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.
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.
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.
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.