Top Entrance Exams After 12th 2027: List, Eligibility, Courses & Exam Dates

Entrance exams after 12th 2027 can help you get admission to the course and college you want. After Class 12, you first need to decide what you want to study and then check which entrance exam the college accepts.

For engineering, JEE Main is one of the main exams. For medical courses, NEET UG is the key entrance exam. CUET UG is an important admission route for many undergraduate courses.

Law, design, fashion, architecture and management also have their own entrance exams.

So, you need to know which exam matches your course and stream. You also need to track eligibility, application forms and exam dates.

This guide covers the major entrance exams along with their courses, eligibility, exam dates and stream-wise options.

This makes it important to know which exam matches your course and stream. You also need to keep track of eligibility, application forms and exam dates.

What We Cover in This Article

• Top entrance exams after 12th in 2027
• Entrance exams for Science, Commerce and Arts students
• Courses covered by each exam
• Eligibility and basic exam details
• 2027 exam dates and expected dates
• Engineering, medical and law entrance exams
• Design, fashion and architecture exams
• Management, science and hotel management exams
• How to choose the right entrance exam

Note: Many 2027 exam dates are not out yet. We have marked them as TBA where the official authority has not released the date. Always check the official website before applying. Always check the official exam website before applying.

Entrance exams after 12th 2027 can help…

You do not need the same entrance exam for every course. Instead, choose the exam according to the course and college you want.

For example, JEE Main suits students planning to study engineering. Similarly, NEET UG is the main entrance exam for undergraduate medical education. Students interested in law can consider CLAT or AILET.

Meanwhile, CUET UG provides another route to many undergraduate courses across participating universities.

Here are the major entrance exams to know about for 2027:

Entrance Exam	Main Courses	Suitable Stream	2027 Exam Date
CUET UG 2027	BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA and more	Arts, Commerce, Science	TBA
JEE Main 2027	B.E., B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Planning	Mainly Science	TBA
NEET UG 2027	MBBS, BDS and other medical courses	Science PCB/PCMB	TBA
CLAT 2027	5-year integrated law	All eligible streams	6 Dec 2026
NIFT 2027	B.Des, B.F.Tech	Check programme rules	TBA
NID DAT 2027	B.Des	Check eligibility	TBA
UCEED 2027	B.Des	Science, Commerce, Arts	17 Jan 2027
NATA 2027	B.Arch	Mainly Science	TBA
IPMAT 2027	Integrated Management	Check institute rules	TBA
IISER Aptitude Test 2027	Science and Research	Science	TBA
NCHM JEE 2027	Hotel Management	Check eligibility	TBA
AILET 2027	B.A. LL.B.	Check eligibility	TBA

CLAT 2027 will take place on 6 December 2026, while UCEED 2027 will take place on 17 January 2027. Both dates have official confirmation.

CUET UG 2027

CUET UG stands for Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate. The National Testing Agency conducts the exam.

Many students consider CUET UG after Class 12 because participating universities use its scores for undergraduate admissions.

Depending on the university, CUET UG can cover courses such as:

• BA
• B.Sc
• B.Com
• BBA
• BCA
• Integrated undergraduate programmes
• Other university-specific courses

However, each university can set its own subject and eligibility requirements. For example, one university may require a particular CUET subject for a course, while another may set a minimum Class 12 percentage.

Therefore, check the course requirements before selecting your CUET subjects.

Details	Information
Exam	CUET UG
Conducting body	NTA
Level	Undergraduate
Courses	Depends on university
Streams	Arts, Commerce, Science
2027 date	TBA

Before applying, check:

• Your preferred course
• Your preferred universities
• Required CUET subjects
• Class 12 eligibility
• University-specific admission rules

JEE Main 2027

JEE Main is one of the major entrance exams after 12th for engineering admissions.

The National Testing Agency conducts JEE Main through different papers for engineering, architecture and planning.

You can use JEE Main for courses such as:

• B.E.
• B.Tech
• B.Arch
• B.Planning

Students targeting B.E. or B.Tech usually take Paper 1. Meanwhile, Paper 2 covers architecture and planning.

JEE Main also plays an important role in admissions to NITs, IIITs and other participating institutions. In addition, it acts as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced.

