Graduation day is a highly anticipated occasion for celebration, but for some students, it isn’t the end of their academic journey.
A new chapter titled “graduate school” can only begin after a student has performed well on some form of an entrance exam, be it the MCAT, GRE, LSAT or some other standardized test.
Each exam has its particular required knowledge base and tricks designed to stump students. Here are some of the most common graduate school entrance exams and some introductory information that will help you better understand the exam that lies ahead and how to prepare yourself.
MCAT: Medical College Admission Test
Perfect score: 528
Test details: Four multiple choice sections, 230 questions total, six hours and 15 minutes total
Cost: $275
This exam concentrates heavily on science, as it is the most relevant subject area to medicine. All pre-med students planning to apply to medical school after April 2015 should be aware that the MCAT is being updated to include a new section on “Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.” According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, this improved exam places an emphasis on previously untested skills, such as interprofessional training, communication and the social determinants of health.
In addition, the old sections will be updated to include applications on chemistry and biology in medical contexts, often involving physiology and pathology. According to Kaplan University, the MCAT 2015 will encourage students to view plain hard sciences as true prerequisites to the general practice of medicine. The subjects included on the exam include general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physics and math.
LSAT: Law School Admission Test
Perfect score: 180
Test details: Four multiple choice sections and one written section, 35 minutes per section
Cost: $160
The LSAT is designed to measure skills considered essential to a successful law student. There is great emphasis on the ability to read, comprehend and analyze complex passages with accuracy and speed. According to the Law School Admission Council, critical thinking and organization during this process is required, as this is practice for future professional evaluations of written and spoken legal arguments.
There are three types of multiple choice questions on the LSAT: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning. The unscored writing sample at the end of the exam does not affect the score but is sent to the all of the law schools a student applies to.
GRE: Graduate Record Examinations
Perfect score: 340
Test details: Three sections, three hours and 45 minutes total
Cost: $160
Prospective graduate and business school applicants who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree, MBA, or doctoral degree should prepare for the GRE. This exam measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills — skills that according to the Educational Testing Service are developed over time but are not related to any specific field of study.
The quantitative reasoning section features math skills gained in studying algebra, geometry and basic arithmetic and data interpretation. The other sections, verbal reasoning and analytical writing, focus on a student’s ability to read, comprehend and analyze passages. Students are also asked to articulate and support complex ideas clearly and effectively.
PCAT: Pharmacy College Admission Test
Perfect score: 600
Test details: Five multiple choice sections, one written section, three hours and 40 minutes total
Cost: $199
According to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, pharmacy schools deem the skills assessed on the PCAT will predict a student’s success in science-oriented graduate courses. The written section measures knowledge of conventions of language skills and critical thinking; each prompt states a problem involving a health, science, social or political issue, and students are asked to present a solution. The six sections on the exam include the following subjects: verbal ability, biology, reading comprehension, quantitative ability and chemistry.
GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test
Perfect score: 800
Test details: Four sections, 97 questions total, three hours and 30 minutes total
Cost: $250
This exam is required of all students hoping to attend a graduate business school. In one of the sections, the analytical writing assessment, students are asked to analyze the reasoning behind a given argument and provide a critique of that argument. This section tests a student’s ability to efficiently communicate their ideas about business, economics and other relevant subjects.
The GMAT is often referred to as the GMAT CAT; the acronym CAT stands for Computer Adaptive Test, meaning that two of the exam’s sections, quantitative and verbal, adapt to the test-taker’s ability as they proceed. This also means that the GMAT is now administered only by computer.
