Admission Requirements for Colleges in the U.S.
Many schools require you to take two standardized tests to demonstrate academic aptitude and English proficiency: the SAT I and the TOEFL test. The SAT I measures your reasoning skills and overall academic strengths (some schools may ask that you take the ACT instead). An acceptable test of English language proficiency is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and some institutions accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). All tests are given in English.

U.S. College Grading System
Most colleges in the United States use the following five-letter grading system:

• A=Excellent (four grade points)
• B=Good (three grade points)
• C=Average (two grade points)
• D=Below average (one grade point)
• F=Failing (zero grade points)

At the end of each term, the letter grades are converted to points. The number of points a letter grade is worth is multiplied by the number of credit hours completed. The total grade points are then divided by the number of hours.

College Tests
The tests you'll take at a U.S. college or university will vary by course. Large classes will usually include multiple-choice tests capable of being quickly graded by machine. Smaller courses will feature tests that have a mixed format of multiple choice and short answer questions, along with one or two more in-depth essay questions. In general, you take at least two tests in every class—a midterm and a final exam.