Exams to Study in Ireland: Ireland is one of the most popular countries for education in Europe for its high-quality education and affordability for international students compared to other European countries. Education institutes in Ireland have different eligibility criteria and requirements for admission based on their courses and ranking.
To study in Ireland, the two main categories where the candidate needs to be proficient in – academic grades and English language. These two categories have separate exams for themselves, and securing a good grade will help them get admission to the top universities in Ireland.
English Language Eligibility Exams to Study in Ireland
International students worldwide need to sit for some of the internationally recognized exams to study in Ireland, which tests their English language skills and ability. It is essential for surviving in a country like Ireland, where English is the most commonly used language. Some of these exams are –
- IELTS
International English Language Testing System is a recognized English proficiency exam worldwide that tests the students on four different English skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Listening.
This exam marks the student on a band scale of 1 to 9, known as the IELTS band score scale, with 9 being the highest grade and gradually decreasing with 1 being the lowest grade.
Most top universities in Ireland require a good IELTS score to understand the students’ English proficiency. It is also an essential exam to get a visa in any foreign country. The IELTS score for a candidate is valid for two years, and the exam costs 14,700 INR.
2. TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language is developed and operated by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The TOEFL exam is of two types – TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT. Both the exams cover four areas of expertise in the English language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
The TOEFL iBT is an online-based exam whose duration is 3 hours, and the students get marked on a scaled score of 0-120. The TOEFL PBT is a paper-based exam that has now been discontinued as of April 11, 2021. The scorecard for the TOEFL exam has a validity of two years. The examination fee for TOEFL is around 13,000 INR.
3. Cambridge ESOL Test
The University of Cambridge organizes the Cambridge ESOL Test, which is a certification test for language proficiency. This exam is also accepted to get a student visa in Ireland with minimum certifications. Cambridge ESOL Test has an advantage over other English language proficiency tests as it does not get expired, which means that the certificate is valid for lifetime use.
4. OET
Occupational English Test or OET is a test for the English language for professionals in the healthcare world. It mainly tests their communication skills in English that they require to work in an English-speaking environment.
These professions from the healthcare world mainly include:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Veterinary Science
Other than these fields, there are many different healthcare professions where OET is necessary.
Academic Tests for Specific Courses
Courses related to healthcare, including dentistry, medicine, nursing, and other professional healthcare courses, are the popular courses of interest among international students.
Another top-rated course for higher education or post-graduation is an MS or MBA. The top universities in Ireland require exams like GMAT or a GRE to pursue and study MBA in Ireland.
- GMAT
The Gratitude Management Admission Test is a computerized adaptive test that assesses the analytical, quantitative, reading, writing, and verbal skills in written English for pursuing management courses such as MBA in Ireland.
The exam costs 18,300 INR and is marked on a scale of 200 to 800, where a good score in GMAT will secure your place in any top MBA institute in Ireland.
- GRE
The GRE or Graduate Record Examinations is an examination that helps you get a graduate school that includes business and law schools as well. If you want to pursue MBA in Ireland, some universities accept the GRE scores if you haven’t appeared for the GMAT. The GRE provides the students with an amazing opportunity of ScoreSelect to retake the test if they aren’t satisfied with your results and select the best score to send to the schools for admission.
- HPAT
The HPAT stands for Health Professions Admission Test, which is directed and operated by the ACER. It is made for students who want to study and have a career in the Allied Health Professions. This two-and-a-half-hour-long test is divided into three sections which consist of questions in the multiple-choice format.