Entrance tests play a crucial role in getting admission into many of the top universities in India whether in engineering, medicine, law, design or architecture. These exams generally test skills, knowledge and aptitude. Students applying for law will take the Common Law Admission Test (Clat) which has sections that test analytical abilities, legal reasoning and general knowledge. Design exams evaluate observation, illustration skills, creativity and so on.

A proper study plan is required to do well in these tests. Anjana Saha, principal of Mahadevi Birla World Academy in Calcutta, says exams such as Clat and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) are essentially based on what students learn at school. She says, “The focus of education is shifting to build problem-solving, critical thinking skills and increase general awareness. These skills are being tested in the entrance exams.”

CUET

This national-level test is organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to 80-plus universities. There are four sections: 1A and 1B consist of languages, 2 consists of domain-specific tests (history, biology, chemistry, etc.) and 3 is about numerical, quantitative, logical ability, general knowledge and current affairs. Do note that different universities have different requirements. Review the course requirements on the college website so you know which tests to take. For instance, a student applying for psychology and economics in a particular university may need to opt for English from Section 1, psychology, economics and mathematics from Section 2 and the general test. Applications close in February and the exam will be conducted over 10 days from May 21 to 31. CUET is based on NCERT textbooks.

Design

There are a variety of design courses in India — fashion, interiors, graphic, product, industrial, and niche areas such as set design and exhibition design. There are several entrance exams to get into these courses at the National Institute of Design (NID), the National Institute of Fashion Technology (Nift), the Pearl Academy and the IIT Bombay Industrial Design Centre School of Design (IDC-IIT). Students from any stream can apply. The National Institute of Design – Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) and Undergraduate Common Entrance Test (UCEED) applications open in October. The exams are held in January, while Nift applications open in December and exams are in February. The NID DAT tests creativity, visualisation, material handling and sketching, while the Nift CAT (Creative Ability Test) evaluates intuitive and design abilities, observation skills for developing a concept and illustration skills. Students must brush up on their sketching and design skills, be aware of the question paper pattern and attempt timed mock tests. Some books to refer to are NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by Dharmendra Mittal, Design Drawings by Francis D.K. Ching and Basic Rendering: Effective Drawing for Designers by Robert W. Gill. One can also find sample test papers on the Nift and NID websites.

Defence forces

Students have to take the National Defence Academy (NDA) exams to join the Indian Army, navy or airforce. Those wishing to join the army can be from any stream, but to join the navy or airforce, you need to have physics and maths in Class XII. The exam has two sections — mathematics and general ability test — and is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission. Registration for NDA 1 will stay open from December 21, 2022, to January 10, 2023, and the exam will be held in April. NDA 2 registration opens in May while the exam is in September. In August 2021, a landmark Supreme Court judgement allowed women to join the NDA. The first women candidates appeared in NDA 2 exams last year.

One can prepare from NCERT textbooks. Pathfinder NDA/NA, National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Entrance Examination by Arihant are also books to study from. Go through the UPSC and NDA websites for sample question papers.

Law

Clat is a national-level entrance exam to the 22 National Law Universities in India. Clat scores are accepted by several other colleges and universities across India that offer quality education and have been ranked high in the National Institutional Ranking Framework or NIRF law rankings. The Clat usually takes place in May, but this year, it is on December 18, 2023. Apart from the Clat, other universities such as Jamia Milia Islamia University, National Law University, Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University also conduct their own entrance exams. As preparation, there are several mock tests that one can take online. Students can get information — syllabus, guide and question paper format — about Clat on the consortium of NLUS website. Books to refer to would be Guide to CLAT in New Pattern by Justice Arijit Pasayat, Legal Aptitude by A.P. Bhardwaj and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.