Exam
BCECE 2026 Exam: Dates, Eligibility, Application, Pattern, Syllabus
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- Last updated 02/2026
BCECE Overview
The Bihar board conducts the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) for 2026 at the state level to determine admission to professional programs in engineering, pharmacy, the medical field, and agriculture at the best universities of Bihar.
- The application for BCECE 2026 is expected to open in March 2026, and the exam is scheduled for May or June of 2026 and will be administered offline.
- The BCECE exam questions are MCQs (multiple choice questions) with a score of plus 4 for a right response and minus 1 for a wrong response.
- The BCECE syllabus is based on the NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus of science that includes physics, chemistry, agriculture, biology, and mathematics.
- There are 100 questions in each subject with 400 marks with a duration of 90 minutes.
- The BCECE exam’s upper age limit for undergraduate programs in medicine, pharmacy, and agriculture is at least 17 years old for all categories.
BCECE 2026 Highlights
The following table brings the highlights of the BCECE 2026 exam.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination or BCECE |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Level | UG |
| Total Seats | 6,360 For BSc |
| Courses offered | BSc in Agricultural Science, Nursing, Pharmacy and Paramedical |
| Question Paper Language | English and Hindi |
| Exam Centre | 39 |
| Exam Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes for each paper (total of five papers) |
| Official Website | https://bceceboard.bihar.gov.in/ |
BCECE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
BCECE aspirants need to fulfil the eligibility factors as mentioned below.
- Candidates should pass the Class 12 Board exam or equivalent examination.
- The candidates should have studied relevant science, mathematics, and agriculture subjects in Class 12 Board exam with minimum 33 per cent in aggregate.
- The minimum age limit of candidates is 16 years as of August 31, 2026.
- There is no upper age limit
For engineering and medical courses, the eligibility criteria would be the same as for JEE Main and NEET, respectively.
BCECE 2026 Eligibility Criteria based on Domicile factors
Candidates should fulfil at least one of the following factors in terms of domicile or Bihar state nativity.
- Candidates should be permanent residents of Bihar.
- Candidates’ parents have Bihar refugee registration.
- Candidates’ parents live in different states, yet work for the Government of Bihar.
- Candidates’ parents live in Bihar but work for the Government of India.
BCECE 2026 Category-wise Seat Reservation
The below table brings the category-wise reservation criteria.
| Category | Seat Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 16% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 1% |
| Extremely Backward Classes | 18% |
| Backward Class | 12% |
| Reserved Category Class | 3% |
| Disabled Quota | 3% in every college |
| Servicemen Quota | To be announced |
BCECE Exam Dates 2026
The official BCECE 2026 exam dates have not been released yet. However, the exam is tentatively scheduled in the first week of June 2026.
The board will publish the exact exam date and schedule and detailed information on its official website.
| Tentative Dates | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | Online Registration Starting Date |
| April 2026 | Online Registration Closing Date |
| May 2026 | Last Date of Payment (Net Banking / Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI) |
| May 2026 | Online Editing of Application Form |
| May 2026 | Availability of Online Admit Card |
| June 2026 | BCECE 2026 Exam Dates |
| Last week of July 2026 | Result Date |
| 1st Week of August 2026 | 1st Round of Counselling |
| 3rd Week of August 2026 | 2nd Round of Counselling |
| 2nd Week of September 2026 | 3rd Round of Counselling |
| 4th Week of September 2026 | Last Date for Admission Against Vacant Seats |
| 1st Week of October 2026 | Academic Session Begins |
BCECE 2026 Exam Pattern
For each question, you will be provided four options. You must select the most appropriate option.
- Each question carries 4 marks, while 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- The total number of questions in the BCECE exam is 300. The maximum mark for the exam is 1200.
The updated section-wise marking scheme of BCECE is given below for your reference:
| Sections | Questions | Marks per Section |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 100 | 400 |
| Chemistry | 100 | 400 |
| Mathematics | 100 | 400 |
| Biology | 100 | 400 |
| Agriculture | 100 | 400 |
BCECE Expected Cut-offs
The cutoff varies based on several factors, like the number of candidates, the seat capacity, the level of difficulty, and the reservation.
