Can you recommend which English or GRE exams I should take given my CBSE schooling in UK/Singapore for a Master's?
Even with CBSE schooling in the UK or Singapore, you will likely still need IELTS or TOEFL unless your university waives it for a Class 12 English score above roughly 75 to 80 percent. GRE matters mainly for STEM programs, GMAT for business, and UK humanities Master's often need neither.
Your CBSE schooling in the UK or Singapore does not automatically clear you from English proficiency tests. Most universities still require IELTS or TOEFL for Master's admission, though a select few will waive it if you scored around 75 to 80 percent or higher in Senior Secondary English on your CBSE Class 12 boards.
Exam Requirements By Situation
| Exam | When You Need It | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT | Unless your target university lists an explicit CBSE English waiver | Clears administrative screening for visa and admissions compliance; IELTS is generally the more widely accepted choice in the UK and Singapore |
| GRE | Often required or recommended for STEM programs at NUS, NTU, Imperial, or UCL, though many now list it as optional | Signals quantitative readiness for technical coursework |
| GMAT (or GRE) | Typical for MBAs and Masters in Management at schools like NUS Business School or London Business School | Standard business-school entrance benchmark |
| Neither | Many UK humanities and social sciences Master's programs | Admission relies on your undergraduate GPA, statement of purpose, and references instead |
How To Confirm Your Exact Requirement
- Open the "Country Requirements" or "English Requirements" page for each target university and search for CBSE explicitly
- Note your target field first, since it decides GRE versus GMAT versus neither far more than your schooling location does
- Keep a copy of your CBSE Class 12 English marksheet ready in case a waiver form asks for it
My Advice
Do not assume a waiver; instead spend twenty minutes checking each shortlisted university's official English requirements page before you register for any exam, and if even one program on your list still requires it, book the IELTS Academic now since slots fill up fast close to intake deadlines.
More expert answers
CBSE schooling alone does not exempt an applicant from an English test in either country, since both the UK and Singapore base their requirement mainly on the university's own policy and the medium of instruction during the bachelor's degree, not on the school board completed years earlier.
What Each Destination Actually Requires
- UK: the Student route sets a CEFR B2 minimum, and an eligible university can assess English itself and record it on the CAS, or require an approved SELT such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Singapore: requirements are program-specific; NTU's graduate coursework programs range roughly from IELTS 6.0 to 7.0 depending on the school, with some waivers for English-medium tertiary study.
- PTE Academic: accepted by some institutions in both countries, but less universally used than IELTS or TOEFL for these two destinations.
Why the Bachelor's Degree Matters More Than CBSE
NTU's own India-specific admissions notes distinguish undergraduate cases, where the medium of school study is checked, from graduate cases, which focus on the medium of instruction during the bachelor's degree; some programs waive IELTS or TOEFL only when at least three years of tertiary study were conducted fully in English.
A Practical Target Score
Aiming for IELTS 7.0 overall with no band below 6.5 covers most competitive UK and Singapore programs, though the published minimum for each specific course, sometimes as low as 6.0, should always be checked rather than assumed.
This Information Is Also Available On
The UK government's Student visa knowledge of English guidance on GOV.UK, and NTU Singapore's Coursework Programmes Admission Guide.
My Advice
I would start IELTS Academic preparation by default unless a specific target university explicitly accepts another test, and separately check whether the bachelor's degree itself, if fully English-medium, qualifies for a waiver at any shortlisted Singapore program before booking a test at all.
Low percentage, study gap or no work experience?
Find out which Singapore universities you still qualify for.
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