Karnataka Common Entrance Test

Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026 is an exam conducted at the state level by KEA Karnataka to enter the various Professional Colleges in Karnataka (i.e., Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences). Students can find all details about registering for KCET, preparing a KCET application, downloading a KCET admit card, preparing for the KCET exam, reviewing a KCET syllabus, reviewing previous years' KCET question sheets, determining KCET results, reviewing the KCET cut-off scores, and attending KCET counselling sessions.

Official portal: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea

KCET 2026: Your Gateway to Top Colleges & Courses

The KCET 2026 exam is an important entrance exam for students who want to study in the fields of engineering, pharmacy, agricultural and veterinary sciences, and in Karnataka. By achieving high scores on the KCET, students will be able to gain access to the best government and private colleges in Karnataka, where they can gain admission based on their performance on the exam and through formal counselling. The KCET will help students to find the best courses, colleges and career prospects in the state of Karnataka.

What is KCET 2026?

Every year, KEA Karnataka conducts the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) to select applicants for entry-level programs at universities with in Karnataka. In 2026, KCET will also take place for all students who have not yet taken this test or who have previously done so, as well as those from outside of Karnataka.

The KEA (Karnataka Exam Authority)

Established in 1994, the KEA is an entrance exam conducting body in the state of Karnataka. It’s a government agency functioning under the Department of Higher Education responsible for conducting numerous exams acting as a gateway for students to simplify admission to various undergraduate courses.

Why KCET exam is conducted?

KCET is conducted to offer admission to various professional courses in the state of Karnataka. The students have to attend the counselling session after qualifying the exam. The courses that come under the KCET are:

• B.Tech/BE
• B.Sc Farm Science (Agriculture)
• B.Sc (Sericulture)
• B.Sc (Horticulture)
• B.Sc (Forestry)
• B.Sc  Agri Bio Tech
• B.Hsc (Home Science)
• B.Tech (Food Technology)
• B.Tech (Dairy Tech)
• B.Fsc (Fisheries)
• B.Tech (Food Science & Tech)
• B.Sc (Agri Marketing)
• B.Pharma
• Pharma-D

KCET 2026 Important Details

KCET 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

The KCET registration and application form must be completed and submitted by all students before the deadline. The KEA Karnataka announces the exam dates of KCET 2026 and the date of the declaration of the results, and the counselling schedule on their website. It is important for candidates to check the KEA Karnataka website for updates to ensure that they do not miss important deadlines.

KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must be a 12th-grade or Pre-University (PUC) pass from a recognised board of education
• If the candidate is appearing for KCET 2026, then he/she can also apply, provided the applicant has to pass his/her qualifying exam(s).

Subject Requirements per Course:

• Engineering Courses – Candidates must have completed Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry during their 12th Grade.
• Medical/Agriculture/Veterinary/Allied Health Courses - Candidates must have completed Physics, Chemistry and Biology during their Tests of Examination.
• Repeater Candidates - Candidates who have completed 12th Grade are eligible to apply as per the KEA rules.
• Karnataka Domicile Candidates - For the Government quota seats, candidates must follow the Karnataka domicile and study rules as set by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA)
• Non-Karnataka candidates - KEA, based upon the specific conditions outlined by KEA, are eligible to apply for KCET 2026.

In accordance with KEA, candidates, if they meet all of the academic, subject and domicile requirements outlined in the official KCET 2026 Notification, may be appointed to private or management quota seats.

KCET Exam Pattern

 Eligibility Criteria

• Candidate must have passed 2nd PUC/ Class 12 or equivalent examination with mandatory Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

KCET Counselling

• The counseling is yet to be released.
• Candidmusts to carry various documents during the counseling like the admit card, rank card, 10th marks card, 12th / PUC marks card, and Caste Certificate (if applicable).

KCET 2026 Registration & Application Process

The KEA (the authority for conducting KCET 2026) conducts the entire KCET 2026 Registration online on its Official Website. Interested Candidates must complete the registration process on the KEA Portal by providing a verified email address and phone number for communication purposes.

• Once a candidate has registered, they can complete the application form by providing their personal, academic, and contact information.
• Candidates must upload their scanned documents (e.g., photograph, signature, and required certificates) in the specified format as part of the application process.
• Once the candidate has completed the application form and uploaded their documents, they will be prompted to pay the fee based on their category.
• Before submitting their online application, candidates should double-check their information on the application, as incomplete or inaccurate applications may result in disqualification.
• Finally, candidates must submit their application and download the confirmation page for their records.

