Step into the future: top entrance exams after HSLC, HSSLC

• DIMAPUR — Students, whether from Nagaland or elsewhere, following their High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) exams, must make crucial decisions, including choosing streams, subjects, and, most importantly, the career they want to pursue.
•  
  
• When it comes to setting sights on career choices, it is essential to be aware of different entrance exams held across the country. These national-level exams open doors to universities and professional courses across India.
•  
  
• This guide lists major entrance exams across all streams with details on what they offer, who is eligible, how to stay updated on exam dates, and how to prepare. It is not an exhaustive list but aims to cover the most widely taken exams to help students plan their next steps.
•  
  
• Engineering entrance exams
•  
  
• National engineering institutes like the IITs, NITs, and IIITs admit students through competitive exams. The primary exams for aspiring engineers are:
•  
  
• •             Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main – Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), JEE Main is the gateway to undergraduate engineering programmes (B.E./B.Tech) at NITs, IIITs, and many state or private colleges. It also serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to top engineering institutes (except IITs) and eligibility to attempt JEE Advanced.
•  
  
• Eligibility: Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects and at least one among Chemistry/Biology/Technical Vocational subject.
•  
  
• There is no age limit, but candidates must have passed Class 12. For admission to centrally funded colleges, a minimum 75% in Class 12 (or top 20 percentile of the board) is usually required for General category (relaxed to 65% for SC/ST).
•  
  
• •             Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced – This exam is for entry into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to IIT undergraduate programmes (and some other institutions like IISc or IISERs use its scores).
•  
  
• Eligibility: Only candidates who rank among the top performers in JEE Main (approximately top 2.5 lakh) are eligible to register. Additional criteria include having passed Class 12 and being within a specified age bracket for the current cycle, with a 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD.
•  
  
• •             BITS Admission Test (BITSAT) – An online entrance test for the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad campuses).
• Opportunities: Admission to BITS Pilani’s integrated first-degree programmes (Engineering, Pharmacy, Science).
•  
  
• Eligibility: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics for engineering programmes (or Biology for pharmacy) with at least 75% aggregate in PCM/PCB and 60% in each of these subjects. BITSAT is a university-specific exam but is national-level and highly competitive due to BITS’ reputation. It is usually conducted annually and can be taken by students in the same year they complete Class 12.
•  
  
• Medical and Allied entrance exams
•  
  
• For those aiming to become doctors or pursue related fields like dentistry and veterinary science, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the all-important exam:
•  
  
• •             NEET (UG) – NEET is India’s single national-level entrance test for admission to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), and courses like BAMS (Ayurveda), BHMS (Homoeopathy), BUMS (Unani), as well as veterinary and paramedical undergraduate programmes.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Qualifying in NEET allows students to compete for seats in government and private medical/dental colleges nationwide, including AIIMS and JIPMER (which now admit via NEET).
•  
  
• Eligibility: Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English. Candidates must be at least 17 years old by 31st December of the admission year. There is no upper age limit currently, and no cap on number of attempts. Academic eligibility includes a minimum 50% marks in PCB in Class 12 for General category (40% for SC/ST/OBC). NEET is held once a year (usually in May) as a pen-and-paper test. It covers Biology (Botany and Zoology), Physics, and Chemistry based on the classes 11 and 12 syllabus.
•  
  
• NEET scores are also used for B.V.Sc (veterinary) and AYUSH courses. Nursing and pharmacy courses may have separate entrances or institute-level tests, but many top institutes consider NEET scores for B.Sc Nursing as well.
•  
  
• Law entrance exams
•  
  
• Law is an attractive career path for students from Arts, Commerce, or Science backgrounds. The premier law institutes in India are the National Law Universities (NLUs), and others include prestigious private universities. Key exams include:
•  
  
• •             Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) – CLAT is a national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate law programmes (five-year integrated LL.B.) at 22 National Law Universities and dozens of other colleges.
•  
  
• Opportunities: A good rank in CLAT can secure a seat in an NLU, which are among India’s top law schools, or in other affiliated institutions.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 in any stream with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST). There is no age limit for CLAT. Students appearing for Class 12 exams can also apply conditionally. CLAT is typically held in December of the preceding year for the next academic session. It tests English, Current Affairs including GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Questions are comprehension-based.
•  
  
