Guide to choosing the right college abroad

Universities abroad are no longer reserved for the uber-rich or extra-ordinarily intelligent ones. If gaining world-class education, making lifelong friends and travelling around the world is your dream, then the world out there is waiting for you!
But with greater choices comes greater confusion. Don’t worry, Touchstone has 23+ years of global reputation in counselling students regarding the same and we have jotted down 5 of the many criteria for you to figure out your dream college.

Select the desired discipline

The first step to figuring out your college is to choose the course you want to pursue. Begin by listing down the genres you are passionate about (assessing your strengths and weaknesses will do half the job for you). Enquire and learn about the available courses and program structure. Opting for the right degree program is not only important to shine academically and launch a successful career, but also to keep you motivated through early morning classes and long library sessions.

Country preferences

Even though it is not advisable to plunge right into the first destination that pops into your mind, chances are you already have a favourite pick by now. But even if not, sit back, relax & research; we will help you choose one. Narrow down a few of your favourite countries based on pertinent factors like their climate (all year round), transportation facilities, rights of international students, career opportunities, student visa requirements, cost of living, etc. Limiting your search with a handful of possibilities is always recommended for more effective research.

University rankings

It is not as simple as googling “top 10 universities in the world”. There exist diverse ranking systems by several organisations including different metrics to come up with their list of top universities. While the major ranking systems are usually data-driven hierarchies outlining the competition between reputed universities worldwide, others measure the academic performance, faculty expertise or internationality of the said institution to deliver their result. During this process, it is better not to overshadow other practical factors like building relevant skills required to land a job.

Cost & scholarships

Researching & choosing the most affordable college is directly proportional to a higher return on investment and less likely to be overburdened with heavy debts in the future. Learn about the fee structure of your shortlisted colleges and the financial aids they offer that you stand to benefit from (the key details also include the typical salary rate after graduating). Financing your study abroad dream also includes your cost of accommodation, food, entertainment, commuting, phone bills, etc. The best ways to cut down on the final tally are to apply for scholarships through endowment committees or student loans offered by banks in your home country.

Campus perks

If futureproofing your success is the ultimate goal, then getting involved and becoming a part of the campus community should be your steps in the process. Apply for colleges that show greater gains in interpersonal self-esteem and student development. Your chosen college should let you enjoy easy access to resources like labs, libraries, support services, athletic facilities, etc. Besides, on-campus life helps you apply the learned leadership frameworks in real-world environments. So it is a good decision to opt for colleges with a higher ratio of extracurricular activities available for students’ benefit.
Choosing the right college abroad can be a little overwhelming. But you don’t have to concern yourself with the process. Touchstone experts are waiting to answer all your questions and help you comprehend the college of best fitting for you. Get in touch with us today to future-proof your success.

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Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+ 2 minutes review time )

Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your pronunciation, grammar, accuracy, fluency and lexical resources while speaking English. There are three (3) parts to this test, with each part fulfilling a specific function in terms of task input, interaction pattern and the test taker’s output.

Part 1: Introduction & Interview This part includes general questions about the test taker like residence, work,family, interests, etc.

Part 2: Long Run Cue cards are shared on a particular topic and one (1) minute will be given to prepare to speak for upto two (2) minutes on the topic.

Part 3: Discussion This part gives you the opportunity to discuss the topic from the cue card in further detail, in a more general and abstract way

Total time: 11-14 minutes

Reading

The IELTS Reading test is designed to test a wide range of reading skills including reading for skimming, details, gist, understanding arguments and writer’s opinions,attitude and purpose

IELTS Academic Reading – It includes three (3) reading passages (with a variety of questions) ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. These passages are of general interest dealing with interesting and recognizably appropriate issues, with at least one passage containing a detailed logical argument

Note: The reading texts may contain non-verbal materials as well like graphs, diagrams or illustrations.

IELTS General Reading – It includes three (3) daily passages (with 2-3 short texts in the first passage, 2 texts in the second passage and 1 long text in the third passage), based on an English-speaking environment, from notices, newspapers, magazines or advertisements.

Reading passage 1: texts based on social survival, like advertisements, notices and timetables

Reading passage 2: texts based on workplace survival, like contracts, job descriptions, staff development & training material

Reading passage 3: texts based on general reading, involving more extended prose and a complex structure.

No. of questions: 40

Marks: each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 60 minutes (no additional transfer time)

Note: Please note that the question types in the Listening & Reading sections can include multiple choice answers, true or false answers, matching information/headings or sentence, table & flow-chart completion.

Listening

The IELTS Listening test consists of four recordings (four parts) from native English speakers with ten (10) questions in each recording (part).

Recording 1: an everyday social conversation between two people

Recording 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context

Recording 3: an educational conversation with upto four people

Recording 4: a monologue on an academic subject

Listening test scores will be based on your ability to understand the main ideas,
factual information, opinions, attitude and purpose of the speaker and your ability
to follow the development of ideas.

No. of questions: 40 Marks:

each question is worth one (1) mark

Total time: 30 minutes (+10 minutes transfer time)