List of Best Competitive Exams After 12th Across Streams

Top Competitive Exams After 12th

Completing 12th grade opens doors to various careers in Engineering, Medicine, Commerce, Law, and Arts. Entrance exams serve as a gateway to start careers in these streams. This blog explores a detailed list of competitive exams after 12th that students can opt for. It covers entrance exam details for Science, Commerce, Law, Arts, and government jobs, helping students in their chosen streams.

Science Stream Entrance Exams

The science stream is one of the most popular options for PCM or PCB students. Entrance exams play a huge role in the higher education of these students. Aspirants of this career path mostly target Engineering, Medicine, and other popular options. JEE Main, JEE Advanced, state-level CETs, and NEET are some of the top entrance exams after 12th Science. These competitive exams demand strong fundamentals in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (PCM) for Engineering and Biology (PCB) for Medical. Below is the list of top entrance exams after 12th Science.

Engineering Entrance Exams

Entrance exams for Engineering after 12th mostly include PCM subjects. Top exams include National and State-level tests for admissions in IITs, NITs, and private institutions.
Below are some top Engineering entrance exams for Science stream students:

1. JEE Main: National-level exam written for admissions in NITs (National Institute of Technology) and IITs (Indian Institute of Technology).
2. JEE Advanced: For admissions to various Engineering programmes in the top IITs.
3. BITSAT: University-level online test for BITS Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad.
4. VITEEE: University-level exam conducted for admissions to Vellore Institute of Technology campuses.
5. SRMJEEE: University-level entrance exam conducted for admissions into SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
6. COMEDK UGET: The Karnataka Engineering exam is conducted to facilitate admissions into private Engineering colleges.
7. Other state CETs: MHT CET, KCET, WBJEE, AP EAMCET, and KEAM are the state-specific Engineering exams in India.

These entrance exams after 12th ensure merit-based seats in premier B.Tech institutions.

Medical Entrance Exams

Medical competitive exams after 12th science test PCB knowledge for MBBS, BDS, and Allied Science courses. Popular Medical exams include:

1. NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test): National-level test conducted by NTA for admission into MBBS, Dental and other Medical programmes.
2. AIIMS B.Sc. Nursing: Entrance exam for B.Sc. Nursing courses at AIIMS institutions.
3. JIPMER (Nursing/Allied Sciences): Entrance via NEET-UG for B.Sc. in Allied Medical Sciences at JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research).

Preparation targets the 720-mark paper with equal weightage to Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Other Science Exams

Entrance exams after 12th Science extend to Pure Sciences, Pharmacy, Agriculture, beyond Engineering/Medical.

These competitive exams list after 12th mostly suit research-oriented Bsc and Msc programmes. Architecture seekers pursue NATA, focusing on aptitude and drawing. These exams have high difficulty levels requiring preparation from class 11th.

Commerce Stream Opportunities

Commerce is another popular choice of education among students. There are many after 12th Commerce entrance exams that open doors to top undergraduate programmes. These exams primarily assess Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and English/Verbal Ability.

List of Entrance Exams After 12th Commerce

1. CUET (UG): Common University Entrance Test for admission to programmes like B.Com, BBA, B.Sc. Economics at central & state universities.
2. IPMAT (Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test): For the integrated programmes admissions at IIMs.
3. NPAT (National Test for Programs After Twelfth): For BBA, B.Sc. Finance at NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies).
4. SET (Symbiosis Entrance Test): For BBA, B.Com at Symbiosis International University.
5. AIMA UGAT (Under Graduate Aptitude Test): For BBA, B.Com, B.Sc, BMS programmes in various colleges.

These popular entrance exams for Commerce provide students with the opportunity to gain admission into top central, state and private universities.

Top Competitive Exams After 12th Arts

Competitive exams after 12th Arts cover diverse fields like Design, Media, and Social Work. They help gain admission to BA, BBA, BJMC, BDes, and LLB programmes. These exams test aptitude in Languages, Reasoning, GK, and creative skills.
Popular arts entrance exams after 12th include:

1. CUET (UG): Common University Entrance Test for admission to central universities for BA, BBA, and Journalism courses.
2. SET Exam: Symbiosis Entrance Test for BBA, BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication), and BA programmes.
3. TISSBAT: Tata Institute of Social Sciences entrance for BA in Social Sciences and Arts programmes.
4. NIFT Entrance Exam: National Institute of Fashion Technology (Fashion Design).
5. UCEED: Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design courses at IITs and IIITDM Jabalpur.
6. NID DAT: For admissions at the National Institute of Design (NID Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Gandhinagar).

Law-Focused Entrance Exams

There are many Law-focused entrance exams in India that provide admission to top colleges. These include exams like CLAT, AILET, LSAT, SLAT and more. The exams mostly test critical thinking, logical reasoning, legal aptitude, general knowledge and current affairs.
Popular after 12th Law entrance exams include:

1. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test): National-level exam for admissions into the 24 NLUs.
2. AILET (All India Law Entrance Test): National-level exams for admissions into NLU Delhi Law programmes.
3. LSAT India (Law School Admission Test India): For admissions into private Law schools.
4. SLAT (Symbiosis Law Admission Test): For Symbiosis Law Schools (UG) programmes.
5. Other Law exams: MH CET Law, KLEE, DU LLB (Delhi University), AMU Law Exam (Aligarh Muslim University), and PU LLB (Panjab University).

