A total of 1,79,694 candidates appeared in both papers of JEE Advanced 2026, and 56,880 candidates qualified. It is an extremely competitive engineering entrance exam, and students should not rely on the result of a single entrance exam.
On the other hand, it is not wise to appear for every entrance exam after 12th. There are many entrance exams after 12th, and each one leads to different colleges, courses and admission procedures. Many students include JEE Main, followed by their home-state entrance exam or admission process. Some students may also include one or two entrance exams conducted by colleges and institutes of their choice.
Which Engineering Entrance Exams Matter Most?
The importance of an entrance exam varies depending on the college, branch and location a student is considering.
The important admission routes can be divided into:
JEE Main for admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and other colleges or universities accepting JEE Main scores
JEE Advanced for eligible students who want to join an IIT
Entrance exams conducted by states for government and private colleges within the state
Entrance exams conducted by individual institutes, such as BITSAT, NSET, VITEEE, MET and SRMJEEE, for specific universities or institutions
Consortium examinations, such as COMEDK UGET
Architecture entrance exams, such as NATA and JEE Main Paper 2
Students do not need to study for all the entrance exams. They should prepare for the entrance exams accepted by colleges they can realistically get into and are interested in joining.
JEE Main and JEE Advanced
JEE Main
JEE Main is the largest engineering entrance exam in the country for students seeking admission to engineering colleges in India, including NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. In addition, many universities and colleges in India allow students to apply through their JEE Main scores as part of their individual admission processes.
Students should prioritise JEE Main when they:
Want engineering college options across different states
Are targeting NITs, IIITs or GFTIs
Want to remain eligible for JEE Advanced
When a student applies to a college through his or her JEE Main score, it is important to note that the score alone is not enough to secure admission. The student may also need to register for counselling, select institutes and courses in order of preference, complete document verification and confirm the allotted seat within the stipulated timeframe.
JEE Advanced
JEE Advanced is important for students who want to get into IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). To be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced as an Indian student, one must first appear for and qualify through the JEE Main BTech paper. Students must also meet the other applicable eligibility criteria.
JEE Advanced is not necessary for every engineering aspirant. Many students may be targeting state engineering colleges, private colleges and universities or other specialised admission routes. Hence, JEE Advanced may not be at the centre of their engineering admission strategy.
State-Level Engineering Entrance Exams
Each state has its own admission processes and criteria for admitting students to government colleges and reserving seats under the state quota.
Common state level examinations include:
MHT CET in Maharashtra
WBJEE in West Bengal
KCET or UGCET in Karnataka
KEAM in Kerala
AP EAPCET in Andhra Pradesh
TG EAPCET in Telangana
GUJCET in Gujarat
Every state has its own rules for the admission of in-state and out-of-state students. These may include domicile requirements, Class 12 marks weightage, reserved seat categories and other eligibility conditions.
Applicants must first check:
Whether domicile is required for certain seat categories
Whether applicants from other states can apply for admission
Which colleges accept the test results
Whether JEE Main scores are considered for any seat category
Whether separate counselling registration is required
Whether Class 12 marks affect the final merit list
An entrance test is different from a counselling process. For example, TNEA, or Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions, is the counselling and admission process for engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, not an entrance examination.
Private and Institute-Specific Entrance Tests After 12th
Institute-specific exams are useful for students who have adequately researched the institutions that conduct these entrance tests after 12th. There are many alternative entrance exams, but selecting a few randomly is not advisable.
BITSAT
BITSAT is conducted for admission to the First Degree Programmes offered at BITS campuses for which a candidate is eligible.
The BITSAT syllabus is similar to that of other PCM-based entrance exams, but students need to understand its question pattern, time pressure and additional sections.
VITEEE, MET and SRMJEEE
Various universities conduct entrance examinations for admission to the courses offered by their respective institutions. These include VITEEE, MET, SRMJEEE.
Before applying, students need to compare the following:
List of branches available
Campuses accepting the test
Tuition and hostel fees
Curriculum
Scholarship eligibility conditions
Admission cut-offs
Placement details
The score from an institute-specific entrance test is generally useful only within the institution or group of institutions that accepts that test.
NSET
Scaler School of Technology uses NSET as part of the admission process for its undergraduate programmes.
The online test is 120 minutes long and consists of 80 questions focusing on Mathematics and Logical Reasoning. Based on their test scores, candidates who clear the NSET qualify for the interview rounds. Students with high scores in JEE or SAT can also apply for admission through the fast-track process.
For Computer Science-focused undergraduate programmes, students can consider the CS & AI Programme at Scaler School of Technology, a project-based learning programme focused on Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and related areas, with industry exposure.
They can also learn about NSET, an alternative entrance test for undergraduate admission, as covered in a Financial Express article.
COMEDK UGET
COMEDK UGET is conducted for undergraduate engineering programmes offered by participating private engineering colleges in Karnataka. It is distinct from Karnataka’s state entrance examination. Eligible students from across India can take the COMEDK entrance exam to seek admission to engineering colleges in Karnataka.
Students should also track the separate COMEDK counselling process announced after the UGET results.
Not Every Exam Leads to a Standard BTech Programme
Many of these tests are designed for specific academic pathways after Class 12 and are not relevant for standard BTech admissions.
