AP ICET 2026 Information Brochure

AP ICET-2026
ANDHRA PRADESH INTEGRATED COMMON ENTRANCE TEST-2026
FOR ADMISSION INTO MBA & MCA
(CONDUCTED BY ANDHRA UNIVERSITY ON BEHALF OF APSCHE)
INSTRUCTION BOOKLET
REGISTRATION FEE FOR ONLINE TEST IS:
RS. 750/- (OC), RS.700/- (BC) and RS. 650/-(SC/ST)
IMPORTANT DATES

S.
Particulars From To
No
Published in newspapers
1 Date of Notification in the News Papers
Dt. 04-02-2026

2 Commencement of submission of Online applications 05-02-2026
Registration & submission of online application without late
3 05-02-2026 02-03-2026
fee
Submission of online applications with late fee of Rs. 1000/- +
4 03-03-2026 07-03-2026
Registration fee
Submission of online applications with late fee of Rs. 2000/- +
5 08-03-2026 12-03-2026
Registration fee

Submission of online applications with late fee of Rs. 4000/- +
6 13-03-2026 17-03-2026
Registration fee

Submission of online applications with late fee of
7 18-03-2026 21-03-2026
Rs. 10000/- + Registration fee

8 Corrections to be made, if any, to submitted applications 23-03-2026

9 Downloading of Hall-tickets from the website 15-04-2026 Onwards

10 Examination date 02-05-2026
09:00 AM to 11:30 AM
11 Examination timings &
02:00 PM to 04:30 PM
12 Release of Preliminary Key 05-05-2026 – 05:00 PM

13 Last Date for receiving of objections on Preliminary Key 07-05-2026 – 05:00 PM

14 Declaration of Results & Ranks 16-05-2026

Note: Fee to be paid for each objection raised on a question is Rs300, and the same is
refundable for valid objection only. The decision of the committee on validity of the
objection is final and no further correspondence is entertained.
Payment of fee and submission of applications should be completed within the respective
period only. If any candidate completes payment during the no late fee slot and trying to

submit the application in the late fee slot, his application will be considered under late fee
slot only and candidate has to pay the additional scheduled fee to submit the application.

Introduction:

Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test (AP ICET-2026) is conducted by Andhra
University, Visakhapatnam on behalf of A.P. State Council of Higher Education for admission
into First year of Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Computer
Applications (MCA) offered by various university constituent and affiliated colleges in the
state of Andhra Pradesh for the academic year 2026-27.

Eligibility to appear for AP ICET-2026:
a) The candidates should be Indian National and should satisfy local/non-local status
requirements laid down in the Andhra Pradesh Educational Institutions (Regulations of
Admission) Order, 1974 as amended.
b) The candidates shall satisfy the rules of the concerned universities where they take
admission.
c) The candidates seeking admission –
 Should have studied and passed 3/4 year UG course in any faculty of the
recognised universities or its equivalent Degree Examination in 10 + 2 + 3/4
pattern as recognized by U.G.C. (University Grants Commission). For
information about recognized universities visit
https://www.ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/university?type=LZ1FUMk6U2J
WGNLvhWfVSA==, for degrees/Universities permitted by distance
education bureau, please visit https://www.ugc.ac.in/deb and for
information regarding the fake universities visit
https://www.ugc.gov.in/universitydetails/Fakeuniversity.
 For admission in MBA – Degree of 3/4 years duration from any recognized
University or its equivalent.
 For admission in MCA – Degree of 3/4 years duration with “Mathematics” as
one of the subject at Intermediate or Degree level.

Note: Candidate who passed all the subjects of the three years of any Degree
course in one sitting is not eligible for admission into MBA or MCA Course.

 Candidate with aggregate marks of 50% (45% in case of reserved categories –
SC, ST and BC) are alone eligible to take admission through AP ICET.
 Candidates shall fulfil the eligibility criteria laid down in relevant Government
Orders in vogue at the time of admissions.
 The qualifying Degree obtained by Distance Mode Program should have
recognition by Joint Committee of UGC, AICTE and DEC/DEB.
 The candidates who are appearing for the final year degree examination shall
also be eligible to appear for AP ICET-2026. However, the candidates have to
submit their provisional certificate at the time of admission. Otherwise his/her
candidature will not be considered for admission.

Applying for AP ICET-2026:

 The candidates who satisfy eligibility criteria stated above can apply for
AP ICET-2026 by filling an application online only through web site

https://cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. Detailed information for filling the online
application is given in user guide / manual available in the portal.
 The schedule of receiving application is given on the first page under “Important
Dates”.

The test is scheduled to be held at the following centres and the candidates can choose
5 centres from the list of choices provided.

