KCET Exam Pattern 2026 - Subject Wise Paper Pattern, Total Marks
  • KCET Exam
  • KCET Exam Pattern 2026 - Subject Wise Paper Pattern, Total Marks

KCET Exam Pattern 2026 - Subject Wise Paper Pattern, Total Marks

Simran KashyapUpdated on 12 Dec 2025, 03:31 PM IST

KCET Exam Pattern 2026: The Karnataka Examinations Authority will publish the KCET 2026 exam pattern with the information brochure. Candidates can find the KCET exam pattern on the official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Students can find all the exam pattern of KCET 2026 here in this article. The exam pattern will comprise details on the Karnataka CET exam including the exam duration, types of questions, total number of questions and more. The KCET 2026 is expected to be conducted in April, 2026. Refer to this article for the detailed KCET 2026 exam pattern.
Latest: KCET syllabus | KCET previous year question papers

This Story also Contains

  1. KCET Exam Pattern 2026
  2. KCET Kannada Language Test 2026
  3. OMR Sheet for KCET 2026
  4. KCET Syllabus 2026
  5. KCET Sample Papers 2026
KCET Exam Pattern 2026 - Subject Wise Paper Pattern, Total Marks
KCET Exam Pattern 2026

KCET Exam Pattern 2026

The KCET exam pattern 2026 will be released on the official website. The exam pattern of KCET 2026 will provide 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.

KCET 2026 Exam Pattern

ParticularsDetails

Examination Mode

Pen-paper based examination

Number of Sessions

  • Session 1- Mathematics
  • Session 2- Physics
  • Session 3- Chemistry

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-

  • Mathematics- 60 Questions
  • Physics- 60 Questions
  • Chemistry- 60 Questions

Marking Scheme

1 mark will be allotted for each correct answer.

There is no negative marking in the exam.

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KCET Subject-wise Marks Distribution

The authority will release 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

KCET Kannada Language Test 2026

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 at Bidar, Belagavi, Ballary, Bijapura, Mangalore, and Bengaluru Centres.

OMR Sheet for KCET 2026

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.

KCET Syllabus 2026

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.

KCET Sample Papers 2026

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)

Q: Will KCET 2026 be conducted in online or offline mode?
A:

The authorities will conduct KCET 2026 in offline mode (pen and paper based test).

Q: How many questions will be asked in KCET 2026?
A:

KCET 2026 will be conducted for three subjects - Maths, Chemistry, and Physics. KCET paper will have 60 questions from each subject.

Q: What is the marking scheme of KCET 2026?
A:

As per the KCET exam pattern, for every correct answer, one mark will be allotted. There will be no negative marking.

Q: What will be the medium of language of KCET 2026 paper?
A:

KCET 2026 will be conducted in two languages - English and Kannada.

Q: Is there negative marking in KCET?
A:

No, there is no negative marking in the KCET exam. 

Q: Does KCET have negative marks?
A:

 In the KCET exam, candidates will be awarded one mark for each correct answer. However, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

Q: What is the KCET question paper pattern?
A:

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.

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Questions related to KCET

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to KCET ?

Hello,

Yes, you can appear for the 2nd PUC exam 2 in 2026 to improve your marks, as Karnataka allows multiple attempts for the PUC exams, and the Karnataka Examination Authority considers your best scores for KCET ranking. Since you passed in 2025, you can apply for the repeater/improvement exam for the 2026 exams.

I hope it will clear your query!!

HELLO,

UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THE ADMISSION OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2026 WILL BE BASED ON THE RANK OF NEET. HIGHER RANK ON NEET, 40% TO 50% ON HIGHER SECONDARY WITH ENGLISH AS AN AMANDATORY SUBJECT IS REQUIRED.

THANK YOU


Hello aspirant,

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) releases broad cutoffs every year, although the KCET engineering cutoff varies greatly depending on the particular engineering branch, college, and candidate category.  For instance, OBC cutoffs may be approximately 3,000, SC/ST categories may reach 15,000 or higher in elite universities, and general cutoffs for top Computer Science programs may be less than 1,000.

For more information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/kcet-cutoff

Thank you

If you joined an engineering college through KCET 2025 and completed around 3 months but now want to leave due to personal reasons, then you can definitely discontinue. However, you need to follow a proper procedure because the seat was allotted by KEA. First, you have to visit your present college and apply for official discontinuation. The college will ask you to submit a written application, no-dues form, and sometimes they may also ask for payment of fee balance as per their policies. After this, the college will issue a Transfer Certificate (TC), study certificate (if applicable), and a fee receipt acknowledgment.

Once you discontinue, your current KCET-allotted seat will get cancelled. If you want to join another engineering college next year, you must appear for KCET again or take admission through the management quota, because the old KCET seat cannot be transferred. There is no penalty from KEA side for writing KCET again next year, so you can attempt the entrance exam once more and participate in counselling to get a new seat in your preferred college.

So, the correct process is:

  1. Submit a discontinuation request to your current college.

  2. Clear no-dues and collect TC and supporting documents.

  3. Appear for KCET next year if you want another government/KEA seat.

  4. Attend counselling again and choose a new college.

Taking this step early will avoid creating academic loss later and you will be able to join a better college comfortably next year. All the best.

Hello,

For VITEEE, focus only on your VITEEE exam score and rank. KCET marks are irrelevant. To qualify, ensure 60% in Class 12 PCM/PCB and aim for a rank under 25,000 for good branches.

To know more details access below mentioned link:

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/viteee-2025-qualifying-marks-vit-btech-cutoff-details

Hope it helps.