These after 12th Law entrance exam open up options in careers like litigation, corporate Law, government, academia, and legal journalism.

Entrance Exams for Government Jobs

Competitive exams for government jobs after 12th offer security and stability for careers in public service. Government exams like UPSC civil services, graduate-level tests, and banking tests attract millions of graduates each year. Competitive exams for government jobs after 12th generally test basic skills in Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and English.

Some of the other top government exams include LIC AAO, AFCAT, and IBPS RRB. These exams provide job roles in corporate banks, administrative jobs, security, and rural banks.

Preparation Strategies

To prepare effectively for government competitive exams, aspirants can follow these preparation strategies. These can be helpful for SSC CGL, CHSL, UPSC CSE, and banking tests.

1. Thoroughly review official notifications and syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English, General Awareness and prioritise high-weightage topics.
2. Create a daily timetable and allocate 6-8 hours for practising each section.
3. Practice regular mock tests and solve 2-3 full-length papers. Analyse errors, and track time to build speed and accuracy under exam conditions.
4. Revisit mistakes and dedicate extra time to low-scoring sections.
5. Stay updated on current affairs by reading newspapers daily. Make monthly notes on national/international events, the economy, and schemes.
6. Refer to standard textbooks for learning and previous years' question paper patterns.

Conclusion

Choosing the right competitive exam after 12th can shape the academic and career trajectory of students. This blog lists the most popular entrance exams across Engineering, Medical, Commerce, Law, Arts, and government streams for strategic exam preparation. Early decision-making and preparation with focused plans can help students achieve their dream careers. Institutions like JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) can help you get started with your journey.

Check out the programmes at JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) and begin your higher education journey.

FAQs

Q1. Which entrance exam is best after 12th?

A1. The best entrance exam after 12th depends on the choice of stream and the career goals of students. JEE Main, NEET, CLAT, CUET, and NID DAT are some of the popular entrance exams across streams. These exams offer strong career prospects at top institutions.

Q2. How many entrance exams are there?

A2. There are over 50 major national and state-level entrance exams that students can pursue across streams. The popular ones are JEE (Engineering), NEET (Medical), CLAT (Law), AILET (Law) and more. Considering the university-based exams, there are a larger number of entrance exams offered for design, agriculture, and research fields.

Q3. What is in an entrance exam?

A3. An entrance exam is a standardised national, state or university-level test used to assess a candidate's knowledge, skills, and aptitude in specific courses. Entrance exams serve as the gateway for admission into various higher education programmes. These exams typically consist of multiple-choice questions, covering both general aptitude and subject-specific knowledge.

Q4. What are the entrance exams after 12th?

A4. Prominent entrance exams after 12th include JEE Main/Advanced for Engineering, NEET for Medical, CLAT for Law, and CUET UG for Arts/Commerce. SSC CHSL and SSC GD are some popular government exams that offer stable careers for students.

Q5. How many entrance exams are there after 12th Science?

A5. There are multiple entrance exams that students can write after Class 12 Science. Entrance exams include Engineering, Medical, and Research fields. Popular ones are JEE, CETs, NEET, ICAR, NATA and the IISER Aptitude Test.

Q6. Which government job is best after 12th?

A6. SSC CHSL is one of the best government jobs after 12th, offering posts like clerks and assistants in central ministries. It provides job security, a good salary, and promotion opportunities for diverse stream students.

Q7. Which entrance exam for scientists?

A7. IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is the leading entrance exam for aspiring scientists. It grants entry to BS-MS programmes at IISERs. It emphasises PCMB skills, ideal for research and advanced science careers.

Q8. Which entrance exam is best for B.Tech?

A8. JEE Main is the top entrance exam for BTech. The exam is mandatory for admissions to NITs and IIITs. It serves as the primary gateway to quality Engineering programmes across India.

Q9. Which exam should I give after 12th for Engineering?

A9. JEE Main is the top exam after 12th for Engineering, opening doors to NITs and state colleges. Students can supplement with state CETs or institute exams like BITSAT for broader options.

Q10. What is the entrance exam for bcom?

A10. CUET UG is the main entrance exam for BCom at central, state, and deemed universities. Private options like NPAT and SET provide additional pathways to top programmes.

Q11. Which government exam is best for arts students?

A11. SSC CHSL is one of the best government exams for Arts students after 12th, targeting government roles. RRB NTPC offers similar accessible railway positions with steady growth.

Q12. Which government exam is best after 12th?

A12. SSC CHSL ranks as the premier government exam after 12th due to its accessibility and central government postings. It balances ease of eligibility with attractive pay and long-term stability.