KCET Exam Pattern 2026: The Karnataka Examinations Authority has released the KCET 2026 exam pattern along with the brochure on the official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in,. Aspirants need to go through the exam pattern before preparing for the exam. The KCET exam pattern comprises details on the Karnataka CET exam including the exam duration, types of questions, total number of questions and more. The KCET 2026 application process has started on January 16, 2026. The KCET 2026 exam will be conducted on April 23 and 24, 2026. Refer to this article for the detailed KCET 2026 exam pattern.
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The KCET exam pattern 2026 has been released on the official website. The exam pattern of KCET 2026 provides details about the subject-wise total marks, exam duration, marking scheme, types of questions, and more. According to the KCET paper pattern, there will be 3 sessions and the test duration for each session is 1 hour 20 minutes. Each subject's paper will be valued at 60 marks and will have a duration of 80 minutes. The question paper will consist of Multiple Choice Questions (Objective) with different versions for each subject. Each question will present four options, and for every correct answer, candidates will receive one mark.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Examination Mode | Pen-paper based examination |
Number of Sessions |
|
Medium of Language | English or Kannada |
Exam Duration | 1 hour 20 minutes for each session |
Question Type | Objective (MCQs - Multiple Choice Questions) |
Total Number of Questions (Including all the sessions) | 180 Questions |
Number of Questions per Subject | Number of sections in KCET exam and questions per section-
|
Marking Scheme | 1 mark will be allotted for each correct answer. There is no negative marking in the exam. |
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The authority has released the KCET 2026 subject-wise marks distribution. Candidates can refer to the KCET marking scheme, which includes 60 marks each for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, making a total of 180 marks.
| Subject | KCET total marks subject-wise |
|---|---|
Physics | 60 |
Chemistry | 60 |
Mathematics | 60 |
KCET total marks | 180 |
Candidates claiming eligibility for Government seats under Horanadu & Gadinadu Kannadiga clauses and whose mother tongue is Kannada, Tulu or Kodava, will have to appear for a Kannada language test to establish their ability to speak, read and write Kannada. The Kannada Language test will be conducted on April 22, 2026 at Bidar, Belagavi, Ballary, Bijapura, Mangalore, and Bengaluru Centres.
The KCET 2026 will be conducted in offline-pen and paper mode. In pen and paper mode, candidates need to mark their responses in the KCET OMR sheet 2026. The OMR sheet of KCET will consist of four options for all the questions and students will have to shade the correct answers. Candidates are advised to shade their answers accordingly as once marked can't be changed.
The authority will publish the KCET 2026 syllabus on the official website. Candidates should take a throughout look at the Karnataka CET syllabus for better preparation of the exam. The KCET syllabus pdf will contain the topics from which the questions will be asked in the entrance test. The Karnataka common entrance test syllabus comprises topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The syllabus will be based on the First and Second PUC syllabi prescribed by the Department of Pre-University Education of Karnataka State.
Solving the KCET sample papers 2026 helps candidates to maximize their scores in exam. The KCET 2026 sample papers are similar to the actual KCET question paper. The KCET sample papers help candidates to know the exam pattern, difficulty level, time management , and other details. In other words, the sample paper of KCET 2026 will provide an insight into the actual entrance exam. Candidates are advised to also practice KCET 2026 mock tests, which are prepared as per the KCET paper pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The authorities will conduct KCET 2026 in offline mode (pen and paper based test).
KCET 2026 will be conducted for three subjects - Maths, Chemistry, and Physics. KCET paper will have 60 questions from each subject.
As per the KCET exam pattern, for every correct answer, one mark will be allotted. There will be no negative marking.
KCET 2026 will be conducted in two languages - English and Kannada.
No, there is no negative marking in the KCET exam.
In the KCET exam, candidates will be awarded one mark for each correct answer. However, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
The KCET question paper consists of three subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each subject's paper is worth 60 marks and has a duration of 80 minutes. The papers will contain Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and will have different versions for each subject.
On Question asked by student community
If you have studied in a rural area but do not want to claim the rural quota in KCET , it will not create any problem. Rural reservation is only an additional benefit — it is not compulsory. However, if you skip verification, you will not be eligible to claim
Hi, If you have completed the first level of application form, then there is very little possibility that you can change you Exam centre, unless exam conducting authority provides special chance for this purpose only.
Dear Student,
If you want to appear only for NEET-UG for MBBS admission, then you do not need to take the KCET exam. However, you can fill in the exam centre preference in the form as a future option. MBBS admission is done on the basis of the NEET score.
Last date for document verification for KCET under Clause b is May 2026. Check the complete details of KCET document verification .
Yes, even if the boy has completed his plus 2 education from another state or board, he is eligible for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET). A student who studied outside Karnataka is eligible for KCET if they fall under any of these categories: