The test is held in two streams. The engineering stream is examined in mathematics, physics and chemistry and is used for engineering, technology and pharmacy courses, while the agriculture and medical stream is examined in biology, physics and chemistry and is used for agriculture, horticulture, veterinary, food technology, pharmacy and allied courses. Questions are objective and are set on the Telangana intermediate syllabus, and the test is delivered on computer in multiple sessions with scores normalised across sessions. Ranks are used by the state counselling body to allot convener quota seats in government, university and private unaided professional colleges in Telangana, including the constituent and affiliated colleges of the state technological and agricultural universities. Admission to MBBS and BDS is not made through this test, as medical and dental seats are filled from the national medical entrance test.

Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the intermediate or equivalent class 12 examination with the subject combination required for the stream chosen, namely mathematics, physics and chemistry for the engineering stream and biology, physics and chemistry for the agriculture and medical stream. The test is intended for Indian nationals who meet the local or non-local status conditions defined for Telangana admissions, and candidates claiming reserved or special category benefits must hold the certificates prescribed for them. The minimum qualifying marks in the class 12 examination, any relaxation for reserved categories and any age condition are specified in the official notification issued each year and should be verified there.