Everyone is familiar with Harvard and wants to study there. After watching the movie scenes shot here for 3 idiots, the craze among students grew more for this place. Nonetheless, the studious and intelligent students always fancied studying at Harvard University.
No matter how your academic scores are or whether you are an average or a topper, if your dream is to get into Harvard, you are on the right page. This article focuses on a list of exams you can take to gain admission to this college. However, these exams don’t take you there alone, but can open the gates to opportunities. On the other hand, if you seek help from a study abroad consultant in Chandigarh, Punjab, Noida, or any place near you, they can guide you further on this. But, for now, let’s start with the list of exams!
An Insight into the Harvard Admission Process
The first thing to do before you jump into the pond and take any random exam is to wait! Yes, stop and check out the admission process at Harvard. This will let you know what they want from you, and thus, you can prepare for only those tests that meet their requirement. So, the Harvard University admission process needs:
Undergraduate Programs
Firstly, if you are applying for any UG or Bachelor’s program at Harvard, then you must submit:
- School/Academic grades
- Recommendation letters
- Extracurricular achievements
- Standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT
Postgraduate Programs
Secondly, if you are applying for any PG or Master’s program at Harvard, then you must submit:
- Bachelor’s Grades
- Recommendation Letters
- GRE or GMAT, based on the program
So, this is the basic admission requirement for studying at Harvard University. Now, let's take a quick look at the types of exams you can take to get into Harvard.
Types of Exams for Harvard
In this section, we will focus on the exams of different types that you need to prepare for and take to get into your dream college. So, let’s get started!
Bachelor’s Programs
Firstly, if you are enrolling in any bachelor's program, you need to meet the basic requirements of Harvard, which include clearing the SAT or ACT. Now, let's learn a bit about them:
SAT
The Scholastic Assessment Test analyzes your skills in reading, writing, and doing math. Here, you get 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete the test, and your score range is 400-1600.
ACT
The American College Testing tests your skills in English, math, reading, science, and optional essay writing. It is of 2 hours 55 minutes duration, and the score range is 1-36.
So, basically, you can take either of these to apply for any UG program at Harvard. The option is based on your strength. If you are good at math, the SAT can be a better option, and if you excel at science, the ACT is for you. Thus, give it a good thought and take the one that can bring out the best in you.
Graduate Programs
Secondly, if you are applying for any Master’s or PhD program, then the requirements are different for it as well. So, let’s check them out!
GRE
The Graduate Record Examination focuses on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. The score range for verbal is 130-170, 130-170 for quantitative, and writing is 0-6.
GMAT
The Graduate Management Admission Test is for students who want to study business programs only. It focuses on quantitative, verbal, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing. Thus, its total score ranges from 200 to 800.
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test has a score range of 120-180. It tests your logical and analytical reasoning, reading, and writing skills. It is for students who want to study law programs.
MCAT
The Medical College Assessment Test is for applicants to medical programs. It tests your knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, and sociology. Moreover, it tests your critical analysis and reasoning skills. In addition, its score ranges from 472 to 528.
So, these are the different exams for the Master's or Doctorate program at Harvard. If you want to study law, you must take the LSAT; for an MBA, the GMAT or GRE will suffice. But if you want to do medical, the MCAT is the only route. On the other hand, if you want to do any other program, the GRE is enough for you. So, choose the exam that aligns with your chosen program at Harvard University.
English Proficiency Tests
Thirdly, these tests are designed to assess international students’ communication skills, particularly in using the English language. It's important as English is the Medium of Instruction at Harvard. It includes:
TOEFL
Firstly, the Test of English as a Foreign Language checks your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. It takes 3 hours to complete the test, and your score range is 0-120.
IELTS
Secondly, the International English Language Testing System has a score band of 0-9. It also tests your listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Moreover, it has both paper and computer-based test formats.
DET
Thirdly, the Duolingo English Test is a fully online, modern test format. It tests your reading, writing, listening, speaking, and literacy in context skills. It has a score range of 10-160, and it is of 1-hour duration.
So, these are the different types of exams that you can take to get into your dream Harvard University. However, if you need any help in getting into it, you can turn to experts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Harvard is a dream college for many students. While smart students and toppers may fancy studying at such programs, the rest want to experience life at a prestigious college. Whatever the reason, it is always in demand among students. So, if you also want to try your luck and apply for it, then you must first clear some exams. These are based on the type of requirement they fulfill. So, this article includes all the exams you need to take to get into Harvard. Moreover, it also includes their purpose and alternative options. So, choose the ones that align with your career goals. If you need expert guidance, you can connect with Gradding’s study abroad consultants in Chandigarh, Delhi, Noida, Chennai, and other cities, are here to guide you every step of the way toward your dream of studying at Harvard.
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