KCET: Karnataka Common Entrance Test — Complete Overview

KCET, also referred to as UGCET (Undergraduate Common Entrance Test), is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). It admits students to engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and other professional undergraduate programmes in Karnataka's government and private aided colleges. KCET is the primary state CET for Karnataka-domicile students.

KCET covers four subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Engineering aspirants appear in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics; pharmacy aspirants sit Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. A separate Kannada language paper is compulsory for students claiming Karnataka domicile (Horanadu or Gadinadu Kannadiga categories have different rules). The exam is paper-based (offline OMR) and typically held on two days in late April.

KCET at a glance

ItemDetail
Conducting bodyKarnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)
Official portalcetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
SubjectsPhysics, Chemistry, Mathematics (engineering); Physics, Chemistry, Biology (pharmacy/agriculture); Kannada (for domicile eligibility)
FormatPen-and-paper OMR; typically held over two days in late April
Syllabus basisKarnataka State Board (PUC) Class 11 and 12 syllabus
ScoringTotal marks from KCET + a component derived from Class 12 board marks (40% weightage); confirm the current formula on the KEA portal
Negative markingNo negative marking
CounsellingKEA conducts option entry, mock allotment, and final allotment rounds; verify the current cycle's schedule on the KEA portal
CBSE / ICSE eligibilityAccepted; KEA had a portal to auto-fetch CBSE and ICSE marks in the 2026 cycle — confirm current process on the KEA portal

Always confirm the current exam pattern, eligibility, and counselling schedule on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.

KCET subject-wise marks (no negative marking)

SubjectQuestionsMarksPaper
Physics6060Separate 80-minute paper
Chemistry6060Separate 80-minute paper
Mathematics6060Engineering stream
Biology6060Pharmacy / agriculture stream

Each subject is a separate 80-minute OMR paper with 1 mark per question and no negative marking. Your final rank is a 50:50 composite of your KCET score and your 2nd PUC (Class 12) marks, so board performance matters just as much. Confirm on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.

KCET process: from registration to allotment

  1. Register on the KEA portal — KCET registration has opened in January in recent cycles. Fill your details, upload documents including the Class 10 and 11 marksheets, and complete registration before the deadline.
  2. Appear for the exam — KCET is a pen-and-paper exam held on two consecutive days in late April (Physics and Chemistry on day one; Mathematics or Biology on day two, based on your stream). Download your admit card from the KEA portal beforehand.
  3. Check your result and rank card — KEA publishes the result and rank card on the portal. Your KCET rank accounts for exam marks and board marks combined. Download and save your rank card.
  4. Participate in KEA option entry — During the counselling window, log in to the KEA portal, enter your college and branch preferences in order of priority, and submit. Mock allotment results are released before the final allotment.
  5. Report to your allotted college — After final allotment, verify the document list on the KEA portal and report to the college within the specified window to confirm your seat.

Official PYQ archive: KEA publishes KCET previous-year question papers and answer keys openly (without login) on the portal after the exam. This is one of the few state CETs with a genuine open official PYQ archive. Check cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea for the current archive.

Free CET exam-help guides