2025 Guide: Are Standardized Tests Like SAT & GRE Still Important?

“Why bother with exams when so many universities say they’re optional?”

It’s a fair question. Today’s students scroll through college websites that scream “test-optional,” parents wonder if these exams are just a money-spinner, and many are confused whether a good score even matters anymore

Here’s the truth: exams may be optional, but they’re not irrelevant. In fact, they’re still one of the sharpest tools to cut through global competition.

Why Exams Still Matter

• A Common Yardstick: Every country has its own school boards, grading patterns, and evaluation systems. Exams like the SAT, GRE, and GMAT give universities a way to compare students on the same scale.
• Scholarship Power: A strong test score often unlocks merit scholarships and fee waivers. Think of it as money saved, not time wasted.
• Visa Proof: For English proficiency, governments like Australia, Canada, and the UK accept only specific tests (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and others). Without them, your visa application won’t even get processed.
• Profile Booster: Even when optional, a high GRE or SAT score acts as a credibility marker, validating your GPA and strengthening your file against thousands of others.
• Funding Edge: A high TOEFL or IELTS score, especially in the Speaking section, can directly help you secure Teaching Assistantships (TAs). Universities want students who can communicate in classrooms and labs, and your English test becomes proof that you can lead, teach, and assist. That high speaking score could literally translate into dollars saved on tuition.

Which Exams Are Relevant and Where

Undergraduate Students

• USA: SAT/ACT still required at top schools (MIT, Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale—test-flexible). At others, optional scores can still make you stand out.
• Canada, UK, Australia: Mostly don’t demand SAT/ACT, but strong scores can support scholarships or boost your profile.

Graduate and Post-Graduate Students

• GRE: Required at specific programs (like select AI/ML tracks at Carnegie Mellon). Optional at many (Stanford, MIT, Berkeley). Still, a strong GRE score is powerful for validation, especially if you get 168+ in Quantitative. That number alone can tip the scales at top STEM programs.
• GMAT (Focus Edition): The gold standard for MBA programs, though most now accept GRE scores too.

GRE at a Glance: Europe & Singapore

Where the GRE Can Matter Most

• United Kingdom: Top schools like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and LSE may require or prefer GRE scores for quantitative, economics, or select STEM programs.
• Germany: Technical universities such as RWTH Aachen and TUM (Technical University of Munich) often accept the GRE for engineering and data/CS programs.
• Switzerland: ETH Zurich sometimes looks for strong GRE scores in highly competitive technical fields.
• France: Elite business schools like INSEAD and HEC Paris accept the GRE for management and finance programs.
• Singapore: World-class institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) often require or value GRE scores for STEM, CS, and business programs.

Bottom Line: Most European and Singaporean universities don’t make the GRE compulsory, but a strong performance is a game-changer for selective programs, scholarships, and assistantships.

English Proficiency (Admissions + Visa)

• USA: Universities accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Cambridge English, and Duolingo. These are also widely used in the visa process.
• Australia: Immigration requires one of these approved tests — IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP, MET, LanguageCert Academic, or OET.
• UK: Admission and visa require a SELT-approved test (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL for UKVI).
• Canada (SDS): Only in-person IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAEL, or CELPIP are accepted.

Pro-tip: Don’t gamble with “at-home” versions of these exams. To make your result count for admissions, funding, and visas, always appear in person at a test centre.

TAships & Funding Advantage: Why Your English Score Pays

Did you know?
A competitive score in your TOEFL or IELTS Speaking section isn’t just about passing admissions — it can be your golden ticket to a Teaching Assistantship (TA).

• Universities trust strong speaking scores as proof that you can lead tutorials, labs, and discussions confidently.
• Assistantships = money saved. A TAship often covers tuition fees, living stipends, or both.
• Your score = your leverage. The higher your speaking band or TOEFL speaking score, the stronger your case when departments assign TAs.

Translation: Every extra point you earn could mean thousands of dollars in funding.

Pro-Tip: Don’t treat the Speaking section lightly. Practice conversations, record yourself, and train as if you’re preparing to teach — because you might be!

Why In-Person Tests Beat At-Home Tests

The Reality Check

• The “At-Home GRE” and “TOEFL Home Edition” may sound convenient, but universities quickly noticed score inconsistencies.
• Students with weaker academics were somehow posting higher scores — a red flag that unfair means were possible at home.

AI vs. Human Proctors

• At-home tests use AI monitoring, but nothing matches the credibility of a human proctor in a test centre.
• Admissions committees and visa officers take in-person results far more seriously.

Your Investment

• You spend lakhs (or more) on applications and travel. Why risk it with a test score that might not carry full weight?
• A test centre score = trust, transparency, and a smoother visa process.

Bottom line: If you’re serious about studying abroad, always choose in-person exams. They’re harder to game, easier to trust, and more substantial proof of your academic integrity.

How Much Time Do You Need?

• SAT/ACT → Start in Grade 11. First attempt by March–June; retake by Aug–Oct of Grade 12.
• GRE/GMAT → Allow 8–12 weeks of prep. Sit for the test at least 2 months before the deadlines.
• IELTS/TOEFL → Prepare 4–8 weeks before. Finish the test 3 months before the application deadlines.

The Strategic Angle

Even if your dream university says “test-optional,” here’s why you should still take the shot:

• Your test score could be the tie-breaker between you and another student.
• The test acts as the calibrator for your academic record. A higher score = stronger validation of your academic brilliance.
• A high Speaking score in IELTS/TOEFL could be your passport to TAships and funding.
• And most importantly, it shows discipline and readiness—two traits every admissions committee values.

Final Word: Mentor to Student, Parent to Child

Exams are not a burden. They’re a springboard. They don’t block your dreams; they sharpen them. A high score today can echo across admissions, scholarships, funding, and even career opportunities tomorrow.

So yes, exams still matter in 2025. They are your first real test of resilience, preparation, and ambition. And they are worth every hour you spend on them. Let’s stop seeing these tests as hurdles and start seeing them as the first big win on your global journey.

Your action today—booking that exam, starting that prep—could be the reason you land a scholarship, secure a TAship, and step into your dream university with confidence.

FAQs

Q1. Are SAT/ACT required in 2025?
At top U.S. universities, yes. At many others, they are optional—but strongly recommended.

Q2. Is the GRE still required for graduate admissions for 2026?
Selective programs (AI/ML at CMU, some STEM at MIT/Stanford) still require it. Others list it as optional, but a high score remains a potent profile booster.

Q3. Which English proficiency tests are accepted for visas in 2026?

• USA: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo.
• UK: IELTS/TOEFL (SELT-approved).
• Canada SDS: IELTS Academic (in-person), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAEL, CELPIP.
• Australia: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and others from the approved list.

Q4. Should I take at-home tests like TOEFL Home Edition or At-Home GRE?
No. For visas and credibility, only in-person test centre results carry full weight. Universities and funding bodies trust them far more.

Presented by IMFS — India’s most trusted study abroad guide since 1997

Authored by K. P. Singh
Mentor | Educationist | Founder – IMFS
🌍 Empowering the Global Indian Student
www.imfs.co.in