NEET, CAT and more – 10 most-popular entrance exams in India

By Priyanka Deshpande

CNBC-TV18.com

Published June 12, 2024

Entrance exams in India are gateways to some of the most prestigious institutions, providing opportunities in various fields like engineering, medicine, law, management, and design. Take a look at some of the most popular entrance exams in the country.

#1 Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main & JEE Advanced)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate engineering programs at IITs, NITs, IIITs, & other centrally funded technical institutions

Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA) for JEE Main; IITs for JEE Advanced

Frequency: JEE Main is conducted twice a year; JEE Advanced is conducted once a year

Eligibility: Completion of Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics

#2 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)

Purpose: Admission to MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate medical courses in India

Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Completion of Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English

#3 Common Admission Test (CAT)

Purpose: Admission to postgraduate management programs (MBA) in various Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other business schools

Conducted By: One of the IIMs on a rotational basis

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree with a minimum percentage (usually 50% for general category)

#4 Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

Purpose: Admission to postgraduate engineering programs and for recruitment in some public sector companies

Conducted By: IITs and IISc Bangalore

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in engineering/technology/architecture or master's degree in science/computer applications/statistics/mathematics

#5 Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate (LL.B) and postgraduate (LL.M) law programs in National Law Universities (NLUs)

Conducted By: Consortium of NLUs

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Completion of Class 12th for undergraduate programs; LL.B degree for postgraduate programs

#6 Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

Purpose: Admission to management programs in Xavier School of Management (XLRI) and other associated institutes

Conducted By: XLRI, Jamshedpur

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline

#7 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Entrance Exam (AIIMS MBBS)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate medical programs at AIIMS institutions

Conducted By: AIIMS, New Delhi

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Completion of Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English

#8 Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Exam (IIFT)

Purpose: Admission to MBA (International Business) program

Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline

#9 Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)

Purpose: Admission to MBA programs at Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

Conducted By: Symbiosis International University

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree with a minimum percentage (usually 50% for general category)

#10 National Institute of Design Entrance Exam (NID DAT)

Purpose: Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate design programs at National Institute of Design (NID)

Conducted By: National Institute of Design

Frequency: Once a year

Eligibility: Completion of Class 12th for undergraduate programs; Bachelor's degree in any discipline for postgraduate programs