What are the top 5 entrance exams after Class 12?

Here are the top 5 entrance exams students in India typically take after completing Class 12, covering the most popular academic and professional streams.

1. JEE (Joint Entrance Examination)

The JEE is the gateway for aspiring engineers.¹It's conducted in two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.²

• What it's for: Admission to undergraduate engineering programs (B.E./B.Tech), architecture (B.Arch), and planning (B.Plan).³
• Key Institutions: JEE Main scores are used for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded technical institutes.⁴ To get into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), you must first qualify in JEE Main and then clear JEE Advanced.

2. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

NEET-UG is the single, all-India entrance exam for students who wish to pursue a career in medicine.

• What it's for: Admission to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), and various other undergraduate medical and paramedical courses, including Ayurveda (BAMS), Homeopathy (BHMS), and Veterinary Science (BVSc).
• Key Institutions: All medical colleges in India, including the prestigious AIIMS (All India Institutes of Medical Sciences) and JIPMER, use NEET scores for admissions.⁵

3. CUET-UG (Common University Entrance Test)

The CUET has quickly become one of the largest entrance exams in the country, providing a single window for admission to a vast number of undergraduate programs.⁶

• What it's for: Admission to various undergraduate courses like B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., BBA, and many others.⁷
• Key Institutions: It is used by over 250 universities, including top central universities like the University of Delhi (DU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

4. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 

CLAT is the premier national-level entrance exam for students aspiring to a career in law.⁸

• What it's for: Admission to 5-year integrated undergraduate and postgraduate law programs like B.A. LL.B., B.Sc. LL.B., and BBA LL.B.
• Key Institutions: The scores are primarily used for admission to the 24 participating National Law Universities (NLUs), which are considered the top law schools in India.

5. NDA & NA Exam (National Defence Academy & Naval Academy) 🇮🇳

Conducted by the UPSC, the NDA & NA exam is the gateway for students who wish to join the armed forces as officers right after school.⁹

• What it's for: Admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy Course (NA).¹⁰
• Career Path: Candidates who clear the exam and the subsequent SSB interview undergo a three-year training program at the NDA, followed by training at their respective service academies before being commissioned as officers.¹¹