Karnataka PGCET is a state-level MBA entrance exam conducted every year in pen and paper mode. Check the three-month preparation strategy to score well in the Karnataka PGCET 2026.
Karnataka PGCET Preparation in 3 Months: KEA conducts Karnataka PGCET for MBA admissions. Candidates can complete the Karnataka PGCET exam preparation within three months. A good prep plan for three months must include Karnataka PGCET syllabus and exam pattern. Candidates must also use mock tests and past year’s Karnataka PGCET question papers while preparing for the exam.
Check this article to know how to prepare for Karnataka PGCET in 3 months.
Karnataka PGCET 2026 Preparation in Three Months
Explore colleges based on Karnataka PGCET
Candidates must devise a three-month study plan to prepare for Karnataka PGCET beforehand. One must divide three months of exam preparation time into multiple phases. With less time left with the moving time, preparation strategy for Karnataka PGCET in all three months shall vary.
With four weeks in each month, candidates must plan each week separately for a precise preparation strategy for Karnataka PGCET 2026. While preparing a three-month study plan for Karnataka PGCET 2026, candidates must5 allocate 60 days to study all topics from the syllabus and the remaining 15-20 days to practise the past question papers and mock tests.
All sections in Karnataka PGCET exam has equal weightage. Therefore, all sections of the PGCET exam has equal importance.
Candidates need to prepare for Proficiency in the English Language, General Knowledge, Reasoning, and Quantitative Analysis for PGCET exam. Karnataka PGCET syllabus is similar to other MBA entrance exams.
#1 Month of Karnataka PGCET 2026 Preparation
Preparation in the first month shall start with knowing the Karnataka PGCET exam pattern and syllabus, followed by accumulating the best study material, including books, previous year’s question papers, sample papers, mock tests and more. The space below mentions the Karnataka PGCET preparation strategy for the first month:
- Review the basics of the Karnataka PGCET exam, including the test pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, schedule, and more.
- Buy the required study material, including the Karnataka PGCET books, and previous year’s question papers.
- Solve a previous year’s question paper to know the difficulty level and where you stand.
- Analyse the strong and weak areas. Additionally, this helps understand the difficulty level and topic-wise weightage to evaluate the important topics.
- After analysing the strengths and weaknesses, devise a study plan to prepare within 11 weeks.
- Lay a study plan allocating 20 days to the most challenging section, 15 days each to the two sections you find moderate in terms of difficulty, and 10 days for the easiest section.
- Based on the analysis after solving the past year’s question paper, start with the weakest topics/section.
- Prepare short notes while studying. This would help in the Karnataka PGCET last week's preparation strategy.
- Learn the hacks or shortcuts to solve questions from the sections to get an edge over other test takers.
Candidates usually consume the first month of Karnataka PGCET preparation to plan and prepare for the toughest section.
#2 Month of Karnataka PGCET 2026 Preparation
With the start of the second month of Karnataka PGCET preparation, one already has a defined preparation plan. Additionally, candidates might have completed the topics from the toughest section. The second-month preparation strategy must revolve around the sections with moderate difficulty standards and brushing up on the topics already studied. The space below mentions the Karnataka PGCET preparation strategy for the second month:
- If all the topics from the first section have been completed, candidates must revisit the previous year’s question papers and try solving the questions from the section.
- Fine-tune the section by reviewing the missed questions to determine the topics lacking. Go through those topics once again to level up the preparation game.
- Candidates must devote most of the second month to the sections you find moderate in terms of difficulty.
- Identical to the first month's preparation, candidates must prepare short notes while studying.
- Before the start of the third month, practise questions from the two sections you prepared during the entire month from the past year’s question papers.
Candidates typically consume the second month of Karnataka PGCET preparation in studying for two sections with medium difficulty standards. Most of the candidates find general knowledge and reasoning sections, with moderate difficulty level.
#3 Month of Karnataka PGCET 2026 Preparation
KEA prepares the PGCET rank based on the performance of the candidate in the entrance test. KEA provides one mark for each correct response marked by the candidate. The candidates with more marks get higher rank. In case tweo or more candidates have an equal score, tie breaking criteria is applied. Karnataka PGCET inter se merit is determined with reference to the total aggregate marks obtained in the qualifying exam. In the case where marks obtained are equal, the inter-se-merit is determined based on the age of the candidates. Older candidates are preferred over younger ones.
While preparing for English section of PGCET exam, candidates must focus on improving their vocabulary grammar, idioms, and phrases. Candidates must also practice sentence correction.
No, KEA does not normalise the scores for Karnataka PGCET exam as the exam is conducted in a single shift. Score normalisatikon is required while evaluating performance of the candidate in competitive exams to equalise performance of candidates on a relative scale. Owing to multiple shifts, difficulty levels across different shifts of the exam typically varies.
