Guide to the Most Popular Entrance Exams of India

In the Indian educational landscape, the journey to higher education is full of challenges and difficulties. These challenges and difficulties include admission tests. These tests are important because they shape the future of upcoming leaders and professionals in the country. These tests are like the big gates that universities and colleges use to pick the best students. Admission Tests or Entrance Tests are considered as the super important. Whether you are dreaming of becoming a doctor, engineer, manager, or anything else, you have to complete an entrance test to begin your studies related to your aim. The main purpose of these tests is to select the best and most deserving candidate only. Think of the entrance exams as the first chapter in your success stories. These are the exams that are conducted by the universities to ensure who gets in. But don’t worry through proper guidance and study, you can also easily clear these tests. Firstly, let’s explore some of the Entrance exams that you should know and that are related to your studies as well. So, some of the Popular Entrance Exams in India are as follows:

1.    Joint Entrance Examination (Main)- JEE Main- It is one of the most prestigious examinations in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Several students practice hard and try to clear this examination. It opens doors for admission to various undergraduate engineering programs in highly-ranked institutions across the country. Some of the top institutions are the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the National Institute of Technology (NIT), and many other government-funded technical institutions.  The test is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), usually in January and April. After completing the test, a national ranking is assigned to every candidate through which top performers may appear in the Tier-2 exam that is JEE Advanced. This is one of the highest competitive exams. Lakhs of students appear for this exam every year. However, the highest scores and rankings are earned by those students who practice and understand the exam pattern clearly. 

Eligibility- There is no specific age limit to appear for this test but the student must have passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as main subjects. The candidate may appear for the exam for three consecutive years after passing the 10+2 examination. 

Exam Mode- The test is conducted in two modes: Paper 1: For B. E/ B. Tech Courses that are in online mode (computer-based)

Paper 2: For B. Arch courses that are conducted in offline mode (pen and paper-based)   

Duration-  Paper 1 and Paper 2 both have different durations. Paper 1 is 3 hours whereas Paper 2 is quite longer because of the drawing section. 

2.    National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test- NEET- It is a national-level medical entrance examination. It is conducted for admission in medical colleges across India, in both government and private institutions. This test is basically completed for the undergraduate programs in MBBS, BDS, or other health science-related programs. It has replaced many other tests in India that were earlier conducted by different states or institutions. It is conducted once a year in May and a higher number of students prepare and appear for this test. Every medical student aims to clear the NEET and score good marks to get admission to a well-established and well-known institute in the country.

Eligibility- The minimum age for appearing in the NEET exam is 17 Years. The student must successfully complete 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as core subjects. 

Exam Mode- The test is conducted in offline mode (pen and paper) in multiple languages

Duration- 3 hours. 

3.    Common Law Admission Test- CLAT- This is another popular entrance exam in India. It is highly competitive, with thousands of students appearing for it each year. Securing a good rank in this exam opens doors to study in law universities and colleges to get a brightening career ahead. The test is conducted for admission to undergraduate (LLB) and postgraduate (LLM) programs in prestigious law institutions. The test covers several subjects in it. However, the students need to study about the main aspects of these subjects like English comprehension, General knowledge and affairs, logical reasoning, general mathematical aspects, and many other related topics. It is an important exam as it is the only way for law students to get admission to prestigious National Law Universities. It is held in more than 139 cities. 

Eligibility- For U.G programs, candidates must pass 10+2 with 45-50% marks. For PG programs, candidates must have completed a law degree (L.L.B) with 50% marks. 

Exam mode- It is conducted in online mode (computer-based test) but sometimes due to logical reasons it is conducted in offline mode also (pen-paper test)  

Duration- 2 hours

4.    Union Public Service Commission - UPSC – The UPSC is the body in charge of conducting the civil services exams in India. The body is responsible for every civil exam that has to be conducted, including Indian Administration Services (IAS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). The test is conducted in 3 phases. It is the most popular test among the Indian Candidates. Every year, more than five lakh candidates appear for this exam but out of them only some thousands of candidates get the chance to appear in the final phase. The candidates practice hard for this exam by spending many years.  There are many government services included in this test, so most of the candidates appear for this exam as their main goal. However, the final stage is achieved by some of them who have good knowledge and learning skills that are required in this exam. 

Eligibility- Candidate must hold a bachelor's degree in any field. The age limit typically ranges from 21 to 32 years. 

Exam mode- The test is conducted in three phases in offline mode (pen-paper exam). First is the Preliminary Examination, the second is the Mains, and the third one is the Interview. 

Duration- Preliminary examination is of 2 hours whereas the mains spans for several days with each paper of 3 hours. A successful candidate sits for near about 32 hours of examination in the whole duration of UPSC.

The eligibility, exam mode, and duration are subject to change as per the changes by the UPSC, so it is recommended to go through the official website of UPSC before appearing in the exam. 

These are some of the top entrance exams that are conducted by various top institutions as well as by some government authorities. Every student or candidate dreams to clear these exams and practice hard for them. All these exams play a crucial role in the lives of students who want to achieve their goals. The most important point while appearing for these exams is that students must check the eligibility criteria and format of the test he/she is going to appear for. If you want to get updates and gain knowledge about top entrance examinations in India, then visit our official website MYC India. We provide every exam update on our website along with their full information. To get updates related to every Indian test, MYC is always there for your help. Visit: https://www.mycindia.com/