Exams in India: What You Need to Know About Board Tests, Entrance Exams, and Prep Strategies

When you think about exams, formal assessments used to measure knowledge, skill, or readiness for further education or employment. Also known as tests, they are the turning points in Indian education—deciding which schools you get into, what career path opens up, and sometimes even where you’ll live next. Whether it’s the CBSE board exam, the national school-level examination system followed by millions of students across India, or the brutal JEE, the Joint Entrance Examination that determines admission to India’s top engineering colleges like the IITs, these aren’t just papers you sit for—they’re gatekeepers to your future.

And it’s not just about JEE or CBSE. If you’re aiming for medicine, NEET, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical and dental courses in India is your make-or-break moment. Then there’s the PSAT, a preliminary test used in the U.S. to identify students eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which Indian students abroad or applying to American universities treat like a secret weapon. These exams don’t just test memory—they test stamina, strategy, and mental resilience. And the pressure? It’s real. But knowing what each exam actually measures, how scores are calculated, and which prep methods actually work can cut through the noise.

What you’ll find here aren’t generic tips like "study harder" or "wake up early." You’ll find real breakdowns: how NV Sir’s NEET coaching stacks up against Allen or Resonance, why CBSE students dominate national rankings but struggle in global applications, what PSAT score actually gets you into National Merit, and why some subjects in JEE prep give you more bang for your buck than others. We’ve pulled together guides from students who cracked these exams, parents who’ve been through it, and teachers who’ve seen the patterns. No fluff. No hype. Just what you need to know before you sit down with that question paper.