The entrance exam calendar Kolkata students need to follow for 2026-27 runs from CLAT in December 2026 to WBJEE, NEET UG and CUET UG in the spring and early summer of 2027. Most students in the city need to track three groups of tests: national exams run by the National Testing Agency (NTA) such as JEE Main, NEET UG and CUET UG, the state engineering test WBJEE conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board, and specialist exams such as CLAT for law and CAT or CMAT for management. Several 2027 dates are still tentative, so treat each month below as a planning window and confirm the exact day on the official website before you register. Registration windows often close earlier than families expect, and a missed deadline usually cannot be corrected. The sections below group the exams by month, explain who should sit which test, and show how to plan around board exams and college admissions.
Entrance Exam Calendar for Kolkata Students at a Glance
The dates below combine what has been announced with what is reported as tentative. Anything marked tentative can move, so use it for planning only.
- December 2026: CLAT 2027 for law admissions. The date reported is December 6, 2026, but check the official notice. Registration was scheduled to close on October 31, 2026.
- January 2027: JEE Main 2027 Session 1, proposed for January 22 to 24 and January 28 to 30, with a buffer day on January 31 (tentative, per the NTA calendar).
- February to March 2027: CMAT 2027 is proposed for February 7, and CUET PG for March 2027 (tentative).
- April to May 2027: WBJEE is expected on a Sunday in this window. The 2026 exam was held on May 24, and the 2027 dates are not yet announced.
- May to June 2027: NEET UG and CUET UG are normally held in this period, but neither appears in the NTA calendar released so far.
Which Entrance Exams Should You Prepare For?
Engineering: WBJEE and JEE Main
Students who want a seat in a West Bengal engineering college generally sit WBJEE, while JEE Main opens the door to NITs and other centrally funded institutes. Many Kolkata students prepare for both, because the syllabus overlaps heavily. WBJEE registration in 2026 opened in March and closed in April, so the 2027 window is likely to fall in a similar period. Watch the WBJEEB website at wbjeeb.nic.in for the official notification.
Medical: NEET UG
NEET UG is the single national entrance test for MBBS, BDS and related courses, and it is conducted once a year by the NTA, usually in May. Applications generally open in the early months of the year. Because the exact schedule has not appeared in the published NTA calendar yet, follow the official NTA site at nta.ac.in for the announcement.
Central University Admissions: CUET UG
CUET UG is used by central universities and a growing number of other institutions for undergraduate admission. Students targeting these courses should choose their subject combination carefully, since the subjects you pick in the application decide which programmes you are eligible for. The test is usually held in the May to June period.
Law and Management: CLAT, CAT and CMAT
CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities and is the main route to five-year law programmes at the NLUs. CAT, held by the IIMs, is normally scheduled for late November, and CMAT is conducted by the NTA. If you are comparing options in the city, our guides to law colleges in Kolkata and MBA colleges in Kolkata list the entrance exams each institute accepts. The CLAT consortium publishes its notices at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
How to Plan Around Board Exams and Admissions
Class 12 students in Kolkata often face board exams, practicals and entrance tests within a few months of each other. A practical approach is to work backwards from the earliest exam you intend to sit. Block the registration window first, then the exam day, then the result and counselling stage. Keep a separate calendar for each exam, because counselling dates for WBJEE and the national tests rarely line up.
If you are also applying to regular degree courses, read our Kolkata college admission process guide so that entrance exam deadlines do not clash with college application dates. For students preparing with a coaching institute, the list of JEE, NEET and WBJEE coaching institutes in Kolkata is a good starting point. Students who prefer a government college route can also look at the best government colleges in Kolkata.
Practical Tips for Exam Registration
Keep scanned copies of your photograph, signature, Class 10 certificate and Aadhaar or another valid ID ready before the portal opens. Use an email address and phone number that you will check regularly, since admit cards and correction windows are announced there. Apply a few days before the deadline rather than on the last day, when websites tend to slow down. Finally, rely only on official sites for dates and fees, because unofficial pages often publish estimates as if they were confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is WBJEE 2027 likely to be held?
The exam is expected in April or May 2027 on a Sunday, based on the 2026 pattern, but the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board has not announced official dates yet.
When is JEE Main 2027 Session 1?
The NTA calendar proposes January 22 to 24 and January 28 to 30, 2027, with January 31 as a buffer day. These dates are tentative and may change.
Can I apply for WBJEE and JEE Main together?
Yes. They are separate exams with separate applications, and many students in Kolkata appear for both to keep state and national options open.
Where should I check official exam dates?
Use the websites of the conducting bodies: WBJEEB for WBJEE, the NTA for JEE Main, NEET UG and CUET, and the Consortium of NLUs for CLAT. Avoid acting on dates from unofficial pages.
Exam dates change often. Confirm every date and fee on the official website before you apply.
