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Featured · Sources checked 2026-09-13
How to Review a Practice Test So Mistakes Don't Repeat
A practical review routine: reconstruct your reasoning, find the first wrong step, write a useful correction, and test it on a different problem.
Read the articleStudy skills & worked methods
Practical routines and concrete examples across all five exams.
- A useful study session in thirty minutesA flexible thirty-minute routine for GRE or GMAT preparation, with a shorter fallback and a weekly check on what your practice actually changed.
- GRE Physics: force, energy or momentum?Choose a mechanics method from the system, the interval and the quantity being asked for, then practise on an original collision problem.
- GRE Mathematics: check assumptions before using a shortcutThree original examples on limits, continuity and eigenvalues show how a correct rule can give a wrong answer when its conditions disappear.
- Negative reinforcement vs punishment: classify the consequenceUse two separate questions—what changed, and what happened to the behaviour—to distinguish four operant-conditioning cases.
Choosing your test
Decide which exam to take and what programs actually expect.
- GRE vs GMAT: which should you take?Most US MBA programs now accept either test, so the choice comes down to fit. What the two exams actually test, how they differ, and what the official pages say about acceptance.
- Colleges Requiring GRE Physics: 2026–27 Program ListWhich physics PhD programs require, recommend or ignore the Physics GRE for 2027 entry: 53 US and Canadian programs, each checked on its own admissions page.
- Should you take the GRE Physics Subject Test in 2026?Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Caltech have put the Physics GRE back into their published requirements while other top programs stay optional or split. A sourced survey of department policies, the 2026 test format, and what the research actually shows.
- GRE Chemistry and Biology Tests Discontinued: What to SendETS retired the GRE Chemistry Subject Test after April 2023 and the Biology test after May 2021. What that means for old scores, why some department pages still list dead tests, and what applicants can actually submit now.
- GRE to GMAT score conversion: what the official tools sayThere is no single GRE-to-GMAT number, but ETS and GMAC each publish an official tool. How the ETS comparison tool and the GMAC concordance table work — and why a predicted score isn't a promised one.
GRE guides
Scores, format, cost, and logistics for the GRE General Test.
- GRE Syllabus 2026: Quant, Verbal and Writing TopicsThe GRE syllabus for 2026: the maths topics ETS lists, the three verbal question types, the Issue essay, and how each section is scored, in one place.
- GRE AWA 2026: Issue Essay, Topics, Score and RubricThe GRE AWA is one 30-minute Issue essay scored 0–6. What the task asks, how ETS scores it, what each score level means and where to get the topics.
- GRE at Home 2026: Requirements, Rules vs Test CentreGRE at home costs the same as a test centre and runs 24/7. Computer, room, second-camera and ID rules, check-in, whiteboard rules and a side-by-side table.
- GRE ID Requirements 2026: Passport Rules and India PolicyGRE ID rules from ETS: original, valid government ID with photo and signature, an exact name match, passport-only in India, and no Aadhaar.
- GRE Cancellation Policy 2026: Refund, Reschedule Fee, ScoresCancel your GRE at least 4 days ahead for a 50% refund; rescheduling costs US$55. Deadlines, China and Korea rules, score cancellation and reinstatement.
- GRE Eligibility 2026: Age, Degree and Who Can Take ItETS says anybody can take the GRE General Test: there is no specific eligibility requirement. What does apply: ID rules, retake limits and accommodations.
- What is a good GRE score?There is no single good GRE score — it depends on the score's percentile and the programs you're targeting. What the official ETS scales and percentiles actually say, in plain terms.
- What's on the GRE? Format, sections, and timingThe GRE General Test now runs about two hours. Here is exactly what the current shorter test contains — five sections across three measures — straight from ETS.
- Official GRE prep resources: what to use, and whenA source-checked route through ETS's current GRE General Test structure, skill overviews, POWERPREP tests, math guides, sample questions, and Analytical Writing materials.
- How much does the GRE cost?The standard GRE General Test fee is US$249 in most of the world, with a fee-reduction voucher for eligible test-takers. The current costs, and where extra charges come from.
- GRE retake rules: attempts, waiting period, and deadlinesRetake the GRE after 21 days, up to five times in a rolling year. Plan around official-score timing and your application deadline with a worked example.
- GRE test dates 2026–2027: when to take the GRE for your deadlineThe GRE General Test has no fixed calendar: you book any open seat, year-round. The Subject Tests run in three two-week windows. Here are the 2026–27 dates, score-release dates, and the latest day to test for common application deadlines.
