TANCET 2017 Question Paper with Answer Key PDF - MBA, MCA & ME/M.Tech Download

TANCET 2017 was conducted by Anna University on March 25, 2017 across 15 examination centres in Tamil Nadu. The MCA paper ran from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon and the MBA paper in the afternoon shift on the same day. M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./M.Plan. candidates sat their paper on a separate date. The answer key and results were published on the official website, with scores valid exclusively for 2017-18 admissions. Download TANCET question papers from the table below.

TANCET 2017 Official Schedule

TANCET Marking Scheme Shift

One of the most practical things a candidate needs to know before using the 2017 paper is the history of TANCET's negative marking because it changed, and using the wrong formula on an old paper gives you a score that does not reflect your actual performance.

Before 2015: Every wrong answer deducted −1/4 mark (0.25 marks).

From 2015 onwards: Every wrong answer deducts −1/3 mark (approximately 0.33 marks).

TANCET 2017 uses the −1/3 scheme. This means it is directly comparable to every paper from 2015 through 2024. Any paper from 2014 or earlier used the older −1/4 scheme, and applying the wrong formula to those papers will produce an inflated score.

Why this difference is not trivial

The gap between −1/4 and −1/3 per wrong answer sounds small. On a 100 question paper where a candidate attempts 85 questions and gets 15 wrong, the difference is:

• Under −1/4: 70 correct − (15 × 0.25) = 70 − 3.75 = 66.25 marks
• Under −1/3: 70 correct − (15 × 0.33) = 70 − 4.95 = 65.05 marks

The difference grows with the number of wrong answers. For a candidate with 25 wrong answers out of 85 attempted, the gap is over 2 marks which at the competitive end of the TANCET distribution can shift your percentile by several positions.

What this means for strategy

The −1/3 scheme penalises wrong answers slightly more than the older system, which strengthen the principle that applies to every post 2015 paper, attempting a question where you cannot eliminate at least one option is a marginal decision at best. The 2017 paper should be scored using the −1/3 formula without exception.

How TANCET Scores Translate Into College Choices

TANCET scorecard shows two numbers, actual marks and percentile. Actual marks tell you how you performed on the paper. Percentile tells you where you stand relative to everyone who appeared that year, and that is the number colleges use.

Set your target percentile first, not score first. Find what percentile your target college requires, then work backwards to what score produces that percentile in a standard year.

A score of 40 to 45 marks widely as a good TANCET score corresponds to roughly the 92 to 96th percentile in a standard year. You do not need 70+ marks for a strong college, but the very top institutions consistently require scores above 55.

TANCET 2017 sits at a specific and useful point in the exam's history, the second year under the revised −1/3 marking scheme, and a full three stream paper covering MBA, MCA, and M.E./M.Tech. For MBA and MCA candidates, the paper is structurally identical to current editions and fully valid for practice. The −1/3 marking scheme that applies here matches every paper from 2015 through 2024. Solve it, score it accurately, and use the score to percentile benchmarks to understand where your preparation stands relative to your target college's requirements.