Karnataka will use state-level question papers for 1st PUC annual examinations from 2027.
First PUC is the first year of the two-year pre-university course.
Until now, each college prepared its own question paper.
From 2027, the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) will prepare common papers for colleges across the state.
Key points
- From 2027, 1st PUC annual exams will use common state-level question papers.
- KSEAB will prepare the papers, and they will be sent digitally to colleges.
- Colleges will still evaluate answer scripts, and results need district approval.
- The government order was issued on 7 November.
So why does this matter?
Under the old system, colleges printed and distributed their own papers.
This led to differences in question style, syllabus coverage and difficulty.
A common paper should give students a more even test.
The state also says it will help it track learning from the first year itself.
Who will check the answer scripts?
Students across Karnataka will write the same question papers.
But answer scripts will still be checked at their own colleges, under the supervision of principals.
Results will be published only after the District Deputy Directors of Pre-University Education review and approve the marks.
- 1KSEAB sets common paperThe Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board prepares question papers for colleges across the state.
- 2Students write the same paperStudents across Karnataka write the same question papers, replacing the old college-made papers.
- 3Colleges check answer scriptsAnswer scripts are still checked at each student's own college, under the supervision of principals.
- 4District officials approve marksDistrict Deputy Directors of Pre-University Education review and approve the marks before results come out.
- 5Results publishedResults are published only after the district-level review and approval of marks is complete.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
What happens next for students?
KSEAB has already put model question papers, question banks and blueprints on its official website.
Students can use these to prepare.
The government has not yet announced the detailed exam timetable.
Practical exams will follow a separate schedule set at the district level.
Explainer
What happened before
- Earlier, each pre-university college prepared, printed and distributed its own 1st PUC annual exam question papers.
- This led to differences in question patterns, syllabus coverage and difficulty levels between colleges.
- On 7 November, the government issued an order giving the paper-setting job to the state examination board.
Why it matters
A common paper aims to give students a more consistent standard and show learning gaps before 2nd PUC.
What to watch next
- The government has not yet announced the detailed examination timetable for 2027.
