Entrance Exams
The following are the major graduate and professional school entrance exams. If you do not find the entrance exam you are seeking, explore the Graduate and Professional School Resources to search for the entrance exam that best fits your professional area of interest.
GMAT- Graduate Management Admissions Test - At most business schools, GMAT scores count heavily in the admissions process. Their importance however, is somewhat tempered by the fact that many B-school applicants are older and already have a record of career accomplishment that may counterbalance non-stellar test scores.
The current GMAT test consists of nine separately timed sections, seven containing at least 15 multiple choice questions and two separately timed 30-minute writing tasks. The GMAT measures general verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that are developed over a long period of time and are associated with success in the first year of study at graduate schools of management.
GRE - Graduate Record Examination - Computer based test (General Test only) offered year round in many Sylvan Learning Center locations. The GRE General Test measures three areas: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical writing. The paper and pencil test is given in multiple sections. There is also the possibility of an experiment section which does not count towards your overall score. The computer-based test has one 30-minute section for Verbal, one 45-minute section for Quantitative, and one 75-minute section for Analytical Writing.
LSAT - Law School Admission Test - The LSAT consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions covering three areas: Reading Comprehension, Analytical Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning. Four of the five section scores will contribute to the test taker’s score; the other is used to pre-test new test questions and forms. A 35-minute writing sample is administered at the end of the test. The paper and pencil test is offered four times a year in June, October, December, and February.
MCAT - Medical College Admission Test - Paper and pencil test only; offered twice a year in April and August (year round testing may begin on computer nationwide in 2007). The MCAT consists of four sections, including a writing sample. The test lasts five hours and 45 minutes. A lunch break plus time between sections is included, so the whole day will take about eight hours. The four sections consist of Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Writing Samples and Biological Sciences.
DAT - Dental Admission Test - Computer based test offered year round in many locations including Omaha. The DAT consists of four sections including a Survey of Natural Sciences, a Perceptual Ability Test, Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Reasoning. The test is administered in just under five hours.
OAT - Optometry Admission Test - To increase the chances you will receive you first choice of date, time and location you should schedule 60 - 90 days prior to the test date.
PCAT - Pharmacy College Admission Test - Consists of 240 multiple-choice items and 2 writing topics. Candidates are given 4 hours to complete the test with a short break half-way through.
MAT - Miller Analogies Test - Certain graduate programs such as psychology, counseling, social work, and sociology require the Miller Analogies Test. Check with the program or institution to see if MAT scores are accepted or if the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required instead.