Is JEE, COMEDK, or KCET Necessary for Taking Admission in Engineering?

Most students opt for entrance exam coaching shortly after they commence Grade XI, as an earlier start gives them more time to prepare and score well in competitive exams. For students looking to pursue engineering in Karnataka, there are three major entrance exams that help them secure a seat at a good engineering college. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK), and the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) determine eligibility for admission to BE/BTech colleges in India. However, it is not mandatory for a student to appear for all these exams to secure admission in engineering. It depends on the type of college and course the student opts for. Some private colleges and state-level colleges have their own entrance exams, which are required for admission.

Here, let us take a look at these three main types of entrance examinations mentioned above and how students can prepare for them effectively.

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)

JEE is the most prominent and widely recognized engineering entrance exam in India. This examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and has two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.

JEE Main is the gateway for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs). It is also the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which is required for securing a seat at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

While JEE Main is conducted by the NTA, JEE Advanced is conducted by one of seven participating IITs located at Roorkee, Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati on a rotational basis. JEE Mains are conducted twice a year, and JEE Advanced is conducted once a year.

JEE exam dates: JEE Main 2025 Exam will be held between 22nd January and 30th January 2025.

COMEDK

COMEDK is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental Colleges of Karnataka. This entrance exam is most suited for students aiming to secure admission to undergraduate engineering courses in private colleges in Karnataka.

Much like JEE, the COMEDK exam assesses students based on their knowledge of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. They will be required to answer 60 multiple choice questions each for physics, chemistry, and maths, with no negative marking for wrong answers.

When is the COMEDK Entrance exam 2025?

According to an announcement on its official website, COMEDK will conduct an online examination for the 2025-26 academic year on Saturday, 10th May 2025, across 400 centers in India. The exam will be for Engineering programs offering around 20,000 seats and will be followed by online counseling.

Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET)

KCET is yet another state-level entrance exam for students seeking admission to engineering courses in Karnataka’s government and private colleges. Much like the above two entrance exams, the KCET also assesses students’ knowledge in subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

The KCET 2025 registration process will commence on January 23, 2025, and will be open until February 20, 2025.The KCET 2025 exams will be held on April 16 and 17, 2025.

Acharya Admission

Attending any of the above entrance tests is mandatory for admission to Acharya’s engineering programs. Meeting the eligibility criteria laid out by the Board/University is mandatory.

However, the Acharya Institute of Technology also offers management quota seats, where admissions can be made through direct counseling or donations.

To know more about Acharya Institute of Technology’s admission process, drop an email to admissions@acharya.ac.in. One can also walk into the campus to meet with the counselors and admission officers.

How to prepare effectively for engineering entrance exams

• Familiarise yourself with the syllabus and exam pattern, and thoroughly prepare for sections that carry more weightage. Taking mock tests is one way to do this.
• Create a realistic study plan that includes time for proper revisions and breaks. Make sure your foundation is strong.
• Certain topics are repeated frequently in exams. Therefore, it is important to focus on these important topics during revisions.
• Revise regularly as it helps to reinforce concepts.
• Both accuracy and speed are needed during competitive exams. But do not focus on speed over accuracy.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle to manage stress during exam season. Exercise regularly and do not forget to take short breaks.