Sharon Chang

Standardized testing can rear its head quickly at the peak of graduate school application season, especially for upperclassmen. The necessity of these exams for assessing academic readiness is widely understood, yet tests like the MCAT, LSAT and GMAT are all acronyms synonymous with struggle and despair. 

Although many struggle with finding where to start and the general studying process, the exams are only becoming increasingly important as students are required to prove their academic skills to admissions committees in a controlled and proctored environment. 

Artificial intelligence has taken over many academic spheres, including writing, coding and mathematics, limiting a student’s opportunity to learn and master these critical subjects. Standardized exams remove the aids and the technology and put your genuine abilities and recall to the test. 

Neuroscience junior Maggie Zhang discusses her experience studying for the MCAT and how she found the exam helped not only facilitate students technically but also in the emotional sense as well. 

“It’s not just reading a passage and answering questions, but it’s also drawing conclusions and being able to read the bigger picture,” said Zhang when asked about the reading comprehension section. 

The ability to comprehend reading texts ties in with one’s emotional intelligence. The Critical Analysis and Reading Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT or the reading comprehension section of the LSAT can help assess your ability to grasp complex thoughts and test your communication skills. 

Universities attempt to review students holistically with essays, interviews, GPAs and resumes, but students all come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and this is where a standard comparison device becomes helpful — especially one without any outside influence.

“Students should not hesitate to contact graduate program administrators to learn more about the role of standardized tests in admissions and to learn how to make their graduate applications as competitive as possible,” says Shannon Neuse, director of the office of undergraduate admissions. 

Graduate programs have different prerequisites and examinations, so understanding what is required of you beforehand is an important first step. Each entrance exam is different but generally intends to equip you for future lecture content, class exams and industry roles.  

Government junior Lauren Mays is preparing for law school with the LSAT this semester. 

“The standardized test, everybody goes in, and it’s a level playing field, everyone’s taking the same test,” said Mays. 

Leveling the field helps students who don’t perform well in the classroom setting or cannot commit to extracurriculars because of work or family matters. Individuals are offered an opportunity to prove themselves based on simply their own knowledge and mastery of a particular field. 

For many, standardized testing resources seem inaccessible, but there are free materials to use while studying for these exams, including Khan Academy, resale textbooks and study groups within UT. These resources are particularly beneficial for those working within a budget. Although the exam is just a part of the process, succeeding outside of just receiving the certificate is increasingly important, especially as more and more people are receiving higher education. 

Anika Hesse, a business and biology major who is taking the MCAT, is working as a medical scribe for an allergist and immunologist. She finds there to be a unique overlap between her learning and her job. 

“I think reinforcing the things that I read about or have watched in a video, seen in practice, was helpful,” Hesse said. 

Graduate school examinations and the preparation for these exams prove to be a way to succeed in further education and beyond. 

Shenoy is an economics and English sophomore from Houston, Texas.