• •             All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) – Conducted by National Law University, Delhi for its own BA LL.B (and LL.M) admissions.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to NLU Delhi (which does not use CLAT).
•  
  
• Eligibility: Similar to CLAT (10+2 with 45% for General, 40% for SC/ST). No age limit. AILET is usually held separately (often in December). The syllabus is similar to CLAT (English, General Knowledge, Legal aptitude, Logical reasoning, Mathematics), but since it’s for one university, the number of seats is limited and competition per seat is high.
•  
  
• •             LSAT—India – An Indian version of the Law School Admission Test, conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for admissions to many private law colleges (such as Jindal Global Law School and others).
•  
  
• Opportunities: Scores are accepted by a consortium of private law institutes for 5-year integrated law courses and 3-year LL.B.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 pass (45% recommended) for integrated law programmes. No age limit. LSAT—India is a digital, reasoning-oriented test, with sections on Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension (no general knowledge or math).
•  
  
• Design and Architecture entrance exams
•  
  
• Creative fields such as design, fashion, and architecture have their own set of entrance exams. These tests gauge artistic aptitude, creativity, and in the case of architecture, also mathematical ability and drawing skills.
•  
  
• Design entrance exams
•  
  
• •             NID DAT (National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test) – This exam is for admission to the National Institutes of Design (NID) for their Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programmes.
•  
  
• Opportunities: NIDs (in Ahmedabad and other campuses) are premier design schools.
•  
  
• Eligibility: Class 12 in any stream. There is an age limit – for the upcoming academic year, candidates in the General category should be below ~20 years (with relaxation of 3 years for OBC-NCL/SC/ST). The exam has two stages: DAT Prelims (a written test of design aptitude – drawing, observation skills, creativity, etc.) and DAT Mains (studio test and interview for shortlisted candidates). Typically held in January (Prelims).
• •             UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design) – Conducted by IIT Bombay, UCEED is a national-level entrance exam for Bachelor of Design programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad and IIITDM Jabalpur, and it is also accepted by other design colleges.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to B.Des at the IITs and IIITs which offer design, and a score usable for certain other institutes’ design courses.
•  
  
• Eligibility: Class 12 (any stream). Age limit: General/EWS candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2005 (for the 2025 exam; relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST/PwD). UCEED tests visualisation, creative thinking, analytical reasoning, language, design sensitivity, and basic science and math. It is a computer-based test (3 hours) held annually in January.
•  
  
• •             NIFT Entrance exam – The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) conducts its own entrance for fashion and design-related undergraduate courses (B.Des in fashion design, communication design, etc., and B.F.Tech in Fashion Technology). It is a national-level test for NIFT campuses across India.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to NIFT institutes – leading fashion education campuses offering design and fashion technology degrees.
•  
  
• Eligibility: For B.Des, 10+2 in any stream (for B.F.Tech, 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Maths). There is usually an upper age limit of 23 years for the bachelor courses (with 5-year relaxation for reserved categories). The exam includes a Creative Ability Test (CAT) to judge design creativity, a General Ability Test (GAT) for quantitative, communication, analytical ability, English and GK, followed by a Situation Test for shortlisted B.Des candidates (hands-on design task). NIFT exams are generally held in January.
•  
  
•  
  
• Architecture entrance exams
•  
  
• •             NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) – NATA is the primary exam for B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) admissions in most architecture colleges in India (except the ones under IITs/NITs system). It is conducted by the Council of Architecture.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to 5-year B.Arch programmes in various government and private institutes that accept NATA scores.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject and at least 50% marks in aggregate; or 10+3 Diploma with Maths. No specific age limit. NATA is held multiple times a year (typically two to three attempts between April to July) as an online test. It assesses drawing and observation skills, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and general aptitude related to architecture. Students can take NATA more than once and the best score is considered by colleges.
• 
  
