TANCET 2024 Question Paper with Answer Key – MBA & MCA PDF Download
TANCET is a state-level entrance examination for admission to MBA and MCA programmes offered by universities, government colleges, government-aided institutions, and self-financing colleges across Tamil Nadu conducted by Anna University on March 9, 2024. Solving the official TANCET 2024 question paper helps aspirants understand the latest exam pattern, identify high-weightage topics, and evaluate the level of questions asked in the examination. Candidates can download the question paper PDFs and answer keys from the table below to strengthen their preparation.
TANCET 2024 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
| Question Paper PDF | Answer Key PDF |
|---|---|
TANCET 2024 MBA Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (Mar 09, 2024) |
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TANCET 2024 MCA Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (Mar 09, 2024) |
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TANCET 2024 Key Dates & Official Timeline
| Event | Date (Official) |
|---|---|
| Notification & Online Registration Opens | January 10, 2024 |
| Last Date to Apply | February 15, 2024 |
| Admit Card Release | February 21, 2024 |
| TANCET 2024 Exam - MBA & MCA | March 9, 2024 |
| CEETA-PG (M.E./M.Tech./M.Arch./M.Plan) | March 10, 2024 |
| Provisional Answer Key | March 13, 2024 |
| Final Answer Key | March 22, 2024 |
| TANCET 2024 Result | March 28, 2024 |
| Scorecard Available | April 3 – May 3, 2024 |
| Counselling (TANCA) | June 2024 onwards |
Note: TANCET is conducted by Anna University, Chennai, on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Scores are valid for one year from the date of result, meaning only TANCET 2024 marks were accepted for 2024 - 25 admissions. The exam was held at approximately 40 centres across 15 cities in the state.
TANCET 2024 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme Course-wise Breakdown
TANCET 2024 question paper structure differs across programmes. All papers follow a pen-and-paper (OMR) format with multiple choice questions. Candidates must shade responses using a black ballpoint pen only, pencil-marked OMRs are not evaluated, and shading more than one option for a single question attracts negative marking.
MBA Section-wise Pattern
| Section | Topics Covered | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis of Business Situations | Case studies, data interpretation, logical reasoning in business contexts | 20 |
| Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability | RC passages, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, sentence correction | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data interpretation | 20 |
| Data Sufficiency | Data interpretation, sufficiency problems, problem-solving | 20 |
| English Usage (General English) | Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, error spotting | 20 |
| Total | - | 100 |
MCA Section-wise Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 25 | Moderate |
| Analytical Ability | 25 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Logical Reasoning | 25 | Moderate |
| Computer Awareness | 25 | Easy to Moderate |
| Total | 100 |
Marking Scheme - Across All Courses
| Parameter | MBA | MCA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
| Total Questions | 100 | 100 | |
| Total Marks | 100 | 100 | |
| Correct Answer | +1 | +1 | |
| Wrong Answer | –1/3 | –1/3 | |
| Unanswered | 0 | 0 | |
| Mode | Offline (OMR) | Offline (OMR) | |
| Language | English & Tamil | English & Tamil |
TANCET 2024 Paper Analysis
TANCET 2024 followed its established pattern without any structural surprises. The MBA paper was broadly in line with 2023 difficulty levels, while the MCA paper drew comments about a slightly tougher Analytical Ability section. Overall, the exam was rated moderate in difficulty, with the English section being the most scoring for most candidates.
MBA Section-wise Difficulty
| Section | Difficulty Level | Student Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| English Usage | Easy | Most candidates found this the highest-scoring section |
| Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability | Easy to Moderate | Passages were straightforward; vocabulary questions slightly tricky |
| Analysis of Business Situations | Moderate | Case-based questions required careful, unhurried reading |
| Data Sufficiency | Moderate | Time-consuming but manageable with prior practice |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate to Difficult | Geometry and higher algebra caught several candidates off-guard |
MCA Section-wise Difficulty
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | Moderate |
| Analytical Ability | Moderate to Difficult |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate |
| Computer Awareness | Easy to Moderate |
Note: Out of 24,468 registered MBA candidates, approximately 22,971 appeared (absentee rate ~6.14%). For MCA, 9,206 registrations were recorded with roughly 7.93% absentees.
Section-wise Preparation Tips & Best Books
Previous year papers are among the most reliable preparation tools for TANCET because the exam pattern and difficulty have remained broadly consistent year on year. Here is how to use the 2024 paper strategically.
| Section | Key Focus Areas | Recommended Books |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic, percentages, ratios, geometry, algebra up to Class 12 level | Quantitative Aptitude - R.S. Aggarwal; Pearson Guide to QA - Dinesh Khattar |
| Data Sufficiency | DI tables, bar graphs, data sufficiency logic, analytical reasoning | Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency - Ananta Ashisha; DI for CAT - Arun Sharma |
| Analysis of Business Situations | Business case studies, corporate decision scenarios, graph reading | TANCET MBA - E.S. Ramasamy; TANCET MBA Entrance Exam - VVK Subburaj |
| Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability | Daily newspaper reading, RC speed, idioms & phrases | Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis; Objective General English - SP Bakshi |
| English Usage | Grammar rules, error spotting, vocabulary in context | Grammar Error Spot - A. Upadhyaya; Proficiency in RC - Ajay Singh |
Candidates who have already prepared for CAT will find most TANCET sections familiar. The one area requiring separate attention is the Business Situations Analysis segment, which uses a format distinct from CAT's DILR and benefits from dedicated practice with past TANCET papers.
Top Colleges Accepting TANCET Scores - MBA & MCA Admissions
Over 300 MBA colleges and 230+ MCA institutions across Tamil Nadu accept TANCET scores for admission. The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Chennai, runs centralised TANCA counselling through tn-mbamca.com. Every year, more than 15,000 MBA seats are filled through this process.
| Institution | Course | Indicative Percentile Required (OC/General) |
|---|---|---|
| University Departments, CEG Campus - Anna University | MBA | 99.4 - 99.8 |
| PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore | MBA | 99+ |
| SSN School of Management, Chennai | MBA | 95 - 97 |
| Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai | MBA | 90 - 95 |
| Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore | MBA | 85 - 92 |
| Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy | MBA | 85 - 90 |
| PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore | MBA | 80 - 88 |
| Annamalai University Faculty of Engg. & Tech. | MCA | 93.5 - 95 |
| VIT Vellore - School of CS & Engineering | MCA | 88 - 93 |
For those targeting the next cycle, a five to six month preparation window is advisable to build conceptual accuracy first, then layer in speed, and supplement with at least three years of solved papers to spot recurring question patterns.
TANCET 2024 Question Paper FAQs
Ques: Where can I download TANCET 2024 official answer key?
Ans: The provisional answer key was released on March 13, 2024, and the final answer key on March 22, 2024, on the official website. Candidates need to log in using their registered email ID and password to access the answer key PDF. The PDFs on this page serve as a direct offline reference.
Ques: How many sections are there in TANCET 2024 MBA question paper?
Ans: TANCET 2024 MBA question paper has five sections Analysis of Business Situations, Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Sufficiency, and English Usage. Each section carries 20 questions for a total of 100 marks. There are no sectional time limits; candidates can move freely between sections within the 120-minute window.
Ques: What is a good score in TANCET 2024 for top MBA colleges?
Ans: A score of 60 marks and above is considered competitive for top MBA colleges, typically placing candidates at the 95th percentile or higher. For institutions like the University Departments of Anna University (CEG Campus) and PSG College of Technology, a 99+ percentile roughly 75 marks and above — is required for the OC/General category. Scoring between 45 and 55 opens options across several well-regarded government-aided and autonomous colleges.
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