The Andhra University is conducting the AP PGECET and has released the exam pattern on behalf of APSCHE in an official notification. The exam will be held from 28th to 30th March 2026.
- There have been no changes in the exam pattern as per the past years’ trends.
- The test will have 120 MCQs carrying +1 mark each for a correct answer, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
- The AP PGECET will be held online in CBT mode in the English language only.
- The exam will be of 2 hours duration, and will be held across multiple days and shifts.
| To access the official exam pattern released by the APSCHE - Click Here |
Candidates seeking admission into PG engineering programs like ME, M Tech in Andhra Pradesh must appear in this exam. Knowing about the exam pattern will greatly help the aspirants to plan and succeed in the AP PGECET 2026.
Also Read: AP PGECET 2026 Syllabus: Check Weightage, Preparation Tips & Recommended Books
Key Summary
In this article, we have discussed the crucial dates as released by the APSCHE regarding the AP PGECET 2026 exam.
- The exam will be conducted in Online CBT mode, with 120 MCQs.
- Each correct answer will fetch +1 mark, thus totalling 120 marks.
- The duration of the exam will be 2 hours, and there is no negative marking.
What is the AP PGECET 2026 Exam Pattern?
The AP PGECET exam pattern will help aspiring students in understanding the type of questions asked and the duration, along with other crucial information regarding exam schemes.
Candidates must be familiar with the exam pattern to succeed in the exam.
AP PGECET 2026 Overview table
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Medium of Exam | English |
| Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Total Marks | 120 Marks |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | No Negative Marking |
Ques. Is AP PGECET an online or offline exam?
Ans. AP PGCECT 2026 will be conducted in online mode only; there will be no offline exam centre.
Ques. Who is conducting the AP PGECET 2026 exam and why?
Ans. The exam is conducted by Andhra University on behalf of APSCHE. It is conducted to provide admission to PG engineering courses.
Also Check:
AP PGECET 2026 Marking Scheme
The exam will be conducted in online CBT mode and will have 120 MCQs. Each question will be of +1 mark, and there will be no negative marking.
- The exam will be of 2 hours' duration.
- The MCQs will cover general knowledge, reasoning, mathematics, and core subject topics related to your chosen specialisation.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 120 |
| Total Marks | 120 |
| Marks per Question | 1 Mark |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Question Type | MCQs |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Medium | English |
Ques. How many core subject questions will be there in the AP PGECET 2026 exam?
Ans. The AP PGECET 2026 will have three sections:
- A compulsory Engineering Mathematics, Logical section, and a Core Discipline section
AP PGECET Previous Year Questions papers
Also Check:
AP PGECET 2026 Overall Topic-wise weightage
Based on the past several years’ paper analysis, the overall topic-wise expected weightage of AP PGECET 2026 clearly shows that the core branch subjects portion will dominate in the exam.
- Engineering maths and aptitude/reasoning carry almost the same weight of around 15%, and offer an opportunity to score well in these two subjects.
| Topic | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 15% |
| Aptitude/Logical | 15% |
| Respective Core Branch subjects | 70% |
Branch-wise topic weightage 2026
AP PGECET 2026 is conducted for 13 branches every year, and based on the previous years' paper analysis for each branch expected number of questions and corresponding weightage have been provided in the tables below.
