STANDARDIZED TESTING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
You may be required to sit for a standardized test as part of your application for graduate school. Information on the following exams and others can be found in the Office of Career Development. It is best to plan ahead with these exams to determine which may be required for your applications, and to check when the exams are given so that your test scores may be included in your applications by the due dates. We highly encourage you to check out the comprehensive web sites for each of these exams as they contain much more helpful information to assist you in performing at your best level.
DAT: Dental Admissions Test
The DAT consists of four computerized exams covering a) survey of the natural sciences: biology, chemistry (general and organic), and diversity of life; b) perceptual ability; c) reading comprehension; and d) quantitative reasoning. The computerized test is administered most week days and occasionally on weekends (depending on the availability of each specific test center), and takes approximately ˝ day. The fee for this exam is $205 for 2009/10 testing, which includes sending your scores to five schools. Each additional score report is $25. The test is given at Prometrics Test Centers (www.prometrics.com there is one in South Burlington, VT). Dr. Donna Bozzone, SMC Biology Department, is familiar with this exam, and can assist with the application and questions. http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/
GMAT: Graduate Management Admissions Test
This computerized exam is designed to help graduate management schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Total testing time is 3 ˝ hours (analysis of an issue – 30 minutes, analysis of an argument – 30 minutes, quantitative questions – 75 minutes, and verbal questions – 75 minutes. Plan on 4 to 4 ˝ hours total, including registration and breaks). The test is designed to measure general verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills associated with success in the first year of graduate study. The fee is $250. Scores for the verbal and quantitative areas are reported on a scale of 0 - 60, although scores below 7 and above 50 are rare. The total score is reported on a scale of 200 - 800, and extreme scores (below 250, above 700) are uncommon. The analytical writing score is a separate score reported on a scale of 0 - 6. With the computer testing, your unofficial scores are available to you immediately. Official score reports will be available online to you and your choices of graduate programs in approximately 20 days. Score reports are kept for 20 years, but most schools will not accept scores older than 5 years. A web site is available at http://www.mba.com GMAT Tutorial and PowerPrep software is available as a free CD when you register, or can be downloaded directly from the web site.
GRE: Graduate Record Examination Two parts: General Test and Subject Test
The GRE General Test is offered year-round, but only as a computerized exam. The General test is a multiple choice and written exam designed to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative (mathematical) reasoning and analytical writing abilities. Total testing time is approximately 4 hours for the General exam, including breaks. The exam consists of a 30-minute verbal section, a 45-minute quantitative section, with the possibility of an additional unidentified verbal or quantitative section that will be used to test upcoming questions, and will not count in your score. A writing assessment portion is included as part of the General Test as an assessment of your critical reasoning and analytical writing skills. It is made up of 2 parts: a 45-minute “Present Your Perspective on an Issue” and a 30-minute “Analyze an Argument” written responses.
The GRE Subject Tests are designed to measure knowledge and understanding of subject matter basic to graduate study in 8 specific fields, and run for approximately 3 ˝ hours, including breaks. The tests are only offered as paper-based tests, and are given 3 times a year on Saturday mornings, (October 10, 2009, November 7, 2009 and April 10, 2010). Mailed applications must be received 6 to 7 weeks prior to the test dates, or you can register online. Your graduate schools will tell you which, if any, of the Subject Tests is necessary for admission to that school. The fields of study for the subject tests are: biochemistry, cell, and molecular biology; biology; chemistry; computer science; literature in English; mathematics; physics; and psychology.
The current cost of the GRE is $150 for the General Test, $130 for each Subject Test. (Fee waivers are available in some cases. Check with the Saint Michael’s College Financial Aid Office to see if you qualify.)
Scores for the General Test are reported on a scale of 200 - 800, and a score of 200 is reported if you answer a minimum of one question in that section. Scores for the analytical writing section are based on a 6-point holistic scale. Score ranges vary for the Subject Tests. The highest score ever reported for a subject test was 990, and the minimum varies, but is never below 200. A booklet detailing how to interpret your scores is sent to you with your test results. The General Test computer exam allows for you to see your unofficial scores for the verbal and quantitative portions immediately, with official reports (including the writing scores) sent to you and your chosen schools within the next 10-15 days. The Subject Test results are mailed approximately 4 - 6 weeks after the exam.
The GRE web site is http://www.ets.org/gre/ Free GRE Test Preparation materials will be sent to you when you register for the exam or can be downloaded from the web site. You may register online or call a testing center.
LSAT: Law School Admissions Test
The LSAT is a half-day standardized test required for admission to all LSAC-member law schools. The exam is made up of reading and comprehension of complex texts with accuracy and insight, the organization and management of information and the ability to draw reasonable inferences from it; the ability to think clearly; and the analysis and evaluation of the reasoning and arguments of others (five 35 minute sessions of multiple choice question sections, with a 30 minute writing sample administered at the end of the test - total testing time with breaks is between 6 and 7 hours). The test is given 4 times a year (June 8, 2009, September 26, 2009, December 5, 2009 and February 6, 2010), and the cost is $132. There is an additional fee of $121 to have your test scores sent to each law school through LSDAS. Scores range from 120 – 180, and are sent approximately 3 weeks after taking the exam via email. You will also receive a percentage score which reflects the percent of those candidates scoring below your score. The web site is located at http://www.LSAC.org
MAT: Miller Analogies Test
This exam is a high-level test of analytical ability requiring the solution of problems stated as analogies. It consists of 120 partial analogies to be completed in 60 minutes. (A is to B as C is to D.) It is administered at Controlled Testing Centers (VT locations are at Castleton State (802) 468-6085 and Lyndon State (802) 626-6206), and you can obtain current fee information from them (fees vary by testing site). Three scores are reported to you. You receive a scaled score ranging from 200 - 600, followed by two percentile scores. The percentile scores indicate the percentage of examinees in the normal group (both the general group and those indicating your intended graduate major) who received a score scaled lower than yours. A comprehensive web site is located at: http://www.milleranalogies.com which includes practice tests.
MCAT: Medical College Admissions Test
The MCAT is administered to prospective medical students to evaluate the student's knowledge and ability to solve problems in the areas of biological sciences, physical sciences (chemistry and physics); their facility with scientific problem solving and critical thinking; and ability to write. Total testing time, including time allotted for breaks and lunch, is a little more than 7 hours. The test is administered throughout the year (see the web site for current schedule of dates), and registration opens approximately 6 months before the test date. The current fee is $225, which includes processing, registration, scoring the test, and reporting your scores to all AAMC and AMCAS medical schools, as well as up to 6 schools that are not registered. Dr. Donna Bozzone, SMC Biology Department, is very familiar with this exam, and is willing to assist in answering questions you may have about it. Applications and registration for this exam can be found online at www.aamc.org/mcat Scores are reported on a scale of 1 - 15 for each section, except for the written work, which is scored on a scale of 1 to 6, then converted to an alphabetic score. A score of 11 or greater for each section is usually considered competitive. http://www.aamc.org
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
The TOEFL is administered to evaluate the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English. This exam consists of four sections - listening comprehension; structure and written expression; reading comprehension; and speaking. TOEFL is offered as a computerized exam. The fee is $170 here in Vermont – fees vary by location and country. Scores are reported for each of the four sections, and range from 0 to 30. You will also receive a total score. http://www.ets.org/toefl or booklets are available in the Office of Career Development.