Entrance Exams After 12th 2027: Complete List by Stream
Every major entrance exam after Class 12 in India — JEE, NEET, CUET, CLAT, IPMAT, NIFT, UCEED, NATA and more — grouped by stream, with the 2027 exam calendar and what is official vs expected.
Quick answer: After 12th, Science (PCM) students mainly take JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT and state CETs; PCB students take NEET-UG plus CUET-UG, IISER IAT and NEST; Commerce students take CUET-UG, IPMAT, NPAT, SET and CA Foundation; law, design and architecture aspirants take CLAT, AILET, UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT and NATA. The 2027 cycle starts with CLAT on 6 December 2026 and JEE Main Session 1 from 20 January 2027.
Entrance Exam Calendar 2027: Month-by-Month
The 2027 admission cycle runs from December 2026 to June 2027. Law and design exams come first, engineering in January and April, and the biggest month is May.
| Month | Exam | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2026 | CLAT 2027 (law, NLUs) | 6 December 2026, 2–4 PM | Official |
| Dec 2026 | AILET 2027 (NLU Delhi) | 13 December 2026, 2–4 PM | Official |
| Dec 2026 | NID DAT 2027 Prelims (design) | 20 December 2026 | Reported |
| Jan 2027 | CA Foundation (January attempt) | 3, 5, 7 and 9 January 2027 | Official |
| Jan 2027 | NIFT 2027 (fashion, design) | 10 January 2027 | Official |
| Jan 2027 | UCEED 2027 (IIT B.Des) | 17 January 2027, 9 AM–12 noon | Official |
| Jan 2027 | JEE Main 2027 Session 1 | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2027 (revised by NTA on 24 Oct 2026) | Official |
| Apr 2027 | JEE Main 2027 Session 2 | 2–7 April 2027 | Reported |
| Apr–Jun 2027 | BITSAT 2027 | Two sessions, April–June 2027; registration expected from December 2026 | Expected |
| Apr 2027 | VITEEE, NDA (I), NCHM JEE | April 2027 | Expected |
| Apr–May 2027 | MHT-CET 2027 (PCM / PCB) | April–May 2027 | Expected |
| Mar–Jun 2027 | NATA 2027 (architecture) | Multiple attempts, March–June 2027 | Expected |
| May 2027 | NEET-UG 2027 | Early May 2027 — moving to computer-based test (CBT) | Expected |
| May 2027 | JEE Advanced 2027 | May 2027 | Expected |
| May 2027 | IPMAT Indore / JIPMAT, SET | May 2027 (IPMAT applications expected Feb–Mar) | Expected |
| Jan–May 2027 | NPAT 2027 (NMIMS) | Multiple test dates, January–May 2027 | Expected |
| May–Jun 2027 | CUET-UG 2027 | May–June 2027; registration expected Feb–Mar 2027 | Expected |
| Jun 2027 | IISER IAT, NEST | June 2027 | Expected |
Registration deadlines to watch now: JEE Main Session 1 — 22 November 2026; NIFT — 16 November 2026 (late fee until 21 November); NID DAT — 30 November 2026 (reported). CLAT — 31 October 2026; UCEED — 6 November 2026 (with late fee).
Types of Entrance Exams: National, State and University-Level
Run for the whole country
JEE Main & Advanced, NEET-UG, CUET-UG, CLAT, NATA, UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT, NCHM JEE, NEST, NDA.
State CETs
MHT-CET (Maharashtra), KCET (Karnataka), WBJEE (West Bengal), AP EAPCET, TS EAPCET, KEAM, GUJCET — admission to colleges in that state. A strong backup to national exams.
University-specific
BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE, MET (Manipal), IPMAT, NPAT, SET, Christ University ET, IISER IAT.
Science Entrance Exams After 12th (PCM & PCB)
PCM — engineering and technology
| Exam | For | 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs; qualifier for JEE Advanced; Paper 2 for B.Arch/B.Plan | S1: 20–28 Jan 2027 Official S2: 2–7 Apr 2027 Reported |
| JEE Advanced | IITs (BTech, BS, dual degrees) | May 2027 Expected |
| BITSAT | BITS Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad | Apr–Jun 2027 Expected |
| VITEEE / SRMJEEE / MET | Private university BTech | Apr 2027 Expected |
| State CETs (MHT-CET, KCET, WBJEE…) | State engineering colleges | Apr–May 2027 Expected |
PCB — medicine, allied health and life sciences
- NEET-UG — the single exam for MBBS, BDS and AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS) seats, including AIIMS and JIPMER. Expected early May 2027, moving to computer-based mode.
- CUET-UG — BSc life sciences, biotechnology and agriculture seats at central universities.
- IISER IAT and NEST — 5-year BS-MS / integrated MSc research programmes (biology included).
- MHT-CET (PCB group) and other state CETs — B.Pharm and allied courses in that state.
For PCM vs PCB in depth — every exam, eligibility and a preparation plan — read the Science (PCM & PCB) 2027 guide.
Commerce & Management Entrance Exams After 12th
| Exam | For | 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| CUET-UG | B.Com, BA Economics, BBA/BMS at central and many other universities | May–Jun 2027 Expected |
| IPMAT Indore / IPMAT Rohtak / JIPMAT | 5-year Integrated Programme in Management at IIMs | May 2027 Expected |
| NPAT | NMIMS BBA, B.Com, Economics, Finance | Jan–May 2027 Expected |
| SET | Symbiosis UG programmes | May 2027 Expected |
| CA Foundation | Chartered Accountancy (ICAI) | 3–9 Jan 2027 Official; next attempts May/June and September |
Full list, eligibility and a 2027 strategy: Commerce entrance exams 2027 guide.
