"What's your plan now?" Your parents inquired when you gave them your graduation diploma, didn’t they? Did you feel perplexed? Before you said, "Maybe, find a job or do a master's," was there a long moment of silence?
Do not worry; you are not alone. Many students face the same confusion - whether to pursue postgraduate studies or start looking for a job after completing their undergraduate studies.
While a job gives you hands-on experience, there can be certain advantages to getting a higher degree. Chief among these are more knowledge, more confidence and the ability to land a better job and pay package.
So, to help you start your PG programme journey before you pursue your desired career, here is a list of the top 5 PG entrance exams in India
The exam that tops the list is the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), formerly known as the All India Pre-Medical Test. The test was first conducted in 2013 when it replaced the pre-medical entrance exams being conducted separately across various states. This competitive exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Who is it for?
Candidates studying in India who have a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree or a provisional MBBS pass certificate issued in accordance with the Indian Medical Council Act or also an MBBS registration certificate issued by the Indian or state medical council; and who have finished or will soon finish their internship are eligible to apply for the exam.
What is it for?
The exam is meant for students interested in pursuing a choice of postgraduate courses, including the Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), and certificate programmes in government or private medical universities nationwide.
What is the exam pattern?
There are 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in the computer-based exam. The only language used is English. It is conducted in 162 exam centres throughout India. 4 marks are given for each correctly answered question, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. The duration of the examination is 3.5 hours.
When can you apply?
Aspirants can apply for NEET-PG as soon as the official notification is out which is usually in February or March every year.
When are the exams conducted?
The exam is usually conducted in May, although it has been delayed since the start of the pandemic.
Official website
The Common Admission Test (CAT) entrance exam is the route for all students who want to succeed in the management field. It is regarded as India's most prestigious national-level entrance exam The IIM (Indian Institute of Management) typically conducts this PG entrance exam annually.
Who is it for?
Candidates who have a bachelor's degree from a university of recognised standing with a minimum score of 50%. Candidates who are taking the final year of a bachelor's degree or comparable qualification exam, as well as those who have completed the requirements for a degree and are awaiting results, may also apply.
What is it for?
The examination is conducted by IIM to give admissions to students who are interested in doing MBA or PGDM in management & business administration, particularly from the best Management colleges across the country.
What is the exam pattern?
The exam format consists of both MCQs and non-MCQ questions, broken down into sections for verbal aptitude, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude. Candidates are given 3 marks for each correct answer and they lose 1 mark for each incorrect answer.
When can you apply?
Candidates who are interested in appearing for CAT must look out on the official website between June-August for the registration link and application process.
When are the exams conducted?
CAT Examinations are usually conducted in October-November annually, though the dates can vary.
Official website:
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineer (GATE) exam, which is jointly administered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) and seven IITs, is one of the most difficult PG entrance examinations on the list. Students who pass this exam are eligible to apply for Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) jobs in the future.
Who is it for?
Graduates holding a bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, or architecture, as well as students enrolled in the last year of such programmes.
What is it for?
GATE is given by students seeking admission to Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Architecture or Doctor of Philosophy in Indian higher education institutes.
What is the exam pattern?
A total of 65 questions with a maximum of 100 marks are included. The duration of the exam is 3 hours. Every paper's exam is administered online using a computer-based test (CBT), in which the questions are presented to the applicants in random order on the screen. The questions include MCQs.
When can you apply?
After graduation, candidates are eligible to apply for GATE Exam. The registration process usually begins in August every year.
When are the exams conducted?
The examination is usually conducted in February-March.
Official website: GATE
For admission to India's 22 National Law Universities (NLU), the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a standardized, national-level entrance examination. These marks are also used for admission to the majority of privately and independently funded law schools in India. For hiring legal jobs in their organisations, public sector organisations in India including ONGC, Coal India, BHEL, Steel Authority of India, Oil India, etc. employ CLAT Post Graduation (CLAT PG) results.
Who is it for?
Candidates with a LL. B./B. L. degree or an equivalent degree from a recognised university with at least 45% (45% for SC and ST candidates) in the overall exam. Candidates are also allowed to take the exam if they passed the qualifying degree examination on their second, third, or fourth attempt.
What is it for?
Candidates who are interested in doing an LLM course must apply for the CLAT-PG examination.
What is the exam pattern?
The duration of the examination is 2 hours with 120 MCQs of 120 marks. On every correct answer, 1 mark will be given and on every wrong answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted.
When can you apply?
Between August-November, the official authorities release the registration information for candidates to apply.
When are the exams conducted?
The examination is usually conducted in December every year.
Official website: CLAT-PG
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) administers the prominent Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), a computer-based graduate entrance exam for applicants who want to apply to global universities.
Who is it for?
Anyone who holds a bachelor's degree from any recognised university is eligible to apply for the exam. There is no restriction on the level of academic background to take the GMAT.
What is it for?
For entry into a variety of graduate management programmes, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, Master of Finance, and others, business schools use the examination as a requirement. The GMAT is particularly meant for students looking to complete their PG studies overseas.
What is the exam pattern?
Subjective and objective questions are both included in the GMAT Exam Pattern, which is managed by GMAC. The exam consists of 90 questions in total, broken down into four primary areas.
When can you apply?
The GMAT exam happens around the year and candidates can apply at any time by signing up on the portal and selecting the date out of the available ones.
When are the exams conducted?
Candidates can book their slots up to 6 months and as close as 24 hours before the exam. However, the seats are given on a first-come-first-serve basis, so if a slot is full, you need to book a different one. Usually, there is a wait time of 2-3 months to get an empty slot.
Official website: GMAT
More than just a badge of pride, a postgraduate degree has value. Along with improving your academic performance, PG also increases your subject-matter expertise and improves your employability. Choosing a course that interests you is important since earning a postgraduate degree is a big deal. It is important to start the preparation for the PG Entrance Exam as soon as you decide which programme to pursue.