• •             JEE Main Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning) – In addition to engineering, JEE Main also has separate papers for B.Arch and B.Planning courses.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to B.Arch programmes in NITs, School of Planning and Architecture (SPAs), and some IIITs and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 with Mathematics and 50% marks in PCM. The JEE Main Paper 2A (for B.Arch) includes Mathematics and Aptitude (online) and a Drawing test (pen-and-paper). Paper 2B (for B.Planning) has Maths, Aptitude and Planning-based questions. Students interested in IIT architecture programs note: IITs don’t accept NATA; instead, one must clear JEE Advanced and then an Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) for IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee’s B.Arch seats.
•  
  
• Other national entrance exams
•  
  
• Apart from the major streams above, there are other important entrance exams across diverse fields that Class 12 (and in some cases Class 10) students can consider:
•  
  
• •             NDA and NA exam (National Defence Academy and Naval Academy) – This is a national-level exam conducted by UPSC for those who wish to join the Indian Armed Forces after 12th.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Selection for training at NDA (Pune) to become officers in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and at Naval Academy (for Indian Navy’s 10+2 B.Tech cadet entry).
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 pass. For the Army Wing of NDA, students from any stream are eligible; for Air Force and Naval Wings and NA, Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 are required. Age must be roughly 16.5 to 19.5 years at the time of course commencement (only unmarried candidates; women are now eligible for NDA as well).
•  
  
• The NDA exam is held twice a year. It has two papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (covering English, general knowledge, science, history, polity, etc.). Those who clear the written exam undergo SSB interviews and medical tests.
•  
  
• •             Common University Entrance Test (CUET) – Introduced recently, CUET is a standardised national test for admission to undergraduate programmes in central universities across India (and many participating state and private universities).
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to a wide range of B.A, B.Com, B.Sc and other UG courses at universities like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, etc.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 in any stream (specific courses may require certain subjects). CUET (UG) is conducted by NTA, usually as a computer-based test in multiple sessions in May-June. Students choose subject-specific tests based on the requirements of their target programs, as well as general test and language tests. This exam has become important for students aiming for central universities, replacing the earlier practice of college-specific cut-offs.
• 
  
• •             ICAR AIEEA – The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s All-India Entrance Exam for Admission.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to Bachelor’s degree programmes in agriculture and allied sciences (B.Sc Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Food Technology, etc.) in ICAR-affiliated universities and state agricultural universities.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 with science subjects relevant to the chosen course (e.g., PCB for agricultural sciences or PCM for agricultural engineering) and usually at least 50% marks. The exam is typically computer-based and includes questions on Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Maths, and Agriculture (depending on stream).
•  
  
• •             NCHM JEE (National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Exam) – A national exam conducted for admission to Hotel Management courses.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Admission to B.Sc. in Hospitality and Hotel Administration in IHMs (Institutes of Hotel Management, which are under the National Council and Ministry of Tourism) and certain other universities.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 (any stream) with English as a core subject. There’s an upper age limit (around 25 for General, with relaxation for reserved categories). The exam tests Numerical Ability, Reasoning, General Knowledge, English, and Service-sector aptitude. It is usually conducted by NTA in April.
•  
  
• •             CA Foundation (Chartered Accountancy) – Students inclined towards finance and accounting can enter the Chartered Accountancy course after Class 12 by clearing the CA Foundation exam.
•  
  
• Opportunities: Passing CA Foundation allows registration in the CA Intermediate stage, eventually leading to becoming a Chartered Accountant.
•  
  
• Eligibility: 10+2 pass (any stream, though commerce students cover much of the syllabus in school). The exam, conducted by ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India), comprises four papers (Accounting, Business Laws, Mathematics & Reasoning, and Economics and Business Commercial Knowledge). It is held twice a year (May and November).
•  
  
• Similarly, the Company Secretary (CS) Foundation and CMA Foundation exams are there for those career paths, open after Class 12.
•  
  
• Staying updated on exam dates and news
•  
  
• To stay updated on exam deadlines and dates, students in Nagaland should regularly check official websites like jeemain.nta.nic.in or neet.nta.nic.in for announcements, as well as the NTA calendar. Mobile apps, Telegram/WhatsApp groups run by educators, and social media handles of exams like CUET or NIFT can provide real-time alerts.