KCET — Karnataka Common Entrance Test

Status checked: 15 Oct 2026. Official site: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea

Quick Facts

2027 Status (estimates)

Eligibility

• Class 12 / 2nd PUC with Physics and Maths (compulsory) plus Chemistry, Biology, Biotech, Electronics or Computer Science for Engineering, at least 45% (40% reserved).
• PCB is required for Agriculture, Veterinary and Pharmacy.
• Karnataka eligibility: generally, 7 years of study in Karnataka or Karnataka-origin criteria for government seats. Others can only get some private or management seats.

Exam Pattern

• Day 1: Biology (morning) and Maths (afternoon). Day 2: Physics and Chemistry. The order may change.
• 1 mark each, no negative marking.
• Engineering rank = 50% KCET (PCM) + 50% Class 12 PCM marks (normalised). Board marks matter a lot.
• A 2026 update (reported, confirm with KEA): the higher of PUC Exam 1 or Exam 2 marks counts for the 50% board component.
• Horanadu/Gadinadu Kannadiga candidates also take a Kannada language test (50 marks).

Syllabus — Topics

Based entirely on the Karnataka 1st & 2nd PUC syllabus (NCERT-aligned). Only the chapters KEA lists are included, since rationalised chapters were deleted.

• Physics: units, motion, laws of motion, WEP, rotation, gravitation, properties of matter, thermodynamics, KTG, oscillations, waves, electrostatics, current electricity, magnetism, EMI, AC, EM waves, optics, dual nature, atoms, nuclei, semiconductors.
• Chemistry: basic concepts, atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, thermodynamics, equilibrium, redox, GOC, hydrocarbons, solutions, electrochemistry, kinetics, d/f-block, coordination compounds, haloalkanes, alcohols, phenols, ethers, carbonyls, amines, biomolecules.
• Maths: sets, relations, functions, trigonometry, complex numbers, linear inequalities, P&C, binomial, sequences, straight lines, conics, 3D intro, limits & derivatives, statistics, probability, matrices, determinants, continuity & differentiability, applications of derivatives, integrals, applications of integrals, differential equations, vectors, 3D geometry, LPP.
• Biology: NCERT Class 11 & 12 (same as NEET).

Preparation Timeline

• Prepare alongside the 2nd PUC boards, since 50% of your engineering rank comes from board marks.
• After the boards (March), spend 4–6 weeks on KCET-specific MCQ speed practice. 60 questions in 80 minutes is about 80 seconds each.
• Use KCET past papers from 2015 onwards.

Tip: There's no negative marking, so attempt all questions. Many questions come directly from the PUC textbook.