The Karnataka Common Entrance Test is conducted for the purpose of determining the eligibility / merit, for admission of Karnataka candidates to the First year or First semester of full time courses in Medical, Dental, Ayurveda, Unani, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy & Yoga,Engineering, Technology and Architecture courses, in institutions within the State of Karnataka.

A parallel entrance test is held by the Karnataka Private Medical & Dental Colleges Association under the name of Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK). This is independent of the government conducted KARNATAKA CET and is used to fill some part of the seats of certain engineering/medical/dental colleges in Karnataka. Non-Karnataka students (students not Eligibly to be considered in the Karnataka quota) cannot appear for the KARNATAKA CET. They can only appear for the COMEDK examination. For more detail on COMEDK visit COMEDK page . The Karnataka CET (KCET) examination, since 1984, has been conducted every year by the Government of Karnataka for admission in the Engineering and Medical Colleges KCET of this state.