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Most important Competitive Exams for Commerce Students

At one point, every student has a choice to make. 

Science, Commerce or Arts- they need to opt for one. 

Offering a palette of career opportunities, commerce is one of the widely chosen education streams. As of 2022, 14.4 lakh students enrolled in the commerce stream. It gives students the flexibility to opt for curriculums like economics, business, accounts, and finance. Competitive examinations held after the 12th standard are the gateway for commerce students to test their eligibility for pursuing a career in highly popular stream programmes like Chartered Accountancy, banking examinations, LSAT (Law School Admission Test), CLAT ( Common Law Admission Test), CS (Company Secretary), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and more. Some of these programmes are run by their respective institutes and are a little different from general graduation and post-graduation courses. Successfully qualifying for these exams smoothes the path to a massively successful career. However, you need to make proper preparations and follow a strategic approach for attempting these highly complex examinations. Unfortunately, in our surveys, we find that many are unaware of the different types of Commerce student entrance exams   

To help students like you make an informed decision and ease your journey to a secure future we craft this blog. It covers a detailed list of all the entrance exams for commerce students including information on eligibility criteria, and top strategies for success. 

Competitive exams for Commerce students

Entrance Exams after 12th Commerce with Eligibility Criteria

Bring your pen and paper!

We are going to reveal some of the most popular competitive assessments that you can take as a commerce student after your 12th along with the eligibility criteria.

1. Competitive Exams for Commerce Students for Pursuing Specialized Programmes

In this segment, we discuss some India-wide popular stream programs organized by esteemed institutes.

a. Chartered Accountancy (CA)

Chartered Accountancy
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
Institute of Chartered Accountants in India CA Foundation The student must secure 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized board Entry-level exam for Chartered Accounts

b. Company Secretary Executive Entrance Exam (CSEET)

This competitive exam for commerce students is organized four times a year. Clearing this examination will give you a direct entry to the CS Executive Course.

Company Secretary Executive Entrance Exam
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
Institute of Company Secretary in India (ICSI) Company Secretary Executive Entrance Exam (CSEET) The student must secure 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized board Admission test for students pursuing the company secretaryship course

c. CMA Entrance Examination 

You can take the Cost and Management Accounting entrance examination if you are interested in gaining expertise in management, regulatory framework, and financial reporting.  It consists of courses in three levels: CMA Foundation, CMA Inter, and CMA Final. 

CMA Entrance Examination
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
Institute of Company Secretary in India CMA Entrance Exam No Criteria Conducted by the ICAI.

d. Actuarial Common Entrance Test 

Organized by the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI), ACET gives the qualifying candidates the eligibility to pursue education in actuarial courses. However, ACET results are valid for just 3 years. 

Actuarial Common Entrance Test
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
Institute of Actuaries of India ACET To be eligible for this exam the student must have completed / must be appearing in class 12 exams. Exam for individuals aspiring to become actuaries

e. CFA

CFA
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
CFA Institute CFA

This entrance exam for commerce students requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university/ college.

Should have a combination of higher education acquired over the last four years and/or work experience of 4000 hours

Exam for individuals aspiring to become actuaries

f. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) CPA

Candidates appearing for this exam must have completed their 12th with commerce, having mathematics, economics, and accounts as core subjects.

Must have a bachelor’s degree in accountancy

Equivalent to Chartered Accountant designation in India.

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2. Competitive assessments for commerce students by Colleges and Universities

In this segment, we cover some competitive exams after 12th for commerce students that are organized by central universities, colleges, and other institutes  

a. Common University Entrance Test 

Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), CUET is a national-level entrance examination for admission to a variety of undergraduate programs at 44 central universities and 46 institutes. 

Common University Entrance Test
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
National Testing Agency (NTA) Common University Entrance Test

B.Com: Students should have completed class 12 with the minimum marks required by the chosen university or the Institute

BBA: Students should have a score of 50% or more in 12th

M.Com: The student must pass a degree in B.Com from a recognized university, with at least 50% marks

For pursuing graduate and undergraduate courses like B.Com. M.Com, and BBA at 44 central universities and 46 institutes.

b. St. Xavier Entrance Test

If you are interested in seeking admission to St. Xavier’s College’s undergraduate programs like BBA, B.Com, and BMS then you should take the St. Xavier Entrance Test. 

St. Xavier Entrance Test
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
St. Xavier, Mumbai St Xavier Entrance Test

BBA: Students should have a score of 50% or more in 12th

B.Com: Students should have completed class 12 with the minimum marks required by the chosen university of the Institute

BMS: Students from science, commerce, and arts streams passing their 12th class from a registered board are eligible for this course

By qualifying for this examination students can enroll in undergraduate programs like BBA,B.Com, and BMS

c. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) NMIMS -PAT No Eligibility Criteria This entrance exam after 12th for commerce students grants admission in courses like BBA and B.Com.

d. Indian Institute of Management Indore

Indian Institute of Management Indore
Organization Entrance Examination Eligibility Criteria Objective
Indian Institute of Management Indore IPMAT No Eligibility Criteria National-level test for admission to the five-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM)

3. Some Other Competitive Exams for Commerce Students 

In this segment, we cover some special Competitive assessments for commerce students who are interested in pursuing specific domains like law and fashion.