- High scorers (UR 600–650 or OBC/EBC 570–600) have a good chance of getting into prestigious government universities and their desired fields, such as CSE, ECE, or EEE.
- Those with mid-range marks, like SC 540–570 or ST 520–540, should be flexible with college and branch choices, focusing on mid-tier colleges or alternative courses.
- Students with lower grades (PwD 480–520) have few options; they are primarily limited to private schools, non-core courses, or diploma programs.
- Category reservation can significantly improve rank and admission chances even with slightly lower scores.
The table below shows the first two categories (General ~600, Reserved ~480) closely match the reported 2025 results, making these estimates based on the data reasonable.
| Category | Expected Cutoff Marks (out of 1200) | Equivalent Percentage | Expected Rank Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 600–650 | 50%–54% | Up to 3,000 |
| OBC/EBC | 570 – 600 | 47%–50% | Up to 5,000 |
| SC | 540 – 570 | 45%–47% | Up to 10,000 |
| ST | 520 – 540 | 43% – 45% | Up to 12,000 |
| PwD | 480–520 | 40%–43% | Up to 15,000 |
BCECE 2026 Preparation Tips
Some of the key points that candidates should keep in mind for BCECE 2026 preparation are listed here.
| Preparation Tips | Details |
|---|---|
| Know the Exam Pattern |
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| Create a Realistic Timetable |
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| Regular Revision |
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| Solve Previous Papers |
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| Focus on Accuracy |
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| Stress Management and Healthy Study Routine |
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| Use Quality Study Materials |
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BCECE 2026 FAQs
Ques. When was the BCECE exam held in 2026?
Ans. The BCECE 2026 exam date has not yet been formally announced. However, April or May is typically when the exam is held.
- It is recommended to visit the official BCECE Board website for the most up-to-date information as the exam year draws near.
Ques. Who is eligible for BCECE 2026?
Ans. The eligibility criteria for BCECE 2026 are as follows:
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | BCECE |
| Eligibility | Passed or appearing 10+2 (PCM/PCB/Agriculture) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Domicile | Permanent resident of Bihar or parents domiciled in Bihar |
| Minimum Marks Required | SC/ST/OBC/EBC-40%General-45% |
| Compulsory Subjects | Physics & Chemistry + Math/Biology/Agriculture |
| Age Limit | Engineering/Medical—No limitPharmacy—≥16 ≥16 years as of December 31, 2026 |
| Reserved Category Relaxation | As per Bihar Government Norms |
Ques. What is the deadline for the 2026 Bihar entrance exam?
Ans. The official BCECE 2026 announcement will include the precise dates for both the test and registration.
- However, the registration deadline is a few months in advance, and the official BCECE Board website has the most recent information.
- The BCECE exam typically occurs in April or May 2026.
Ques. How many seats are there in BCECE 2026?
The number of seats available for BCECE 2026 is determined by the colleges and courses that are taking part.
- Each college has a different number of seats available for courses in engineering, medicine, and agriculture.
- According to the official notification or the BCECE website, there are usually thousands of seats available in the colleges under BCECE across a variety of streams.
Ques. How much rank is good in BCECE?
Ans. A good rank in the BCECE exam depends on the course and college you are looking for.
- For admission, it is often required to rank in the top 1000–2000.
- Additionally, lower ranks can still be admitted to prestigious medical and engineering schools, but
- It can be useful to review the cutoff trends from the prior year because the cutoff ranks change every year.
Ques. How many attempts for the BCECE exam?
Ans. The maximum number of BCECE attempts is not specified. As long as they fulfill the requirements for eligibility in terms of age and educational background, they are permitted to take the test.
- For any updates or modifications pertaining to the quantity of attempts, it is imperative to consult the official notification.
