TANCET 2026 – Notification, Exam Date, Registration, Syllabus, Pattern, Eligibility, Test Centres

Anna University will announce the TANCET 2026 exam schedule on its official site, tancet.annauniv.edu, likely in March 2026. You will find all important updates there, such as exam dates, application deadlines, and eligibility details. The TANCET exam scores are accepted by various colleges across Tamil Nadu for admission into MBA and MCA courses. The TANCET 2026 registration is expected to open in January 2026, allowing eligible candidates to apply. For your convenience, detailed information about the exam timetable, how to register, preparation strategies, exam format, syllabus PDF, and more will be available to help you plan effectively. Stay tuned to the official site for the latest announcements and ensure you meet all requirements in time. This will help you confidently navigate the TANCET 2026 admission process.

The Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) is a state-level exam that allows you to pursue postgraduate studies such as MBA and MCA in top colleges across Tamil Nadu. The test is organised every year by Anna University on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Along with TANCET, the university also conducts CEETA-PG for M.E., M.Tech., M.Arch., and M.Plan programmes. For 2026, nearly 200+ reputed colleges are expected to accept TANCET scores, offering around 15,000 MBA and MCA seats. Over 45,000 candidates appear annually, making it one of the most competitive PG entrance exams in the state. The TANCET exam is held in offline mode, consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed in two hours. Counselling for MBA and MCA admissions is managed by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Chennai.

The following table summarises the important highlights of the TANCET 2026:

TANCET 2026 exam important dates have been provided in the following table. 

Anna University will release the TANCET 2026 application form online through the official website. You must complete the registration before the deadline to appear for the exam. The application window is expected to open in January 2026, and late submissions will not be accepted. Follow the steps below to fill out the TANCET 2026 application form correctly:

• Registration: Create your account using a valid email ID and mobile number.
• Login: Access the portal using the generated credentials.
• Application Fee Payment: Pay the application fee online via debit/credit card or UPI.
• Personal Details: Enter your name, address, and contact information accurately.
• Educational Details: Provide details of your academic qualifications.
• Exam City Preference: Select your preferred city for the examination.
• Document Upload: Upload a recent passport-size photo and signature as per the specified format.

TANCET Eligibility Criteria 2026 has been released by Anna University at tancet.annauniv.edu/tancet. To be eligible to apply for TANCET 2026, candidates must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements set by the authorities as part of the TANCET eligibility criteria 2026. To be eligible for various postgraduate programs, candidates must meet specific criteria.

TANCET 2026 MBA Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the MBA program, you must meet the following requirements:

• You should hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates).

• Your undergraduate education must follow one of these patterns:

  • 10 + 2 + 3 or 4 or 5 years

  • 10 + 3 years Diploma + 3 years

  • 10 + 2 followed by B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch./B.Pharm.

  • 10 + 2 + AMIE

  • 10 + 3 years Diploma (recognised by the State Board of Technical Education) + AMIE

TANCET 2026 MCA Eligibility Criteria

For the MCA program, eligibility rules are as follows:

• You must possess a BCA or B.Sc. degree in IT/Computer Science.

• If your degree is in another field, you should have studied Mathematics at the 10+2 level or during graduation.

• A minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) is required in the qualifying exam.

• Accepted education patterns include:

  • 10 + 2 + 3 or 4 or 5 years

  • 10 + 3 years Diploma + 3 years

  • 10 + 2 + AMIE

  • 10 + 3 years Diploma (recognised by the State Board of Technical Education) + AMIE

The TANCET 2026 exam pattern varies by subject, with the MBA exam consisting of 100 questions divided into five sections: reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude, business analysis, data sufficiency, and English usage, while the MCA exam includes four sections: quantitative aptitude, analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and computer awareness. Both exams are conducted for 2 hours and contain a total of 100 questions, with 115 for M.E./M.Tech/M.Arch/M.Plan candidates. Each section carries specific weightage: 25 questions for each MCA section and 20 for each MBA section, culminating in a total of 100 marks. As per the TANCET exam pattern 2026, the exam is conducted in English, employs multiple-choice questions with four answer choices, and is conducted in a pen-and-paper format. According to the TANCET marking scheme 2026, candidates will be given one mark for correct answers and deduct one-fourth of a mark for incorrect responses, which is equivalent to 0.25.

