Top Entrance Exams in India for College Admissions

In India, students in their 11th and 12th grades prepare for various competitive entrance exams to secure admission into prestigious colleges and universities. Below is a comprehensive list of the top entrance exams categorized by academic and career goals, along with a highlighted top 10 list of the most important exams.

Top 10 Entrance Exams

JEE Main – For admission to engineering programs at NITs, IIITs, and other technical institutions.
JEE Advanced – For admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
NEET – For admission to medical and dental programs across India.
CLAT – For admission to law programs at National Law Universities (NLUs).
CUET – For admission to undergraduate programs at central and state universities.
BITSAT – For admission to integrated programs at BITS Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad.
NATA – For admission to architecture programs.
IPMAT – For admission to integrated management programs at IIMs.
DU JAT – For admission to commerce and management programs at Delhi University.
SET – For admission to undergraduate programs at Symbiosis International University.

Engineering Entrance Exams

JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination – Main)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate engineering programs at National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other centrally funded technical institutions. It also serves as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced.
Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA).
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.
Eligibility: Students who have completed or are appearing for their 12th-grade exams with PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics).
Frequency: Conducted twice a year (January and April).
Significance: One of the most popular exams, with over 1 million candidates appearing annually.

JEE Advanced

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the most prestigious engineering institutions in India.
Conducted by: One of the IITs (on a rotational basis) under the Joint Admission Board (JAB).
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.
Eligibility: Top 2.5 lakh rank holders of JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced.
Frequency: Once a year (usually in May or June).
Significance: Highly competitive, with a low selection rate due to the limited seats in IITs.

BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test)

Purpose: Admission to integrated first-degree programs (B.E., B.Pharm, M.Sc.) at BITS Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses.
Conducted by: BITS Pilani.
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology, English Proficiency, Logical Reasoning.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with PCM (or PCB for B.Pharm) and a minimum aggregate score (usually 75% in PCM/PCB).
Frequency: Once a year (computer-based test).
Significance: Popular for its unique curriculum and campus life at BITS institutions.

State-Level Engineering Exams

Examples: MHT-CET (Maharashtra), KCET (Karnataka), WBJEE (West Bengal), AP EAMCET (Andhra Pradesh), TS EAMCET (Telangana).
Purpose: Admission to state government and private engineering colleges within the respective states.
Conducted by: State examination boards.
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.
Eligibility: Varies by state, but typically 12th-grade students with PCM.
Significance: Important for students aiming for regional colleges with lower costs and proximity to home.

Medical Entrance Exams

NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and other allied health sciences courses (AYUSH, veterinary, etc.) in government and private colleges across India.
Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA).
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany and Zoology).
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and a minimum age of 17 years.
Frequency: Once a year (usually in May).
Significance: The single largest medical entrance exam in India, with over 1.8 million candidates annually. It replaced state-level and other medical entrance exams like AIPMT.

Law Entrance Exams

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate (BA LLB) and postgraduate law programs at National Law Universities (NLUs) and other participating institutions.
Conducted by: Consortium of National Law Universities.
Subjects: English, General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with a minimum percentage (usually 45% for general category).
Frequency: Once a year (usually in May).
Significance: The most sought-after exam for law aspirants aiming for top NLUs.

AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)

Purpose: Admission to BA LLB, LLM, and PhD programs at the National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi).
Conducted by: NLU Delhi.
Subjects: English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Reasoning, Mathematics.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with a minimum percentage.
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: Specific to NLU Delhi, which is one of the top law schools in India.

LSAT India

Purpose: Admission to law programs at private law schools associated with Pearson VUE, such as Jindal Global Law School.
Conducted by: Pearson VUE.
Subjects: Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students.
Frequency: Multiple times a year.
Significance: Preferred by students aiming for private law colleges with international affiliations.

Commerce and Management Entrance Exams

IPMAT (Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test)

Purpose: Admission to the five-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM) at IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak, and other IIMs offering similar programs.
Conducted by: Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Subjects: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning (varies by IIM).
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with a minimum percentage (usually 60% for general category).
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: A prestigious option for students aiming for management education directly after school.

