KCET

PREPARATION:
KNOW IT FROM
2018 TOPPERS
 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

CONTENTS
Foreword03
About KCET 04
Application Process 05
Exam Pattern 06
Admission Process 07
Debarsho Sannyasi (Rank 3) 08

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

FOREWORD
KCET, conducted separately for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology,
paves the way for its candidates to admission in numerous B. Tech programmes
in government and private institutions of Karnataka, India. KCET 2018 received
applications from 1,98,639 students and this number is expected to increase in the
upcoming years which will consequently increase the already tough competition
level. Thus, by making the future KCET candidates familiar with the different pro-
cesses of admission and examination, this E-book aims to build their confidence
and determination. This E-book also includes an interview with Debarsho San-
nyasi (Rank 3), who has shared his preparation tips and tricks which, if taken into
practice, will help other KCET aspirants in facing the examination and cracking it
successfully.

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

INTRODUCTION TO KCET
KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) is a state level engineering entrance exami-
nation conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), offering admission in
various undergraduate and professional courses. It is the gateway to admission in B. Tech
programmes offered by ten participating institutes in Karnataka. The entrance exam is
conducted in offline mode for a span of two days. It is conducted tentatively in second week
of April. The candidates are required to answer 180 multiple choice questions on three
subjects, namely- Mathematics (Paper 1), Physics and Chemistry (Paper 2). Each subject
carried 60 questions. Every correct answer bore 1 mark while there was no negative marking
for incorrect answers. The time limit was 1 hour and 20 minutes for each paper. Candidates
could choose either English or Kannada as the medium of the exam.

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

HOW TO APPLY?
The Application form are released by KEA tentatively in February in online mode.
Steps to fill application Form are as follows:

●● Visit the official KEA website and click on the link for registration.
●● Choose a password for logging in.
●● Enter the required details (contact number, DOB, email ID, parents’ names, etc.)
●● Upload scanned copies of recent photograph, signature and left thumb impression.
●● Submit the application fee via State Bank of Hyderabad, Indian Bank, State Bank of Mysore or
e-post office.
●● Click on ‘Submit’ and print out the application form. It is advised to get it signed from your parents/
guardian and principal (of school or college) or Gazetted Officer for future reference.

Application fee varies for different categories. Full details regarding the application fee are
given in the table below:

E-Post Office
Category Application Fee Bank Charges
Charges
General/ OBC Rs. 650 Rs. 10 Rs. 12

SC/ ST/ Category 1 Rs. 500 Rs. 10 Rs. 12

Candidates qualifying Pre-University and

12th standard from state other than Rs. 750 Rs. 10 Rs. 12
Karnataka

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

EXAM PATTERN
The details regarding the total number of questions, mode of examination, marking scheme,
time limit, etc. are provided below for the candidates’ awareness and the consequent effec-
tiveness in their preparation.

S.No Particulars Specifications

1 Mode of Exam Offline
2 Number of questions 180
Physics- 60
Chemistry- 60
Mathematics- 60
3 Type of questions Objective
4 Total marks 180 (no negative marking)
5 Duration of exam 1 hour 20 minutes for each paper
6 Medium of exam English/ Kannada

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

ADMISSION PROCESS
KCET results are usually declared in June in online mode. Candidates can access the results
by using their registration number. After the declaration of result, the cutoff will be released
by the exam conducting authorities to determine the minimum marks required for admission
to institutes of Karnataka offering admissions to B. Tech programmes. Factors like number
of seats, number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam and cutoff trends of previous
years are considered to decide the opening and closing ranks. Counselling is conducted in
offline mode by KEA where document verification and seat allotment process take place.
Candidates are invited for counselling on the basis of their ranks and seat matrix. Documents
required during the counselling procedure are as follows:

●● KCET Application Form and admit card

●● 2 passport size, coloured photographs
●● Study Certificate Counter signed by the Concerned BEO/DDPI
●● Original Copy of the Challan as proof of fee payment
●● 10th Standard Report Card
●● 12th Standard Report Card
●● Category documents, if applicable

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

DEBARSHO SANNYASI
(RANK 3) “KCET IS ALL
ABOUT SPEED & EXAM
TEMPERAMENT”
Careers360: What was your reaction upon know-
ing your rank?
Debarsho Sannyasi: Thank you very much. I was
expecting a good result but didn’t expect 3rd rank. I
am really happy and satisfied with this result.

