Entrance Exams Required to Study in Australia in 2025

Australia is home to universities that offer degrees in all disciplines. High-quality education is provided, and some of the world's top universities are in Australia. Many international students are drawn from afar to pursue education here. When you apply to the top dream universities, there are a set of eligibility criteria that need to be met. One of the criteria is to clear the entrance exam.

The purpose of entrance exams is to analyze your skills, knowledge and language for the degree you want to pursue in an Australian university. If you want to study at the best university, you need to appear and score at the entrance exam. Apart from your academic performance, the university will also check for these scores. In this blog, you will learn what exams are required to study in Australia so you can take the next step towards studying in your dream college.

The first step to studying in Australia is to take an entrance exam. A minimum of two entrance exams have to be taken. One is to assess your English language skills. Two, to assess your knowledge and skills pertaining to your chosen field of study. Please see below the list of entrance exams to study in Australia.

• Australia exams for English language (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and CAE)
• Exams to study in Australia for undergraduate courses (UMAT, ISAT,  SAT,  ACT, LSAT)
• Australia entrance exam for MS (MCAT. GMAT, LSAT)

English is the primary language for communication in Australia, and so is the medium of imparting education in universities. This is why the government of Australia mandates prospective applicants to go through exams for studying in Australia.

It is mandatory to submit the English Language Test Australia results while applying for a student visa. IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and CAE are some English Language tests whose results are accepted by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Based on the University and the degree you want to apply for, your University will provide details on the English test to be taken and the minimum score required for application.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is organised by British Council. It tests English by way of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Most of the universities in Australia require applicants to have a minimum overall score of 6.5 in IELTS. India has more than 850 centres where the test is conducted, so people from any part of the country can appear for the exam without any difficulty.

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Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)

PTE is similar to IELTS, consisting of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking modules to test language skills. Universities in Australia have a minimum requirement of scoring 42-64 for the applicants based on the degree they want to opt for.

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Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

TOEFL has the same four modules as mentioned above. The universities in Australia have a minimum score of 90-110. The higher your score, the better your chances of getting admission to the University of your choice. In India, TOEFL can be attempted either online or offline.

The Cambridge Advanced English Test (CAE)

The University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations offers CAE. Suppose you aim to gain admission to an undergraduate program in one of the Australian universities. In that case, CAE will mostly be one of the tests your University will require you to take.

CAE test has five sections – Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking and use of English. The Australia entrance exam requires a minimum score of 162 in CAE. The scores are valid for two years, so that you can apply to multiple universities of your choice during that period.

The entrance exam for undergraduate courses in Australia is based on the stream of education you want to opt for. For example, UMAT and ISAT exams evaluate problem-solving, critical thinking, understanding people, etc. These two exams are considered for admission into dentistry, medicine, health science and language pathology programs.

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Clearing the LSAT is required to gain admission into a Law School. SAT and ACT are applicable for management programs. All exams required to study in Australia and gain an undergraduate degree are explained below.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

SAT is considered for several streams of education, including management, arts, and commerce. It consists of two mandatory sections – evidence-based reading and writing and, Mathematics. The essay section is optional, but the University you want to apply for will specify if they require you to submit essay scores on SAT based on the degree you want to pursue.

The universities require a minimum score of 1200 for the SAT Australia entrance exam. Some universities set the bar to 1500 points on SAT. Your SAT results are valid for five years from the test's date.

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American College Test (ACT)

ACT evaluates the applicant based on English, Reading, Mathematics and Science. Universities require you to have a minimum score of 28 on the ACT while applying to pursue education at the institution. Like SAT, the validity of ACT scores is also five years.

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International Student Admission Test (ISAT)

ISAT exams to study in Australia assess quantitative and critical reasoning abilities. Admission into occupational therapy, healthcare, medicine and language pathology courses will require you to clear ISAT with a minimum score of 60. ISAT scores are valid for one year.

Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission (UMAT)

As the name suggests, the UMAT exam for Australia is taken up when you want to pursue any undergraduate degree in medicine, health sciences and dentistry. UMAT evaluates applicants based on problem-solving, critical thinking, abstract non-verbal reasoning and understanding of people.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

LSAT is to be taken when you want to gain admission to any Law school in Australia. The Multiple Choice Question examination consists of reading comprehension, logical reasoning and analytical reasoning. LSAT scores are valid for five years to be used in application to universities in Australia.

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Like Undergraduate degrees in Australia require you to take up an entrance exam, there are exams for MS in Australia. Meeting the required LSAT score is mandatory to apply for a Masters’ in Law program. Any medicine-related postgraduate program will require you to appear for MCAT. GMAT score is one of the criteria business programs evaluate student applications.

Suggested:Why study Masters in Australia?

If you are planning to apply for a medicine or management degree post-graduation in Australia, check out the details of the MCAT and GMAT below.

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

MCAT is Australia exam for MS that is needed to apply for admission into any of the medical universities in Australia. It is an MCQ test that evaluates several aspects of science, such as biological sciences, physical sciences, psychology, and behavioural science.

The minimum score required to apply for a course is pre-decided by the universities. Owing to the demand in medicine, MCAT is conducted multiple times through the course of January to September. Your MCAT scores are valid for up to 3 years.

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

The GMAT entrance exam for MS in Australia is required to apply for admission into Business Schools. It includes four sections – integrated reasoning, quantitative skills, writing and verbal.

Top B-schools like Melbourne Business School, University of Queensland Business School, etc., require a GMAT score of 700 and above to be eligible for admission. GMAT score is one of the determining factors in gaining admission into prestigious universities in Australia.

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Wrapping Up

Now that you are fully equipped with the details of the exams required to study in Australia, you can take the next step toward fulfilling your dreams. A minimum of two entrance exams have to be taken, and the scores have to meet the minimum requirement of the University to you want to apply. Every University in Australia has a minimum score for every course it offers. If you wish to seek assistance regarding the same, our Yocket counsellors can help you with it.