S. No District Locations
1 Anakapalli Anakapalli
2 Anantapur Anantapur, Gooty, Tadipatri
3 Annamayya Madanapalle, Rajampeta, Rayachoty
4 Bapatla Bapatla, Chirala
5 Chittoor Chittoor, Palamner
6 East Godavari Rajahmundry
7 Eluru Eluru
8 Guntur Guntur
9 Hyderabad LB Nagar, Secunderabad
10 Kakinada Kakinada
11 Konaseema Amalapuram

12 Krishna Gudlavalleru, Machilipatnam

13 Kurnool Kurnool, Yemmiganur, Adoni
14 Nandyal Nandyal
15 NTR Mylavaram, Tirvuru, Vijayawada
16 Palnadu Narasaraopeta
17 Prakasam Markapuram, Ongole
18 Tirupati Gudur, Puttur, Tirupati
19 Sri Satyasai Puttaparthi
20 Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore Kavali, Nellore
21 Srikakulam Srikakulam, Tekkali

22 Visakhapatnam Anandapuram, Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam

23 Vizianagaram Rajam, Vizianagaram

24 West Godavari Bhimavaram, Narasapuram, Tadepalligudem

25 YSR Kadapa Kadapa, Proddatur
 However, Convener reserves the right to allot candidates to any other centre(s) in
unavoidable circumstances.

 The test will be conducted during 02-05-2026 (Saturday) in two sessions from
09:00 AM to 11:30 AM & 02:00 PM to 04:30 PM. Candidates applied for the test
can be allotted to any of the two sessions.
 MEDIUM OF TEST: For Section-B, Examination will be held only in English
medium, whereas for Section A & Section C, the examination will be held in both
English and Telugu mediums.

ABOUT AP ICET-2026
GENERAL INFORMATION: The test is designed to measure the candidate’s ability to think
systematically, to use the verbal & mathematical skills and to assess his/her aptitude for
admission into MBA/MCA programme. The test emphasizes accuracy. Therefore, the
candidate is required to go through the instructions carefully. This is an objective type test and
the questions are of multiple choice. Out of the given options, the candidate has to choose the
one correct answer. No negative marks are awarded for wrong answers.

PATTERN OF THE TEST: The test consists of 200 questions of one mark each on the
following topics.

No. of
Details Total Question Remarks
Questions
Section-A: Analytical Ability
1. Data Sufficiency 20
75
2. Problem Solving 55
Section-B: Communication Ability
1. Vocabulary 15 DURATION
2. Functional Grammar 20 OF THE
70
3. Business and Computer Terminology 15 TEST IS
4. Reading Comprehension 20 150
Section-C: Mathematical Ability MINUTES
1. Arithmetical Ability 35
2. Algebraical and Geometrical Ability 10 55
3. Statistical Ability 10
TOTAL 200 Marks 200 Questions

SYLLABUS CONTENT OF THE TEST:
Section-A: Analytical Ability:
1. Data Sufficiency: A question is given followed by data in the form of two statements labeled
as (i) and (ii). If the data given in (i) alone is sufficient to answer the question then choice (1)
is the correct answer. If the data given in (ii) alone is sufficient to answer the question then
choice (2) is the correct answer. If both (i) and (ii) put together are sufficient to answer the
question but neither statement alone is sufficient, then choice (3) is the correct answer. If both
(i) and (ii) put together are not sufficient to answer the question and additional data is needed,
then choice (4) is the correct answer.

2. Problem Solving

a) Sequences and Series: Analogies of numbers and alphabet, completion of blank spaces
following the pattern in a:b::c:d relationship; odd thing out: missing number in a sequence or
a series.
b) Data Analysis: The data given in a Table, Graph, Bar diagram, Pie Chart, Venn Diagram or
a Passage is to be analyzed and the questions pertaining to the data are to be answered.
c) Coding and Decoding Problems: A code pattern of English Alphabet is given. A given
word or a group of letters are to be coded or decoded based on the given code or codes.
d) Date, Time & Arrangement Problems: Calendar problems, clock problems, blood rela-
tionships, arrivals, departures and schedules, seating arrangements, symbol and notation
interpretation.

Section-B: Communication Ability:
Objectives of the Test:

Candidates will be assessed on the ability to:
1. Identify vocabulary used in the day-to-day communication (Vocabulary).
2. Understand the functional use of grammar in day-to-day communication as well as in the
business contexts (Functional Grammar).
3. Identify the basic terminology and concepts in computer and business contexts (letters,
reports, memoranda, agenda, minutes etc. (Business and Computer terminology).
4. Understand written text and drawing inferences (Reading Comprehension (4 Passages)).

Section -C: Mathematical Ability

I. Arithmetical Ability:
Laws of indices, ratio and proportion; surds; numbers and divisibility, l.c.m. and g.c.d; Rational
numbers, Ordering; Percentages; Profit and loss; Partnership, Pipes and cisterns, time, distance
and work problems, areas and volumes, mensuration, modular arithmetic.

II. Algebraical and Geometrical Ability:
Statements, Truth tables, implication converse and inverse, Tautologies-Sets, Relations and
functions, applications - Equation of a line in different forms.
Trigonometry - Trigonometric ratios, Trigonometric ratios of standard angles, (0°, 30°, 45°,
60°, 90°, 180°): Trigonometric identities: sample problems on heights and distances,
Polynomials; Remainder theorem and consequences; Linear equations and expressions;
Progressions, Binomial Theorem, Matrices, Notion of a limit and derivative; Plane geometry -
lines, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Coordinate geometry-distance between points.

III. Statistical Ability:
Frequency distributions, Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, Correlation, simple
problems on Probability.