Examination 

Eligibility

About 

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) 

The student must secure at least 45% over all in class 12 exams or and equivalent qualification from a recognised board or institution

A national-level law entrance exam for admission to 22 national law universities. These universities offer opportunities in law and commerce curriculums  

LSAT-India Exam 

The student must secure at least 50% marks in aggregate for class 12 exams 

Conducted by the Law School admission council this national-level entrance test is held to assess the skills of law aspirants. 

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology)

  • The student must be a 10+2 pass from a recognized institution  or 
  • Have a pass grade in the senior secondary examination conducted by the National Open School (with 5 subjects minimum) or
  • 3 or 4 years diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education 

This is a national-level exam granting access to design programs like Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech) 

4. Banking Exams After 12th Commerce

Some students are interested in building a career in banking after their school education.  In this segment, we cover the top competitive examinations for commerce undergraduates in banking. 

Note about the eligibility criteria: While some entrance examinations require the candidate to complete 12th some other banks require an undergraduate degree from a registered college. We advise you to check the websites of the organizing authorities for more information. 

Conducting Body 

Exam 

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

IBPS Clerk, IBPS PO, IBPS Specialist Officers, Regional Rural Bank Exams, IBPS RRB

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

RBI Grade B Exam, RBI Assistant Exam 

State Bank of India (SBI)

SBI Clerk, SBI PO, SBI SO

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

NABARD

Industrial Development Bank of India 

Industrial Development Bank of India Exam

ICICI Bank

ICICI PO 

Various Private Banks

Private Bank PO Exam

5. Government Competitive Exams for Commerce Students

In this segment, we cover some Competitive examinations for commerce undergrads that will help them bag an entry-level government job.

Exam name 

Details 

Railway Group D

To secure a job in the railway department 

National Defence Academy (NDA) Entrance Exam 

For candidates interested in national defense 

Border Security Force (BSF)/ Central Industrial Security Force (CSIF)/ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

For candidates interested in securing a job in the paramilitary force 

SSC (Staff Selection Commission) Multitasking Staff 

For various non-technical staff positions in government department 

Best 5 Strategies for Success in Competitive Exams for Commerce Students

Every year lakhs of commerce students appear for the above-discussed Entrance tests for commerce undergraduates entrance tests; the number is only increasing with time. Given the limited number of seats in these institutions, the competition among students to qualify for these competitive exams is more now than ever. Keeping this situation in mind we are sharing 5 top strategies for your exam success. 

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You can use a well-structured study schedule to allocate specific time slots for each subject. Ensure that you diligently follow this timetable for systematic exam preparation.

Practicing previous years’ papers and giving frequent mock tests helps you understand the exam format, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and make you exam-ready by improving your time management skills.

Do not memorize the study materials without comprehending them. Focus on understanding the underlying concepts to easily solve application-based questions.

There are many coaching centres for competitive exams for commerce students. You can seek expert guidance from their experienced faculties and prepare for the examinations in a well-organized manner.

Maintaining good health is important to carry on with your exam preparations. Allocate time for sufficient sleep, exercise daily, and maintain a healthy diet.

Conclusion

The craze for commerce is at an all time high, thanks to the multitude of career options that it opens for the students. If you are studying in the commerce stream or have just passed out of 12th with commerce then this blog can help you sort your career. We have listed some of the most popular entrance exams for commerce students (like CA, CFA, CLAT, NIFT, and others) along with details like the eligibility criteria. We understand that preparing for a competitive exam can be stressful so in this blog you will also find some tried and tested strategies to ace your examinations.

FAQs

The exact date of the examination can vary from year to year. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in India has decided to hold the examination thrice a year in the months of May/June, September, and January for 2024-25.

Here is the list of recommended resources 

  • Standard textbooks 
  • Online courses 
  • Previous years’ question papers

Yes, you can. However, you need to strengthen your time management skills and follow well-planned schedules. 

The time needed to prepare for these assessments vary depending on the complexity of the exam and the capability of the student. That said, 6-12 months of well-planned preparation should be enough to clear these examinations.

Coaching can definitely increase your chances of clearing the highly competitive CA examination. Here are some of its perks: 

  • Structured guidance 
  • Quality self-study materials 
  • Expert insights  

Don't miss the opportunity to showcase your commerce skills

Take the first step towards a rewarding career in commerce

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