Which Exams Are Required to Study Abroad in 2026 for Indian Students? Complete Guide

Studying abroad is a dream for many students, but making it a reality involves several stages. The first among these is to clear the exams required to study abroad in 2026. Your choice of test depends on your target country, study level (UG or PG), and specific university requirements. Because what’s mandatory in one country may be optional in another, it is vital to research the exact exams required to study abroad for your specific course. This blog shares simple information about this, so as to help students plan their application journey.

Undergraduate Admissions (After Class 12)

If you’re looking at the US or top global universities for your Bachelor’s, SAT and ACT are the primary exams required to study abroad in 2026 that you’ll hear most.

1. SAT

   1. The SAT primarily tests your aptitude in reasoning, SAT reading comprehension, and problem-solving skills rather than rote memory. It has the Reading & Writing section (200-800 points), and the Math section (200-800 points). The maximum score is 1600 points.

   2. It is now a Digital, computer-adaptive, of a shorter duration (2h 14m) as compared to earlier. You are allowed to use a calculator for the entire Math section. “Computer adaptive” means that your performance in the first module of a section would determine the difficulty level of the second module you receive.

   3. While some schools have made the SAT ‘Optional’ (a trend that started during Covid), some top-tier US colleges like Harvard, Yale, MIT and UT Austin have officially reinstated it as mandatory. Even for SAT Optional colleges, having a strong score can be an advantage by giving you an edge over other applicants with an equally good profile, and when admissions are competitive.

2. ACT (American College Testing)

   While SAT focuses more on logic and verbal reasoning, ACT is more aligned with the school curriculum, measuring skills developed through subjects you have studied in school. Each section is scored from 1 to 36, and your ‘Composite Score’ is the average of your three core sections (English, Reading and Math).

   Changes since 2025 end:

   1. Earlier, ACT was 3 hours long (without essay), and 3 hours and 40 minutes long (with the optional writing section). Now it is roughly 2 hours and 5 minutes (English, Reading, and Math).

   2. Now the Science was mandatory, and now it is optional, just like the Writing (Essay) section. If you do take these sections, they will show up as separate scores on your report, and will not pull down your main average.

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      Note 01: How to Decide Between SAT and ACT as The Exam Required to Study Abroad in 2026?

   Choose the right test based on the following four factors:

   1. Math: Choose SAT if you’re strong in Math, as it makes up 50% of your total SAT score. Otherwise pick ACT Math carries only 33% weight of the ACT composite score.

   2. Speed: The SAT is better if you want more time per question (approx. 80-90 seconds). ACT would suit if you’re a rapid-fire kind of thinker, as it offers only 60-65 seconds per question.

   3. Science & Data: Pick SAT if you want to avoid a dedicated Science section. SAT integrates data analysis into Reading and Math. ACT has a separate Science section that tests your ability to read graphs and technical summaries. Though now optional, and doesn’t affect your Composite score, taking it may help because many elite Engineering and STEM programs highly value it.

   4. Location: The SAT is more accessible, with centers in 50+ Indian cities. ACT centers are largely restricted to major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

   Note 02: Superscoring

   In 2026, almost all major universities (including the Ivies) use a policy called Superscoring. If you score high in Math but low in English, and then retake it scoring high in English but low in Math, the university won’t just look at one date. They cherry-pick your highest scores from each section across both dates and combine them into one superscore. This is common for SAT. or ACT, the superscore report averages your best across all sections from different attempts. However, remember not all schools honour superscoring.

3. Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

   While the SAT/ACT measure general aptitude, AP Exams test mastery of college-level subjects (Calculus, Psychology, etc.) on a scale of 1–5. Top-tier schools typically look for a 4 or 5. Exams are held annually in May, with India registration usually occurring between September and November.

   Read on to know how different countries view these as part of the exams required to study abroad.

