Students during 2014 Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) counselling session at Mansab Tank in Hyderabad on Aug 7, 2014.
Medical profession is one of the most esteemed careers. Every year thousand and thousands of students take medical entrance examinations to get admission to reputed medical colleges across India. Becoming a doctor is not an easy task. The admission to medical colleges are through entrance examinations conducted every year at the state and national levels. However, certain institutions conducts their own tests. The medical Council of India controls medical education in India, monitoring medical colleges and universities. Most of the government medical colleges offer admission to candidates on the basis of their performance in all India medical entrance test.
Eligibility for entrance test
Undergraduate courses: Prospective candidates wishing to do undergraduate medical program (MBBS) must have secured 60 percent marks with biology, chemistry and physics as their optional subjects in the senior secondary examinations conducted by CBSE or equivalent examinations.
Postgraduate courses: An MBBS degree registered with the medical Counsel of India is the basic requirement for all postgraduate medical courses.
National Level entrance examinations
All India Premedical Test (AIPMT)
AIPMT is a national medical entrance test conducted every year by CBSE for admission to MBBS and BDS courses. 15% of the seats are medical colleges run by central and state governments, municipal or local authorities are reserved for students who pass this test. From 2014 onwards this exam will be held in a single stage. The examination consists of a single paper carrying 180 objective type questions for physics, biology and chemistry at the senior secondary level.
Role of CBSE
The responsibility of CBSE is to conduct the entrance test, declare results and provide to merit list to the Directorate General Health Services (DGHS). The counseling is conducted by the DGHS.
Changes in the exam Pattern
From 2010 onwards, there has been changes in the AIPMT format. The exam was replaced by NEET-UG. However, it has been reintroduced with major changes such as the abolition of the two stage format. More than 2500 MBBS seat and 400 BDS seats are available through AIPMT.National eligibility cum entrance test (NEET)
NEET is a qualifying entrance examination for students who wish to study undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS) or postgraduate medical courses in any government or private colleges. NEET-UG is for admission to undergraduate courses and NEET-PG is for admission to postgraduate courses.
NEET-UG
NEET-UG replaced AIPMT and all the entrance exams conducted by state or colleges themselves. Many colleges and institutes moved the supreme court against the decision of the Medical Council of India and got an order in their favour. However, Armed Forces Medical College and Banaras Hindu University admits students on the basis of NEET-UG.
Conducting the exam: The NEET-UG is conducted by CBSE and the syllabus for the exam is available from Medical council of India.
NEET-PG
NEET-PG, also known as the Common Entrance Test, is for admission to postgraduate medical courses across India. The syllabus is announced by the Medical council of India. The questions are usually based on the MBBS syllabus.
Other important medical entrance exams
AIIMS Medical Entrance Exam
AIIMS conducts entrance exam every year in the month of June and more than 80000 students take this highly competitive test. AIIMS test is considered to be one of the hardest since there are only 50 seats available. The candidates wishing to take the test should have secured 60 percent marks and 50 percent, if they belong to SC/ST.
CMC Vellore Common Entrance Test
CMC Vellore Common Entrance Test is for admission to the MBBS courses in Christian Medical College Vellore. The total number of seats available is 60 and the medical college is affiliated to Dr. MGR Medical University.
Delhi University Pre-Medical Test (DPMT)
DPMT is a national level entrance test. This is for admission to the MBBS and BDS courses offered through the colleges under the university of Delhi.
BHU All India PMT
BHU-PMT is conducted by the Banaras Hindu University for admission to the undergraduate courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS and B.Pharm.