SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS: Which Standardized Tests Do International Students Need?

Introduction

Most international applicants need two kinds of test: an admission test that measures academic reasoning (the SAT or ACT for undergraduate programs, the GMAT or GRE for graduate programs) and an English proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS) if English is not their first language. Which ones you need depends on the level you are applying for, the country and each program’s own rules.

This guide compares the six tests side by side, then covers what each one measures, what it costs, how often you can retake it, and the point that catches many applicants out: which test formats and retake options universities actually accept.

Standardized Tests Compared: SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS

Formats, fees and availability are taken from the official pages of College Board, ACT, GMAC, ETS and IELTS, consulted in October 2026. Fees are base registration fees and exclude late registration, rescheduling and extra score reports. TOEFL and IELTS fees are set for each country and are shown at registration.

Which Standardized Tests Do International Students Need?

The answer depends first on the level of study, then on the country. Requirements are set by each university, and often by each program, so the table below is a starting point to check against the admissions page of every school on your list.

The two families of tests do different jobs. Aptitude tests (SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE) evaluate reasoning, analytical and quantitative skills, so a program can compare applicants from different school systems on the same scale. English proficiency tests (TOEFL, IELTS) confirm that you can follow lectures, write essays and take part in seminars in English. A strong GMAT or SAT score does not prove your English is ready for daily academic life, which is why many programs ask for one test from each family.

SAT and ACT: Admission Tests for US Undergraduate Programs

What Is the SAT?

The SAT is run by College Board and is now fully digital. It lasts 2 hours and 14 minutes, with a 10-minute break, and has two sections: Reading and Writing (54 questions, 64 minutes) and Math (44 questions, 70 minutes). Each section is split into two adaptive modules: how you do on the first module sets the difficulty of the second. The total score runs from 400 to 1600.

Outside the US, the SAT costs $111 (a $68 registration fee plus a $43 international fee), with a $24 test center fee in some locations and $38 for late registration. You take it in person at a test center, on your own laptop or tablet with the Bluebook app, or on a device borrowed from College Board. For the 2026-27 school year, the remaining test dates are November 7 and December 5, 2026, then March 6, May 1 and June 5, 2027.

The SAT is central again for US admissions: all Ivy League schools, MIT and Stanford require it, and most international applicants also send their score to schools that are test-optional. Plan to take it for the first time in Grade 11 (the year before your final year of high school), because you may need two or three attempts to reach your target score. If you apply through the Common App, our Common App guide for international students [→ Common App guide for international students] explains where your SAT or ACT score fits in the application.

A few European private universities also accept the SAT for their English-taught bachelor’s degrees. At Bocconi, competitive applicants score from about 1480, ideally above 1500; LUISS accepts applicants from 1200. See how to get into Bocconi as an undergraduate [→ How to get into Bocconi as an undergraduate] for the full admission profile.

What Is the ACT?

The ACT is the other admission test accepted by US colleges. Its enhanced version has three core sections: English (50 questions, 35 minutes), Math (45 questions, 50 minutes) and Reading (36 questions, 40 minutes). Science (40 questions, 40 minutes) and Writing (one essay, 40 minutes) are optional. The composite score, from 1 to 36, is the average of English, Math and Reading only; students who take Science receive a separate Science score and a STEM score.

Outside the US, the ACT is taken on computer at test centers. It costs $188.50 for the core test, $198.50 with Science, $213.50 with Writing and $223.50 with both. The 2026-27 international dates are October 23-24 and December 11-12, 2026, then February 12-13, April 2-3, June 11-12 and July 9-10, 2027.

SAT or ACT: Which Should You Take?

US colleges that require a test generally accept either the SAT or the ACT, so the choice comes down to where you score higher and where you can sit the test. The SAT adapts its difficulty to your level from one module to the next; the ACT adds an optional Science section that STEM applicants may want to take. If you are also applying to European private universities, keep in mind that Bocconi and LUISS publish their expectations in SAT scores. Take a full official practice test of each before you commit, and check which test centers are near you, since neither test is offered in every city (see the section on test centers below).

What Is the GMAT?

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is designed for applicants to MBA and other graduate management programs. It is developed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and accepted by more than 7,700 business school programs worldwide.

GMAT Format and Sections

The current GMAT lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one optional 10-minute break, and has three sections of 45 minutes each that you can take in any order:

• Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions): problem-solving in arithmetic and algebra.
• Verbal Reasoning (23 questions): reading comprehension passages of up to 350 words and critical reasoning.
• Data Insights (20 questions): five formats (multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, two-part analysis and data sufficiency) built to reflect how managers combine data from several sources.

There is no essay: the three sections above are the whole exam. During each section you can bookmark questions and change up to three answers before moving on.

GMAT Score Range and Cost

The GMAT score range is 205 to 805, and each of the three sections counts equally toward the total. Detailed score reports arrive within three to five days. Scores are valid for five years. The exam costs $275 at a test center (the price can vary by location) and $300 online.

Who Needs the GMAT?

