Most of the entrance tests for Medical Colleges in India are held in the months of April / May / June for the academic year starting July / August. The nature of the admission test is predominantly objective pattern. Fundamentally, entrance exams are different from High Secondary Exams.
There is more focus on the application of concepts in entrance exams than replication of learned facts, figures and concepts in the examination. Most of the exams are one-stage exams with objective type question paper. However, there are exams with two stages, where in first stage certain numbers of students are short listed with an objective pattern tests. The short listed candidates are then put through a subjective pattern exam for final selection.
The syllabus of the entrance test is based on the course outline of the class XI and XII. The knowledge is tested in Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. The weightage of the aforementioned subjects vary from exam to exam. There are certain exams like AIIMS, where Physics, Chemistry and Biology are given equal importance with 60 questions on each of the subjects.
However, there are exams like AIPMT, where more weightage is given to Biology than Physics or Chemistry (100 questions for Physics & Chemistry together and 100 for Biology alone).
Apart from testing knowledge on Physics, Chemistry and Biology, certain exams also test the knowledge on English, General Knowledge, Gandhian Ideologies, and Mental Ability etc.
Lastly, some of the exams also have an interview stage before a seat is allocated for the MBBS course. Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune has a selection process based on written (Objective Pattern) as well as interview stage. Those candidates who qualify the written test are invited for a round of interview at the Armed Forces Camp at Delhi and Pune.