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STRATEGIES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTS (SAT®/ACT®, TOEFL®, GMAT®/GRE®)

What are Standardized Tests?

If you plan to study in the United States, you will likely need to take one or more standardized tests as part of the admissions process. Even though some colleges and universities claim to be test optional, we recommend that international students take the standardized tests as it only strengthens your application. Typically standardized tests fall in following categories:

4-Year Undergraduate (Bachelor's Degree) Admission

Two exams dominate undergraduate admissions: (1) SAT® which measures math, grammar, and analytical writing skills, and (2) ACT® which in addition to above also measures Science skills. We generally recommend our international students to take SAT® because it provides more time per question, but some students may feel more comfortable with ACT®.

1-2 Year Graduate (MBA and Masters Degree) Admission

Graduate programs often require field-specific standardized tests and there are two popular tests: (1) GRE® with is common for engineering and liberal arts Masters program and accepted by some MBA programs as well, and (2) GMAT® which is widely accepted for MBA programs. They test for analytical skills, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning.

English Proficiency Tests (Required for both undergraduate and graduate programs)

Most U.S. universities require international applicants to prove their English skills to ensure they can fully participate in classes. Institutions also set minimum score requirements for admission. There are two options: TOEFL® and IELTS®. Both are widely accepted but we have seen international students generally having more success with TOEFL® exams.

New Peak Admissions recommended strategy for taking Standardized tests

Preparing for standardized tests like the SAT®, TOEFL®, and GMAT® can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to stick to a budget. However, with a clear plan and some smart strategies, you can tackle these exams without breaking the bank and on a small budget.

Taking advantage of free educational resources is a smart way to prepare without spending a lot of money. Each standardized test has official and unofficial sites loaded with free, high quality preparation materials.

SAT® Preparation tips

The entire game for SAT® preparation changed when the College Board® (the official owner of SAT®) decided to partner with Khan Academy® to offer free, personalized practice, including videos and interactive exercises. We recommend that our students do not spend large sum of money on pricey SAT® prep services that are not affiliated with the College Board® (other than the free Khan Academy® resources) , and follow the below guidelines:

We consider Khan Academy® to be the best resource for practicing and learning the concepts. You can expect the questions on free Khan Academy® test preparation tool to be directly associated with College Board®, and therefore, you can expect the logic behind each question and answer to be similar to the logic behind questions in the official exam.
Achieving a perfect score has no shortcuts. Never assume you can make dramatic improvements without dedicated effort and consistent practice.
Thoroughly review every question you get wrong and track them in a document or spreadsheet.
After each practice session or test, conduct a corrections session where you redo all missed questions and explain the right answer in your own words to fully understand why it’s correct.
Use the 6 official full-length SAT® practice tests from College Board wisely and take those periodically as you make significant progress during those SAT® preparations. New Peak Ivy Admissions has a list of free and high quality practice tests provided by different providers and we share it with our students as part of our services.
There are others high quality budget-friendly and affordable resources that we also recommend for additional practice
- 1600.io®
- UWorld®

TOEFL® Preparation tips

You don’t need to spend a fortune to succeed on the TOEFL® tests. By strategically using free and affordable resources, you can build a solid foundation and reach your target score. Consistent practice is the most important factor in achieving a high TOEFL® score. Create a structured study plan, and focus on your weak spots, and you can confidently prepare for the exam without spending too much money. Below is a suggested approach to prepare effectively without overspending.

Leverage Free Resources

Official ETS® Materials: Visit official ETS® TOEFL® website for free practice tools.
Magoosh® Free Tools: Access vocabulary flashcards, a practice PDF, and a full-length test at no cost.
ETSx® Free Course: This free prep course provides authentic practice and insights.
YouTube Channels: Channels like Learn TOEFL® with Daniel provide free tutorials, strategy, and practice exercises.
TST Prep®: Sign up for free ebooks, practice questions, and a sample test to boost your preparation.

Use Affordable and Cheap Paid Options as needed

Official Guide to the TOEFL iBT® Test: Detailed scoring insights and official practice exams.
ETSx® Paid Upgrade: Graded assignments, additional exercises, and exam simulations.
TOEFL iBT® Prep Course (ETS®): Self-paced course.
Other Budget-Friendly Online Courses:
- Udemy®: One-time purchase with lifetime access.
- BestMyTest®: Flexible plans depending on duration.

GMAT® Preparation tips

We believe that a high quality and effective GMAT® preparation requires you to spend only a nominal amount of money. Do not get misled by pricey GMAT® prep services! We suggest you follow the below guidelines:

For GMAT®, we suggest that you start with the GMAC® Official Starter Kit + 2 Practice Exams because we consider those to be the gold standard as they use the real scoring algorithm and adaptive format.
We suggest using GMAT® Ninja Youtube video series that includes a complete, free online GMAT® prep course with several hours of video lessons
For Practice Tests, use the following free resources:
- Magoosh® Free Practice Test: a full test with detailed explanations and answer keys.
- Manhattan Prep® GMAT® Starter Kit: a full-length practice exam plus access to GMAT® Navigator
- Veritas Prep® Free Practice Test: a full-length practice test.
- Princeton Review® GMAT® Practice Test: a full-length practice test with performance feedback.
- McGraw-Hill® GMAT® Tests: Six free practice exams.
For Questions Banks, use the following free resources
- GMAT® Club Specialized Question Banks.
- Veritas Prep® Question Bank: Hundreds of free practice questions across GMAT® topics.
- Manhattan Prep® GMAT® App: 1,000+ practice questions, quizzes, and analytics to track improvement.
- Manhattan Review® Free Prep Downloads.
- Veritas Prep® GMAT® Video Solutions.
- QSLeap®: 1,000+ GMAT® questions, free prep classes, and hundreds of blogs and videos.