The TANCET 2026 syllabus is listed in the table below.

The TANCET 2026 admission process is organised by Anna University for entry into MBA, MCA, and M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./M.Plan programs across Tamil Nadu. The process involves several key steps that every applicant must follow carefully to secure admission to their preferred institution.

• Application Submission: Fill out the TANCET 2026 application form online through the official Anna University portal with accurate academic and personal details.

• Hall Ticket Download: Obtain your admit card once released and verify all details, such as your exam centre and registration number.

• Exam Appearance: Attend the TANCET 2026 exam, tentatively scheduled for March 2026, conducted in offline (pen-and-paper) mode.

• Scorecard Download: Check your result and download the official scorecard from the university website using your login credentials.

• Counselling Participation: Register for the TANCET counselling process conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) for seat allotment based on your rank and preferences.

 TANCET exam 2026 will be conducted for admission in the following courses:

TANCET Previous year question papers are an important aspect of the preparation journey. Candidates should attempt the TANCET previous year question papers to boost their exam preparation. Solving the previous year's paper is highly recommended by teachers and toppers. Attempting the question paper will give you an idea about your exam preparation. TANCET question papers are based on the actual TANCET exam pattern, hence candidates should practice as many papers as possible. Practicing TANCET's previous year's question papers would help improve applicants' speed and time management abilities.  

TANCET is one of the leading state-level examinations. The level of competition is high, and an appropriate preparation plan will help the candidates to ace the examination. The following are some TANCET preparation tips 2026:

• Analyse the whole TANCET syllabus and exam pattern
• Create a study schedule and adhere to it religiously
• Avoid distractions and stay focused on your study
• Maintain a consistent exam practice schedule and continue to solve prior exams
• Take online sample examinations and evaluate your preparedness
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle and refrain from indulging in any activities that will put a strain on your performance

Best Books for TANCET 2026 Exam

Candidates who are preparing for the exam must go through the list of best books for the TANCET exam. Experts at CollegeDekho have curated the list of TANCET best books for the preparation of the exam, as a plethora of books are available in the market. However, candidates must choose the best books for the exam preparation according to their interests:

• MBA Entrance Examination by E.S. Ramasamy

• TANCET MBA by V V K Subburaj

• English Language Student Book by Alison Ross

• Reasoning Test (Verbal & Non-Verbal)  by Dr. M.B. LAL and A.K. Singh

• TANCET Data Interpretation Analysis by Ashok Gupta

• TANCET Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by  R.S Agarwal

• TANCET General English by  Dr. B.B. Jain

• New Pattern Tests of Objective English by  Dr. R.N Singh

Before appearing for the TANCET 2026 exam, you must download your TANCET 2026 admit card from the official Anna University website. It serves as a mandatory entry document for the exam centre. The hall ticket includes important details such as your name, roll number, exam venue, and timing, along with essential exam-day guidelines. Remember, only the online mode is available for downloading the admit card; no physical copies will be sent by post. Candidates without a printed admit card will not be allowed inside the exam hall.

Steps to Download TANCET 2026 Hall Ticket

• Visit the official website: tancet.annauniv.edu
• Click on the “Download Hall Ticket” section
• Enter your registered email ID and password
• Verify the captcha code carefully
• Click on “Login” to access and download your admit card

The TANCET 2026 exam will be conducted in 15 districts of Tamil Nadu. While filling out the TANCET application form, candidates have to choose the exam cities for the exam centre. Candidates can check the list of TANCET exam centres 2026 below:

• Chennai    
• Coimbatore
• Chidambaram    
• Dindigul
• Erode    
• Karaikudi
• Madurai    
• Nagercoil
• Salem    
• Thanjavur
• Tirunelveli    
• Tiruchirapalli
• Vellore    
• Villupuram
• Virudhunagar    

Candidates can choose one exam centre at the time of TANCET 2026 Registration.

