Entrance tests are traditionally mandatory for joining professional courses such as engineering (JEE), medicine (NEET), law (CLAT), and business (CAT). These tests determine a candidate's aptitude, subject matter, and problem-solving ability. Many universities and colleges also hold entrance tests for individual courses. Competitive tests enable institutions to ensure academic standards and pick the best among the available pool for limited numbers of seats. But some private universities and overseas institutions can provide direct admissions based on academic achievement, personal interviews, or portfolio assessment.
To the contrary, most general arts, commerce, and science courses are granted admission through merit. High school or undergraduate marks are taken into account by universities while admitting candidates to BSc, BBA, BA, or MSc. Scholarships and reserved seats are also offered by some institutes to outstanding students. Diploma courses, certificates, and some distance learning streams may also not involve entrance tests. Hence, whether an entrance test is required or not varies depending on the course, institute, and study nation.