AP ICET 2026 Application Window Nears Closure for MBA and MCA Admissions

The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has officially closed the primary registration window for the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test (AP ICET) 2026 without any late fee. As of 18 March 2026, the portal has transitioned into the late fee phase, requiring applicants to pay an additional charge of ₹1,000 to submit their forms. This state-level entrance examination remains the essential gateway for students seeking admission into MBA and MCA programmes across various professional colleges and universities in Andhra Pradesh for the upcoming academic session. Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, is responsible for conducting the examination on behalf of the council. Candidates who missed the initial cutoff are advised to act quickly to avoid further escalations in the late fee slabs.

Extended Registration Phases and Fee Structure

The official website is currently accepting applications with the first tier of late fees. According to the published schedule, the ₹1,000 late fee period will remain active until March 21. Following this, the penalty will increase to ₹2,000 for submissions made between March 22 and March 25. The council has designed these staggered deadlines to encourage early registration and ensure a smooth logistics plan for the computer-based test. The final opportunity to register involves a significant late fee of ₹10,000, which will be applicable until April 3. Applicants must ensure that their fee payment is processed before they attempt to fill out the detailed application form, as the payment reference ID is a mandatory requirement for the second stage of the process.

Examination Day Guidelines and Pattern

The AP ICET 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on May 2, 2026. The test will be held in two separate shifts to accommodate the large number of applicants from 25 districts across the state. The first shift will run from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, while the second shift is scheduled for 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The question paper consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, with each correct answer carrying one mark. Notably, there is no negative marking in this examination, allowing students to attempt all questions without the fear of losing marks for incorrect guesses. The syllabus is specifically designed to assess a candidate's skills in three key areas: Analytical Ability, Mathematical Ability, and Communication Ability.

• Section A focuses on data sufficiency and problem-solving.
• Section B tests arithmetical, algebraic, and geometrical skills.
• Section C evaluates vocabulary, business terminology, and reading comprehension.
• Hall tickets will be available for download from the official portal starting April 15.

Academic Eligibility and Qualifying Marks

To be eligible for the MBA programme, candidates must have completed a three-year bachelor's degree from a recognized university with at least 50% aggregate marks. For students belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, and BC, the minimum requirement is 45%. Candidates applying for the MCA course must have also studied Mathematics at either the intermediate level or during their graduation. The qualifying mark for the entrance test is 25%, which translates to 50 marks out of 200 for open category students. There are no minimum qualifying marks prescribed for SC and ST candidates. After the examination, a preliminary answer key will be released on May 5, providing a brief window for students to raise any objections before the final results and ranks are declared on May 16.

Conclusion

The closure of the initial registration phase for AP ICET 2026 marks a significant transition in the admission cycle for management and computer application aspirants in Andhra Pradesh. While the late fee of ₹1,000 is now active, it remains a final chance for many students to secure their spot in the state-level entrance test. Candidates should prioritize completing their applications before the fee increases further on March 22. With the examination date confirmed for May 2, the focus for registered students should now shift toward understanding the computer-based test environment and reviewing the core sections of the syllabus to ensure a competitive rank in the merit list.