The CAET exam, explained: the entrance test for IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi and how to prepare from a UAE school
The CAET exam for IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi: who can take it, the 60-question pattern, marking, eligibility, how it differs from JEE and a prep timeline.
The CAET exam is the Combined Admission Entrance Test, IIT Delhi's route into its Abu Dhabi campus for UAE Nationals, international students and Indian expatriates. It is a three hour, pen and paper test of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, sat in English, with several sessions a year and centres inside the UAE.
For a family in Dubai or Sharjah, three questions matter. Can my child sit it, or do they need JEE Advanced? What does the paper look like? And can it be prepared alongside CBSE, IB or A Levels without hurting school grades?
The facts below come from the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi undergraduate admissions page and the CAET 2026 Information Brochure. Rules change each cycle, so confirm the current brochure before registering.
First question: which route applies to your child
IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi admits undergraduates through two doors, and nationality decides which one you use. The brochure defines four categories.
| Category | Who it covers | Route to IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi |
|---|---|---|
| UAE Nationals | Citizens of the UAE with proof of citizenship | CAET |
| International Candidates | Holders of passports other than UAE or India, and OCI/PIO card holders | CAET |
| Indian Expatriates | Indian passport holders who have lived outside India for the last five years and completed Class VIII to XII outside India | CAET |
| Indian Nationals | Indian passport holders who do not meet the Indian Expatriate definition | JEE (Advanced) and JoSAA seat allocation |
Two details catch families out.
The five year rule is strict. A student who moved to Dubai in Grade 9 has not done Class VIII to XII outside India, so does not count as an Indian Expatriate and would need the JEE route.
OCI card timing matters. Candidates who obtained an OCI or PIO card before 4 March 2021 can choose to sit JEE Main and JEE Advanced on a par with Indian citizens. If they do, they cannot then use CAET. Decide which door you are using before registering for either test.
Indian Nationals reach the Abu Dhabi programmes through the course list in the JEE (Advanced) Information Brochure, which is also the source of the JEE figures below.
What the CAET exam looks like
- One paper, three hours, in English
- Three parts, one each for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, with equal weight
- 20 questions per subject, 60 questions in all
- Every subject part must be attempted
- Pen and paper, with answers marked on an OMR sheet
- A non-programmable scientific calculator is allowed. Phones, smart watches and log tables are not
Question types and marking
| Question type | Per subject | Correct | Unanswered | Wrong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice, one correct option from four | 8 | +4 | 0 | −1 |
| Single digit integer answer, 0 to 9 | 6 | +4 | 0 | 0 |
| Paragraph based, 3 paragraphs with 2 questions each | 6 | +4 | 0 | 0 |
That makes 80 marks per subject and 240 in total. In the paragraph questions, the first is multiple choice and the second is a numerical answer entered as two digits, the ones place and the tenths place.
Only the eight multiple choice questions in each subject carry a penalty. Integer and paragraph questions cost nothing to attempt, so never leave one blank. A blind multiple choice guess is +4 a quarter of the time and −1 otherwise, slightly positive on average. Eliminate one option and the guess is clearly worth taking.
How the score is calculated
CAET does not rank on raw marks alone. To qualify in a session, the 2026 brochure requires each subject mark to reach the lower of two figures: the session mean plus one standard deviation of positive scores, or 8 out of 80. The aggregate must reach the lower of the session mean plus one standard deviation, or 84 out of 240. The brochure says these thresholds may be lowered if necessary.
Qualified candidates receive a normalised score from 35 to about 100, so sessions can be compared, and the better of two sessions counts. Ties are broken on Mathematics, then Physics, so Mathematics cannot be allowed to slide.
The CAET syllabus: what is on it and what is not
The official CAET syllabus and preparation materials page also carries past question papers, answer keys and a sample OMR sheet. Read the syllabus itself, not a summary, because it is organised differently from a JEE-style chapter list.
Physics covers mechanics including rotation and fluids, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, thermal physics, and a modern physics section listing relativity, matter waves, the photoelectric and Compton effects, and nuclear and particle physics.
Chemistry runs from units and significant figures through inorganic, organic and physical chemistry to analytical and nuclear chemistry. Titrations, gravimetric analysis and qualitative analysis of ions all appear.
Mathematics is written as skills rather than chapters: algebra and functions, trigonometry, complex numbers, vectors and matrices, basic limits, differentiation and integration, geometry including conics, and a substantial statistics and probability section.
Three things stand out for UAE students.
- Calculus is described as basic, while statistics and probability go broader than many families expect.
- Relativity and elementary particles sit outside a typical CBSE Class 12 course and need covering deliberately.
- The chemistry has a laboratory flavour, which favours students who have done real titrations and ion tests.
The past papers are the most valuable thing on that page. Use them.
CAET vs JEE: the honest comparison
CAET is not an easier JEE. It is a different test for different candidates, so compare structure rather than difficulty.
| CAET | JEE (Advanced) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it for IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi | UAE Nationals, International Candidates, Indian Expatriates | Indian Nationals |
| Gateway test first | None | Top 2,50,000 in JEE Main for Indian Nationals. Foreign nationals may register directly |
| Papers | One paper, 3 hours | Two papers, 3 hours each, both compulsory |
| Mode | Pen and paper, OMR sheet | Computer based |
| Questions | 60, three fixed question types | Question types and marking set out in each year's brochure |
| Sessions per year | Several, of which a candidate may sit at most two | One exam day a year |
| Attempts across years | Admission applications in at most two academic years | At most two times in two consecutive years |
| Class XII marks for admission | At least 75% in two of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, and at least 80% aggregate | At least 75% aggregate (65% for SC, ST and PwD candidates), or top 20 percentile of the board, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics |
| Where in the UAE | Centres in the UAE, which in 2026 included Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah | Abu Dhabi is listed as a foreign centre |
Two rows matter most. The board marks requirement is a real bar, checked after the test, and a strong CAET score does not rescue weak Grade 12 results. And because there are several sessions, a student can sit once, see the result and decide whether a second attempt is worth it. JEE Advanced has no second chance within the year.
