A Comprehensive Guide to Important Entrance Exams After Class 12
Completing Class 12 is a significant milestone. The next step is navigating undergraduate admissions — and entrance exams are central to that process. This guide lists major entrance examinations in India across Engineering, Medicine, Design, Law, Management, and Science to help you plan effectively.
Quick Reference: List of Major Entrance Exams
| JEE Main | JEE Advanced | KEAM | NEET UG | CUSAT-CAT | IISER-IAT |
| NEST | CUET | IACS | IIIT-UGEE | CMI | ISI |
| NFAT | NCET | RIE CEE | IPMAT | JIPMAT | IIMK-BMS |
| UCEED | NID DAT | NATA | AAT | FDDI AIST | NIFT |
| NDA & NA | IMU CET | IGRUA | CLAT & AILET | BITSAT | VITEEE |
| AEEE | MET | SRMJEEE | LPUNEST | AMUEE | COMEDK UGET |
Detailed Overview of Key Examinations
Engineering and Technology
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main
- Purpose: National-level exam for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning at NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and other institutes.
- Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Tentative Timeline: Two sessions — Session I: Notification in November, Exam in January. Session II: Notification in February, Exam in April.
- Website: jeemain.nta.nic.in
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced
- Purpose: For admission to undergraduate programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- Eligibility: Top 250,000 rankers in JEE Main (approx.).
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in April, Exam in May.
- Website: jeeadv.ac.in
BITSAT
- Purpose: Admission to integrated first-degree programs at BITS Pilani, Goa & Hyderabad.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in March, Exam in May/June.
- Website: bitsadmission.com
State and University-Level Engineering Exams
- KEAM: Kerala — cee.kerala.gov.in
- CUSAT-CAT: Cochin University — admissions.cusat.ac.in
- VITEEE: VIT — viteee.vit.ac.in
- MET: Manipal — manipal.edu
- SRMJEEE: SRM — srmist.edu.in
- AEEE: Amrita — aeee.amrita.edu
- COMEDK UGET: Karnataka private colleges — comedk.org
Medical Sciences
NEET UG
- Purpose: Mandatory for MBBS, BDS, and related undergraduate medical courses in India.
- Exam Pattern: 180 MCQs from Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in February, Exam in May.
- Website: neet.nta.nic.in
Science and Research
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT)
- Purpose: Admission to BS/MS programs at IISERs.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in March, Exam in May.
- Website: iiseradmission.in
NEST
- Purpose: 5-year Integrated M.Sc. programs at NISER Bhubaneswar and CEBS Mumbai.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in April, Exam in June.
- Website: nestexam.in
Design and Architecture
UCEED
- Purpose: For B.Des at IITs and participating institutes.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in November, Exam in January.
- Website: uceed.iitb.ac.in
NID DAT
- Purpose: For B.Des and M.Des at National Institutes of Design.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in September, Exam in January.
- Website: admissions.nid.edu
NATA
- Purpose: Admission to B.Arch programs nationwide.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in February, Exam in March.
- Website: nata.in
Management and Law
IPMAT
- Purpose: For 5-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM) at select IIMs.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in March, Exam in May.
- Websites: iimidr.ac.in, iimrohtak.ac.in
CLAT & AILET
- Purpose: CLAT for NLUs across India; AILET for NLU Delhi.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in August, Exam in December.
- Websites: consortiumofnlus.ac.in, nationallawuniversitydelhi.in
Centralized University Admissions
CUET UG
- Purpose: Standardized test for undergraduate admissions in Central Universities and participating institutes.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in March, Exam in May.
- Website: cuet.nta.nic.in
Defense and Specialized Fields
NDA & NA
- Purpose: Conducted by UPSC for entry into the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA.
- Tentative Timeline: Notifications typically in December and May; Exams in April and September.
- Website: upsc.gov.in
IMU CET
- Purpose: For undergraduate and postgraduate maritime programs.
- Tentative Timeline: Notification in March, Exam in May.
- Website: imu.edu.in
Complete Guide To Important Entrance Exams Details
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