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Beyond Doctor, Engineer, CA

Part Three: Making it happen, chapter 22

Your two-year plan

Three decisions and what to do each season

Three decisions

Is Class 11 too early to plan? No, and the good news is that most preparation overlaps across routes.

  1. By December 2026, end of class 11 term one

    Decision 1: Which two or three routes are on your shortlist?

    Use the self-check in Know yourself and the five questions in How to judge a degree. Talk to one person working in each field.

  2. By April 2027, start of class 12

    Decision 2: What is your exam bundle?

    One main target, one safe option such as CUET-UG, and at most one exam that tests a different skill.

  3. By August 2027

    Decision 3: Is study abroad a real plan?

    If yes, plan the SAT and an English test in 2027. If not, give that time to Indian exams.

Keep a plan B at every step: a low-cost exam such as CUET-UG and a good college close to home.

Build your exam bundle

Your bundle is the few exams your shortlist needs. Four steps build it, in this order.

  1. 1

    Pick a main target

    Choose the exam for the route you want most, and give it most of your time.

  2. 2

    Add a safe option

    CUET-UG (the central universities test) follows the Class 12 syllabus and opens many universities.

  3. 3

    Add at most one different-skill exam

    CLAT (law) or IPMAT (management) each need their own preparation.

  4. 4

    Check the clashes

    Compare your dates with the clash list in the calendar.

More exams mean more fees and thinner preparation.

Season by season, Class 11 to college

  1. Sep to Nov 2026

    Explore: read the routes, try a free aptitude check, and speak to people in two or three fields.

  2. Dec 2026

    Decision 1: shortlist two or three routes.

  3. Jan to Mar 2027

    Try last year's papers for your shortlisted exams, timed. Class 11 exams come first.

  4. Apr 2027

    Decision 2: choose your exam bundle.

  5. Apr to Jul 2027

    Steady preparation, two to three hours a day. Build a portfolio if a creative route is on your list.

  6. Aug 2027

    Decision 3: abroad or not.

  7. Sep to Nov 2027

    Register for each exam as its window opens. Early deadlines abroad, if relevant.

  8. Dec 2027 to Jan 2028

    First exams: CLAT, AILET, NID, NIFT, UCEED and JEE Main, as relevant.

  9. Feb to early Apr 2028

    Board exams come first. Register for the exams held after the boards.

  10. Apr to Jun 2028

    The busiest season: CUET-UG, NATA, JEE Advanced, IPMAT, IAT, NEST and others.

  11. Jun to Aug 2028

    Results, counselling and seat allotment. Colleges start from late July.

In Class 11, explore routes, try past papers and build steady habits of about 2 to 3 hours a day. Use the summer before Class 12 to cover your main syllabus and, for creative routes, a portfolio. In Class 12, register as each form opens, sit a timed practice test weekly, and put the boards first from February.

Official links and free material