   1. For US & Canada, APs can add value like a ‘cash coupon’. Scores of 4 or 5 can earn you college credits, allowing you to skip intro courses in that subject. While one AP exam costs INR 12-14K, a single college course costs INR 2.5-4 Lacs. So, you can save money on those intro courses. It can also save time. If your Bachelor’s degree requires 120 credits to graduate, and if you enter college with 15 credits already earned through APs, you’re saving money on those courses too, and also you’ve effectively finished some part of your first semester before Day 1. This allows you to graduate sooner than 4 years, saving fees and cost of living abroad.

   2. For the UK, APs may give you a competitive edge, especially at top-tier schools like Oxford or Cambridge. Since most applicants here have 95%+ in Board exams, taking 3-5 AP exams helps you stand out, proving you can handle specialized depth of the UK curriculum, which is much deeper than Indian high school syllabus.

Postgraduate Admissions

1. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

   If you are aiming for an MS program, the GRE may be one of the exams required to study abroad in 2026, especially if you’re targeting top US universities, or top-tier schools in Canada (also selectively in Europe and Singapore, depending on the program). A GRE score is used by colleges to compare all students on a totally level playing field, because a 90% at one university (or one program) might be harder to get than at another.

   But is it required for all MS applicants? It depends on what you want to study. For STEM Fields (technical subjects like Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or Quantitative Finance programs), GRE is usually mandatory or highly recommended. Universities look very closely at your Quantitative (Math) score here. For non-STEM fields like Literature, History or Social Sciences, the GRE is often optional. Schools might care more about your writing samples and GPA. MS in subjects like Design or Architecture care most about your Portfolio (your actual creative work), so the GRE often takes a backseat.

   The 2026 GRE format has become much shorter, and takes only 1 hour and 58 minutes as against the earlier 3 hours and 45 minutes. It is an adaptive test, meaning if you do well on the first set of questions, the second set gets harder (but helps you earn a higher score). You are scored out of 340 (170 each for Math and English sections). For a top-tier MS, a score of 320+ is generally considered competitive. Aim for a 165+ in the Quant section for STEM programs. Even where GRE is optional, a great score can fetch you an edge for merit-based scholarships, making it a valuable addition to your list of exams required to study abroad.

   Note: The above explains what a general GRE is. There is also something called ‘GRE Subject Test’, which focuses on a specific subject like Physics, Mathematics or Psychology. However, you need to consider them only if you are applying for very research-heavy programs in some US universities. But these are rare departmental requirements.

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2. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

   If you’re targeting an MBA, you’ve likely heard about the GMAT as one of the exams required to study abroad in 2026. Since 2024, the older ‘Classic GMAT version’, has now been replaced by the ‘GMAT Focus Edition’. However, because GMAT scores are valid for 5 years, some applicants in 2026 may still be using old scores. But if you’re taking the exam today, you will take the Focus Edition.

   What has changed?

   1. While the classic version lasted 3 hours and 7 minutes, and focused a lot on grammar usage like sentence correction or structural logic, the Focus Edition now tests your ability to analyze data and think critically. These are skills that actually matter in a modern MBA classroom. The new version is 2 hours and 15 minutes.

   2. The AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment/Essay) and Sentence Correction, which were there in the old version, have now been removed. A dedicated Data Insights section now tests how well you can interpret charts and digital information to make business decisions.

   3. The Classic version scored on a scale of 200-800, where the new Focus version runs on a 205-805 scoring scale. To avoid any confusion with the old version, the Focus Edition score now ends in a ‘5’ (e.g., 645, 705).

   Note: Understanding the 205–805 score

   This is extremely important because your Focus edition score may look ‘lower’ than what people are used to in the classic version. For example, a 645 on the Focus Edition is highly competitive, roughly equivalent to a 700 on the old scale. If you’re aiming for elite institutions like Harvard, Stanford, or ISB, you should target a 705 or higher. This puts you in the top tier of candidates globally.

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3. Specialized exams

   If you are pursuing a specific professional path, these might be the specialized entrance exams required to study abroad.

