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The KCET exam dates have been announced now. KCET 2026 is among the most significant state-level entrance examinations, which is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to provide entry to undergraduate professional subjects like engineering, pharmacy and agriculture. The KCET exam dates were recently announced, and the KCET exam will take place on April 23 and 24, 2026, and the Kannada language test will occur on April 22, 2026.
The applicants will be required to separately fill the KCET registration 2026 by filling the KCET Application Form 2026 on the KCET official site and the KCET site, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. The KCET application form is out on January 17, 2026. Before starting the registration, aspirants are mandated to meet the KCET exam eligibility criteria. Once the candidates have attended the test, they will be able to estimate their own performance using the KCET application or a rank predictor.
Students will be able to download their KCET exam hall ticket through the official website of the KEA KCET website. The KCET exam date 2025 was set in April, and similar timelines are expected for upcoming sessions. The KCET website keeps the candidates informed about all relevant deadlines or announcements so that they do not miss them. Refer to the following to learn more about the KCET 2026 exam date, registration steps, KCET exam eligibility and many more factors like these.
KCET 2026 Exam Highlights
Check out the following table to go through a brief overview and all the important highlights about the exam.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Karnataka Common Entrance Test |
| Popularly Known As | KCET |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority |
| Exam Level | State level |
| Exam Mode | Offline pen and paper-based |
| Courses Offered | Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Veterinary |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Question Type | Multiple choice questions |
| Medium of Exam | English and Kannada |
| Duration of Exam | 80 minutes per paper |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking |
| KCET Exam Eligibility | Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent with the required subjects |
| KCET 2026 Exam Date | Expected in April 2026 |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in |
KCET Exam Dates 2026
Refer to the following to check out the official dates for the KCET exam 2026 session. Many events and dates are tentative based on the KCET registration 2025 dates and schedule below, as the official data is not out yet for specific events.
| Events | KCET 2026 Dates |
| Release date of KCET 2026 Notification | January 2, 2026 |
| KCET application form 2026 date | January 17, 2026 |
| KCET registration 2026 last date | February 2026 |
| Last date to pay the KCET registration 2026 fee | February 2026 |
| UGCET Application Correction Facility | February 2026 |
| KCET 2026 Admit Card | April 2026 |
| KCET exam dates 2026 | April 23 and 24, 2026 |
| Objection to the KCET question paper | April 2026 |
| Provisional KCET Answer Key release date | April 2026 |
| Answer key objection window | April 2026 |
| Final KCET 2026 answer key | April 2026 |
| Offline KCET document verification 2026 | May 2026 |
| KCET marks the entry start date | May 2026 |
| KCET 2026 result date | May 2026 |
KCET Exam Eligibility 2026
Refer to the following to check out the KCET eligibility criteria 2026. The eligibility norms are the same as per the KCET application form 2025 requirements.
- Should be an Indian citizen to apply.
- Had to have successfully taken Class 12/PUC (or due in 2026) with a recognised board.
- Class 12 must have Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
- Should possess Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Electronics or Computer Science as an optional subject in addition to English.
- Nativity: The candidates need to meet Karnataka study/domicile requirements (i.e. a minimum number of years in Karnataka schools) as required by KEA in government seats.
- Students who took Class 12 and passed in the Karnataka Open University are not eligible.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 45% in case of the General category; 40% in case of SC/ST (depending on the course).
KCET Application Form Date 2026 & Registration Steps
As per the official notification, KCET registration 2026 has been released on 17 January 2026. Eligible Candidates will need to complete the KCET registration process to qualify to sit for KCET 2026 on the date as mentioned on the Official Website of the Karnataka Examination Authority. The application process is being managed by the Karnataka Examination Authority through the Official Website of the Karnataka State Examination Authority. To learn about how to fill out the application form of KCET 2026, refer to the following, and students must note that the application steps are the same as the KCET registration 2025; there are no updates in the process.
- Go to the KCET official site and click on the KCET registration link.
- Registration form: Fill in basic personal and contact information.
- Enter the application form using the generated credentials.
- Proceed to fill in academic, category and exam-related information.
- Provide scanned copies of documents that are mandatory, in the correct format.
- Submit the application fee of KCET online using the KCET payment system.
- Check all the details done and turn in the KCET application form.
- Print the confirmation page and save it for future reference.
KCET Hall Ticket
The KCET exam hall ticket is a compulsory document, which is needed to attend the entrance examination. The KCET exam hall ticket would be released in the 2nd week of April 2026 on the KCET official site. It has to be downloaded by the candidates using their registration numbers and passwords. Check the KCET 2025 registration date and the KCET hall ticket 2025 date to get a more concise idea of the admit card release date.
KCET Answer Key 2026 Date
KCET Answer Key 2026 will likely be announced in late April or early May 2026, soon after the test is over. The first step is that KEA on the KCET site publishes a tentative response key, which candidates can use to verify their answers and object if needed. The final KCET answer key is announced after considering all of the objections. Students are advised to check out the timeline and KCET 2025 exam date to get a better idea of the tentative date for the answer key.
KCET Result Date
The date of the KCET result 2026 is expected to be in May 2026, after the last answer key has been released. The outcome will be available online on the KCET official site, and the candidates will be able to view their scorecards by entering their credentials. Aspirants are advised to check out the timeline and KCET 2025 exam date to get a better idea of the tentative date for the scorecard. The KCET outcome shows marks in subjects and total marks, which are then added up to form the merit list. This merit list is now quite significant in eligibility for the next KCET counselling process.