- How long are GRE scores valid?GRE scores are reportable for five years after your test date. What the five-year window means for when to test and which scores you can still send.
- How to send GRE scores with ScoreSelectScoreSelect lets you decide which GRE scores schools see. The three options, the four free reports on test day, and what extra reports cost.
- How long should you study for the GRE?There is no official number, but the test's format and retake rules bound a sensible plan. How to size your prep from your target score and timeline.
- How is the GRE General Test scored?The GRE is section-level adaptive: your first section sets the difficulty of your second, and a raw score becomes a scaled 130–170. How scoring actually works, and what a percentile adds.
GMAT guides
The GMAT Exam, its scoring, and what a good score is.
- GMAT percentages: keep track of the denominatorAn original set of examples on successive changes, weighted percentages and conditional probability, with a short checking routine.
- GMAT Exam Fee 2026: Test Center, Online and Reschedule CostsThe GMAT costs US$250–US$310, €275–€300 or £250–£275 depending on where and how you test. Fees by country, reschedule costs, refunds and the 24-hour rule.
- GMAT Syllabus 2026: Sections, Topics and Exam PatternThe GMAT syllabus: 64 questions in 2h15m across Quant (arithmetic and algebra), Verbal (RC and CR) and Data Insights (five question types), scored 205–805.
- GMAT Data Insights: The 5 Question Types ExplainedGMAT Data Insights has 20 questions in 45 minutes across five question types, with an on-screen calculator. Each type explained with a short example.
- GMAT Online vs Test Center: Rules, Fees and Key DifferencesThe online and test center GMAT share questions, timing and scoring. They differ in fee, scratch work, room rules, check-in and which schools accept them.
- GMAT vs CAT: Format, Fees, Attempts and Which to TakeGMAT vs CAT for Indian applicants: CAT runs once a year (29 Nov 2026, ₹2,700); the GMAT runs year-round, up to 5 times in 12 months. Format, fees, schools.
- GMAT Focus Edition: what changedThe GMAT Focus Edition replaced the classic GMAT with three sections, a new Data Insights section, and a 205–805 score scale. Everything that changed, from GMAC.
- What is a good GMAT score?On the GMAT Exam's 205–805 scale, roughly 545–555 is the median and 655 is near the 90th percentile. What the official GMAC percentile data says.
- How many times can you take the GMAT?You can take the GMAT five times in a rolling 12 months, at least 16 days apart, with no lifetime cap. Current rules, exceptions, and examples for planning a retake.
- How long are GMAT scores valid?GMAT scores are valid for five years from your test date, so you can take the exam early and send it when you apply. See an expiry example and the limited reporting option for older results.
- What's on the GMAT Exam? Format and timingThe GMAT Exam runs 2 hours 15 minutes across three 45-minute sections — Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights — with 64 questions and no essay. Exactly what the current exam contains.
- GMAT Exam scoring: what the 205–805 score meansThe GMAT Exam Total Score runs 205–805, and — unlike the old exam — Data Insights now counts toward it. How the score is built, and why you can't compare it directly to a classic GMAT number.
Taking the GRE or GMAT abroad
Fees, test centres and rules for students in India, China, Japan and the rest of Asia.
- GRE Fee in India 2026: US$249 and Every Extra CostThe GRE costs US$249 in India in 2026. Paying in rupees, whether GST applies, rescheduling and score report fees, test centres and at-home testing.
- GRE in China 2026: Cost, NEEA Registration and Test DatesThe GRE costs US$237.86 in China, less than the US$249 charged elsewhere. NEEA registration, test dates, the 10-day rule, ID and at-home testing.
- GRE Fee by Country 2026: What the GRE Costs Where You TestThe GRE costs US$249 everywhere except China (US$237.86). A country table for India, Japan, Korea, Singapore and more, plus where tax is added.
- GRE in Japan 2026: Fee, Test Dates and Test CentresThe GRE costs US$249 in Japan, with no tax added by ETS. Test dates, Prometric test centres, taking it at home, ID rules and how to register from Japan.
- GRE in Korea 2026: Fee, Test Centers and Test DatesThe GRE costs US$249 in South Korea, with a full refund if you cancel within 7 days. Test centres such as KAEC Seoul, dates, KakaoPay, ID and registration.
