HORTICET Exam Pattern 2026: 200 Questions, 200 Marks, Marking Scheme and Question Paper Pattern

HORTICET 2026, the Horticulture Common Entrance Test, is conducted by Dr. YSR Horticultural University (DRYSRHU), Andhra Pradesh for admission to the B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture programme. The official 2026 notification confirms the exam structure: 200 MCQs in 2 hours for 200 marks, conducted in offline OMR mode in Telugu medium with no negative marking.

• HORTICET 2026 is a 120-minute offline OMR-based test with 200 MCQs for 200 marks.
• Each correct answer earns +1 mark; there is no negative marking for wrong or unattempted answers.
• The exam is conducted in Telugu medium only, as confirmed in the 2026 notification.
• Questions cover the full 2-year Diploma in Horticulture curriculum of Dr. YSR Horticultural University.
• General and BC category students need a minimum of 25% marks (50 out of 200) to qualify; SC/ST students have no minimum qualifying marks.
• The exam is held in a single session at designated centres across Andhra Pradesh.
• The 2026 exam pattern is unchanged from previous years — the structure has been stable across cycles.

HORTICET Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

HORTICET 2026 follows a straightforward offline pen-and-paper format using OMR answer sheets. The 2026 official notification from DRYSRHU confirms the structure is unchanged: 200 single-correct MCQs, 2 hours total duration, +1 mark per correct answer, zero deduction for wrong answers, and questions set in Telugu. There are no separate sections or individual time limits — the full 120 minutes is available to attempt all 200 questions.

HORTICET 2026 is a 120-minute single-paper OMR test with 200 MCQs for 200 marks — no negative marking applies to any question in the paper.

HORTICET Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

The DRYSRHU releases the HORTICET 2026 schedule on its official website at drysrhu.ap.gov.in. The table below lists events in upcoming-first order based on the official notification and previous-year patterns. Students should check the official website regularly as dates are subject to revision.

Source: Dr. YSR Horticultural University – DRYSRHU Official Website

Note: The dates above are expected based on the official notification and previous-year timelines. All exam-related information is notified only through the official DRYSRHU website; no separate paper notifications are issued.

HORTICET 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

The HORTICET 2026 question paper is a single paper with 200 MCQs drawn from the full 2-year Diploma in Horticulture curriculum of Dr. YSR Horticultural University. All questions carry equal weightage of 1 mark each. The paper has no separate sections with individual time limits — the complete 120 minutes applies to the entire paper.

Each question has four options; you must shade the correct answer bubble on the OMR sheet using a blue or black ballpoint pen.

Note: The official DRYSRHU notification does not prescribe a fixed subject-wise question count for HORTICET 2026. The 200 questions span all subjects from the 2-year Diploma in Horticulture programme. Refer to the official brochure at drysrhu.ap.gov.in for the latest distribution details.

HORTICET Marking Scheme 2026

The HORTICET 2026 marking scheme rewards accuracy without penalising attempts. Every correct MCQ answer earns +1 mark. Wrong answers and unattempted questions both receive 0 marks. Since there is no negative marking, you should attempt every single question in the paper.

There is no negative marking in HORTICET 2026 — attempt all 200 questions to maximise your score.

The minimum qualifying marks are 25% (50 out of 200) for General and BC category students. SC/ST students have no minimum qualifying marks. Your merit rank in the final list — not just passing the qualifying threshold — determines your college allotment in counselling.

HORTICET Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

The HORTICET 2026 question paper covers all topics from the 2-year Diploma in Horticulture curriculum of Dr. YSR Horticultural University. The official notification lists 15 subject areas from the diploma programme as the syllabus basis. The major subject groups tested are described below. The DRYSRHU does not publish a fixed question count per subject; questions are distributed across the full curriculum.

Fruit Science

Questions cover the cultivation, propagation, and management of commercial fruit crops. Topics include orchard establishment, crop management practices, propagation methods (grafting, budding, layering), irrigation, and commercial varieties grown in Andhra Pradesh.

Vegetable Science

This area tests knowledge of vegetable crop production systems, nursery management, and protected cultivation. Topics include seasonal vegetables, hybrid seed production, poly house cultivation, and crop-specific growing requirements.

