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.
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.
In this segment, we discuss some India-wide popular stream programs organized by esteemed institutes.
| 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 |
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.
| 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 |
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.
| Organization | Entrance Examination | Eligibility Criteria | Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Company Secretary in India | CMA Entrance Exam | No Criteria | Conducted by the ICAI. |
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
In this segment, we cover some competitive exams after 12th for commerce students that are organized by central universities, colleges, and other institutes
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.
| 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. |
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.
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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) |
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) |
| This is a national-level exam granting access to design programs like Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech) |
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 |
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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