Details	Information
Exam	JEE Main 2027
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Main Courses	B.E., B.Tech
Other Courses	B.Arch, B.Planning
Main Subjects	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Suitable Stream	Science with PCM
2027 Exam Date	TBA

Students with PCM should check the latest JEE Main eligibility rules before applying. Also, check the admission rules of your preferred college because college requirements can differ from basic exam eligibility.

NEET UG 2027

Students who want to study medicine after Class 12 need to know about NEET UG.

The National Testing Agency conducts NEET UG. It is the main entrance exam for MBBS admissions in India.

Depending on the applicable admission rules, NEET UG also covers courses such as BDS and AYUSH programmes.

Details	Information
Exam	NEET UG 2027
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Main Course	MBBS
Other Courses	BDS and applicable AYUSH courses
Main Subjects	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
Suitable Stream	Science with PCB/PCMB
2027 Exam Date	TBA

For NEET preparation, keep Physics, Chemistry and Biology at the centre of your study plan. Also, check the 2027 information bulletin for the final eligibility rules.

CLAT 2027

CLAT stands for Common Law Admission Test. It is one of the main entrance exams after 12th for law.

The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts CLAT for admission to 5-year integrated law programmes at participating National Law Universities and other institutions that accept the score.

The CLAT 2027 exam is scheduled for 6 December 2026 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for the 2027-28 academic session.

Students appearing for Class 12 in March or April 2027 can apply, subject to the applicable eligibility rules. They need to provide proof of passing during the admission process.

The exam covers:

• English Language
• Current Affairs including General Knowledge
• Legal Reasoning
• Logical Reasoning
• Quantitative Techniques

Details	Information
Exam	CLAT UG 2027
Course	5-year integrated LL.B.
Conducting Body	Consortium of National Law Universities
Exam Date	6 December 2026
Exam Time	2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Mode	Offline
Academic Session	2027-28

CLAT is not limited to Arts students. Commerce and Science students can also choose law after Class 12.

NIFT Entrance Exam 2027

The NIFT Entrance Examination is conducted for admission to undergraduate programmes in fashion and related fields.

The National Testing Agency conducts the NIFT entrance examination.

The main undergraduate options include B.Des and B.F.Tech. B.Des includes areas such as fashion design, textile design and fashion communication. B.F.Tech focuses more on the technology side of fashion.

Details	Information
Exam	NIFT Entrance Examination 2027
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Main Courses	B.Des, B.F.Tech
B.Des Areas	Fashion Design, Textile Design, Fashion Communication
B.F.Tech Area	Fashion Technology
Suitable Stream	Depends on the programme
2027 Exam Date	TBA

Before applying, check the program-wise eligibility because different courses can have different subject requirements.

NID DAT 2027

NID DAT stands for National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test. It is used for admission to design programmes at the National Institute of Design.

B.Des admissions include two stages: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.

Details	Information
Exam	NID DAT 2027
Full Form	National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test
Main Course	B.Des
Stages	DAT Prelims and DAT Mains
Field	Design
Suitable Stream	Check current eligibility
2027 Exam Date	TBA

Design entrance exams need a different preparation approach. Along with regular study, practise visual questions and design-based tasks.

NATA 2027

NATA stands for National Aptitude Test in Architecture. The Council of Architecture conducts the exam for B.Arch admissions.

Students interested in architecture can also check JEE Main Paper 2 because some architecture admissions use that route.

Details	Information
Exam	NATA 2027
Full Form	National Aptitude Test in Architecture
Conducting Body	Council of Architecture
Course	B.Arch
Suitable Stream	Mainly Science
Alternative Route	JEE Main Paper 2
2027 Exam Date	TBA

Architecture involves more than drawing. The course also includes mathematics, planning, design and technical concepts.

IPMAT 2027

IPMAT stands for Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test. It provides an entrance route to integrated management programmes after Class 12.

The programmes can cover areas such as business, marketing, finance, management, entrepreneurship, HR and consulting.

IIM Indore is one of the institutes associated with IPMAT. Other institutes can have their own entrance tests and admission rules.

Details	Information
Exam	IPMAT 2027
Full Form	Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test
Main Course	Integrated Management
Areas	Management, Finance, Marketing, Business, HR and Entrepreneurship
Suitable Stream	Check institute-specific eligibility
2027 Exam Date	TBA

Check the eligibility rules of the institute you want to target. One IPMAT score does not automatically cover every management college.

