Examinations

Examinations and qualifications around the world

Board examinations, university entrance tests, language tests and professional exams — who runs them, when they are held and how results are read. Dates and fees change every year, so confirm on the official site before you plan.

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40 examinations

School leavingAsia

CBSE Class 10 Board Examination

India

Level: End of Grade 10
Conducted by: Central Board of Secondary Education
When: February–March each year
Format: Written papers per subject, with internal assessment
Scoring: Subject marks out of 100 and grades; results usually in May

Official page →

School leavingAsia

CBSE Class 12 Board Examination

India

Level: End of Grade 12
Conducted by: Central Board of Secondary Education
When: February–April each year
Format: Written papers, practicals in science subjects
Scoring: Percentage across best subjects; used for university admission in India

Official page →

School leavingAsia

ICSE (Class 10) and ISC (Class 12)

India

Level: Grade 10 and Grade 12
Conducted by: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
When: February–April
Format: Written papers with strong internal assessment and project work
Scoring: Marks and grades per subject

Official page →

University entryAsia

JEE Main

India

Level: After Grade 12 (engineering)
Conducted by: National Testing Agency
When: Two sessions, January and April
Format: Computer-based multiple choice and numerical answers
Scoring: Percentile score; top scorers qualify for JEE Advanced

Official page →

University entryAsia

NEET (UG)

India

Level: After Grade 12 (medicine, dentistry)
Conducted by: National Testing Agency
When: Once a year, usually May
Format: Pen-and-paper multiple choice in physics, chemistry, biology
Scoring: Marks out of 720 with All India Rank

Official page →

University entryAsia

CUET (UG)

India

Level: After Grade 12 (central universities)
Conducted by: National Testing Agency
When: May–June
Format: Computer-based subject and general aptitude sections
Scoring: Normalised scores per subject

Official page →

School leavingEurope

GCSE

United Kingdom

Level: End of Year 11 (around age 16)
Conducted by: Awarding bodies such as AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC
When: May–June
Format: Written papers, some non-exam assessment
Scoring: Grades 9 (highest) to 1 in England; A*–G in Wales and Northern Ireland

Official page →

University entryEurope

A Levels

United Kingdom

Level: End of Year 13 (around age 18)
Conducted by: AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA
When: May–June, results in August
Format: Usually 3–4 subjects studied in depth
Scoring: Grades A*–E, used for UCAS university offers

Official page →

University entryEurope

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

United Kingdom (Scotland)

Level: S5 and S6
Conducted by: Scottish Qualifications Authority
When: April–June
Format: Written papers plus coursework
Scoring: Grades A–D with band numbers

Official page →

University entryGlobal

IB Diploma Programme examinations

International

Level: Ages 16–19
Conducted by: International Baccalaureate Organization
When: May and November sessions
Format: Six subjects, extended essay, theory of knowledge, CAS
Scoring: Out of 45 points; 24 needed for the diploma

Official page →

School leavingGlobal

Cambridge IGCSE

International

Level: Ages 14–16
Conducted by: Cambridge Assessment International Education
When: June and November series
Format: Written, practical and oral components by subject
Scoring: Grades A*–G

Official page →

University entryAmericas

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

United States

Level: High school, college-level subjects
Conducted by: College Board
When: First two weeks of May
Format: Multiple choice plus free response; some portfolio subjects
Scoring: 1–5; many universities give credit for 3 and above

Official page →

AptitudeAmericas

SAT

United States

Level: Undergraduate admission
Conducted by: College Board
When: Several dates per year, digital adaptive
Format: Reading and writing, plus maths
Scoring: 400–1600 total

Official page →

AptitudeAmericas

ACT

United States

Level: Undergraduate admission
Conducted by: ACT Inc.
When: Multiple national dates
Format: English, maths, reading, science; optional writing
Scoring: Composite 1–36

Official page →

University entryGlobal

GRE General Test

United States (used worldwide)

Level: Postgraduate admission
Conducted by: ETS
When: Year-round at test centres and at home
Format: Verbal, quantitative, analytical writing; about 2 hours
Scoring: 130–170 per section; writing 0–6

Official page →

University entryGlobal

GMAT Focus Edition

Global

Level: Business school admission
Conducted by: GMAC
When: Year-round
Format: Quantitative, verbal and data insights
Scoring: 205–805

Official page →

ProfessionalAmericas

LSAT

United States, Canada

Level: Law school admission
Conducted by: Law School Admission Council
When: Several administrations per year
Format: Logical and reading reasoning plus writing sample
Scoring: 120–180

Official page →

ProfessionalAmericas

MCAT

United States, Canada

Level: Medical school admission
Conducted by: AAMC
When: January–September
Format: Four sections over about 7.5 hours
Scoring: 472–528

Official page →

LanguageGlobal

IELTS

Global

Level: Study, work and migration
Conducted by: British Council, IDP, Cambridge
When: Multiple dates monthly
Format: Listening, reading, writing, speaking
Scoring: Band 0–9; universities often ask 6.0–7.5

Official page →

LanguageGlobal

TOEFL iBT

Global

Level: University admission
Conducted by: ETS
When: Year-round
Format: Reading, listening, speaking, writing
Scoring: 0–120; typical requirement 80–100