Floriculture & Ornamental Horticulture

Questions cover the production of flowers (cut flowers, loose flowers, pot plants), landscaping principles, and ornamental plant cultivation. Topics include rose, chrysanthemum, marigold, and tuberose cultivation, as well as lawn and garden maintenance.

Plant Pathology & Pest Management

This area includes identification and management of plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes. Entomology topics cover insect pest identification, life cycles, economic threshold levels, and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for horticultural crops.

Soil Science & Plant Nutrition

Topics include soil classification, physical and chemical properties, soil health improvement, fertiliser application, and macro/micro-nutrient functions in plant growth. Students should understand soil testing, organic manures, and bio-fertilisers.

Plant Physiology, Genetics & Breeding

Questions test understanding of photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, seed germination, and plant hormones. Genetics topics cover Mendel’s laws, plant breeding methods, hybridisation, and selection techniques used in horticulture crop improvement.

Post-Harvest Technology

Topics cover harvesting stages and methods, grading and standardisation, packaging materials, cold chain management, storage structures, processing techniques, and value addition for horticultural produce. Quality standards and food safety basics are also covered.

Other Subjects from Diploma Curriculum

The remaining questions come from Agricultural Principles, Applied Physical Sciences & Statistics, Commercial Horticulture & Bio-Inputs, Forestry & Natural Resources, Entomology & Apiculture, Environmental Sciences, and Extension Education — all part of the 2-year Diploma in Horticulture programme of Dr. YSR Horticultural University.

HORTICET Question Types 2026

HORTICET 2026 uses only one question type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with a single correct answer. Each question presents four options labelled (A), (B), (C), and (D). You select one correct option and shade the corresponding bubble on the OMR answer sheet. There are no numerical, integer-type, MSQ, or descriptive questions in HORTICET.

All 200 questions in HORTICET 2026 are MCQs with a single correct answer — there are no numerical, MSQ, or descriptive question types in the paper.

Since the exam is OMR-based, use a blue or black ballpoint pen to fill answer bubbles. Do not use a pencil. Shade each bubble completely. If you mark more than one bubble for a question, that response is treated as unattempted.

HORTICET Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

The official HORTICET 2026 notification from Dr. YSR Horticultural University confirms that the exam structure is unchanged from 2025. The pattern has remained consistent across multiple years: 200 MCQs, 2-hour duration, +1 mark per correct answer, no negative marking, Telugu medium, and offline OMR mode.

The HORTICET 2026 exam pattern is identical to 2025 — students can follow the same preparation strategy and use previous year question papers without any adjustments.

How to Prepare Based on HORTICET Exam Pattern

The HORTICET 2026 pattern provides clear preparation signals. 200 questions in 120 minutes means 36 seconds per question on average — speed, familiarity, and accurate OMR marking all count. The following tips are directly derived from the exam’s structure.

1. Attempt all 200 questions — no exceptions. The zero-penalty marking scheme means a random attempt is always better than leaving a question blank. Use the last 5 minutes to shade any skipped questions on your OMR sheet.
2. Cover the complete 2-year Diploma in Horticulture curriculum. Questions span all 15 subject areas of the DRYSRHU diploma programme — Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Plant Physiology, Genetics, Post-harvest Technology, and others. Skipping any subject risks losing marks from a part of the 200-question paper.
3. Practise OMR sheet filling under time pressure. The exam uses physical OMR sheets and pen — not a computer screen. Regular practice with mock OMR sheets builds speed and reduces errors. A wrongly shaded bubble costs you the mark even if you know the answer.
4. Solve HORTICET previous year question papers. The pattern has been stable for multiple years, so past papers give you the most accurate idea of question style, difficulty level, and recurring high-weightage topics from the diploma syllabus.
5. Prioritise applied and practical questions. HORTICET questions test applied knowledge — crop management decisions, pest identification, soil test interpretation, propagation method selection — not just textbook definitions. Revisit practical notes from your diploma coursework.
6. Build a score well above the qualifying threshold. The minimum qualifying mark is 50 out of 200 (25%) for General/BC students, but college and branch allotment depends on merit rank. Target 120+ marks to be competitive for preferred colleges.
7. Time yourself in mocks at 36 seconds per question. Simulate the full 120-minute test. Flag questions you are unsure about and return to them after completing the rest. Avoid spending more than 60 seconds on any single question in the first pass.