NATA and JEE Main Paper 2 scores are relevant for architecture and planning programmes.
The IISER Aptitude Test and NEST are meant for science and research-oriented programmes that are different from regular BTech programmes.
CUET UG scores may be accepted for some technology programmes, but the exam is not used for all BTech admissions.
UGEE is applicable to specific research-oriented and dual-degree programmes offered by IIIT Hyderabad.
Students should apply only for entrance exams connected to programmes that interest them.
How to Shortlist the Right Entrance Exams
1. Shortlist Colleges First
Divide the colleges into three groups:
Aspirational colleges
Realistic colleges
Safer alternatives
Then list the entrance exam or admission route used by each college.
Instead of focusing only on the brand name of a college, a student wondering if not IIT what next should compare the complete combination of college, branch, curriculum, cost and career opportunities.
2. Check the Available Branches
Just because a student has cleared the entrance exam for a college does not mean that the student will get the specific branch he or she wants to study in that college.
Students should check the previous opening and closing ranks for the various branches of study.
Computer Science and Engineering
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Previous opening and closing ranks can give an idea of earlier branch cut-offs, but they do not guarantee the same branch allotment in the following year, as cut-offs may change.
3. Verify Eligibility
Before paying the application fee for an examination or course, students should check the eligibility criteria.
Class 12 subjects requirement
Minimum board percentage required
Year-of-passing criteria
Age limit or number of attempts allowed
Domicile criteria
Programme-specific requirements
Just because a PCM student has studied for JEE Main does not automatically mean that he or she is eligible for all entrance exams and courses.
4. Compare the Total Cost
Though the examination fee needs to be considered, there are many other factors that students should look into.
Tuition fees
Hostel and food costs
Travel and relocation costs
Counselling and seat-acceptance fees
Availability of scholarships
5. Check Preparation Overlap
The PCM study material and efforts put in for JEE Main are also relevant for other engineering entrance exams. However, the question patterns may vary.
Some state-level exams may test candidates on their speed and include more board-aligned questions. Some private entrance tests after 12th may also test candidates on English, aptitude or logical reasoning in addition to PCM. Negative marking, the number of questions and the time available per question may also vary across exams.
One common PCM foundation is enough, but students should take separate mock tests for each main exam they are prioritising.
How to Prepare for Multiple Exams Together
Students can begin with the common syllabus of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. After that, they can divide their preparation into three different levels:
Primary examination: Receives the largest share of study time and mock-test practice.
Strong alternative: Receives regular exam-specific practice.
Backup examination: Students should be familiar with the exam format but should not divert too much time from their main target.
A simple tracker can help students record:
Application deadlines
Correction windows
Admit card dates
Exam dates
Results
Counselling registrations
Choice-filling deadlines
Watch this Video on mistakes to avoid for JEE Preparation during the final stage.
Avoid These Mistakes in Last 3 Months of JEE Mains Preparation :
Look Beyond the Entrance Examination
Students need to evaluate:
The curriculum and subject matter
The teaching faculty and mentoring
Projects and lab work
Internship programmes
The placement process
The organisations and job roles
The campus environment and peers
Recognition of the qualification
Higher-education options
Scaler School of Technology has released early placement outcomes for its first batch, which is currently in its fourth year. The average CTC being offered to students on campus is ₹20 LPA, while the highest PPO is ₹44 LPA.
What Should Students Do After the Results?
After the results are announced, students should:
Download and save their scorecards.
Register for the relevant counselling processes.
Review the category, domicile and document requirements.
Fill in enough college and branch choices.
List the choices in their actual order of preference.
Understand seat acceptance, upgrade, withdrawal and refund rules.
Keep other counselling processes open until admission is confirmed.
Students whose JEE results are not as expected should first determine the colleges and branches available to them and explore other admission options before deciding should I drop a year for JEE.
Conclusion
There are various entrance exams after 12th for engineering aspirants, and each may have a different level of importance for a student.
JEE Main is a test through which a student can get into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and other institutions that accept its scores. JEE Advanced is a test through which eligible students can get into the Indian Institutes of Technology or IITs. Home-state entrance exams can provide cost-effective options for students within the state. It is also a good idea to find out about the entrance exams conducted by individual colleges and universities offering the engineering programmes for which a student wants to apply.
It is also important not to apply for too many entrance exams. One should have a balanced application strategy consisting of ambitious, realistic and safe options for which one is properly prepared, without spreading the preparation too thin.
FAQs
Is JEE compulsory for engineering admission?
No. JEE Main is required for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs and is also the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced. Apart from JEE Main, various other entrance examinations are conducted by state authorities and private engineering institutions. These may be used for counselling or the institution’s own admission process.
What are the various entrance exams after 12th apart from JEE Main?
There are various entrance exams after 12th that a student can attempt. The relevant home-state examination can be an important option. In addition, a student may prepare for one or two entrance exams conducted by colleges or universities that he or she would genuinely consider joining. The exams selected should depend on branch preference, budget, location and eligibility.
How many engineering entrance exams should a student attempt?
There is no fixed number of engineering entrance exams that a student must attempt. For many students, JEE Main, the relevant home-state admission route and one or two entrance exams of colleges they would realistically consider may provide a reasonable range of options.