Since Karnataka PGCET exam does not have multiple exam shifts for a single course, candidates will have a similar difficulty standard across the exam for a single programme.
The last month’s preparation strategy for Karnataka PGCET 2026 requires the candidates to cover the easiest section. Candidates must also evaluate their overall preparation. From the last month of PGCET preparation, candidates must keep 15-20 days to practise sample papers and previous years' question papers. Check Karnataka PGCET preparation strategy for the third and final month below:
- Dive in to the preparation plan for the last section that is the easiest section of all.
- Allocate at least 10 days to prepare all the topics from the last section. Additionally, prepare short notes alongside.
- After completing the syllabus, take a full-length past-year question paper simulating the test environment with a timer, limited breaks, etc.
- Evaluate the performance and determine the topics that require a second visit.
- Study from the short notes and solve as many sample papers as possible during the last phase of Karnataka PGCET preparation.
Read More:

Abhishek is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He completed his graduation from University of Delhi with a BA Degree. At Shiksha.com, he handles content for MBA, BBA, an
Read Full BioNews & Updates
Explore Other Exams
23 Feb '26 | MAT Feb 2026 PBT Registration ... |
26 Feb '26 | MAT Feb 2026 PBT admit card |
25 Oct '25 | KMAT 2025 (Session 2) |
22 Oct '25 | KMAT 2025 Admit Card Release (... |
31 Jul '18 | PESSAT 2018 Exam: End Date |
1 Jul '18 | PESSAT 2018 Online Registratio... |
5 Aug '26 - 23 Sep '26 | CAT 2026 application |
29 Nov '26 | CAT 2026 exam |
31 Jan '26 - 2 Feb '26 | CMAT 2026 exam answer key obje... |
25 Jan '26 | CMAT 2026 exam |
10 Jan '26 - 20 Feb '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 registration |
7 Apr '26 - 8 Apr '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 exam |
9 Jan '26 | SNAP 2025 result announcement |
20 Dec '25 | SNAP 2025 session 3 |
29 Jan '26 | XAT 2026 Cut Offs Release |
16 Jan '26 | XAT 2026 result |
17 Oct '24 - 5 Dec '24 | IIFT 2025 registration and app... |
18 Feb '26 | ATMA 2026 admit card release (... |
22 Feb '26 | ATMA 2026 (February) |
Student Forum
Answered a week ago
The VTU MBA cutoff 2025 was released for admission to various affiliated colleges for the Gender-Neutral candidates under the All India quota.
For admission at DSCE Bangalore, the cutoff in 2025 was 803. In 2024 and 2023, the cutoff was 434 and 787, respectively. This difference in the ranks suggest
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The MVJCE Karnataka PGCET cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA and M.Tech courses for multiple categories under both All India and Home State quota. The cutoff was published in the form of opening and closing ranks.
For the General AI category, the overall cutoff ranged from 9660 in th
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
For GIBS to be able to enroll students for the 2025 Karnataka PGCET, the last round of admission to GIBS Business School was approximately 29,459 for the general All India category (AI quota) and final rank (the last round). Typically, the number of candidates who will be able to qualify for admissi
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The R.N.S. Institute of Technology Karnataka PGCET cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA course for all categories under the Home State and All India quota.
For the General AI category, the cutoff was 2336 in the first round and 30271 in the last round. Please remember that the cutoff f
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The BMSIT Karnataka PGCET Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA course for various categories under both the All India and Home State quota.
For the General AI category, the cutoff was 1617 for the MBA course. Please remember that the cutoff will vary for other courses and quotas. Studen
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, the Karnataka PGCET is not a mandatory exam for New Horizon College of Engineering Bangalore MBA admissions.
Candidates who wish to apply for New Horizon College of Engineering Bangalore MBA course can also appear for the MAT and CAT to qualify for admissions as well.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The Kuvempu University Karnataka PGCET cutoff 2025 was published for admission to the MBA and MCA programme for all students belonging to the Home State and All India quota.
For the MBA course, the overall cutoff fell between the ranges of 20967 in the first round to 29834 in the last round for the
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Karnataka PGCET exam is conducted once every year for admission to PG professional courses. Each course exam for admission via PGCET is conducted in a separate shift.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
KEA conducts Karnataka PGCET exam for admission to MBA, MCA, ME, MTech, and MArch courses. Candidates aspiring for MArch are only required to fill the PGCET form to participate in the centralised counselling process.
J
Contributor-Level 6
Exam On - 14 May '26
The Reasoning and General Intelligence, as well as the Quantitative Analysis section. It will take maximum time to complete all the topics from these sections of Karnataka PGCET 2023. This is primarily because the problems will be tricky and memorizing different shortcut formulas is not easy. Building logical ability skills takes time and it is acquired only through extensive practice.