Best Alternative Engineering Entrance Exams for Gujarat Students (CBSE & GSEB)

Introduction

Alternative Engineering Exams 2025 are a great option for students who want to explore engineering careers beyond JEE. Many top institutes like BITS Pilani, IISER, and VIT offer excellent placements and research opportunities. In this guide, we’ll cover the best alternative engineering entrance exams for Gujarat students, including eligibility, exam dates, and application deadlines.

JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is the most popular engineering entrance exam in India, but several alternative exams can help Gujarat students secure admission into top engineering and science institutes. These exams offer better acceptance rates, excellent placements, and diverse career opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the best alternative exams to JEE for Gujarat CBSE and GSEB students, their exam dates, application deadlines, and a detailed video strategy for each exam.

Top Alternative Engineering Exams (Prioritized for Gujarat Students)

1️⃣ BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test)

  • Institutes: BITS Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad

  • Eligibility: Class 12 with 75% in PCM, 60% in each subject

  • Acceptance Rate: 2%

  • Highlights: No attendance rule, highest package 60 LPA

  • Exam Date: May & June 2025

  • Application Deadline: April & May 2025

2️⃣ IISER Aptitude Test (IAT)

  • Institutes: IISERs (Bhopal, Kolkata, Pune, etc.)

  • Eligibility: Class 12 with 60% (50% for reserved)

  • Acceptance Rate: 5.6%

  • Highlights: Research-based learning, IISc admission

  • Exam Date: June 2025

  • Application Deadline: May 2025

3️⃣ NEST (National Entrance Screening Test)

  • Institutes: NISER Bhubaneswar, UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai

  • Eligibility: Class 12 with PCM, 60% (55% for reserved)

  • Acceptance Rate: 0.6 – 1%

  • Highlights: Govt. funded, scholarships for students

  • Exam Date: June 2025

  • Application Deadline: May 2025

4️⃣ VITEEE (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination)

  • Institutes: VIT Vellore, Amravati, Chennai, Bhopal

  • Eligibility: Class 12 PCM, 60% marks (50% for SC/ST, J&K, NE states)

  • Acceptance Rate: 79%

  • Highlights: Highest package 88 LPA, foreign university collaborations

  • Exam Date: April 2025

  • Application Deadline: March 2025

5️⃣ MET (Manipal Entrance Test)

  • Institutes: MIT Manipal, Jaipur, Sikkim, Bengaluru

  • Eligibility: Class 12 PCM, minimum 50%

  • Acceptance Rate: 60%

  • Highlights: Highest package 51.03 LPA, cultural diversity

  • Exam Date: April-May 2025

  • Application Deadline: March 2025

6️⃣ MHT CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test)

  • Institutes: 500+ colleges including COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai

  • Eligibility: Class 12 with 45% marks (40% for SC/ST)

  • Highest Package: 50.50 LPA (COEP Pune)

  • Exam Date: PCM – April 19-27, 2025 | PCB – April 9-17, 2025

  • Application Deadline: March 2025

7️⃣ WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam)

  • Institutes: 11 universities, 9 govt. colleges, 63 private colleges

  • Eligibility: Class 12 with 45% marks

  • Highest Package: 1.8 CR (Jadavpur University)

  • Exam Date: April 27, 2025

  • Application Deadline: January 2025

8️⃣ CUET (Central Universities Entrance Test)

  • Institutes: 250+ universities including AMU, BHU, Delhi University

  • Eligibility: Class 12 pass

  • Highlights: No weightage to Class 12 marks, highest package 35 LPA

  • Exam Date: May 15-24, 2025

  • Application Deadline: March 2025

📌 Conclusion: Best Exams for Gujarat Students

My Recommendation for Gujarat Students:

  • If you are an average or above-average student, try BITSAT, IAT, and VITEEE.

  • If you are interested in government colleges, focus on MHT CET and NEST.

  • If you are confused, CUET can be a backup for non-engineering options.