TANCET Exam 2026
TANCET 2026 (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) is the state-level entrance examination conducted annually by Anna University, Chennai on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu for admission to various postgraduate professional degree programs in Tamil Nadu.
Courses Covered under TANCET 2026
- MBA (Master of Business Administration)
- MCA (Master of Computer Applications)
- M.E. / M.Tech. / M.Arch. / M.Plan. (Master of Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Planning)
- Lateral Entry to MCA (2nd year direct admission in some cases)
Admissions are offered in government, government-aided, and self-financing engineering colleges, management institutes, and architecture institutions affiliated to Anna University and other Tamil Nadu universities.
TANCET Exam Current Status 2026
- Official Notification → Not yet released
- Expected Notification Release → Last week of February 2026 to mid-March 2026 (Most reliable sources: Anna University usually publishes the notification between February 25 and March 15 for the May exam cycle)
- Online Application Period → Likely March 2026 to April 2026 (4–6 weeks window)
- Exam Date → Most probable → First or second weekend of May 2026 Past pattern (single day, two sessions):
- TANCET 2025: March 22, 2025
- TANCET 2024: March 9, 2024
- TANCET 2023: March 25, 2023 → Expected for 2026: May 2–3, 2026 (Saturday–Sunday) or May 9–10, 2026
The exam is conducted in offline pen-and-paper (OMR-based) mode in two separate sessions on the same day:
- MBA → Morning session (usually 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon)
- MCA → Afternoon session (usually 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)
- M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./M.Plan. → Afternoon session (same as MCA or separate paper)
Official Websites
- Main Notification & Application Portal www.annauniv.edu (This subdomain is usually activated when notification is released)
- Anna University Official www.annauniv.edu → Admissions / TANCET section
- Tamil Nadu Common Admissions (TANCA) (for counselling after result) www.tancaonline.org (activates after result)
TANCET Exam Expected Eligibility Criteria (2026 – Likely unchanged)
- MBA: Any Bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for reserved categories)
- MCA: Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics at 10+2 or degree level + minimum marks
- M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./M.Plan.: Relevant B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch. degree with minimum marks
- Age Limit: No upper age limit
- Domicile: Open to all Indian citizens; Tamil Nadu reservation benefits for state quota
TANCET Exam Pattern (Expected – Same as recent years)
MBA
- 100 questions, 100 marks
- Sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Sufficiency, Business Situation Analysis
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Negative marking: ¼ mark deducted for wrong answer
MCA
- 100 questions, 100 marks
- Sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Computer Awareness
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Negative marking: Yes
M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./M.Plan.
- 100 questions, 100 marks
- Sections: Engineering Mathematics + Core Subject (branch-specific)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Negative marking: Yes
Application Fee (Expected)
- General / OBC: ₹800–1,000 (for one programme)
- SC/ST/SCA: ₹400–500
- Additional programme: ₹400–500 extra per course
Expected Timeline Summary (Most Probable 2026 Schedule)
| Event | Expected Date / Window |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | Feb 25 – Mar 15, 2026 |
| Online Application | Mar – Apr 2026 |
| Last date to apply | Mid-April 2026 |
| Hall Ticket / Admit Card | Late April 2026 |
| TANCET 2026 Exam Date | May 2–3 or May 9–10, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | 7–10 days after exam |
| Final Answer Key & Result | Late May – early June 2026 |
| Counselling (TANCA) Registration | June–July 2026 |
| Classes Commencement | August 2026 |
How to Prepare & Stay Updated
- Official Source: Bookmark annauniv.edu → TANCET section and tancaonline.org.
- Syllabus: Download from Anna University TANCET page (when notification is out) – very similar to previous years.
- Preparation: Focus on previous 10 years’ TANCET papers (available on Anna Univ site or coaching portals).
- Coaching/Books: R.S. Aggarwal (Quantitative), Arun Sharma (Data Interpretation), previous year solved papers, GK capsules for current affairs.
The TANCET 2026 exam date is most likely the first or second weekend of May 2026 (May 2–3 or May 9–10), but the official notification (expected in March 2026) will confirm the exact date, application link, fee, and detailed schedule.
No official announcement yet (February 26, 2026) → keep checking annauniv.edu regularly. Once the notification PDF is uploaded, it will contain every detail including exam date, centres, syllabus, eligibility, fee, and application process.