   1. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is required for US medical schools. There are currently no MCAT test centers in India. You will need to travel to international hubs like Thailand, Singapore, or the UAE to take this exam

   2. LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is required for JD (Law) programs in the US and Canada.

   3. TestAS is required for STEM and Economics programs in some German Universities

English Language Proficiency Tests

If you’re heading to an English-speaking country, you’ll need to prove you’re comfortable with the language. Here’s a list of exams required to study abroad, depending on your study destination.

1. IELTS Academic:

   IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is most recognized exam required to study abroad in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland. It evaluates your English proficiency across Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes), and Speaking (11-14 minutes), totaling 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Speaking test is a one-on-one conversation with a real person. Many students find this less stressful because a human examiner can be more empathetic towards natural pauses or local accents in a way that a machine can’t be.

   1. Scoring, Validity and Cost: You receive a ‘Band Score’ from 0 to 9. Top universities generally look for an overall Band of 7.0 or 7.5, with no single module below 6.5. Of course, this may vary across Universities. Your score is valid for 2 years. In India, as of April 2026, the registration fee is around INR 18-19K

   2. The Biggest Change: In the past, if you got great scores in three sections but messed up in one section, you had to pay the full fee and retake the entire 3-hour exam. Now, you can choose to retake just that one module within 60 days of your original test. It saves you significant money and stress. Please note this may be available at select test centers, so it’s better to check beforehand.

2. TOEFL

   If you are targeting US universities, you’ll likely take the TOEFL. The four sections are Reading (adaptive), Listening (Adaptive), Speaking, and Writing. On 21st Jan 2026, the test has undergone its biggest transformation in 60 years, to become more practical and student-friendly. While the old TOEFL was 100% academic, the new version includes everyday English / real-life communication skills, such as reading student announcements or listening to casual campus conversations. Most people feel that the new version is easier because the Reading & Listening passages are shorter than in the older version. The test is now fully digital, and so you will now get your results within 72 hours.

   1. Duration and Format: As of 2026, the test lasts 90 minutes. The earlier version lasted 2 hours, and had a 10-minute break (now removed).

   2. Validity & Cost: Scores are valid for 2 years, and costs approximately INR 16-17K.

   3. New Scoring: The traditional 0-120 points (30 points for each section) has shifted to the 1-6 Band scale (increments of 0.5). For the next two years, your score report will automatically show both your new 1-6 band and a comparable 0-120 score to help universities adjust.

3. PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)

   PTE is widely accepted in UK, Australia and New Zealand, and by a growing number of Canadian universities. It is 100% computer-graded and, unlike IELTS, there are no human examiners, not even for the Speaking section. You usually get results within 48 hours.

   1. Integrated Testing: The PTE tests two skills at once. For eg, the ‘Read Aloud’ task tests both Reading and Speaking; the ‘Repeat Sentence task tests both Listening and Speaking.

   2. Duration, Cost and Validity: 2-hour long test, no breaks. It costs approximately INR 19K. Scores are valid for 2 years.

   3. 2026 Update (Hybrid Scoring): Although AI remains the primary grader, in 2026, PTE has introduced a ‘Human Review’ for borderline scores to ensure the AI didn’t penalize a natural accent. Or, if your speech sounded too robotic, a human reviewer checks if you actually answered the question or just rattled out a memorized script like a formula. Even essay tasks can be flagged for human review if AI suspects you used a generic template. The human checks if you are actually answering the prompt, or just using ‘fancy’ words to fill space.

   4. Duolingo English Test (DET)

      DET is an hour-long test, cheaper (INR 6K) than all other alternatives, and most convenient (it can be taken at home on your own laptop). It gained massive popularity during the pandemic, and is still relevant in many countries / universities (though not all).

      1. Acceptance of DET: Thousands of universities (mostly in the US) accept it. In the UK also, about 150+ universities accept it. However, visa authorities like UKVI does not list DET as a Secure English Language Test (SELT). But if your university accepts it, UKVI may not pose a hurdle. However, it’s best to check before deciding between DET or IELTS.

      2. Scoring is on a 10-160 scale. A score of 120+ is generally considered competitive.

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