KCET Exam Pattern 2026: Overview, Marking Scheme, Time Duration

If you are aiming for KCET 2026, you need to be very specific and clear about the KCET exam pattern. Knowing the structure, marking scheme, subject subject-wise weightage will help you to plan your preparation strategy effectively. This will overall help you maximize your final scores in the KCET exam. In this article, we will be discussing the KCET exam pattern in detail. Tips to align your preparation with the latest pattern.

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KCET exam is a state-level examination conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) for admission into courses like engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, etc. If you are aiming for KCET 2026, you need to be very specific and clear about the KCET exam pattern. Knowing the structure, marking scheme, subject-wise weightage will help you to plan your preparation strategy effectively. This will overall help you maximise your final scores in the KCET exam. In this article, we will be discussing the KCET exam pattern in detail. Tips to align your preparation with the latest pattern.

KCET 2026 Exam Pattern

The KCET 2026 Exam pattern gives you the basic information about the type of questions, mode of exam, marking scheme, and total number of questions. The overview of the KCET exam pattern is as follows:

KCET 2026 Exam Pattern
Component	Details
Mode of Exam	Offline (Pen and Paper / OMR-based)
Medium / Language	English and Kannada (as per KEA notification)
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Marks per Question	+1 for every correct answer
Negative Marking	No negative marking for incorrect answers
Unattempted Questions	No marks awarded or deducted
Total Number of Questions	180 (60 questions per subject)
Total Marks	180 Marks (60 × 3 subjects)
Exam Duration	80 minutes per subject paper (1 hr 20 min)
Session Structure	Each subject was conducted in a separate session (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology)

KCET 2026 Subject-wise Breakup

subjectThe KCET 2026 subject-wise breakup has been added below:

KCET 2026 Subject-wise Breakup
Subject	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
Physics	60	60	80 minutes
Chemistry	60	60	80 minutes
Mathematics / Biology*	60	60	80 minutes
Total	180	180	(3 × 80 min)

KCET Exam Pattern 2026 Important Points

Apart from the important points of the KCET exam Pattern is as follows:

The KCET 2026 exam is based on the first and second year PUC syllabus.
The KCET questions' difficulty level will be moderate as per the previous year's trends.
The markings in the OMR sheets should be accurate and cleanly shaded using a black or blue pen.
For all the subjects, there is equal weightage of marks. So, all three subjects should be prepared with a balanced preparation approach.
The exam will be for 80 marks, and no extra time will be provided. So, manage your time accordingly.
The ranking of the KCET exam of a candidate will depend solely on the KCET score and the qualifying exam marks for certain courses.

KCET Exam Centres 2026	KCET Syllabus 2026
KCET Exam Pattern 2026	KCET Mock Test 2026

KCET Syllabus 2026 Overview

While the KCET exam pattern defines structure, the syllabus determines what to study. The KCET 2026 syllabus is based entirely on Karnataka PUC (Class 11 & 12) textbooks.

KCET Syllabus 2026 Overview
Subject	Key Topics
Physics	Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics
Chemistry	Physical Chemistry (Thermodynamics, Kinetics), Organic Chemistry (Hydrocarbons, Biomolecules), Inorganic Chemistry (Periodic Table, Coordination Compounds)
Mathematics	Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Probability
Biology	Cell Biology, Genetics, Human Physiology, Ecology, Plant Physiology

KCET Preparation According to the KCET 2026 Pattern

Start the preparation by making a study strategy according to the official exam pattern and syllabus. The KCET exams strictly follow the 1st and 2nd PUC syllabus. It is very important to focus on the textbooks, NCERTs, to clear the basic concepts. Don't pick up unnecessary and non-prescribed topics and chapters. This will make your preparation difficult. Make sure you are revising the NCERT topics for a strong base. KCET rarely includes out-of-syllabus questions.
Make sure you are attempting the KCET exam accurately, although there is no negative marking, but some silly mistakes can reduce your total marks. Try solving the problems with focus without rushing through them. Start solving full mock tests two to three months before the exam starts. Always review your answers and identify your weak areas. Make a special notebook for your mistakes, which can be useful for going through your mistakes one set at a time. Use a formula sheet to keep your concepts fresh in your mind.
Time management is an important part of KCET preparation. Each paper is eighty minutes long, so you need to develop a steady speed. Plan and divide your time wisely. Practice complete mock test papers with the time limit and exam-like scenarios to build up speed and confidence. Learn to skip difficult questions if you are not able to answer them, rather than wasting time on them.
Revision is the most important step before the KCET exam. Start revising the KCET topics at least a month in advance and make quick review notes out of them. Add all the essential formulas, reactions, and definitions in a different notebook to go through them once before the exam.

The KCET exam pattern 2026 will help you with conceptual clarity and time-bound accuracy. The exam is of 80 minutes, in which you need to cover and solve all three subjects, each carrying equal weightage. Consistent preparation and focused revision will help you ace the exam. You should align your studies with the PUC syllabus, practice regularly through mock tests, and maintain accuracy to increase your scores.