• Details of the exam centre will be mentioned on the admit cards, such as the address and the location of the centre.
• Candidates can be allotted another exam centre other than the one chosen if there is no vacancy in the preferred one.
• TANCET 2026 will be organised at 15 locations in Tamil Nadu.  

Anna University will publish the TANCET 2026 answer key online through its official portal. You can access the TANCET MBA answer key by logging in with your registered email ID and password. The answer key will help you review your responses and estimate your score before the results are announced. In addition, several coaching institutes and education YouTube channels are expected to share unofficial TANCET 2026 answer keys shortly after the exam, allowing you to compare solutions and assess your exam performance with greater accuracy.

Check the steps to access the TANCET final answer key below:

• Go to the official website 
• Click on the final answer key link 
• Fill out the login credentials 
• Click on the submit button 
• The TANCET 2026 Final Answer Key will appear on the screen 
• Download the answer key and save it for later use 

Anna University published theTANCET result 2026. Candidates can check their scores and rank in TANCET 2026 by downloading the result and mark sheet using their login details. All shortlisted applicants will have to provide this mark sheet throughout the TANCET 2026 admissions procedure.

How to Check the TANCET 2026 Score?

Candidates may verify their TANCET 2026 results by following the exact processes outlined below.

• Go to the official website.
• Select the result link.
• Log in using your registered email address/username and password.
• The outcome of a successful login will be displayed on the screen.
• Download it for future reference

DTE Chennai will release the TANCET Merit List 2026 for MBA/MCA during the counselling process. The merit list will include the names of the candidates who will be eligible to take part in the next round of counselling. TANCET merit list for the respective courses will be as per the candidate’s category and performance in the TANCET 2026 exam. Anna University will announce the TANCA Merit List 2026 for M.Tech/ M.E/ M.Arch/ M.Plan for both TANCET and GATE applicants.

If you qualify for the TANCET 2026 exam, you become eligible to take part in the counselling process conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Tamil Nadu. This process helps link successful candidates with MBA and MCA colleges accepting TANCET scores across the state.

• The DTE will release a detailed rank list that includes the names of candidates eligible for the seat allotment rounds.

• The list will be prepared after careful document verification, which includes:

  • TANCET 2026 scorecard

  • Academic mark sheets and certificates

  • TANCET admit card

  • Tamil Nadu residence certificate

  • Any additional documents mentioned in the official counselling brochure

The TANCET 2026 counselling process is expected to be fully online, and over 250+ participating institutions are likely to offer admissions through TANCET scores.

TANCET cutoff 2026 refers to the minimum qualifying marks/ranks that students must obtain in the test to be admitted to TANCET participating institutes. TANCET 2026 cutoff is not publicly released by Anna University; nevertheless, candidates can consult the previous year's seat allotment list to learn the TANCET MBA last ranks. The seat allotment lists include the final ranks for admission to all government and non-government colleges in the state that accept TANCET. For the open category, the cut-off score for elite universities/colleges/institutes often ranges between 34 and 64.

TANCET 2026 Seat Allotment will be released post counselling sessions. Candidates will be able to participate in the TANCET seat allotment 2026 after the release of the rank list. Candidates will be assigned places at TANCET participating colleges depending on their ranks and preferences. TANCET counselling will be held in one round at DTE, Chennai. Following that, DTE begins the additional counselling phase. TANCET supplemental counselling will be held to replace the unfilled seats left over after general counselling.

Colleges accepting TANCET scores for providing admission are referred to as TANCET participating colleges 2026. For the year 2026, the list of participating colleges of TANCET 2026 is likely to be around 200. TANCET colleges offer a total of six programs. MBA, MCA, ME/ MTech/ MArch/ MPlan programs are available. Some of the top colleges/institutes are-

• PSG Tech Coimbatore - PSG College of Technology
• Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore
• GCT Coimbatore - Government College of Technology
• BIT Sathy - Bannari Amman Institute of Technology
• Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore
• DMI College of Engineering, Chennai