Law, Design & Architecture Entrance Exams After 12th
- Law: CLAT (NLUs) — 6 December 2026 Official; AILET (NLU Delhi) — 13 December 2026 Official; also SLAT (Symbiosis), MH CET Law and CUET-UG for some BA LLB programmes.
- Design: UCEED (IIT B.Des) — 17 January 2027 Official; NID DAT Prelims — 20 December 2026 Reported; NIFT — 10 January 2027 Official.
- Architecture: NATA (Council of Architecture) — multiple attempts, March–June 2027 Expected; JEE Main Paper 2 for NIT/IIT/GFTI B.Arch and B.Plan.
Exam patterns, portfolio tips and timelines: Law, Design & Architecture 2027 guide.
Arts & Humanities Entrance Exams
For BA programmes in Psychology, Economics, Political Science, English, History and Sociology, CUET-UG is the main route at central universities such as DU, BHU and JNU. Liberal-arts universities run their own process: SET for Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, and own tests or interviews at Christ University, FLAME, Ashoka and Jindal.
Hotel Management, Agriculture & Defence
- Hotel management: NCHM JEE (NTA) for Institutes of Hotel Management — expected April 2027; some states run their own HM entrance tests.
- Agriculture: ICAR's 20% all-India quota at agricultural universities is filled through CUET-UG; many states use their CET.
- Defence: UPSC NDA & NA exam, held twice a year (around April and September). The Army wing is open to all streams; Navy and Air Force need Physics and Maths in Class 12.
How Many Entrance Exams Should You Take?
A practical shortlist is 3–5 exams:
- One main exam for your goal — JEE, NEET, CLAT, IPMAT or a design exam.
- One state CET as a backup.
- One or two university exams — BITSAT, NPAT, SET or similar.
- CUET-UG if central universities are on your list.
Beyond five, preparation overlap starts to hurt. Map all your dates on one calendar now — April and May 2027 are crowded.
Keep a Global Option Open — Without Losing Focus
Preparing for an entrance exam is stressful. Families who keep one strong study-abroad option alongside it usually feel less pressure — and students often perform better because it is no longer all-or-nothing.
- University shortlist matched to the student's stream and marks
- SAT / IELTS timing that does not clash with board and entrance exams
- Scholarship options and a realistic budget range
Call 84228 52202 · Branches in Mumbai (Matunga, Thane, Borivali, Vashi), Pune (Shivaji Nagar), Hyderabad (Kukatpally, LB Nagar, Madhapur), Nellore and Warangal — find your nearest branch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which entrance exams can I take after 12th in 2027?
It depends on your stream. Science (PCM): JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, state CETs. Science (PCB): NEET-UG, CUET-UG, IISER IAT, NEST. Commerce: CUET-UG, IPMAT, NPAT, SET, CA Foundation. Law / Design / Architecture: CLAT, AILET, UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT, NATA. Arts students mainly use CUET-UG plus university-specific tests.
When is JEE Main 2027?
NTA has scheduled JEE Main 2027 Session 1 for 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2027 (revised on 24 October 2026), with registration open until 22 November 2026. Session 2 is reported for 2–7 April 2027. Confirm on jeemain.nta.nic.in.
When is NEET-UG 2027 and will it be online?
NTA has not announced the NEET-UG 2027 date yet; it is expected in early May 2027. The Union Education Ministry announced in May 2026 that NEET-UG will move to a computer-based test (CBT) from 2027. Check the official NEET-UG 2027 information bulletin for the final mode and date.
Can I appear for multiple entrance exams after 12th?
Yes. Most students take 3–5 exams: one main national exam (JEE, NEET or CLAT), one state CET as a backup, one or two university exams (BITSAT, NPAT, SET), and CUET-UG if they want central universities. Check eligibility for each exam and watch for date clashes in April–May.
Is CUET-UG compulsory for all universities?
No. CUET-UG is used by central universities and many state, deemed and private universities. IITs (JEE Advanced), medical colleges (NEET-UG), NLUs (CLAT) and many private universities (NPAT, SET, Christ) use their own exams. Always check your target programme's admission page.
What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?
JEE Main is the entrance for NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes, and the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced is only for the IITs and is much harder. Only the top-ranked JEE Main candidates (about 2.5 lakh in recent years) can sit JEE Advanced.
Can a student switch streams for entrance exams?
Often, yes. Science students can take CLAT, CUET (arts/commerce subjects), design exams and IPMAT. But JEE needs PCM and NEET needs PCB, and some programmes require specific Class 12 subjects. Check the eligibility section of each exam's brochure.
Are NCERT books enough for entrance exams?
NCERT is essential for NEET-UG, JEE Main and CUET-UG domain papers — most questions build on it. For JEE Advanced and higher ranks, add standard reference books and regular timed practice.
How should I handle negative marking?
Attempt the questions you are sure of first, guess only when you can eliminate options, and practise with full mock tests to learn your own accuracy level. Accuracy matters more than the number of attempts.
Can I study abroad after 12th without JEE or NEET?
Yes. Universities in the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia and Singapore admit students on Class 12 marks, English tests (IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo) and, for some, the SAT. JEE and NEET are not required. Many families keep this as a parallel plan while preparing for Indian exams.
