GUJCET 2026 is scheduled for 29 March 2026; application form will open in December
Attention Gujarat Engineering Aspirants The official exam date for GUJCET 2026 has been confirmed by the GSEB for March 29, 2026. This is a mandatory exam for B.Tech/B.Pharm admissions in Gujarat's state-level institutions. The application window is set to open soon, expected in December 2025. This article covers the confirmed dates, a step-by-step guide for the online registration, and the crucial exam pattern and marking scheme you need to master for success. Start your final preparation now.
The path to securing a coveted seat in top state engineering and pharmacy colleges across Gujarat has been clearly mapped out. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) has officially announced the exam date for the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET) 2026. This announcement, made on November 8, 2025, provides aspirants with a definitive target for their preparation efforts.
The GUJCET 2026 examination is officially scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 29, 2026. This state-level entrance test is compulsory for candidates seeking admission to various B.E./B.Tech and B.Pharm programs offered by government, grant-in-aid, and many private institutions in Gujarat. The good news does not stop there: the online application form is expected to be released shortly, with registrations likely to commence in the third week of December 2025. All eligible candidates must stay hyper-vigilant for updates on the official website, typically gseb.org or gujcet.gseb.org, to ensure they do not miss the registration window, which is projected to close around mid-January 2026.
Key Dates and Mandatory Application Procedure
Understanding the official timeline is the first step toward a successful application. Missing the registration deadline will disqualify a candidate from participating in the exam and subsequent ACPC (Admission Committee for Professional Courses) counselling.
- GUJCET 2026 Official Timeline (Confirmed and Expected):
- Official Exam Date: March 29, 2026 (Sunday) (Confirmed by GSEB on Nov 8, 2025).
- Application Form Release: Expected in the 3rd week of December 2025.
- Application Deadline: Expected in the 2nd week of January 2026 (A short window for late fee payment may follow).
- Admit Card Availability: Expected in the 2nd week of March 2026.
- Result Declaration: Expected in April/May 2026.
- Step-by-Step Online Registration Guide:
- Step 1: Visit the Official Portal: Access the dedicated GUJCET application website (expected to be gujcet.gseb.org or gseb.org).
- Step 2: New Registration: Create a unique user ID and password by providing a valid mobile number and email ID.
- Step 3: Fee Payment: Pay the non-refundable application fee (typically around ₹350, though subject to change) online using a debit card, credit card, or net banking.
- Step 4: Form Filling: Log in and accurately fill out all required fields, including personal details, academic information (HSC Science stream details), and preferred exam centre locations.
- Step 5: Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size photograph and signature strictly following the prescribed specifications.
- Step 6: Final Submission: Download and print the Confirmation Page after successful submission and payment. This document is essential proof of your candidature.
- Eligibility Check: Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the 10+2 (HSC Science) examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology as subjects. Crucially, they must also meet the Gujarat domicile criteria.
Mastering the GUJCET 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Effective preparation for a state-level exam like GUJCET requires a thorough understanding of its structure, which is distinct from national exams like JEE Main. The GUJCET is an offline, Pen-and-Paper based test (OMR Sheet based).
- GUJCET 2026 Exam Structure:
- Total Duration: 3 Hours (180 minutes) for both papers combined.
- Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen-and-Paper based).
- Medium of Exam: Questions are provided in three languages: English, Hindi, and Gujarati.
- Total Questions: 120 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Total Marks: 120 Marks.
- Subject-Wise Breakdown:
- Paper 1 (Physics and Chemistry):
- Questions: 80 (40 from Physics + 40 from Chemistry).
- Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours).
- Paper 2 (Mathematics or Biology):
- Questions: 40 (Mathematics for Engineering, Biology for Pharmacy).
- Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour).
- Paper 1 (Physics and Chemistry):
- Marking Scheme (Critical):
- Correct Answer: +1 Mark
- Incorrect Answer: -0.25 Mark (Negative Marking is mandatory).
- Syllabus Focus: The entire syllabus is derived from the Class 12 NCERT/GSEB Science curriculum for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology. Aspirants must ensure their board exam preparation directly aligns with the GUJCET curriculum.
Preparation Strategy and Counselling Weightage
With the exam date firmly set for March 29, 2026, the next few months are dedicated to strategic preparation and understanding the admission criteria that follow the test.
- Preparation Focus for the Final Phase:
- NCERT Mastery: Given the syllabus is strictly based on the Class 12 GSEB curriculum, mastery of NCERT textbooks is paramount for high scores.
- Mock Tests and Time Management: Practice full-length GUJCET mock tests under the 3-hour time constraint, specifically focusing on the 2:1 time split for Paper 1 (Physics/Chemistry) and Paper 2 (Maths/Bio). Time allocation for OMR filling is also crucial.
- Negative Marking Strategy: Due to the -0.25 negative marking, candidates must avoid guessing. Focus on high-accuracy attempts over maximizing the number of attempts.
- The 40:60 Admission Formula:
- Final admission to engineering courses in Gujarat is based on a combined merit list prepared by the Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC).
- The merit is calculated using a 40:60 weightage: 40% weightage is given to the candidate's GUJCET 2026 score, and 60% weightage is given to the scores obtained in the theory subjects of the GSEB HSC Science Board Examination (Class 12).
- This formula necessitates that candidates maintain equal focus on both their board exams and the GUJCET entrance exam.
Conclusion
The announcement of March 29, 2026, as the official GUJCET 2026 exam date, provides much-needed clarity for Gujarat's aspiring engineers. With applications set to open in December 2025, candidates must not only accelerate their exam preparation but also ensure they complete the online registration accurately and well within the expected January 2026 deadline. Understanding the 120-question, 120-mark, 3-hour, -0.25 negative marking structure is key. Success in GUJCET, combined with a strong performance in the Class 12 Board exams, is the assured route to top institutions like DAIICT, Nirma University, and the various Government Engineering Colleges (GECs) in the state.
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