Are you a student from a PCM, PCB or PCMB background and want to pursue a career in science? Have you passed class 10th and want to explore options for a career in science after class 12th? If yes, you must know about top institutes like IISc, IITs or IISERs and other required exams for admission there. This blog will discuss some of the most popular entrance exams you can sit for right after your class 12th.
In this blog, we will discuss:-
- Best Entrance Exams After Class 12th
- Some Preparation Strategies
Best Entrance Exams After Class 12th:
There are a lot of opportunities for PCM and PCM students right after class 12th. You can get into engineering, medicine, architecture or basic science streams. There are many highly reputed institutions in these fields. We will discuss some of them here:
JEE Mains
- Joint Entrance Examination- Mains is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) every year.
- It is one of the most popular examinations for non-medical stream (PCM) students.
- Every year, about 10 lakh students sit for the exam in 4 shifts from January to April.
- It is an entrance exam to various NITs (National Institute of Technology), IIITs (Indian Institute of Information Technology), and many other private and semi-private engineering colleges.
- It is also an entrance exam for the IISc (Indian Institute of Science), the best institute in India for science.
- It is an online exam with around 300 marks (75 questions). Both MCQs and numericals are asked in the exam.
- Students who qualify JEE Mains successfully get a chance to appear for the JEE Advanced.
- Other eligibility criteria include passing class 12th from a recognised board (e.g., CBSE). Although there is no age limit, one can attempt the exam only for three consecutive years after the 12th class.
JEE Advanced
- JEE Advanced is one of India’s most difficult exams, especially for non-medical students.
- Every year, one of the IITs conducts it in June or July.
- Only the candidates who qualify the JEE Mains can appear for the exam. Hence, around 2 lakh students sit for the exam every year.
- It is an online exam and has 2 papers of 3 hours each. The total marks vary yearly.
- Candidates who qualify the exam get a chance to take admission to IITs, IISc IIST (Indian Institute of Space and Technology), etc. The IISERs are not taking admissions through JEE Advanced this year.
- A candidate can attempt JEE (Advanced) a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
- There is an age limit of around 25 years which varies from category to category.
IISER Aptitude Test (IAT)
- IAT is an entrance exam to IISERs, IISc and IIT Madras.
- It is conducted by any of the IISERs every year.
- It is usually conducted in May, June, or July.
- The exam is of 3 hours and has questions from Physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology.
- Every year, about 40,000 students appear for the exam, making it less competitive than JEE.
- To apply, candidates must have passed the class 12 Science stream exam within two years with at least 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PWD). Additionally, candidates must meet board-specific cutoff percentages set by IISERs.
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)
- NEET is an entrance exam to various medical and science colleges in India, such as AIIMS, IISc, BHU, etc.
- It is conducted by the NTA.
- It is a pen and paper-based exam with 720 maximum marks.
- The exam lasts around 3 hours and 20 minutes and has questions from physics, chemistry, and biology.
- Around 20 lakh students appear for the NEET exam every year.
- To apply, students must have cleared class 12th (PCB/PCMB) with more than 50%. There is no age limit to apply for the exam.
BITS Aptitude Test (BITSAT)
- BITSAT is an online- entrance exam for BITS Pilani, Hyderabad or Goa.
- It is conducted in multiple shifts, and students can choose a shift for their convenience.
- The exam lasts 3 hours, and it has questions from physics, chemistry, maths/biology, English, and general reasoning.
- The maximum marks for the exam are 390 (130 questions). There are another 12 questions if someone finishes the paper before 3 hours.
- To apply for the exam, students must have passed class 12th from a recognized board (CBSE/ ICSE/ etc), within two years. The student must be from a PCM stream and have 70% aggregate marks in all subjects.
National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)
- NEST is an entrance exam to NISER and CEBS.
- It is an online exam conducted by NISER.
- The exam lasts for 3 hours and has questions from physics, chemistry, maths and biology. However, all four sections are not compulsory, and you can attempt either maths or biology.
- A student must complete class 12 in 2024, 2023 or 2022. This implies that second droppers can attempt the exam.
- A student should have a minimum of 60% (overall) in class 12 and should have a date of birth of or after August 1, 2004.
Common University Entrance Test (CUET)
- CUET is an entrance exam to central universities, state universities and many private colleges.
- It is conducted by NTA.
- It has questions from the subject of your choice, general reasoning and languages.
- The duration of the exam is 3 hours, and 15 minutes, and the maximum mark is around 650 (varies according to sections chosen)
- It is an online exam. It is usually conducted between May – July.
- As of 2022, more than 14 lakh students have registered for the exam, and about 9 lakh have appeared for the exam.