DU JAT (Delhi University Joint Admission Test)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate programs like BBA, BMS, and BBE at colleges affiliated with Delhi University.
Conducted by: Delhi University (sometimes through NTA).
Subjects: Quantitative Ability, Reasoning, General English, Business and General Awareness.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with a minimum percentage.
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: Popular among commerce students aiming for DU’s reputed colleges.

SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate programs (BBA, BCA, BA, etc.) at Symbiosis International University’s institutes.
Conducted by: Symbiosis International University.
Subjects: General English, Quantitative, General Awareness, Analytical and Logical Reasoning.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students.
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: Preferred for students aiming for Symbiosis institutes known for management and liberal arts programs.

Architecture Entrance Exams

NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate architecture programs (B.Arch) at colleges approved by the Council of Architecture.
Conducted by: Council of Architecture (CoA).
Subjects: Mathematics, General Aptitude, Drawing, Aesthetic Sensitivity.
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with PCM and a minimum percentage (50% aggregate).
Frequency: Multiple times a year.
Significance: Mandatory for architecture aspirants aiming for top colleges.

JEE Main Paper 2 (for B.Arch and B.Planning)

Purpose: Admission to B.Arch and B.Planning programs at NITs, IIITs, and other institutes.
Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA).
Subjects: Mathematics, Aptitude, Drawing (for B.Arch); Planning-based questions (for B.Planning).
Eligibility: 12th-grade students with PCM.
Frequency: Twice a year.
Significance: An alternative to NATA for students aiming for architecture programs at technical institutes.

Other Notable Exams

CUET (Common University Entrance Test)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate programs at central universities, state universities, and other participating institutions across various streams (arts, science, commerce, etc.).
Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA).
Subjects: Varies based on the course (includes domain-specific subjects, general test, and languages).
Eligibility: 12th-grade students.
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: Introduced in 2022, it has become a key exam for non-professional courses at central and state universities, reducing reliance on board exam marks.

NIFT Entrance Exam (National Institute of Fashion Technology)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate programs in fashion design, technology, and management at NIFT campuses.
Conducted by: NIFT.
Subjects: Creative Ability Test (CAT), General Ability Test (GAT), Situation Test (for design courses).
Eligibility: 12th-grade students.
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: Ideal for students interested in fashion and design careers.

NID DAT (National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate design programs (B.Des) at NID campuses.
Conducted by: National Institute of Design.
Subjects: Prelims (Design Aptitude Test), Mains (Studio Test, Interview).
Eligibility: 12th-grade students.
Frequency: Once a year.
Significance: Prestigious for students aiming for a career in design.

Key Observations and Additional Notes

Stream-Specific Focus: Students typically choose exams based on their stream in 11th and 12th grades:

Science (PCM): JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, NATA, state engineering exams.
Science (PCB): NEET.
Commerce: IPMAT, DU JAT, SET.
Humanities/Arts: CLAT, CUET, SET.
Creative Fields: NIFT, NID DAT.

Preparation Strategy: Many students enroll in coaching institutes (e.g., Allen, Aakash, FIITJEE) to prepare for these exams, as they require rigorous practice and time management. Self-study with online resources and mock tests is also common.

High Competition: Exams like JEE, NEET, and CLAT have low success rates due to the large number of applicants and limited seats in top institutions.

CUET’s Growing Role: Since its introduction, CUET has become a game-changer for non-professional courses, allowing students to apply to multiple universities with a single exam.

Board Exams: While entrance exams are critical for professional courses, 12th-grade board exam marks (CBSE, ISC, or state boards) are still important for eligibility criteria and for admissions to some universities via CUET or merit-based processes.

Counseling and Seat Allocation: After clearing these exams, students go through centralized counseling processes (e.g., JoSAA for JEE, MCC for NEET, CLAT Consortium for law) to secure seats.

Emerging Trends: Some students also prepare for international exams like SAT or ACT if they aim to study abroad, though this is less common at this stage.

EduSynapse

College Entrance Exams – India