Bengaluru: With just days left for Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026, experts emphasised the importance of strategic preparation, revision and time management over last-minute cramming on Saturday during KCET Prep Master 2026, a webinar held to guide students appearing for the state-level entrance examination scheduled for April 23 and 24.The webinar, hosted by Presidency University in collaboration with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka, brought together officials from Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) and academic experts.Addressing students, Islauddin Gadyal, administrative officer at KEA, said the exam is not merely a test of knowledge but also of discipline, perseverance and clarity of purpose. “KCET opens doors to some of the finest institutions in Karnataka. Success is not defined solely by rank, but by your ability to think critically and stay consistent,” he said.He urged students to rely primarily on NCERT and PU textbooks and recommended complete syllabus coverage, rather than selective study. He advised students to focus on definitions, formulae, diagrams and standard problems.He also recommended solving at least 10 years of previous question papers, noting that 20%-40% of questions tend to follow repetition trends. With limited time remaining, he said mock tests and revision should be prioritised.On exam strategy, Gadyal underscored the need for effective time management. “With 80 minutes per paper and 60 questions, students should aim to spend about a minute per question after accounting for time spent filling OMR details. Accuracy plus speed equals rank,” he said, advising a “skip and run” approach — attempting easier questions first and returning to tougher ones later.The panellists echoed similar advice, cautioning students against starting new topics in the final days. Milind S Chippalkatti, National Head of Academics at Deeksha Learning, Bengaluru, said, “At this juncture, I would like to advise students not to enter a new mode of study. If certain topics haven’t been covered so far, then don’t attempt them now. This is the time to strengthen what they already know.” He outlined a four-day plan: Day 1 for formulae and reactions, Day 2 for mock test analysis, Day 3 for speed and accuracy, and Day 4 for a full-length mock simulation in non-ideal conditions.Robin Rohit Vincent, professor and head at Nvidia Centre of Excellence, Presidency School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bengaluru said, “Think of your brain as a smartphone — if you try to download a massive data set into a low-battery phone, it will crash. So, focus strictly on revision and optimise what you already know,” he said.He also advised students to use chemistry as a scoring subject, allocate more time to physics and mathematics, and avoid common mistakes such as misreading questions. Take simulated mock testsPanellists urged students to move beyond ideal study environments and train under less-than-perfect conditions. Instead of always taking mock tests in quiet settings, they said students should practise in spaces with minor distractions to better simulate real exam scenarios.The CET Prepmaster Mock Test is scheduled on April 20 from 11am to 4pm. Registrations are open until midnight on April 19 at www.cetprepmaster.in