IISER Aptitude Test 2027

The IISER Aptitude Test is an entrance route for students interested in science and research.

The programmes can cover areas such as:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Mathematics
• Earth Sciences
• Environmental Sciences

Details	Information
Exam	IISER Aptitude Test 2027
Main Field	Science and Research
Areas	Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences
Suitable Stream	Science
2027 Exam Date	TBA

The 2027 exam details and admission rules depend on the official notification.

NCHM JEE 2027

NCHM JEE stands for National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination. The National Testing Agency conducts the exam.

The exam provides admission to the B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration programme.

You can build a career in areas such as:

• Hotel operations
• Food production
• Front office
• Food and beverage
• Resorts
• Events
• Hospitality management

Details	Information
Exam	NCHM JEE 2027
Full Form	National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Main Course	B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration
Career Areas	Hotel Operations, Food Production, Front Office, Food & Beverage, Resorts and Events
2027 Exam Date	TBA

AILET 2027

AILET stands for All India Law Entrance Test. It is the entrance exam for the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme at National Law University Delhi.

AILET and CLAT are different exams. Therefore, students targeting NLU Delhi should check the AILET admission process instead of depending only on CLAT.

Details	Information
Exam	AILET 2027
Full Form	All India Law Entrance Test
Conducting Institute	National Law University Delhi
Course	B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
Field	Law
Suitable Stream	Check current eligibility
2027 Exam Date	TBA

Entrance Exams After 12th for Science Students

Science students have several options depending on their subjects and career plans.

Stream	Entrance Exams
PCM	JEE Main, NATA, UCEED, CUET UG
PCB	NEET UG, CUET UG, IISER options
PCMB	JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET UG, NATA

If you have PCM, engineering, architecture, design and science programmes can be considered. On the other hand, PCB students usually focus on medical and life science options.

PCMB students have more choices because they can explore both engineering and medical routes.

Always check the exact subject requirements before applying.

Entrance Exams After 12th for Commerce Students

Commerce students can choose from management, commerce, law, design and other undergraduate courses.

Course/Field	Entrance Exams
B.Com	CUET UG and university-specific exams
BBA	CUET UG and university-specific exams
Management	IPMAT and institute-specific exams
Law	CLAT, AILET
Design	UCEED, NID DAT
Fashion	NIFT

Some courses can require Mathematics in Class 12. Therefore, check the course and college eligibility before filling out an application.

Entrance Exams After 12th for Arts Students

Arts students can also choose from several national and university-level entrance exams.

Course/Field	Entrance Exams
BA	CUET UG
Law	CLAT, AILET
Design	UCEED, NID DAT
Fashion	NIFT
Management	IPMAT
Other UG Courses	CUET UG and university-specific exams

The eligibility rules can differ between courses and colleges. So, check the latest admission information before applying.

Course-Wise Entrance Exams After 12th

If you already know which course you want to study, choosing an entrance exam becomes easier.

Course	Main Entrance Exam
B.Tech	JEE Main
MBBS	NEET UG
BDS	NEET UG
BA	CUET UG
B.Com	CUET UG
BBA	CUET UG, IPMAT and university-specific exams
Law	CLAT, AILET
B.Des	UCEED, NID DAT
Fashion Design	NIFT
B.Arch	NATA, JEE Main Paper 2
Science and Research	IISER Aptitude Test
Hotel Management	NCHM JEE

Entrance Exam Dates 2027

Keeping track of dates is important because the application deadline can come before the actual exam.

Entrance Exam	2027 Exam Date
CUET UG 2027	TBA
JEE Main 2027	TBA
NEET UG 2027	TBA
CLAT 2027	6 December 2026
NIFT 2027	TBA
NID DAT 2027	TBA
UCEED 2027	17 January 2027
NATA 2027	TBA
IPMAT 2027	TBA
IISER Aptitude Test 2027	TBA
NCHM JEE 2027	TBA
AILET 2027	TBA

Only confirmed dates should be treated as final. Exam authorities can change dates, so keep checking the official website before making your preparation or travel plans.

How to Choose the Right Entrance Exam After 12th:

Choosing from so many entrance exams after Class 12 can feel confusing. Follow these steps to narrow down your options.