- This exam was started in 2021 and has eliminated the need to appear for individual entrance exams for universities.
- The eligibility criteria differ according to the universities and courses you want to enrol into.
ISI Entrance Test
- It is an entrance exam for the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)- Kolkata.
- It is conducted in two parts: UGA and UGB.
- UGA has 30 questions and has 4 marks per question.
- UGB is a subjective paper and has 8 questions of 10 marks each and has stepwise marking.
- The duration of the exam is 4 hours (2 hours each).
- To apply for the exam, candidates must have passed class 12 from a recognised board with mathematics and English as subjects.
Check out this blog to know more about ISI.
CMI Entrance Test
- It is an entrance exam for the Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI).
- The exam lasts 3 hours and is pen-paper-based.
- There are 2 sections having 10 and 6 questions, respectively.
- Section A has 40 marks, and section B has 60 marks.
- There is just one eligibility criterion: a candidate must have successfully completed class 12 with a recognised board.
Check out this blog to know more.
| Exams for PCM | Exams for PCB |
| JEE Mains | NEET |
| JEE Advanced | CUET |
| IAT | IAT |
| NEST | NEST |
| ISI Entrance Test | |
| CMI Entrance Test | |
| BITSAT | |
| CUET |
Some Preparation Strategies:
Understanding each exam’s format, syllabus, and eligibility criteria is crucial to prepare effectively and maximise your chances of success. Someone correctly said that it is very important to study before studying for the exam. The next section will delve deeper into the preparation strategies for cracking these entrance exams.
- Understand the exam pattern and syllabus: Familiarise yourself with each entrance exam’s exam pattern and syllabus. This will help you plan your preparation and allocate time to different subjects accordingly.
- Assess your strengths and weaknesses: Start by identifying your strong and weak areas in each subject. This will help you prioritise your study plan and focus on areas that need improvement.
- Create a study schedule: Develop a structured study plan that covers all the subjects and topics within a given time frame. Make sure to allocate ample time for revision and practice tests. Keep changing your timetable according to your preparation level and needs.
- Practice mock tests: Regularly practice mock tests to simulate the actual exam environment. This will not only help you become familiar with the exam format but also improve your time management skills. Exams are very different from practising questions; giving lots of mock tests will help you become accustomed to the exam environment.
- Seek expert guidance: You can enrol in SciAstra batches, where we provide efficient study materials and tips and tricks for these examinations. You can check out free PYQs and their solution for FREE on our website.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Don’t compromise on your sleep, exercise, and diet. A healthy lifestyle will not only keep you physically fit but also enhance your concentration and memory.
Conclusion:
Remember, preparation is the key to success. Cracking entrance exams requires consistent effort, dedication, and perseverance. You must stay focused, motivated, and confident in your abilities. With systematic preparation, practice and revision, you can crack the entrance exams and secure admission to your desired course and institution. We wish you very good luck!
If you want to know how to choose your dream college, check this blog out.
FAQs:
Ques: How can I prepare for IAT/ NEET/ JEE effectively?
Ans: Effective preparation for entrance exams involves a thorough understanding of the exam syllabus, regular practice of sample papers and mock tests, revising key concepts, and seeking clarification on doubts from mentors. SciAstra provides all that you require in one place, and that too at a minimal price.
Ques: Can I appear for multiple entrance exams simultaneously?
Ans: Yes, you are allowed to appear for multiple entrance exams simultaneously, provided you meet the eligibility criteria for each exam.
Ques: What are the career options available after clearing these entrance exams?
Ans: Clearing entrance exams like JEE, IAT, NEET, BITSAT, etc., opens up a wide range of career options in fields such as engineering, medicine, architecture, pure sciences, and research. Check out this blog, to know more.
Ques: Are there scholarships available for undergraduate students?
Ans: Yes, there are many government as well as private scholarships for undergraduate students. You can check out detailed descriptions of scholarships in this blog.
About us:
SciAstra is a team of scientists and research scholars from the top research institutes around the world like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, and so on. Our vision is to promote critical thinking and scientific temperament by helping students in their careers in science.
We offer many free and paid courses where our mentors from the top research institutes like IISER, NISER, IACS, CMI,ISI IISC Bangalore, etc teach students in live classes, with study materials, mock tests, books, and everything needed. We have taught more than 10,000 students already since 2021 and achieved over 1000 selections with AIR 1, 7,10, 12, and 13 in IISc Bengaluru, IISERs, NISER, IACS, and so on. If you are looking to prepare for IAT / NEST 2024, you can check out our courses and get access to live classes, recorded lectures, study material, mock tests, doubt-clearing classes, and much more!
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