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself. Which board have you studied under?
Which school have you studied in?
Debarsho Sannyasi: I live in JSW Township, Toranagallu near Bellary. I studied in Jindal
Vidya Mandir school in our township which is a CBSE school. I also attended Avanti Learn-
ing Centre classes for JEE preparation.

Careers360: What is your score in KCET? What is your state rank and category rank?
Have you also appeared for any other entrance exams? What was your performance
in them?
Debarsho Sannyasi: In KCET 2018 I bagged rank 3 in engineering (General). Talking
about scores, in maths I scored 59, Chemistry 57 and 59 in Physics. Yes, I have appeared in
other exams as well. In JEE Main my rank was 425, JEE Advanced 585 rank and VITEEE:
Rank 34.

Careers360: Why do you want to study engineering? When did you decided to study
engineering? Which branch would you be interested in? Which college do you wish
to apply for?
Debarsho Sannyasi: Technology is the backbone of development of our world and this
inspires me to study engineering in future. I wish to study CSE or Electrical Engineering
from any of the old IITs.

Careers360: When did you start your KCET preparation? Tell us something about
your preparation strategy and daily routine for KCET?

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

Debarsho Sannyasi: I have not done any specific preparation for KCET. I only prepared
for JEE Main and Advanced. KCET got covered in that. But I solved 5-6 past years KCET
papers before the exams.

Careers360: Was there a difference in the preparation strategy in the last months of
KCET and JEE Main considering that the board exams also are during this period?
How did you manage preparation for both?
Debarsho Sannyasi: Syllabus of CBSE, IIT-JEE and KCET are almost the same. So, I did
not face much trouble. One to two months of preparation before CBSE Board Exams is
enough for scoring good marks in KCET.

Careers360: Did you take coaching for KCET and if yes from where? What are the
benefits of coaching according to you?
Debarsho Sannyasi: Yes, I had taken coaching from ‘Avanti Learning Centre’ which had
a branch in our township itself. We get proper guidance for entrance exams in coaching
classes. One needs proper training before appearing for these entrance exams which one
might not get in schools as pattern and level of questions here are much different and difficult
than CBSE Boards.

Careers360: Mock tests and sample papers – how extensively did you practice with the
help of these? Do you think practicing from the previous year papers help and how?
Debarsho Sannyasi: Surely, in any exam practicing from previous years papers is the best
method of preparation. Through them we come to know about the pattern, difficulty of ques-
tions and learn to manage time accordingly.

Careers360: Are there any special books that you feel have helped with your KCET
preparation? Are the school text books adequate for preparing for KCET and Class
XII?
Debarsho Sannyasi: No, NCERT books are more than enough for KCET as well as CBSE
class 12 Boards. I would advise specifically for KCET that one should work on improving
speed.

Careers360: Which subject was the easiest and which was the toughest in KCET?
What do you think is a tough thing to manage during the KCET exam?
Debarsho Sannyasi: Chemistry was the least time consuming and Maths was the most time
consuming. Difficulty levels depend on the student. I felt Chemistry the most difficult as it
contained strange questions. Time Management is the most difficult aspect of KCET. One
should have a good plan.

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 KCET PREPARATION TIPS BY TOPPERS

Careers360: What do you think are the key factors behind your stupendous success
in KCET?
Debarsho Sannyasi: I think in my case having good exam temperament, preparation and
time management worked a lot.

Careers360: How did you de-stress yourself during the preparation? What are your
hobbies? How often could you pursue them?
Debarsho Sannyasi: I used to play badminton 2 years ago, but left it due to study pressure
and classes. I love listening to music. In my point of view, one must not study more than 2
hours at a stretch and if you are feeling sleepy, you should sleep and not study.

Careers360: Who is your ideal or biggest inspiration in life and why?

Debarsho Sannyasi: No specific inspiration. My teachers and parents always supported
and guided me. They are a constant source of motivation for me.

Careers360: You know you are an inspiration to thousands of students across the
country. Do you have any message for future aspirants on tackling the KCET exam?
Debarsho Sannyasi: I think KCET is all about speed and exam temperament. Improve them
first by more and more practice strictly in the stipulated time. Don’t panic in between exams.
Lastly, I would like to say all the very best to all the future aspirants.

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