Step 1: Choose Your Course

Start with the course instead of the exam.

For example:

• B.Tech → JEE Main
• MBBS → NEET UG
• Law → CLAT or AILET
• B.Des → UCEED or NID DAT
• Fashion → NIFT
• B.Arch → NATA or JEE Main Paper 2

Step 2: Make a College List

Once you select a course, shortlist the colleges you want to target.

Then check which entrance exam each college accepts.

Step 3: Check Eligibility

Check:

• Class 12 subjects
• Minimum marks
• Age requirements
• Required entrance exam
• Category requirements
• Course-specific conditions

Step 4: Check the Syllabus

Compare the exam syllabus with the topics you studied in Classes 11 and 12.

This step helps you understand how much additional preparation you need.

Step 5: Track Dates

Keep track of:

• Registration
• Application deadline
• Correction window
• Admit card
• Exam
• Answer key
• Result
• Counselling

This order can help you avoid unnecessary exams and missed deadlines.

When Should Start Preparing?

Your preparation time depends on the exam and your current level.

Time Available	Main Focus
6–12 months	Build concepts and complete the syllabus
3–6 months	Practise questions and previous papers
1–3 months	Take mock tests and revise
Last few weeks	Revise weak topics and important concepts

Some entrance exams need more subject preparation, while others also test aptitude, reasoning, English or general awareness.

Documents You May Need

Keep your basic documents ready before the application process starts.

Common documents include:

• Class 10 certificate
• Class 12 marksheet or qualifying exam details
• Recent photograph
• Signature
• Valid ID proof
• Category certificate, if applicable
• EWS certificate, if applicable
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Other documents mentioned in the exam notification

The exact document list can change between exams. For example, CLAT applications can require a recent photograph, signature and applicable certificates.

Also, check the required file size and format before uploading your documents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Choosing the Exam Before the Course

First decide what you want to study. Then find the entrance exam required for that course.

2. Checking Only the Exam Date

The application deadline matters just as much as the exam date. Therefore, track both.

3. Ignoring Subject Requirements

Some courses require specific Class 12 subjects. Check these rules before applying.

4. Preparing for Too Many Unrelated Exams

Taking every entrance exam can make your preparation difficult. Instead, focus on exams that match your course and college choices.

5. Using Old Information

Entrance exam rules can change every year. Always check the latest notification before applying.

6. Ignoring College Admission Rules

Clearing an entrance exam does not always mean automatic admission. Colleges can have separate eligibility, counselling or document requirements.

What Happens After the Entrance Exam?

The admission process usually follows this pattern:

Exam → Answer Key → Result → Counselling → College Choice → Seat Allotment → Document Verification → Fee Payment

However, the exact process varies from one exam to another.

Some exams use centralised counselling. Others require students to complete a separate admission form for each college or university.

Do All Courses Need an Entrance Exam?

No. Not every course or college requires an entrance exam.

Some colleges offer admission based on Class 12 marks. Others use university-level entrance exams or national-level scores.

CUET UG is used by many participating universities. However, some universities and colleges follow their own admission process.

Therefore, always check the admission method of your preferred college before applying for an entrance exam.

Final Checklist Before Applying

Before you submit any entrance exam application, check the following:

• Course selected
• Colleges shortlisted
• Eligibility checked
• Class 12 subjects checked
• Exam syllabus checked
• Application date noted
• Exam date noted
• Required documents ready
• Application fee checked
• Official website saved

A simple spreadsheet can also help you track application, exam, result and counselling dates for each exam.

conclusion:

The right entrance exam depends on the course you want to study.

For engineering, JEE Main is a major option. Students planning to study medical courses usually need to appear for NEET UG. Meanwhile, CUET UG provides an admission route for many undergraduate programmes. Law students can consider CLAT or AILET. Design students can explore UCEED or NID DAT. NIFT is an important option for fashion, while NATA is used for architecture. Students interested in management can consider IPMAT, while science and research aspirants can explore IISER options. NCHM JEE is relevant for hotel management.

Start with your course. Then shortlist colleges. After that, check the entrance exams they accept.

Finally, keep checking official exam websites because dates and admission rules can change before the 2027 admission cycle.

Last Updated: September 2026

Other Article:
UGC NET