KCET previous year question papers from 2015 to 2026 are free to download here, subject-wise in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, with KEA answer keys for 2015 to 2026 (2025 has revised keys for Physics, Chemistry and Biology only) and Kannada language test papers for some years. Each subject is a separate paper of 60 questions for 60 marks in 80 minutes with no negative marking, so the 2024 to 2026 papers are the closest match to KCET 2027, expected in April 2027.
KCET Previous Year Question Papers
Pick a year to open all four subject papers from that year; the year pages also have KEA’s answer keys.
4 papers
KCET Question Papers by Year
| Year | Papers | Answer key | |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCET 2026 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2025 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2024 | 5 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2023 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2022 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2021 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2020 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2019 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2018 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2017 | 5 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2016 | 4 papers | Yes | View papers |
| KCET 2015 | 5 papers | Yes | View papers |
KCET Paper at a Glance
| Questions | 60 multiple-choice questions in each subject paper |
|---|---|
| Marks and time | 60 marks per paper; 80 minutes in all, of which 70 minutes are for answering (2026 booklet) |
| Marking | 1 mark for a correct answer, no negative marking |
| Papers | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, each a separate paper |
| Medium | English and Kannada in the same booklet |
| Mode | Offline, OMR answer sheet |
| Papers on this page | 2015 to 2026, four subjects a year; KEA keys for every year (2025: Physics, Chemistry and Biology only) |
| Next exam | KCET 2027: April 2027 (expected). Application: January 2027 (expected) |
What a KCET Paper Looks Like
The 2026 papers were held on 23 and 24 April 2026: Physics and Chemistry on day 1, Mathematics and Biology on day 2. The 2026 Mathematics booklet (version code A1) prints 60 questions, 60 marks, a total duration of 80 minutes and a maximum answering time of 70 minutes, for the 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM slot. Each question appears in Kannada and in English with four numbered options, and the instructions state there is no negative marking. There is no 2026 key on this page, so four of the questions below are from the 2023 Biology paper (version D-2), checked against KEA’s 2023 key.
| Paper | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 1–60 (60) | 60 |
| Chemistry | 1–60 (60) | 60 |
| Mathematics | 1–60 (60) | 60 |
| Biology | 1–60 (60) | 60 |
Q1. If A = {a, b, c, d, e, f}, then the number of subsets of A which contains at least 2 elements is
- 64
- 65
- 57
- 59
Answer (worked out by AglaSem): (3) 57
KCET 2026 Mathematics (A1), Q1 · no 2026 key on this page
Q2. A flower has 10 stamens each having bilobed dithecous anther. If each microsporangium has 5 pollen mother cells, how many pollen grains would be produced by the flower?
- 400
- 800
- 1600
- 200
Answer: (2) 800
KCET 2023 Biology (D-2), Q2 · KEA answer key
Q3. During transcription the DNA strand with 3' → 5' polarity of the structural gene always acts as a template because
- Enzyme DNA dependent RNA polymerase always catalyse the polymerisation in 3' → 5' direction.
- Enzyme DNA dependent RNA polymerase always catalyse polymerisation in both the directions.
- Nucleotides of DNA strand with 5' → 3' are transferred to mRNA.
- Enzyme DNA dependent RNA polymerase always catalyse the polymerisation in 5' → 3' direction.
Answer: (4) Enzyme DNA dependent RNA polymerase always catalyse the polymerisation in 5' → 3' direction.
KCET 2023 Biology (D-2), Q3 · KEA answer key
Q4. When the vascular cambium is present between the xylem and phloem, then the vascular bundle is called,
- Open
- Endarch
- Closed
- Exarch
Answer: (1) Open
KCET 2023 Biology (D-2), Q12 · KEA answer key
Q5. The function of Typhlosole in earthworm is
- Grinding of decaying leaves
- Transportation
- Increasing the effective area of absorption in the intestine
- Grinding of soil particles
Answer: (3) Increasing the effective area of absorption in the intestine
KCET 2023 Biology (D-2), Q13 · KEA answer key
In 2024 several questions were found to be outside the syllabus. KEA left them out of evaluation (Physics 9, Chemistry 15, Mathematics 15, Biology 11) and worked out marks on the rest, so skip any 2024 question from a topic not in your current syllabus.
How to Use KCET Previous Year Papers?
- Answer in 70 minutes. The 2026 booklet allows 70 minutes of answering time for 60 questions, about 70 seconds a question. Time each subject paper on its own, as in the exam.
- Mark every question. There is no negative marking, so a blank answer can only cost you. Leave the last two minutes to fill any gaps on the OMR sheet.
- Solve 2024 to 2026 first, because they follow the current one-subject-per-paper schedule. Then use 2015 to 2023, where the answer keys let you score yourself exactly.
- Remember the 2nd PUC half. For engineering, your rank gives 50% weight to KCET Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics marks and 50% to your 2nd PUC or Class 12 marks in those subjects, so revise for both together.
- Plan for April 2027. About six months are left. One full set of three or four papers every two weeks covers 2015 to 2026 once before the exam.
Free full-length KCET mock tests with timers and answers.