throughout the world. Please refer to the Test Center list outside the United States of the TOEFL Information Bulletin for Computer-Based Testing and contact the Regional Registration Center (RRC) associated with Belgium to schedule your testing appointment. You may schedule an appointment by phone, fax, or mail. If you register by fax or mail, use the International Test Scheduling Form in the center of the Bulletin. The Test of Spoken English (TSE) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to communicate orally in English.The TSE consists of 9 items, each of wich requires examinees to perform a particular speech act, such as narrating, recommending, persuading and giving & supporting an opinion. The test is delivered via audio-recording equipment and a test book. Your score record will consist of one score of communicative language ability, wich is reported on a scale of 20-60. There are no passing or failing scores. Each institution determines for itself what scores are acceptable.More information is on the TSE-website. You can register by using the TSE-Bulletin which you can find in the Advising Center of the Commission or on the TSE-website. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) The International English Language Testing System is administered by the British Council. Like the TOEFL, the IELTS covers the four basic language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing). A growing number of American colleges and universities are now accepting IELTS results as a substitution for TOEFL scores. Click here for a list of American institutions that accept IELTS results for admission.Please contact the British Council Brussels for registration information and test dates. Email: exams@britishcouncil.be. E. Payment of Test Fees check the different websites
Unfortunately, these admissions tests are for the most part required of all foreign students for admission. The most important thing to remember is: don't worry about them too much. The results of these tests are only one element in your application. Admissions officers will be more interested in your academic accomplishments and personality than in the results of these standardized tests. In addition, they realize that foreign students generally have lower verbal scores than American students. Scores in the mathematics sections are, however, usually just as good as Americans. Books to help prepare for the TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT may be purchased from:
Waterstone’s
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Commission for Educational Exchange
between the USA, Belgium and Luxembourg
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