Taking a college entrance exam may overwhelm you as a student. After all, colleges may determine your future and where you will attend based on these tests. To decide the right entrance exam for you, it’s essential to understand the different types of top entrance exams after 12th.
As you start your college search, you should know the different types of entrance exams. It can help you get into the school of your dreams. Some tests may be mandatory for admission, depending on the type of college you aim for.
After the 12th in India, students take entrance exams such as:
- Engineering entrance exams (IIT-JEE and AIEEE).
- Medical entrance exams (NEET and AIIMS).
- Management entrance exams (CAT, XAT, MAT, and ATMA).
- Law entrance exams (CLAT).
- CUCET or the Central Universities Common Entrance Test.
Before applying, you should look for specific eligibility criteria and guidelines for each exam.
IIT-JEE
The IIT-JEE is one of the most popular engineering entrance exams in India. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) conducts the entrance every year for admission into its various undergraduate engineering programs. It conducts the exam in two stages – the main and advanced exams. The main exam is a paper-based test held over two days in April. The advanced exam takes place in May and June and is computer-based.
NEET
The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is an all-India-level medical entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the exam every year for admission into undergraduate medical courses offered by different colleges in India. The exam consists of one paper with 180 multiple-choice questions based on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The exams are usually conducted during May or June.
CAT
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conduct the CAT (Common Admission Test), an all-India level management entrance exam. It is held annually for admission into postgraduate management programs offered by various IIMs nationwide. The exam consists of two papers – the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) and the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR). It is held in November or December.
CLAT
The National Law University conducts the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) annually for admission into undergraduate law programs offered by various law colleges across India. The exam consists of two papers – one on General Knowledge & Current Affairs and another on Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning. It is usually held in May or June.
CUCET
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts CUCET (Central Universities Common Entrance Test), a national-level entrance exam. The exam grants admission to undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs offered by various central universities across India. It is conducted in offline mode, and the duration of the exam is two hours.
The exam consists of two parts, A and B, with 100 multiple-choice questions on domain-specific questions in part B and questions on the English language, general awareness, mathematical aptitude, and analytical skills in part A.
These are some of the most popular entrance exams after the 12th in India that you can consider applying for. While many students find these exams daunting, many resources are available online to help them prepare. Moreover, there are also online coaching classes that provide additional guidance and support throughout your preparation journey. So, if you have decided which course to pursue after the 12th, start preparing today!