AP PGECET Aerospace Engineering Topic wise weightage
| Major Subjects | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Flight Mechanics | 18–24 | 15–20% |
| Space Dynamics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Aerodynamics | 18–24 | 15–20% |
| Structures | 18–24 | 15–20% |
| Propulsion | 12–18 | 10–15% |
AP PGECET Biotechnology Topic wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Microbiology | 10–12 | 8–10% |
| Biochemistry | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Molecular Biology & Genetics | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Bioprocess Engineering | 18–22 | 15–18% |
| Process Biotechnology | 10–12 | 8–10% |
| Recombinant DNA Technology | 12–14 | 10–12% |
| Plant & Animal Biotechnology | 7–10 | 6–8% |
| Immunology | 7–10 | 6–8% |
| Bioinformatics | 6–8 | 5–7% |
AP PGECET Chemical Engineering Topic-wise Weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 20–28 | 17–23% |
| Process Calculations & Thermodynamics | 15–20 | 12–17% |
| Fluid Mechanics & Mechanical Operations | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Heat Transfer | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Mass Transfer | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Chemical Reaction Engineering | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Instrumentation & Process Control | 8–12 | 7–10% |
| Plant Design & Economics | 8–12 | 7–10% |
| Chemical Technology | 5–8 | 4–7% |
AP PGECET Civil Engineering Topic wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Structural Engineering | 22–26 | 18–22% |
| Geotechnical Engineering | 17–22 | 14–18% |
| Water Resources Engineering | 17–19 | 14–16% |
| Environmental Engineering | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Transportation Engineering | 7–10 | 6–8% |
| Surveying | 6–8 | 5–7% |
AP PGECET Computer Science and IT Topic-wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Data Structures & Algorithms | 16–20 | 13–17% |
| Operating Systems | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Database Management Systems | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Computer Networks | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Theory of Computation | 8–12 | 7–10% |
| Programming & Data Structures | 8–12 | 7–10% |
| Software Engineering | 6–8 | 5–7% |
| Digital Logic / Computer Architecture | 8–12 | 7–10% |
AP PGECET Electrical Engineering Topic-wise Weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Electric Circuits | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Power Systems | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Control Systems | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Electrical Machines | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Power Electronics | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Signals & Systems | 8–12 | 7–10% |
| Measurements & Instrumentation | 8–12 | 7–10% |
AP PGECET Electronics and Communication engineering Topic wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Analog Circuits | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Digital Circuits | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Signals & Systems | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Communication Systems | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Control Systems | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Electromagnetics | 8–12 | 7–10% |
| Networks | 8–12 | 7–10% |
AP PGECET Food Technology Topic wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Food Chemistry & Nutrition | 22–26 | 18–22% |
| Food Microbiology & Biotechnology | 22–26 | 18–22% |
| Food Technology | 28–32 | 23–27% |
| Food Engineering | 22–26 | 18–22% |
| Food Quality & Standards | 16–20 | 13–17% |
AP PGECET Geo engg and Geo Informatics
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 34–38 | 28–32% |
| Geo-Engineering | 40–44 | 33–37% |
| GIS Concepts | 28–32 | 23–27% |
| Environment & Soils | 10–14 | 8–12% |
AP PGECET Instrumentation Engineering Topic -wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 16–20 | 13–17% |
| Basics of Circuits & Measurement Systems | 12–16 | 10–13% |
| Transducers & Mechanical Measurement | 16–20 | 13–17% |
| Analog Electronics | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Digital Electronics | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Signals, Systems & Communications | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Electrical & Electronic Measurements | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Control Systems & Process Control | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Analytical, Optical & Biomedical Instrumentation | 10–14 | 8–12% |
AP PGECET Mechanical Engineering Topic wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 12–18 | 10–15% |
| Applied Mechanics & Design | 14–18 | 12–15% |
| Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences | 18–22 | 15–18% |
| Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering | 18–22 | 15–18% |
| Theory of Machines | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Machine Design | 10–14 | 8–12% |
AP PGECET Metallurgical Engineering Topic wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 22–26 | 18–22% |
| Thermodynamics & Rate Processes | 28–32 | 23–27% |
| Extractive Metallurgy | 28–32 | 23–27% |
| Physical Metallurgy | 16–20 | 13–17% |
| Mechanical Metallurgy | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Manufacturing Processes | 5–8 | 4–7% |
AP PGECET Nano Technology Topic-wise weightage
| Major Subject | Approx. Number of Questions | Expected % (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 28–32 | 23–27% |
| Engineering Mechanics & Strength of Materials | 16–20 | 13–17% |
| Fluid Mechanics & Heat Transfer | 22–26 | 18–22% |
| Elements of Material Science | 10–14 | 8–12% |
| Metallurgical Thermodynamics | 16–20 | 13–17% |
| Advanced Material Science | 16–20 | 13–17% |
AP PGECET Important Books for Preparation 2026
Based on past years’ topper recommendations and exam experts' opinions, the following list of books has been suggested to candidates for all 13 branches that are offered.