The GMAT is the test built for MBA and business master’s programs, such as a Master in Management. More than 1,300 MBA programs also accept the GRE, so check each program’s policy before you register. For Executive MBA programs, look also at GMAC’s Executive Assessment, a 90-minute test designed for experienced professionals and used by more than 100 schools for their executive, part-time and full-time MBA programs.

What Is the GRE?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is run by ETS. It is the more versatile of the two graduate tests: more than 20,000 graduate, business and law programs accept it, including master’s and PhD programs across disciplines, over 1,300 MBA programs and more than 100 ABA-accredited US law schools.

GRE Format and Score Range

The GRE General Test lasts 1 hour and 58 minutes and has five sections. Analytical Writing always comes first (one “Analyze an Issue” essay, 30 minutes, written without spell-check), followed by two Verbal Reasoning sections (12 questions in 18 minutes, then 15 questions in 23 minutes) and two Quantitative Reasoning sections (12 questions in 21 minutes, then 15 questions in 26 minutes). Your performance on the first Verbal and Quant section sets the difficulty of the second, and an on-screen calculator is provided for Quant.

The GRE score range is 130 to 170 for Verbal and for Quantitative, so 260 to 340 combined, and 0 to 6 in half-point steps for Analytical Writing. Scores are valid for five years.

How Much Does the GRE Cost?

Since August 1, 2026, the GRE General Test costs $249 in most countries and $237.86 in mainland China. Test takers in India pay a separate fee listed on the ETS India website.

GMAT vs GRE: Which Should You Take?

Start with reach. The GMAT is accepted by more than 7,700 business school programs, the GRE by over 1,300 MBA programs but also by thousands of non-business graduate programs and by law schools. If you apply only to business school, the GMAT covers the widest range of programs; if you are hesitating between business school and other disciplines, the GRE keeps more doors open. Many top MBA programs have no preference: Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB both accept either test and say so explicitly.

Then look at content. The GRE Verbal section relies on Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions that test vocabulary in context, plus reading comprehension, and the test includes a timed essay. The GMAT has no vocabulary questions and no essay; its weight sits on critical reasoning, quantitative problem-solving and the Data Insights section. Both organizations publish free official practice exams (the GMAT Official Starter Kit with two full-length tests, and POWERPREP for the GRE): take one of each before you decide.

What Is the TOEFL iBT?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) is run by ETS and accepted by more than 13,500 institutions in over 160 countries, including all universities in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and Germany, according to ETS.

The New TOEFL Format Since January 2026

The TOEFL changed on January 21, 2026. The test now takes about two hours in total, including instructions, and it adapts as you progress. It has four sections:

• Reading (about 30 minutes): word completion, everyday texts and academic passages.
• Listening (about 29 minutes): conversations, announcements and academic talks.
• Writing (about 23 minutes): sentence building, an email and an academic discussion post.
• Speaking (about 8 minutes): “Listen and Repeat” tasks and a recorded interview on the computer.

TOEFL Score Scale: 1 to 6

Scores are now reported on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point steps, aligned with the CEFR. You receive four section scores and an overall score, which is the average of the four rounded to the nearest half band. Until January 2028, score reports also show a comparable score on the old 0 to 120 scale.

A score of 5 corresponds to advanced (C1) English. Requirements vary by university: the University of Toronto asks for 4.5 overall, while Oxford’s standard graduate requirement is 100 on the old scale, which falls in the band 5 range. Scores taken on the old scale before January 21, 2026 remain valid for two years from the test date. Watch for programs that have not yet updated their requirements: Oxford’s graduate admissions, for example, only accept TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 21, 2026.

What Is IELTS Academic?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press and Assessment. More than 12,500 institutions accept it, including every university in the UK and Australia, all of Canada’s U15 research universities and the top 100 US universities by international enrollment, and IELTS reports running more high-stakes English tests each year than all other tests combined. For university admission you always take IELTS Academic; IELTS General Training is meant for migration, work and study below degree level, and universities such as Oxford and Edinburgh do not accept it.

IELTS Format

IELTS Academic lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes: Listening (about 30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes) and Speaking (11 to 14 minutes). The Speaking test is a live conversation with a trained examiner, which some candidates find more natural than speaking to a computer. You can take the test on paper or on computer at a test center, or from home as IELTS Online, where Speaking takes place by video call with an examiner.

IELTS Scores

IELTS uses a 0 to 9 band scale. You receive a band for each of the four skills and an overall band, which is their average rounded to the nearest half band (an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, one ending in .75 to the next whole band). Requirements set both an overall band and a minimum per skill: the University of Toronto asks for 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, Oxford for 7.0 with 6.5 in each skill at its standard graduate level and 7.5 with 7.0 at its higher level. IELTS recommends that results be treated as valid for two years, and each university can set its own limit.

IELTS and the UK Student Visa

If you are going to the UK, IELTS is always a safe choice. For a degree-level course, your university can assess your English itself for the Student visa. Below degree level (a foundation year or a pre-sessional English course, for example), you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, and depending on your country and course, IELTS Academic for UKVI may be the version you are asked for.

TOEFL vs IELTS: Which Should You Choose?

