Top Exams Required to Study in the USA in 2026 for Masters and Undergrads

✦ Summary

Almost every Indian applicant needs one English test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo), and then a test that depends on the degree: SAT or ACT for undergraduate programs, GRE or GMAT for most masters and MBA programs, MCAT for medical school and LSAT for law school. Many universities are test-optional or waive tests for some programs, but several top universities have brought the SAT back, so check each program page. The GMAT is now the shorter GMAT Focus Edition (64 questions, 2 hours 15 minutes), and the GRE costs $249 for tests from 1 August 2026.

Sharleen Kapoor

5 min read • Oct 14, 2026

Which Exam Do You Need? (2026)

Your goal	Usual test	English test	Note
Undergraduate (bachelor’s)	SAT or ACT	TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo	Several top universities require the SAT; others are test-optional
Masters (MS, MEng, MBA)	GRE or GMAT	TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo	Many programs waive or do not ask for tests; check each page
Business school (MBA, MS Business Analytics)	GMAT Focus or GRE	As above	Most business schools accept both
Medical school	MCAT	As above	Taken after a bachelor’s degree, not for undergraduate entry
Law school (JD)	LSAT	As above	Taken after a bachelor’s degree, not for undergraduate entry

Requirements differ by university and by program, so treat this table as a starting point and confirm on the admission page of every program you apply to.

English Proficiency Tests

US universities need proof of English for international applicants. The four common options are below; each university sets its own minimum scores, and some accept more than one test.

Test	Score scale	Good to know	Source
TOEFL iBT	0 to 120, plus a new 1 to 6 scale from 21 January 2026	Adaptive Reading and Listening from January 2026; both scales appear on score reports for about two years; ETS India lists 13,500+ institutions in 160+ countries	ETS India, TOEFL changes 2026
IELTS Academic	Band 0 to 9	Four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking); IELTS fees in India were reported to rise to ₹19,000	GradRight news
PTE Academic	10 to 90	Computer-based and AI-scored; check Pearson for current India fee and result time	Check Pearson
Duolingo English Test	10 to 160	Taken online; results in about 2 days	Duolingo

See IELTS score for USA universities and IELTS vs TOEFL to choose between them. Some universities waive the English test for applicants with an English-medium degree, so check each program page.

Also Read: Study in the USA without IELTS and TOEFL

Exams for Undergraduate Admission: SAT and ACT

SAT

The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600 (two sections, Reading and Writing and Math, each 200 to 800) and is taken in a digital format. Several top US universities require it again for 2026 admission, including Harvard, Yale, MIT and Stanford (from Fall 2026), while others, such as NYU, remain test-optional through the 2026-27 cycle, according to a summary of testing policies (Collegedunia). That list changes often, so check each university’s admissions site. For Indian applicants, the practical advice is to take the SAT and decide later whether to submit it.

ACT

The enhanced ACT makes the Science section optional. The Composite is now the average of the English, Math and Reading scores on the 1 to 36 scale, with Science and a STEM score reported separately if taken. Online testing changed in April 2025 and paper and international testing in September 2025, and scores from earlier tests are not recalculated (ACT). In the US, the ACT costs $70 (English, Math and Reading only), $75 with Science, $95 with Writing and $100 with both; check ACT for international fees (ACT fees).

Also Read: Top universities in the USA without GRE

Exams for Masters and Professional Programs

GRE

The GRE General Test tests Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. ETS lists the test length as 1 hour 58 minutes, scores are valid for 5 years, and the test is available at home with live human proctoring or at test centers (ETS India). The standard fee is $249 for tests from 1 August 2026, about ₹24,100 at ₹96.8 per US dollar, and ETS India lists the India price on its registration page (ETS fee schedule). Verbal and Quantitative are scored from 130 to 170 and Analytical Writing from 0 to 6. For section details see our guide to the GRE syllabus.

GMAT Focus Edition

The GMAT now has three sections of 45 minutes each: Quantitative Reasoning (21 questions), Verbal Reasoning (23 questions) and Data Insights (20 questions), for 64 questions and 2 hours 15 minutes including one optional 10-minute break. You can take the sections in any order (GMAC). The older 200 to 800 format with Analytical Writing and Integrated Reasoning has been replaced, so ignore old score tables. See GMAT exam scores and GMAT vs GRE.

MCAT

The MCAT is used for medical school admission, is scored from 472 to 528 and is taken after a bachelor’s degree. It is not an undergraduate exam. International applicants should check each medical school’s policy, as many accept few international students.

LSAT

The LSAT is used for law school admission and is scored from 120 to 180. Per LSAC, the scored sections today are Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension, and a separate writing sample is taken online. Check LSAC for the current format and fees, because the test has changed in recent years.

Also Read: Universities waiving GRE and GMAT

How to Plan Your Exam Timeline

When	What to do
12 to 15 months before intake	Shortlist programs and note each one’s test and English requirements
9 to 12 months before	Start preparing; take the GRE, GMAT, SAT or ACT first
6 to 9 months before	Take the English test; retake if needed
4 to 6 months before	Send official scores to universities and submit applications

Scores are valid for a limited time (five years for the GRE), so check the validity of every test before you book it, and leave room for a retake.

Popular Courses and Universities

The most common masters routes for Indian students are MBA, MS in Computer Science, MS in Data Science, MEng, MS in Business Analytics and MS in Information Systems. Elite universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Columbia and Carnegie Mellon, and strong public universities such as UC Berkeley, UIUC, Georgia Tech and UT Austin, set their own test requirements, so open each program page before you plan your exams.

For program-specific guidance see top universities in the USA for MS in Computer Science and cost of an MS in the USA for Indian students.

Ready to plan your applications? Use GradRight University Selection to shortlist US universities and see which tests each one needs, and compare funding on the GradRight USA education loan page. Our mostly digital process connects you with 18+ lenders.

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Exam Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Which exams are required to study in the USA?

Most international applicants need an English test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo). Undergraduate applicants may also need the SAT or ACT, and masters applicants often need the GRE or GMAT, depending on the university and program.

Do I need the SAT for a bachelor’s degree in the USA?

It depends on the university. Several top universities require the SAT again for 2026 admission, while others stay test-optional. For Indian applicants, taking the SAT and deciding later whether to submit it keeps options open.

Is financial aid for international students based only on the SAT or ACT?

No. Aid and scholarships depend on each university’s policy, which can include grades, essays, need and merit. A test score can help but is not the only factor, so check each university’s international aid page.

Which exams do I need for a masters in the USA?

Most masters applicants submit a GRE or GMAT score and an English test, though many programs waive the GRE or GMAT. Check the program page for the exact rule.

Can I study in the USA without the GRE?

Yes. Many universities do not require the GRE for some programs. See our list of universities that do not ask for it, and confirm the policy on the program page before you apply.

What changed in the GMAT?

The GMAT Focus Edition has three 45-minute sections, 64 questions and a 2 hour 15 minute duration. It replaced the earlier format with Analytical Writing and Integrated Reasoning.