Your exam guide
Everything a Class 12 student needs to know about India’s top science & engineering entrance exams — what they are, who they’re for, and exactly when they happen. In plain language.
Key announcements across all exams — newest first.
Pick an exam to see everything that matters — in plain language.
Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026
India’s largest engineering entrance — and the gateway to JEE Advanced.
Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
JEE Main is a computer-based test held twice a year by NTA. It does two jobs at once: it admits students to the NITs, IIITs and other government-funded colleges, and it decides who qualifies to attempt JEE Advanced for the IITs. Whichever of your two session scores is higher is the one used for ranking.
Your better score of the two sessions is what counts for your rank.
| Mode | Computer-based (Paper 2 has an offline drawing test) |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Questions | 75 — 25 per subject (20 MCQ + 5 numerical) |
| Total marks | 300 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Marking | +4 correct, −1 wrong (numericals too) |
| Languages | 13, including Marathi |
Around 47,000 seats at NITs, IIITs and GFTIs are filled through JoSAA on your JEE Main rank (IIT seats come later, through JEE Advanced).
Dates shown are the actual 2026 cycle, kept here so next year’s aspirants know the typical schedule. Always confirm current dates on the official website.
Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) 2026
The single gateway to the 23 IITs — and India’s toughest engineering exam.
Conducted by IIT Roorkee (2026)
JEE Advanced is stage two of the IIT journey, open only to the top 2,50,000 rankers from JEE Main. Its questions reward deep, multi-step problem solving far beyond board or JEE Main level. Your All-India Rank here, through JoSAA counselling, decides your IIT and branch.
| Mode | Computer-based |
| Papers | Paper 1 + Paper 2 — both compulsory, same day |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Questions | ~48–54 per paper |
| Timing | Paper 1: 9 AM–12 · Paper 2: 2:30–5:30 PM |
| Marking | Mixed types; changes every year |
| Languages | English, Hindi |
About 17,800 seats across all IIT programmes, with extra female-supernumerary seats added on top.
Dates shown are the actual 2026 cycle, kept here so next year’s aspirants know the typical schedule. Always confirm current dates on the official website.
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test 2026 (PCM)
Maharashtra’s gateway to engineering & pharmacy — now held twice a year.
Conducted by State CET Cell, Maharashtra
MHT-CET is Maharashtra’s state-level test for admission to engineering and pharmacy colleges across the state through CAP counselling. From 2026 it’s held twice a year and your best percentile counts. It follows the Maharashtra board syllabus and has no negative marking.
Maths alone is half your score.
| Mode | Computer-based |
| Subjects | Physics (50), Chemistry (50), Mathematics (50) |
| Total marks | 200 — Maths carries 2 marks per question |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Marking | No negative marking |
| Syllabus | ~20% Class 11 + 80% Class 12 (Maharashtra board) |
About 1.24 lakh engineering seats are filled through CAP. Every seat is allotted by percentile rank — there are no direct college admissions.
Dates shown are the actual 2026 cycle, kept here so next year’s aspirants know the typical schedule. Always confirm current dates on the official website.
IISER Aptitude Test 2026
Your route into the 7 IISERs for a research-first 5-year BS-MS.
Conducted by IISER Berhampur (2026)
The IAT is the single national test for admission to the seven IISERs — institutes built to blend teaching with research from year one. It leads mainly to the 5-year BS-MS dual degree. Unusually, it tests all four sciences — Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics — with equal weight.
| Mode | Computer-based, single shift (9 AM–12) |
| Subjects | Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics — 15 questions each |
| Questions | 60 MCQs · 240 marks |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Marking | +4 correct, −1 wrong |
| Syllabus | NCERT Class 11 + 12 · English only |
Around 2,100 BS-MS seats across the seven IISERs. The IAT score is also used by IISc, IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati, IACS Kolkata and IIEST Shibpur.
Dates shown are the actual 2026 cycle, kept here so next year’s aspirants know the typical schedule. Always confirm current dates on the official website.
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam 2026
Become an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force — straight after Class 12.
Conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
NDA is UPSC’s gateway for school-leavers to join the armed forces as officer cadets. You clear a written exam, then a 5-day SSB interview; selected cadets train for three years, earn a degree, and are commissioned as officers. It’s now open to both men and women and runs twice a year.
Total selection is out of 1,800 marks (written + SSB).
| Mode | Pen & paper (OMR) |
| Written | Mathematics (120 Q · 300) + General Ability Test (150 Q · 600) |
| Written total | 900 marks |
| SSB interview | 900 marks (5-day process) |
| Marking | Negative marking in the written exam |
| Grand total | 1,800 marks |
394 vacancies each cycle. You earn a degree during training and then a permanent officer’s commission.
Dates shown are the actual 2026 cycle, kept here so next year’s aspirants know the typical schedule. Always confirm current dates on the official website.
BITS Admission Test 2026
The only way into BITS Pilani, Goa & Hyderabad — and a true speed test.
Conducted by BITS Pilani
BITSAT is BITS Pilani’s own online entrance for its Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad campuses. It’s fast — 130 questions in three hours — and uniquely includes English and Logical Reasoning alongside science. Two sessions are held and your better score counts.
English & Logical Reasoning (30 questions) are unique to BITSAT — JEE has neither.
| Mode | Computer-based |
| Sections | Physics 30, Chemistry 30, Maths/Biology 40, English 10, Logical Reasoning 20 |
| Questions | 130 · 390 marks |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Marking | +3 correct, −1 wrong |
| Bonus | Finish early to unlock 12 extra questions (max 426) |
About 2,980 seats across the three Indian campuses. The Dubai campus admits through a separate process.
Dates shown are the actual 2026 cycle, kept here so next year’s aspirants know the typical schedule. Always confirm current dates on the official website.
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