India's Major Entrance Exams
JEE, NEET, CAT, CLAT, GATE, CUET — eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, important dates, top colleges, and preparation strategies.
Exam calendar overview
| Exam | Field | Exam Period | Difficulty | Prep Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔬JEE Main | Engineering | — | Hard | 1–2 years of dedicated preparation recommended |
| 🩺NEET UG | Medical | Expected early May 2027 (not yet notified) | Very Hard | 2 years of dedicated PCB preparation recommended |
| 📊CAT | Management (MBA) | Last Sunday of November | Hard | 6–12 months of consistent preparation |
| ⚖️CLAT | Law | Usually December for the next admission year | Hard | 6–12 months dedicated preparation |
| 🎓GATE | Engineering PG / PSU Jobs | February (multiple days) | Very Hard | 6–12 months post-graduation; 12–18 months while studying |
| 🏛️CUET UG | University Admissions (Non-Engineering) | May – June (multiple slots) | Moderate | 3–6 months of domain-specific preparation |
| ⚙️MHT-CET | Engineering / Pharmacy / Agriculture (Maharashtra) | — | Moderate | 1–2 years alongside Class 11–12; easier than JEE because it follows the State Board syllabus and has no negative marking |
| 🗂️SSC CGL | Central Government Jobs | September – October | Moderate | 8–18 months of focused preparation; speed and accuracy in Tier 1 are decisive |
| 📄SSC CHSL | Central Government Jobs | June – July | Moderate | 6–12 months; suitable straight after 12th. Build typing speed early for Data Entry Operator posts |
After 12th
JEE Main
Engineering
Joint Entrance Examination (Main)
To write JEE Main, you must have passed or be appearing in 12th with Physics, Maths, and one permitt...
NEET UG
Medical
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG)
12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. Minimum PCB marks are generally 50...
CLAT
Law
Common Law Admission Test
UG CLAT: 10+2 or equivalent with 45% marks for General/OBC/PwD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories and 40% for SC...
CUET UG
University Admissions (Non-Engineering)
Common University Entrance Test (UG)
12th pass or appearing — any stream; minimum marks vary by university and course...
MHT-CET
Engineering / Pharmacy / Agriculture (Maharashtra)
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test
12th (HSC) with Physics & Chemistry + Mathematics (PCM group) or Biology (PCB group); minimum 45% (4...
SSC CHSL
Central Government Jobs
Staff Selection Commission — Combined Higher Secondary Level
Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board. Age 18–27 years, with relaxations for ...
After Graduation
CAT
Management (MBA)
Common Admission Test
Bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Final-year students...
GATE
Engineering PG / PSU Jobs
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
Currently in the 3rd or higher year of an approved undergraduate degree, or completed an approved de...
SSC CGL
Central Government Jobs
Staff Selection Commission — Combined Graduate Level
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply for Tier 1. Age is usu...