• Entrance Exams

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The majority of universities, graduate and professional schools require that you take a standardized examination to be admitted into their degree programs.But what is a standardized test?

Usually created by commercial test publishers like ETS and GMAC, standardized tests are designed to give a common measure of students' performance.Because large numbers of students throughout the world take the same test, they give educators a common yardstick or “standard” measure.Educators use these standardized tests to give themselves a picture of the skills and abilities of students in the admissions pool.

There are three main standardized tests students should be familiar with and take if they are considering going to college.If already in college and preparing to go on to graduate, business, or law school, there are additional exams a student will have to prepare for.

  • American College Testing (ACT) Program. This standardized test used for admissions by colleges is designed to assess high school student's general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning.Scores for each section are averaged to create a composite score.A perfect score on the ACT Assessment is 36.Additional information can be obtained from their web site at www.actstudent.org.
  • Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT). The SAT is one of two standardized tests used by colleges as part of their admissions criteria. The SAT I is a three-hour exam that measures verbal and math reasoning skills used for admission. Scores on each section range from 200-800 points. The SAT II consists of more than 20 subject areas, or achievement tests designed to measure subject-area knowledge. Additional information can be obtained from their web site at www.sat.org. Contact your high school counselor for test dates, locations, and study guides.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/Test of Spoken English (TSE)/Test of Written English (TWE). As a Taiwanese student applying to a college in the United States, you may have to take these tests to measure your English language skills.The TOEFL is a two-hour multiple choice test that evaluates a student's English proficiency； the TSE evaluates English speaking ability； and the TWE evaluates English writing ability.

 

Graduate school admissions tests

Students interested in pursuing a graduate or professional degree are required to take additional standardized tests to qualify for admission into those programs. The most common of these tests are:

  • Graduate Records Examination (GRE). The General GRE Test is a three-and-a-half hour aptitude test on verbal, quantitative, and analytical abilities intended for applicants to graduate schools. In addition to the General Test, the GRE includes subject area tests in 16 different fields.
  • Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GMAT is a four-hour standardized test that is required for admission to most business schools (MBA's) in the United States. It includes multiple choice questions and a writing section. The GMAT results in four scores: verbal, quantitative, total, and analytical writing.The test is given in Taiwan Monday through Friday from the 3rd business day of the month until the last day of the month.It is also given the 3rd Saturday of every month.
  • Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT is a three-and-one-half hour multiple choice test used for admission into law schools. If you already hold a Taiwanese law degree and want to earn an LLM in the USA, it is highly unlikely to that you will be required to take the LSAT.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/Test of Spoken English (TSE)/Test of Written English (TWE).As a Taiwanese student applying to a graduate school in the United States, you may have to take these tests, in addition to taking the GMAT, GRE or LSAT, to measure your English language skills. The TOEFL is a two-hour multiple choice test that evaluates a student's English proficiency； the TSE evaluates English speaking ability； and the TWE evaluates English writing ability.

For more information on what standardized tests are, how they work, and how to prepare for them, we recommend you visit this site, which is especially good for parents.

Helpful Links:

Refer to the following sites to find out how to register and take the appropriate admissions tests in Taiwan

    • ETS (administers the TOEFL, TOEIC and SAT tests in Taiwan)
      • Chun Shin Ltd (official ETS representative in Taiwan)

106) 2nd Fl, 45, Sec.2, Fu Xing S. Rd.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, R.O.C
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
TEL：(02)2701-8008‧ FAX：(02)2755-2822
http://www.criterion.com.tw/
(students can also register to take the TOEFL test in Taiwan by visiting www.prometric.com)

    • Prometric Registration Center Taipei Region (administers the GRE and GMAT tests in Taiwan)

What's Here? Myths vs. Realities； All About the NEW TOEFL!； Entrance Exams for University； Entrance Exams for GraduateSchool； Helpful Links