National & State Test Directory

Entrance Examinations 2026: Schedules & Patterns

Comprehensive breakdown of national testing schedules, syllabus structures, eligibility mandates, and top institutes accepting competitive scorecards.

National Level•Engineering / Architecture

JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination)

Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA) • Frequency: Twice a year (January & April Sessions)

Total Registrations12.5+ Lakh Candidates

JEE Main is India's largest engineering entrance test. It serves as the single gateway for admissions to 32 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 38 Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs), as well as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced.

Exam Pattern & Marking Structure

Physics: 25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical)
Chemistry: 25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical)
Mathematics: 25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical)
Total Marks: 300 (4 marks for correct, -1 for incorrect)

Key Participating Colleges

MNIT JaipurNIT TrichyNIT SurathkalDTU DelhiNSUT DelhiIIIT Hyderabad

Eligibility: Candidates who have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Mathematics, and one optional subject in 2024, 2025, or appearing in 2026. No age limit specified by NTA.

National Level•Management

CAT (Common Admission Test)

Conducted by: Indian Institutes of Management (Rotational) • Frequency: Once a year (Last Sunday of November)

Total Registrations3.2+ Lakh Candidates

CAT is the premier management aptitude exam in India, commanding admission to 21 prestigious IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and over 1,200 top B-schools across the country.

Exam Pattern & Marking Structure

Section 1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 24 Qs
Section 2: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 Qs
Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - 22 Qs
Total Duration: 120 Minutes (40 mins per section)

Key Participating Colleges

IIM AhmedabadIIM BangaloreIIM CalcuttaFMS DelhiSIBM PuneMDI Gurgaon

Eligibility: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Final year students are eligible.

National Level•Medical & Dental

NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA) • Frequency: Once a year (May)

Total Registrations24+ Lakh Candidates

NEET UG is the single entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) courses in all medical institutions including AIIMS and JIPMER across India.

Exam Pattern & Marking Structure

Physics: 45 Questions (180 Marks)
Chemistry: 45 Questions (180 Marks)
Biology (Botany + Zoology): 90 Questions (360 Marks)
Total Marks: 720 (Duration: 3 Hours 20 Minutes)

Key Participating Colleges

AIIMS New DelhiCMC VelloreJIPMER PuducherryKGMU LucknowSMS Medical College Jaipur

Eligibility: Completed 17 years of age at the time of admission. Passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English with minimum 50% aggregate.

National Level•Law & Legal Studies

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

Conducted by: Consortium of National Law Universities • Frequency: Once a year (December)

Total Registrations65,000+ Candidates

CLAT is the centralized entrance examination for admissions to 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India and dozens of private law institutions accepting CLAT scores.

Exam Pattern & Marking Structure

English Language, Current Affairs & GK
Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Techniques
Total Questions: 120 (Duration: 2 Hours)

Key Participating Colleges

NLSIU BangaloreNALSAR HyderabadWBNUJS KolkataNLU Delhi (AILET)NLU Jodhpur

Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent with minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST). No upper age limit.

National Level•Central & State Universities

CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test)

Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA) • Frequency: Once a year (May - June)

Total Registrations14+ Lakh Candidates

CUET UG provides a single-window opportunity to students seeking admission in central, state, deemed, and private universities across India including Delhi University, BHU, and JNU.

Exam Pattern & Marking Structure

Section 1A & 1B: Language Testing
Section 2: Domain-Specific Subjects (up to 6 domains)
Section 3: General Test (Mental Ability, Numerical, GK)

Key Participating Colleges

Delhi UniversityBanaras Hindu UniversityJamia Millia IslamiaJawaharlal Nehru University

Eligibility: Candidates who have cleared Class 12 or equivalent in any stream from a recognized board.