PREPARATION OF MERIT LIST AND ASSIGNING OF RANK IN AP ICET-2026:

 The candidates who have secured 25% marks in AP ICET-2026 (50 out of 200) and
candidates belonging to the category of SC and ST to whom qualifying marks have not
been prescribed, shall be assigned rank in the order of the merit on the basis of marks
obtained in ICET. While assigning the ranks, full length float value given by the
computer will be considered, but in the rank cards, score upto 4 decimal places will be
printed.
 For the preparation of merit list, in case more than one student scoring the same marks
at AP ICET-2026, the tie will be resolved as follows:
i) By considering the marks scored in Section-A
ii) If the tie persists, marks obtained by a student in Section-B will be taken into
consideration.
iii) If the tie still persists, the tie will be resolved by taking the age of the candidate
into account and giving the older candidate priority.
 Ranks obtained in AP ICET-2026 are valid only for 2026-27 academic year admissions
into the various university constituent and affiliated colleges in the State of Andhra
Pradesh.
 All disputes arising out of any matter concerning to AP ICET-2026 shall be subject to
the jurisdiction of High Court of AP, Amaravati only, in such disputes, only the
Convener, AP ICET-2026 and the Secretary, APSCHE can be impleaded as
respondents.

NORMALIZATION OF SCORES

 AP ICET-2026 is being conducted in two sessions based on the same syllabus, same
pattern for candidates having same eligibility criteria. A candidate will be eligible to
appear only in one session. Since the question paper will be different for each session,
there is a possibility that the candidates compare themselves about the variation in the
difficulty level of questions. However, it may be noted that utmost care will be taken
so that all the papers are of same standard. Further, it is decided to adopt a normalization
process to eliminate any such variations in the difficulty level of the sessions.
 What is Normalization?

Normalization, as used in Indian context, is a process for ensuring the students neither
advantaged nor disadvantaged by the difficulty of examinations conducted in multiple
sessions. Normalization process ranks all the candidates across all sessions on a
comparative scale. In any normalization process, the marks of the easier session may
be reduced marginally and the marks of the harder paper may increase marginally on
the global level, depending on the average performance in each session. If there is not
much difference in the averages between two sessions then there will not be much
difference in the normalized marks as well. Normalizing marks would justify the
candidates while protecting their actual performance.
 AP ICET Marks Normalization Process:
 The main aim of the normalization is to justify the candidates who got a difficult
paper compared to an easier paper. Hence, the task is to rationalize in a best possible
sense and rank the candidates based on the global performance. Various national
level examination bodies like CAT, JEE (Main), GATE etc. are currently adopting
such normalization procedures. Correspondingly, Committee on normalization has
deliberated extensively and decided to use the following normalization procedure.
 Normalised marks of the candidate are,
𝑻𝒐𝒑 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒍 − 𝑮𝑴𝑺
𝑮𝑴𝑺 + × (𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒃𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆 − 𝑺𝑴𝑺)
𝑻𝒐𝒑 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 − 𝑺𝑴𝑺

where, SMS: (Average + Standard Deviation) of the session in which
the candidate belongs to, GMS: (Average + Standard Deviation) of all the
candidates across all sessions together, Top Average Session: Average marks
of the top 0.1% of the candidates in the session in which the candidate belongs
to, Top Average Global: Average marks of the top 0.1% of all the candidates
across all sessions together.

Notes:

 For the candidates for whom there is no qualifying cut off in AP ICET-2026, if the
marks in AP ICET-2026 go below zero (negative) after normalization, the total
marks will be treated as zero and the ranks are assigned based on those marks. If tie
persists, then AP ICET-2026 normalization marks will be considered for breaking
the tie.

GENERAL INFORMATION / INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The Convener or / and the Common Entrance Test Committee reserve the right to reject
the application of a candidate at any stage, if A) the application is incomplete. B) the
candidate fails to satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions. C) False or incorrect
information is furnished.

2. Any change whatsoever, including that of caste/community status or category, shall not
be permitted to be made in the filled in application once it is submitted to the Convener.
No correspondence will be entertained in this regard.
3. The Convener is not responsible for the non-submission of application by the notified
date and time for any reason whatsoever.
4. The Candidate should preserve the hall ticket to produce it at the time of test and later
at the time of admission into the course.
5. Applicants should download hall tickets from website https://cets.apsche.ap.gov.in
only.
6. The appearance at AP ICET-2026 does not entitle any candidate to be considered for
entry into the course automatically. Even if the candidate is qualified in AP ICET-2026,
successful completion of the qualifying degree is essential for eligibility.
7. The rank obtained with the benefit of relaxation of minimum qualifying marks at the
AP ICET-2026 by any candidate, claiming to belong to SC/ST category, will be
cancelled in case the claim is found to be invalid at any point of time.
8. The selection of candidates and allotment to colleges will be on the basis of rank
obtained at the Common Entrance Test and other conditions laid down.
9. Candidate will not be permitted into the examination hall after the scheduled time on
the date of entrance test.
10. Candidates are advised to practice the mock tests placed in the website and
familiarize with the mode of attempting the online test.