Entrance exams after Class 12
What each exam admits to, which Class 12 subjects it needs, who conducts it and when. Decide your Class 11 subjects with the exam in view.
JEE Main
Engineering, architecture and planning at NITs, IIITs and centrally funded institutes; the gateway to JEE Advanced.
Two sessions a year, usually January and April. The better of the two scores counts.
JEE Advanced
The entrance for the IITs, open only to the top rankers of JEE Main.
Once a year, usually late May or early June, a few weeks after JEE Main session 2.
NEET UG
The single entrance for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and most other undergraduate medical courses in India.
Once a year, usually the first Sunday of May.
CUET UG
The common entrance for central universities such as Delhi University, BHU, JNU, AMU and Jamia, and many state, deemed and private universities.
Once a year, usually May to June, with results in July.
CLAT
The common entrance for five-year integrated law degrees at the National Law Universities.
Once a year, usually in December, for admission the next academic year.
AILET
The entrance for BA LLB at National Law University Delhi, which does not take part in CLAT.
Once a year, usually in December.
NDA & NA Examination
The entrance for the National Defence Academy (Army, Navy, Air Force) and the Naval Academy, taken straight after Class 12.
Twice a year, usually April and September; notifications come out around December and May.
NATA
The aptitude test for Bachelor of Architecture admissions, accepted by most architecture colleges apart from NITs and IITs.
Multiple sessions a year, usually from April to July; the best score counts.
UCEED
The entrance for Bachelor of Design at the IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jodhpur and others) and partner institutes.
Once a year, usually in January.
NID DAT
The Design Aptitude Test of the National Institute of Design for its Bachelor of Design programme.
Prelims are usually in December or January; Mains follow in April or May.
NIFT Entrance
The entrance for Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Fashion Technology at the National Institutes of Fashion Technology.
Once a year, usually in February.
CA Foundation
The first level of the Chartered Accountancy course, open to any stream after Class 12.
Held more than once a year; recent cycles were in January, May or June and September. Registration closes about four months before the exam.
CSEET
The Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test, the first step towards the CS qualification.
Four times a year (January, May, July and November).
CMA Foundation
The entry exam for the Cost and Management Accountancy course.
Twice a year, usually June and December.
IPMAT
The aptitude test for the five-year Integrated Programme in Management at IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak.
Once a year, usually in May.
BBA entrance tests (NPAT, SET, CUET and others)
The university-level tests for BBA, BMS and integrated management programmes.
Mostly between January and June.
ICAR AIEEA UG
The all-India entrance for agriculture and allied science degrees under the ICAR quota.
Once a year, usually May or June.
NCHM JEE
The entrance for hotel management degrees at the Institutes of Hotel Management.
Once a year, usually in May.
IMU CET
The common entrance of the Indian Maritime University for merchant navy degrees.
Usually twice a year, with the main session in June.
Commercial Pilot Licence (DGCA requirements)
Not an entrance exam but a set of requirements for pilot training in India.
Ground exams are held every quarter; training takes 18 to 24 months.
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT)
The entrance for the BS-MS dual degree at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research.
Once a year, usually in May or June.
NEST
The National Entrance Screening Test for integrated M.Sc at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai.
Once a year, usually in June.
ISI and CMI entrance
Entrance tests for B.Stat and B.Math at the Indian Statistical Institute and B.Sc (Hons) Mathematics and Computer Science at the Chennai Mathematical Institute.
Once a year, usually in May.
State engineering and medical CETs
State-level common entrance tests such as MHT-CET, KCET, WBJEE, TS EAPCET, AP EAPCET, KEAM and COMEDK.
Mostly April to June.
NCET (ITEP)
The National Common Entrance Test for the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme.
Once a year, usually in May or June.
Science and Mathematics Olympiads
Not an entrance exam, but the olympiad stages (IOQ, INO, OCSC) open doors at IISc, ISI, CMI and abroad.
IOQ is usually in January or February; camps run from April to June.
Red chips are required subjects, amber are often asked. Eligibility, dates and patterns change; the information bulletin on each exam's official site is the final word.