Both tests are accepted by every university in the UK and Australia and by the leading US and Canadian universities, so the choice usually comes down to format and acceptance rules. The Speaking format is the biggest difference: the TOEFL records your answers on a computer, while IELTS puts you in front of a real examiner. If you speak more fluently in conversation, IELTS may suit you better.

In 2026, check one more point before you choose: whether your target universities accept the new TOEFL format yet. Most do, but Oxford’s graduate admissions still list only TOEFL tests taken before January 21, 2026. Our guide to the best universities in the UK for international students gives the English requirements of each top university.

Test Centers, Online Tests and One Skill Retake: What Do Universities Accept?

Booking a test is not only a question of choosing a date. Three practical issues can block an application if you discover them too late.

Test Centers Are Not Available Everywhere

Test centers are concentrated in large cities, and some tests run only a few times a year. Outside the US, the SAT has six dates in 2026-27 and the ACT seven, with no at-home version of either. Depending on where you live, you may need to travel to another city, or another country, and seats fill up early before application deadlines. Look up the nearest centers and their available dates as soon as you know which test you need, and book several months ahead.

Online Versions Exist, but Universities Can Ask for an In-Person Test

The GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS all offer an at-home version with a live remote proctor. GMAC states that business schools treat the online GMAT and the test center GMAT the same way, and ETS says the GRE at home is identical to the test center version. English tests are a different story: each university decides whether it accepts the online version, and some require a test taken in person.

Visas add another layer. IELTS Online is not accepted for immigration purposes, so it cannot be used for a visa application. For Australia, only TOEFL tests taken before January 21, 2026 and the TOEFL iBT Australia are currently approved for visa purposes. Before you book an at-home test, confirm on the admissions page of every university on your list, and on the visa page of your destination country, that the format is accepted.

IELTS One Skill Retake Is Often Not Accepted

IELTS One Skill Retake lets you retake a single skill (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) instead of the whole test. It is only available after a full IELTS on computer, must be booked within 60 days of the original test, and can be used once per test. The result is a new report combining the retaken skill with your three original scores.

The option is attractive, but it is often not accepted by universities: Oxford, Edinburgh and the University of Toronto all refuse it and require the minimum scores in a single sitting. Acceptance does exist (all New Zealand universities take it, and UK Visas and Immigration approved it as a Secure English Language Test in 2024), but a single refusal on your list is enough to make it useless. The same applies to TOEFL MyBest scores, which combine your best section scores from different test dates: none of these three universities accepts them. If your score in one skill falls short, plan to retake the full test unless every university on your list says otherwise.

Can You Retake the SAT, ACT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS?

All six tests can be retaken, with different rules:

• SAT and ACT: take the first attempt in Grade 11 so that you have time for two or three attempts before your applications.
• GMAT: at least 16 days between attempts, a maximum of five attempts in any rolling 12-month period, and no lifetime limit. With GMAT Superscore, schools can see your strongest section scores across several attempts.
• GRE: once every 21 days, up to five times in any rolling 12-month period.
• TOEFL iBT: no limit on the number of attempts, but no more than one test in any three-day period.
• IELTS: as many attempts as you need, with a fee each time; the One Skill Retake option is subject to the acceptance rules described above.

Whatever the test, an official practice test is the best first step. All five test owners publish free official material: Bluebook practice tests for the SAT, free practice tests on act.org, the GMAT Official Starter Kit on mba.com, POWERPREP for the GRE and free TOEFL practice on ets.org, and sample test questions on ielts.org.

How Long Are Test Scores Valid?

GMAT and GRE scores are valid for five years, so you can take them early, for example in your final year of university, and keep the result for an application a few years later. TOEFL scores are valid for two years, and IELTS recommends the same limit. Some universities count those two years from the course start date rather than the application date: Oxford requires English tests taken less than two years before the start of your course. Time your English test so that it is still valid when you enroll, especially if you plan a gap year or a later intake.

Do You Need More Than One Test?

Often, yes. A non-native English speaker applying to a US college will typically send an SAT or ACT score and a TOEFL or IELTS score; an MBA applicant will send a GMAT or GRE score and an English test score.

There are exemptions from the English test, and they differ sharply from one university to the next (see the FAQ below). For the UK Student visa, nationals of majority English-speaking countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not need to prove their English. Always check the exemption policy on each program’s admissions page.

Your test scores are only one part of the file. Grades, essays and recommendation letters for international applicants [→ Recommendation letters for international applicants] count too, and the tests add to the overall budget of your application: see the real cost of a master’s abroad [→ The real cost of a master’s abroad] for the full picture.

Practical Tips Before You Register

Start from the requirements of each program, not from the test. Do not assume that because one school accepts the GRE, every school on your list does. List the test, the minimum score and the accepted formats for every program before you book anything.

Then work backward from your deadlines. Allow time for at least one retake, for official scores to come out (about three days for the TOEFL, three to five days for the GMAT) and for test center availability. UK applicants should also check registration deadlines for course-specific tests such as the TMUA or UCAT, some of which close at the end of September, before the October 15 UCAS deadline: our UCAS guide for international students [→ UCAS guide for international students] explains the full timeline. For US applicants, the US university system explained [→ How the US university system works] shows how test scores fit into the wider admission process.