| Branch | Important Books / References |
|---|---|
| Bio Technology | 1. PGECET Biotechnology – Engineers Academy / Career Plus 2. Biotechnology – P. K. Gupta / Umesh Publications 3. Bioprocess Engineering – Shuler & Kargi |
| Chemical Engineering | 1. Chemical Engineering – McGraw-Hill (RK Jain, AMW Page) 2. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics – Narayanan / Rao 3. Mass Transfer – Treybal |
| Civil Engineering | 1. Civil Engineering All-in-One – Made Easy / GKP 2. Structural Analysis – C.S. Reddy 3. Fluid Mechanics – Modi & Seth |
| Computer Science & Engg (CSE) | 1. Operating Systems – Galvin 2. Data Structures – Lipschutz 3. Computer Networks – Tanenbaum |
| Electrical Engineering | 1. Electrical Machines – P.S. Bimbhra 2. Power Systems – C.L. Wadhwa 3. Control Systems – Nagrath & Gopal |
| Electronics & Communication Engg (ECE) | 1. Electronic Devices – Millman & Halkias 2. Digital Communications – Simon Haykin 3. Signals & Systems – Oppenheim |
| Mechanical Engineering | 1. Thermodynamics – P.K. Nag 2. Machine Design – R.S. Khurmi 3. Theory of Machines – Sadhu Singh |
| Metallurgical Engineering | 1. Extractive Metallurgy – G. W. A. Daryle; 2. Physical Metallurgy – Sidney Avner 3. Materials Science – Callister |
| Industrial Biotechnology | 1. Industrial Biotechnology – Shuler & Kargi 2. Biochemical Engineering – Bailey & Ollis |
| Instrumentation Technology | 1. Control Systems – Nagrath & Gopal 2. Transducers – Doebelin 3. Instrumentation Technology – B.G. Liptak |
| Information Technology (IT) | 1. IT Essentials – Peter Norton 2. Data Structures & Algorithms – Goodrich 3. Database Systems – Korth |
| Petroleum Engineering | 1. Petroleum Engineering Fundamentals – Boyun Guo 2. Reservoir Engineering – Dake |
| Pharmacy / Pharma Engg | 1. Remington’s Pharmaceutical Sciences 2. Pharmaceutics – Martin 3. Pharmacognosy – Trease & Evans |
General Subjects Prep Books (for all branches)
| Subject | Books |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R.S. Aggarwal |
| Reasoning & Analytical Ability | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal |
| English | High School English Grammar & Composition – Wren & Martin |
| Mathematics (PG Misc.) | Objective Mathematics – R.D. Sharma / Aptitude Test Problems in Engineering – S.S. Sastry |
Ques. How many times a year is the AP PGECT exam conducted?
Ans. The exam is conducted once a year by the APSCHE to facilitate admissions to PG-level engineering courses.
FAQs
Ques. Is there negative marking in AP PGECET 2026?
Ans. No, there is no negative marking in AP PGECET 2026. Candidates get +1 mark for each correct answer, and no marks are deducted for incorrect responses.
Ques. How many questions are there in AP PGECET 2026?
Ans. The exam contains 120 objective-type (MCQ) questions, each carrying 1 mark.
Ques. What courses are offered through the AP PGECT 2026 exam?
Ans. Qualified candidates of AP PGECET 2026 can take admission into ME, M Tech, M Pharmacy, and Pharm D courses in govt and private colleges across Andhra Pradesh.
Ques. Are mock tests available for AP PGECET 2026 preparation?
Ans. Yes, official mock tests are provided on the AP PGECET portal (cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/PGECET ). Candidates can familiarise themselves with the CBT interface to get the real exam feel and practice it on a daily basis.
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