TOEFL, SAT, GMAT are the buzz words in India now

NEW DELHI: Roll over joint entrance and pre-medicals. Even as going overseas straight from the undergrad level becomes one of the coolest things to do, exams like Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Testing System (IELTS), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and GMAT have become the buzzwords in India. While these exams register huge numbers, there have been changes in format and problems in recent months that are causing concerns.

The newly-expanded SAT exam which debuted in 2005, had serious glitches in the marking process. Declining scores are also causing worry among Indian students since scholarships and financial aid in universities are tied to these. Vijaya Khandavilli, country co-ordinator, Usefi, however, feels that students from India who are taking the exam need not worry. “American authorities makes sure that students don’t suffer when such glitches occur. Soon after the scanning problem and resultant wrong scores came to light, College Board, owners of SAT, took remedial measures such as providing corrected scores to students and parents; colleges and universities; and general public including media,” she says.

But it’s not just SAT scores that Indian students have to think of. The race is on between TOEFL and IELTS, which are both English language tests, to grab the mindshare of Indian students, who now form the bulk of foreigners in classrooms around the world. While US colleges have traditionally followed TOEFL, IELTS is the system that UK and Australia largely go for. Says Henry A S Ledlie, director of IDP Education Australia in India: “In April 2006 alone we tested 8,200 students in IELTS. This is definitely a global record. IELTS is becoming the most accepted and scientific mode of English testing with more and more colleges and universities accept the scores. For us, it has become a huge revenue spinner.” In India, British Council and IDP jointly own the rights to conduct IELTS. Institutions in countries such as Canada are also now moving towards a wider acceptance of IELTS. “Traditionally Canadian colleges accepted only TOEFL. But now institutions in both Canada and US are accepting both the scores. In fact, some Canadian colleges have their own test of English,” says Maria Mathai, manager, Canadian Education Centre Network in India.

Meanwhile, TOEFL too is sprucing up and now offers an Internet-based module. In fact, the net-based TOEFL iBT provides better information to institutions about students. From May 1, 2006, IELTS too has a new rule whereby it can be re-taken any time that the candidate wishes to. Earlier, there was a restriction on re-taking the test within 90 days. So even as the race to study overseas hots up, students are assured of testing times ahead.

Courtesy- Economic Times