If a postgraduate program abroad is included in your immediate plans, when searching for relevant information, it is highly unlikely that you have not come across one of the following tests as a basic requirement for admission to a program you are interested in. But what is each of these tests? Let’s look at them in a little more detail, so that you know what to expect and how to prepare properly.
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GMAT : is an aptitude test that examines the critical thinking and logical ability of candidates under time pressure. It is usually required by Business Schools and MBA programs. It is a Computer – Adaptive – test, and includes 4 sections: the Analytical Writing (AW), the Integrated Reasoning (IR), the Quantitative (Q) and the Verbal (V) section. The four sections of the GMAT result in three scores: one for the AW (0-6), one for the IR (1-8) and the GMAT score (200 – 800), which results from the scoring of the Q & V sections. In many cases, universities only ask for the GMAT score, without being interested in the performance of the candidates in the other two sections. The total duration of the exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
The GMAT test exams are very frequent (2-3 times a week) and are held in certified testing centers (for Athens, the exam is held at Pearson Vue). The reservation of a place for the exam and the payment of the exam fees, which are €250 + VAT 24%, are done electronically, through the account that the candidate will have first created on the official GMAT website. The examinee receives unofficial results in the IR, Q & V sections on the day of the exam, while after 20 days they are officially posted on his profile, along with the AW score. The scores are sent to the universities of the candidate’s choice, usually through the organizing company. A re-examination can be held 16 calendar days after the last exam. For more information, visit https://www.koutsodontis.gr/υπηρεσίες/gmat/.
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GRE : is an aptitude test that examines the critical thinking and logical ability of candidates under time pressure. It is required of prospective postgraduate and doctoral students from schools mainly in America but also in Europe. It is divided into GRE General Test and GRE Subject tests. The General test evaluates the mathematical and logical reasoning of the examinee, while the Subject tests examine his knowledge in specific fields (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry, etc.).
As for the GRE General Test, it is conducted on a computer and includes 3 parts, which are scored separately: Analytical Writing (0 – 6), Quantitative Reasoning (130 – 170) & Verbal Reasoning (130 – 170). The total duration of the exam is approximately 4 hours.
GRE test exams are held 2-3 times a week at certified testing centers (for Athens, the exam is held at the Professional Services Center). Exam reservation and payment of the exam fee, which is $205, is done electronically, through the account previously created by the candidate on the official GRE website. The examinee sees the unofficial results in the Q & V Reasoning sections on the day of the exam, while after 10-15 days they are officially posted on his profile, along with the AW score. The scores are sent to the universities of the candidate’s choice, usually through the organizing company. Re-examination can be performed 21 calendar days after the last exam. For more information, visit https://www.koutsodontis.gr/υπηρεσίες/gre/ .
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IELTS : is an English language proficiency certification test and is required by most universities abroad for the admission of a candidate to a postgraduate program. It is examined in writing or via computer and includes 4 sections – Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking – with a specific time duration and number of questions in each section. The sections are scored on a scale from 1 – 9 and the average of these four sub-scores constitutes the test score (Overall score: 1- 9). The duration of the exam is 3 hours and there is no break between sections. The oral part of the exam (Speaking) can be examined on a different day than the written part (Listening, Reading, Writing).
The IELTS exams are held 3-4 times a month, the written part in central hotels in Athens and the speaking part at the offices of the British Council, the examination body for Greece. The dates of the exams are known in advance and any interested person should make sure to book their place in time, as the deadline for registration for the exams expires one week before the exams. The exam fees amount to €207 and can be paid electronically, when registering for the exams, either via bank deposit, or via debit/credit card within three working days of booking the place. The results are posted online 13 days after the written exams and are collected from the offices of the British Council. Re-examination can be done at any time, without time limit. For more information, visit https://www.koutsodontis.gr/υπηρεσίες/ielts/.
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TOEFL : is an English language proficiency certification test and is mainly required by most universities in the USA for the admission of a candidate to a postgraduate program. It is tested via computer and includes 4 sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking & Writing. The Writing & Speaking sections have a specific time duration and number of questions, while Listening & Reading have short & long versions, so the number of questions and their duration vary. The sections are scored from 0 – 30 and the sum of these four sub-scores constitutes the test score (0 – 120). The duration of the exam is approximately 3 hours and there is a 10-minute break between the Listening & Speaking sections.
TOEFL exams are held 3-4 times a month, morning & afternoon. The exam dates are posted on the official website and the reservation of a place for the exam and the payment of the exam fee, which is $245, is done electronically, through the account that the candidate will have previously created on the official TOEFL website. The results are posted online in the examinee’s account and are sent to the universities of his choice usually through the organizing company. A re-examination can be carried out after a period of 12 days. For more information, visit https://www.koutsodontis.gr/υπηρεσίες/toefl/.
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The KOUTSODONTIS Study Center has specialized in the preparation of the above tests since 1981 and is the only center not only in Athens, but in all of Greece, that has its own hardware and software for the practice of its students in real simulation conditions. The teachers who teach at the center are qualified and have years of experience in teaching the tests, so that they can help each student reach their maximum potential, within a reasonably short period of time. This offers our students savings of time and money, since they achieve their goal with their first exam.