Both sets of rules are revised each year. For an Indian National, plan around JEE: our guide to NEET and JEE preparation from the UAE covers that path, and the JEE programme page sets out how we teach it.
Eligibility checklist to run before registering
Each line comes from the 2026 eligibility table. Check it against your cycle's brochure.
- Nationality category: UAE National, International Candidate or Indian Expatriate, as defined above
- First appearance in Class XII or equivalent in the current or previous year. For 2026 that meant 2025 or 2026 only
- Born on or after the cut off date. For 2026 that was 1 October 2001, with relaxation for mandatory national service
- Not previously admitted to any IIT, even if the seat was later vacated
- For admission, at least 75% in at least two of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, and at least 80% aggregate in the Class XII board examination
- At most two CAET sessions in one academic year, and applications in at most two academic years
The brochure says "or equivalent" without giving a conversion, so A Level and IB students should ask the admissions office in writing how their grades will be read against the percentages.
Dates and the application process
Dates move, sometimes within a cycle. The 2026 brochure listed sessions in November, February, April and June; the admissions page later showed the last two in June and July, plus an August special drive for UAE Nationals. Never plan from a date quoted secondhand.
The pattern has held:
- Registration opens about 30 days before each test and closes roughly a week before
- Provisional answer keys are published with a short challenge window, then final keys
- Results come roughly 12 days after the test
- Some seats are offered to top performers after each session, with final allocation after the last regular session, through the university's own portal rather than JoSAA
Applications go through the CAET application portal. In 2026 the registration fee was 150 AED, or 41 US dollars plus charges, per session for all applicants except UAE Nationals, who paid nothing. Check the current brochure for this year's figure.
The programmes are four year B.Tech degrees: Computer Science and Engineering and Energy Engineering from 2024–25, and Chemical Engineering from 2025–26. Check the admissions page for the current list.
A preparation timeline for a UAE student
This plan assumes a Grade 11 or Year 12 student aiming at the November and February sessions of their final year, with the summer sessions as a fallback. Adjust the months once the current brochure is out.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Grade 11, Term 1 | Read the syllabus line by line and mark each topic as covered in school, covered later, or not covered at all. Download the past papers |
| Grade 11, Terms 2 and 3 | Build the topics your board does not teach. Two to three focused hours a week is usually enough at this stage |
| Summer before Grade 12 | Sit two full past papers under timed conditions on a printed OMR sheet. Diagnose by question type as well as by topic |
| Grade 12, September to October | Weekly timed subject sections. Register for the first session as soon as registration opens |
| First session, around November | Sit it. Review every wrong answer against the final answer key |
| December to January | Fix the specific weaknesses the first result shows. Do not start a new syllabus |
| Second session, around February | Second attempt if needed. After this, protect board exam preparation, because the 80% aggregate still has to be met |
Board specific notes
CBSE students have the closest overlap, and NCERT is a sound base. The gaps are the modern physics beyond Class 12, the depth of statistics and probability, and the analytical chemistry. The board percentage matters as much as the test, which is why our CBSE programme runs alongside CAET preparation.
A Level students should check subject choices first. CAET tests all three subjects compulsorily, so a student taking Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics without Chemistry must learn the Chemistry section independently. Our guide to choosing Grade 11 subjects explains why that decision should be made with the degree in mind.
IB Diploma students should check that Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are all covered in their subject choices. Internal assessment and Extended Essay deadlines can fall in the same months as the early sessions, so book November only if the Extended Essay is under control.
IGCSE students in Year 10 or 11 do not need CAET preparation yet. Strong IGCSE Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, and a sixth form choice that keeps all three open, is the right preparation at that age. Our IGCSE and GCSE tutoring focuses on exactly those foundations.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the CAET exam?
UAE Nationals, International Candidates (including OCI and PIO card holders who have not opted for the JEE route) and Indian Expatriates who have lived outside India for the last five years and completed Class VIII to XII outside India. Other Indian Nationals apply through JEE Advanced.
What is the CAET exam pattern?
One three hour pen and paper test in English with 20 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Each subject has 8 multiple choice questions (minus one for a wrong answer), 6 single digit integer questions and 3 paragraphs with 2 questions each, all worth 4 marks.
How many times can I take CAET?
In the 2026 cycle a candidate could sit at most two CAET sessions in one academic year, and the better score counted. A candidate can apply for admission in at most two academic years.
Is CAET easier than JEE Advanced?
It is a different test, not an easier version of the same one. CAET is one paper with fixed question types; JEE Advanced has two papers with question types set each year. The two routes also serve different nationality categories.
What Class 12 marks do I need for IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi through CAET?
The 2026 brochure required at least 75% in at least two of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, and at least 80% aggregate in the Class XII board examination or equivalent. These marks are checked for admission, not for sitting the test.
Where can I take the CAET exam in the UAE?
In 2026 the university listed centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, along with some centres outside the UAE. The list is set session by session, so check the admissions page before registering.
Career Launcher UAE prepares students for CAET in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from the official syllabus and past papers, alongside the student's school curriculum. If your child is weighing CAET against JEE, or needs to cover the gaps their board leaves, the CAET programme page explains how we approach it.
Related reading: NEET and JEE preparation from the UAE and Choosing Grade 11 subjects around the degree you want.