UK admissions tests
UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT and TARA: formats, scores, dates and which courses need them.
- TMUA, ESAT and TARA Dates 2026–27: Deadlines and FeesUAT-UK tests run 12–16 October 2026 and 4–8 January 2027. January booking opens 26 October and closes 21 December 2026. Each test costs £78 or £133.
- TMUA vs ESAT vs TARA: Which UAT-UK Test Do You Need?TMUA is for maths, computer science and economics, ESAT for engineering and science, TARA for some Oxford and UCL courses. Compare formats, fees and users.
- TMUA Score Explained: Scale, Averages and Good ScoresTMUA scores run from 1.0 to 9.0. In 2025–26 the median was 4.1 and the top 10% scored 6.7 or more. See the real distribution and what universities say.
- ESAT Score Explained: Conversion, Averages and Good ScoresEach ESAT module is scored 1.0–9.0 with no total. In 2025–26 the Maths 1 median was 4.4. See every module's figures and what Cambridge and Imperial say.
- UCAT Format 2026: Sections, Timing and Question CountsThe UCAT has four subtests: Verbal Reasoning 44 questions in 22 min, Decision Making 35 in 37, QR 36 in 26 and SJT 69 in 26. Tools, marking and dates.
- UCAT Scores 2026: Averages, Percentiles and What's GoodThe 2026 UCAT average was 1918 out of 2700 (VR 602, DM 640, QR 675). Official deciles, SJT bands, percentiles and how medical schools use scores.
- LNAT 2026: Dates, Deadlines, Universities and FeesLNAT 2026–27: testing from 1 September 2026; sit by 15 October for Oxford and Cambridge or 31 December for KCL, LSE and UCL. Format, fees and universities.
- LNAT Essay Guide: Questions, Structure and Word LimitLNAT Section B: pick one of three questions and write for 40 minutes, ideally 500–600 words (750 max). How universities use it, a structure and an outline.
- UK Admissions Tests for International Students: TMUA, ESATOutside the UK, the TMUA, ESAT and TARA cost £133 at a Pearson VUE centre. Dates, China and Hong Kong test days, booking tips, plus LNAT and UCAT fees.
- UCAT for International Students: £115 Fee, Centres, RulesThe UCAT cost £115 outside the UK in 2026. Test centres abroad, what UK medical schools ask of overseas applicants, and when to sit UCAT ANZ instead.
- Oxford and Cambridge Admissions Tests 2027: Course ListEvery Oxford and Cambridge course and its 2027-entry admissions test: TMUA, ESAT modules, TARA, LNAT, UCAT, a college assessment, or no test at all.
- TMUA Past Papers: Official PDFs, Answers and How to Use ThemOfficial TMUA past papers cover 2016 to 2023, each with answer keys and worked answers. None from 2024 or 2025 are published. How to find and use them.
- ESAT Past Papers: Official Practice and ENGAA/NSAA by ModuleNo ESAT past papers are published yet. Use the official ESAT specimen and sample tests plus 2016–2023 ENGAA and NSAA papers, matched to each module.
- UCAT Tips for Each Section: VR, DM, QR and SJTUCAT tips for each subtest, built on the official format: VR 44 questions in 22 minutes, DM 35 in 37, QR 36 in 26, SJT 69 in 26. Plus calculator tips.
- LNAT Score: Range, Averages and What Oxford and UCL WantYour LNAT score is Section A out of 42. Oxford offer holders averaged 30.48 in 2025–26 and UCL offer holders 30. See the official figures.
- STEP Maths Exam 2026: Papers, Dates, Fees and ResultsSTEP has two 3-hour papers, STEP 2 and STEP 3. OCR's 2026 timetable set them for 4 and 10 June at £102.50 per paper in the UK. Here's what to expect.
- STEP Past Papers: Where to Find Papers and SolutionsOfficial STEP 2 and 3 past papers are free on OCR's site with examiner reports. Find Cambridge's worked solutions and a plan for using them.
- GAMSAT Test 2026: Dates, UK Fee, Sections and ScoresGAMSAT costs £296 in the UK and has three sections scored 0 to 100. See the 2026 test windows, March 2027 registration, scoring and results dates.
- GAMSAT UK Medical Schools: Which Use It and Cut-offsACER lists 15 UK universities using GAMSAT for 2027 entry. See each school's own GAMSAT rules and the cut-off scores schools publish, with years.
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