By following all of the above steps, candidates will have completed the KCET 2026 Application Process.

KCET Registration Fees

The KCET registration fees vary depending on the candidate’s category and origin. These fees are only for applying to KCET and are separate from college admission fees.

KCET 2026 Application Fees by Category

Important Notes:

• KCET 2026 application fees are separate for applying for KCET 2026.
• The College Admission Fee is separate and varies between institutions, whether private or government.
• The fee breakdown for the application/registration process is provided by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) and can be viewed at the KEA Karnataka portal.

How to Pay:

• All payments for KCET 2026 registration will be made online.
• Payment is due before the last date you can submit your application.
• If you do not pay your fee, your KCET registration will not be accepted.

KCET 2026 Admit Card / Hall Ticket

Candidates can download the KCET admit card 2026 here: KCET Admit Card 2026. Students must carry the KCET hall ticket and a valid photo ID to the exam centre and follow all instructions.

KCET 2026 Exam Pattern

• Question type: MCQs

• Negative marking: No
• Medium: English / Kannada
• Students can also practice using KCET mock test papers online.

KCET 2026 Syllabus

The KCET syllabus for 2026 will consist of the Karnataka State Board Class 11/12 curriculum and will also be aligned with the NCERT textbooks. The KCET exam will cover Physics, Chemistry and Maths/Biology. The syllabus can be found in PDF format on the official website of KEA Karnataka and can be downloaded by students.

KCET Previous Year Question Papers & Mock Test for Students

By working through previous years' question papers from KCET, students will gain an insight into the types of questions that are asked in KCET exams as well as familiarise themselves with the type of format of the KCET exam. Also available for students are official mock tests for KCET that are helpful for developing speed and accuracy in taking the exam.

KCET Cutoff Marks 

Several factors influence the cut-off marks for KCET 2026, including course, College, Candidate Category, Total Number of candidates applying, and Total Number of Seats available. For example, an engineering college might have a lower cutoff but enrol candidates who score above 1,00,000 in KCET.

KCET 2026 Counselling & Colleges

The entire KCET counselling process consists of several components, including verifying your documents at the Counselling Centre, selecting the schools/courses you wish to attend, receiving a mock allotment of seats, receiving a final allotment of seats, and confirming your admission to a school.

The results of the KCET are accepted by all types of schools throughout Karnataka: KCET Counselling 2026

Official Contacts – KEA Karnataka 

If you have questions or need more information, you can always check the official website of the KCET: KEA Karnataka; the contact information for Helpline and email support is available through the KEA website. Always check the KCET official page for updated information.

Colleges Accepting KCET Scores

• Akash Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Center - Bangalore
• MS Ramaiah Medical College - Bangalore
• Kempegowda Institute of Medical Science - KIMS - Bangalore
• Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre - Bangalore
• RajaRajeswari School/College of Nursing
• RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital - Bangalore
• BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences - Bangalore
• Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Of Nursing
• MVJ College of Nursing
• East Point College of Medical Sciences and Research Center - Bangalore
• Dayananda Sagar University (DSU)
• Acharya Institute of Nursing
• Sri Siddhartha Nursing College - Begur
• RR Group of Institutions
• SEA College of Nursing
• Aditya Nursing College Bangalore
• Manjushree College of Nursing
• East West College of Nursing
• Global College of Nursing
• MVM Institute of Nursing Sciences
• PES University
• BMS College of Engineering
• CMR Institute of Technology
• Dayanand Sagar College
• Reva University
• Presidency University to name a few.

Tips to prepare for KCET exam

• Limited study material
• Daily revision
• Stick to the time-table
• Have frequent small breaks
• Analyze the previous year’s questions
• Attempt mock test

KCET 2026 FAQs

Q1: How can I complete KCET registration?

• Students can complete KCET registration online via KEA Karnataka.

Q2: Is KCET difficult?

• Moderate difficulty; preparation helps.

Q3: Is there negative marking?

• No negative marking.

Q4: Is Kannada compulsory?

• Required only for certain categories.

Q5: Can non-Karnataka students apply?

• Yes, if eligible.

Q6: Where can I download KCET previous year question papers?

• KEA Karnataka

Q7: How to download KCET admit card / hall ticket?

• KCET Admit Card 2026

Q8: Are mock tests available for KCET?

Yes, official KCET mock test links are on KEA Karnataka.