Entrance Exams After Class 12th Science

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   • Overview of Post-12th Options for Science Students
   • Importance of Competitive Exams
2. Engineering Entrance Exams
   • JEE Main
   • JEE Advanced
3. Architecture Entrance Exams
   • NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture)
4. Medical Entrance Exams
   • NEET (UG) - National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)
5. University Entrance Exams
   • CUET (Common University Entrance Test)
6. Law Entrance Exams
   • CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
   • AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
7. Fashion and Design Entrance Exams
   • NIFT Entrance Exam
   • UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design)
   • NID Entrance Exam
8. International Entrance Exams
   • SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
9. Conclusion
   • Navigating Competitive Exams
   • Final Thoughts and Advice

Post-12th options are plenty, especially if you are a science student. This is a time when aspirations soar higher than the sky. This is also a time that can feel exciting but overwhelming. This phase after 12th grade opens doors to various career opportunities for the future. Whatever your dreams, find pathways that can make them come true. Whether your dreams are to get into IIT or become a doctor, we aim to outline avenues to give you a head start. There are multiple competitive exams available to you to take up after 12th grade. The different kinds of exams may seem confusing. But when you understand your options, with just a tad bit of help, navigating through can become simple.

A list of the most sought-after competitive exams available for 12th-grade science students is given. Basic information on each exam will also be provided so that you can make an informed decision with ease.

• JEE Main - Joint Entrance Examination-Main is a computer-based test (from 2018) for admission to various technical undergraduate programs in engineering, architecture and planning across colleges in India. The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to B.Tech, and B.Arch programs in highly reputed institutes such as the NIT (National Institutes of Technology) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT). It also serves as a pre-requisite for JEE - Advanced.

• JEE Advanced - Joint Entrance Examination-Advanced was formerly known as the Indian Institute of Technology - Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE). This competitive examination tests the skills and knowledge of the applicants in physics, chemistry and mathematics. It is organised by one of the seven zonal IITs under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board (JAB) on a round-robin rotation pattern for the qualifying candidates of the JEE-Main.

• NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) - This competitive exam is conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Architecture (NIASA), which is a body of the Council of Architecture. This national-level examination is for admission to undergraduate courses in architecture. NATA or the JEE Mains Paper 2 exam are compulsory criteria for gaining admission to any Architectural College or course in India.

• NEET (UG) - National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) is an all-India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS etc) courses in government and private institutions in India. This exam is also conducted by the National Testing Agency. It is one of the largest exams in India and is a single entrance test for MBBS and BDS colleges across India.

• CUET (Common University Entrance Test) - As the name suggests, this exam is organised by the National Testing Agency for admission to various undergraduate, integrated postgraduate, diploma and certification courses in 45 Central Universities in India. It is also accepted by several other State Universities and Deemed Universities in India. As of 2024, the CUET exam has been made compulsory for the 45 central and other universities to adopt it.

• CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) - This is a centralised national-level entrance test for admissions to 25 out of 27 National Law Universities (NLU) except for NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya. For admission to integrated and undergraduate degrees in Law after 12th grade, this exam is mandatory. Skills assessed in CLAT are legal and logical reasoning, English comprehension, general knowledge, Current Affairs and quantitative techniques.

• AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is a national-level examination conducted by the National Law University Delhi every year for admission to undergraduate law courses in NLU - Delhi. AILET is mandatory if you are interested in the undergraduate law course specifically offered by NLU - Delhi and 20 other AILET-affiliated colleges in the nation.

• NIFT Exam - The National Institute of Fashion and Technology (NIFT) conducts a national-level entrance exam each year for the admission of candidates to its various UG and UG level courses. NIFT assesses a candidate’s general ability as well as creative ability in its test.

• UCEED - The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) is a competitive examination held every year for admissions to the Bachelor of Design programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur and IIT Roorkee being the latest addition. Many institutes also recognize the UCEED scorecard for admissions to their BDes programme.

• NID Entrance Exam - the National Institute of Design conducts a national-level entrance assessed by the Nation Institute of Design for admission into NA Ahmedabad, NID Gujarat, NID Bangalore, NID Kurukshetra, and NID Vijayawada. If you are interested in design in diverse aspects, the NID entrance exam would be the right choice for you.

• SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test is an entrance test conducted by the College Board. Candidates take the SAT to pursue their undergraduate studies abroad, especially in the US. SAT is an MCQ test conducted over paper and pencil. SAT Registration can be processed five weeks before the exam date. College Board SAT is conducted 7 times annually depending upon the region and is held at least 5 times a year in most countries.

Navigating the world of competitive exams after 12th-grade science may seem complicated, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can be a rewarding experience. Remember, each exam is a step towards achieving your dreams and carving out a successful future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)