Academic Structure
Semesters and Exam Cycles
Understanding the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) semester structure and exam calendar.
Participating autonomous colleges follow the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) semester curriculum. Academic years are split into two distinct 6-month semesters with scheduled exam sittings.
Semester Breakdown by Degree
- Undergraduate (3 Years / 6 Semesters):
• 1st Year: Semester 1 & Semester 2
• 2nd Year: Semester 3 & Semester 4
• 3rd Year: Semester 5 & Semester 6 - Postgraduate (2 Years / 4 Semesters):
• 1st Year: Semester 1 & Semester 2
• 2nd Year: Semester 3 & Semester 4
Odd vs Even Exam Cycles
Odd Semesters (1, 3, 5): Classes typically commence in July/August, with mid-semester tests in September/October and final semester-end examinations in November/December.
Even Semesters (2, 4, 6): Classes begin in January, with mid-semester tests in February/March and final semester-end examinations in April/May.
Search by Semester
When searching for past papers on the Search portal, pairing your subject title with a semester filter (e.g., Semester 2) helps you quickly isolate papers relevant to your upcoming exam sitting.