Official page →

LanguageGlobal

Duolingo English Test

Global

Level: University admission
Conducted by: Duolingo
When: On demand, online
Format: Adaptive, about 1 hour
Scoring: 10–160

Official page →

LanguageEurope

TestDaF / DSH

Germany

Level: German-taught degrees
Conducted by: TestDaF-Institut and universities
When: Several dates per year
Format: Reading, listening, writing, speaking
Scoring: TDN 3–5; most degrees ask TDN 4

Official page →

School leavingEurope

Abitur

Germany

Level: End of Gymnasium
Conducted by: State ministries of education
When: Spring, varies by state
Format: Written and oral examinations in chosen subjects
Scoring: Average grade 1.0 (best) to 4.0; used for university places

Official page →

School leavingEurope

Baccalauréat

France

Level: End of lycée
Conducted by: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale
When: March (specialities) and June
Format: Written and oral exams plus continuous assessment
Scoring: Out of 20; 10 needed to pass

Official page →

University entryAsia

Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination)

China

Level: End of senior secondary
Conducted by: Ministry of Education and provincial bodies
When: Early June
Format: Chinese, maths, a foreign language plus elective subjects
Scoring: Province-specific totals, commonly out of 750

Official page →

School leavingAsia

HKDSE

Hong Kong

Level: End of Secondary 6
Conducted by: Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority
When: March–May
Format: Core and elective subjects with school-based assessment
Scoring: Levels 1–5**

Official page →

University entryAsia

Suneung (CSAT)

South Korea

Level: Final year of high school
Conducted by: KICE
When: One day in November
Format: Korean, maths, English, Korean history, electives
Scoring: Standardised scores, percentiles and grades 1–9

Official page →

University entryAsia

EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission)

Japan

Level: International applicants
Conducted by: JASSO
When: June and November
Format: Japanese as a foreign language, science, maths, Japan and the world
Scoring: Section scores used by each university

Official page →

LanguageAsia

JLPT

Japan

Level: Study and work in Japan
Conducted by: Japan Foundation and JEES
When: July and December
Format: Vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening
Scoring: N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced)

Official page →

School leavingAfrica

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

South Africa

Level: End of Grade 12
Conducted by: Department of Basic Education
When: October–November
Format: Written papers in seven subjects
Scoring: Levels 1–7; bachelor pass needed for degree study

Official page →

School leavingAfrica

WASSCE

West Africa

Level: End of senior secondary
Conducted by: West African Examinations Council
When: May–June and November–December
Format: Written and practical papers
Scoring: Grades A1–F9; credits in core subjects needed for university

Official page →

School leavingAfrica

KCSE

Kenya

Level: End of Form 4 / Grade 12
Conducted by: Kenya National Examinations Council
When: November–December
Format: Written and practical papers
Scoring: Mean grade A–E used for university placement

Official page →

University entryAmericas

ENEM

Brazil

Level: End of secondary school
Conducted by: INEP
When: Two Sundays in November
Format: Four knowledge areas plus an essay
Scoring: Scaled scores used by SISU for federal university places

Official page →

University entryAmericas

EXANI-II

Mexico

Level: Undergraduate admission
Conducted by: CENEVAL
When: Multiple dates set by universities
Format: Multiple choice reasoning and subject modules
Scoring: CENEVAL index score

Official page →

University entryOceania

ATAR (state senior certificates)

Australia

Level: End of Year 12
Conducted by: State authorities such as NESA, VCAA, QCAA
When: October–November
Format: External exams plus school assessment
Scoring: ATAR rank 0–99.95 used for university offers

Official page →

School leavingOceania

NCEA

New Zealand

Level: Levels 1–3, Years 11–13
Conducted by: New Zealand Qualifications Authority
When: Internal all year, external in November
Format: Standards-based internal and external assessment
Scoring: Achieved, Merit, Excellence; credits build each level

Official page →

University entryMiddle East

EmSAT Achieve

United Arab Emirates

Level: Grade 12 and university entry
Conducted by: Ministry of Education (UAE)
When: Several windows per year
Format: Computer-based English, maths, physics, chemistry, biology, Arabic
Scoring: 500–1500 per subject

Official page →

School leavingMiddle East

Bagrut

Israel

Level: Grades 10–12
Conducted by: Ministry of Education
When: Winter and summer sessions
Format: Subject exams at different unit levels
Scoring: Out of 100 per subject; units weight the certificate

Official page →

University entryMiddle East

Konkur

Iran

Level: After secondary school
Conducted by: National Organization of Educational Testing
When: Usually June and December
Format: Multiple choice by study track
Scoring: National rank decides university and course

Official page →

School leavingMiddle East

Tawjihi

Jordan, Palestine and neighbours

Level: End of secondary school
Conducted by: Ministries of Education
When: Usually June–July
Format: Written subject papers by stream
Scoring: Percentage average decides university admission

Official page →

How to use this page

Qualifications are not ranked here. A school leaving certificate that works well in one country may need an extra bridging year in another.
Ask the university you are applying to which exams it recognises and what minimum result it expects — requirements differ by course, not just by country.
Registration usually closes weeks or months before the exam date. Note the registration window, not just the exam window.
Many tests offer fee reductions or vouchers for students who qualify. Check the official site before paying full price.