KCET Counselling 2026 Date
It will be estimated that the KCET counselling process 2026 will start in June-July 2026, just after the results have been announced. Counselling involves checking the documents, entering options and assigning seats to qualified candidates. Any counselling-related news, schedule and orders are published on the KCET website. The applicants should engage in every step within the specified time to gain admission.
KCET Rank & Counselling
KEA publishes the KCET rank after the examination, in which performance and normalisation rules are applied. The KCET Rank Predictor Tool allows candidates to determine their future results in advance, and KCET marks vs rank provides a clear understanding of the trends of the scores. KCET document verification is compulsory during the counselling process, and the students can also find KCET colleges through the KCET college predictor to have the right options.
KCET Preparation Tips
Refer to the following to check out some of the most effective preparation strategies for the KCET 2026 exam.
- The first step in KCET preparation is to get the exam pattern and KCET syllabus well understood.
- Make a practical plan of study and adhere to it throughout the preparation period.
- Learn concepts of Class 11 and 12 textbooks and then proceed to the reference material for better clarity.
- Solve the KCET previous year question papers to understand the trend of questions asked in the exam.
- Practise a KCET mock test every now and then as an effective way of managing time.
- Compare mock test results carefully to determine the areas of weakness.
- Use the best books for KCET preparation to build concepts clearly and accurately.
- Minimise attention to precision since there is no negative marking in the exam.
- Learn significant equations and important ideas every day for strong retention.
- Note down key points briefly for quick revision before the examination.
- A KCET rank predictor is used to obtain a rough estimate of performance.
- Mock tests can also be followed by using a rank predictor KCET tool.
- Determine overall performance with the help of a KCET rank calculator.
- Know scoring trends by comparing KCET marks vs rank from previous years.
- Pre shortlist preferred institutes using the KCET college predictor.
KCET 2026 Exam Centres
Check out the table provided below to go through all the KCET exam centres, district-wise.
| District | Exam Place |
| Bangalore | Bangalore, Doddaballapur |
| Ramanagara | Ramanagara, Channapatna |
| Bellary | Bellary, Hospet |
| Belgaum | Belgaum, Chikodi, Athani, Gokak |
| Bagalkot | Bagalkot, Jamakhandi |
| Bijapur | Bijapur |
| Bidar | Bidar, Basavakalyan, Bhalki |
| Davangere | Davangere |
| Chitradurga | Chitradurga |
| Chikmagalur | Chikmagalur |
| Gadag | Gadag |
| Haveri | Haveri |
| Dharwad | Hubli, Dharwad |
| Gulbarga | Gulbarga |
| Yadgir | Yadgir |
| Chikkaballapur | Chikkaballapur |
| Chamarajnagar | Chamarajnagar, Kollegal |
| Mysore | Mysore |
| Mandya | Mandya, Krishnarajpet |
| North Canara | Karwar, Sirsi, Kumta, Dandeli |
| Koppal | Koppal |
| Raichur | Raichur |
| South Canara | Mangalore, Puttur, Moodabidri, Ujire |
| Udupi | Udupi, Kundapura, Karkala |
| Shimoga | Shimoga, Bhadravathi, Sagar |
| Tumkur | Tumkur, Tiptur |
| Kodagu | Madikeri |
| Hassan | Hassan |
| Kolar | Kolar |
Conclusion
The KCET admission process has a clearly defined timeline, right from announcing the examination date and availability of application forms to counselling and seat allotment. Being aware of all the recent announcements regarding the issuance of the KCET admit card, the date of the exam, answer key, result, and dates of counselling will keep the candidate ahead in the process. The official website of the KCET is the same as the KEA KCET 2025 website.
Also, a candidate who closely watches dates, checks on their documents in time, and participates keenly in the counselling process stands a better chance of getting admission into their desired institution. The candidate will be able to remain calm, composed, and well prepared for each and every stage of the KCET process if preparation is aligned with the examination timetable through regular visits to the KCET official website.
Also Check: KCET Syllabus
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best books for KCET preparation?
The best books for KCET preparation include NCERT textbooks for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology, along with H.C. Verma for Physics, RD Sharma for Mathematics, Modern’s ABC of Chemistry, and Trueman’s Biology.
2. Â What is the KCET exam dress code?
For KCET, candidates must follow a simple dress code, as no jewellery or fashionable outfits will be acceptable.
3. When will KCET 2026 be conducted?
KCET 2026 is scheduled to be held on April 23 and 24, 2026.
4. How can I download the KCET admit card?
Students can download it online from the KCET official website using their login credentials.
5. What is KCET application last date?
For KCET 2026, the tentative last date to apply is around February 24, 2026
6. When will the KCET answer key be released?
The provisional KCET answer key is expected to be released in April 2026.
7. What is the expected KCET result date 2026?
 The KCET result is likely to be declared in May 2026.
8. Are the KCET previous year question papers helpful?
Yes, the KCET previous year question papers are very helpful for preparation.
9. When does KCET counselling usually start?
KCET counselling generally begins in May, shortly after the results are announced.
10. What is the KCET exam?
The KCET is a state-level entrance exam conducted by KEA for admission to undergraduate courses in engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy in Karnataka.
