The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has notified 5,431 degree-level and PUC-level posts – FDA, SDA and equivalent – with the written examinations scheduled between 8 and 17 January 2027. Counting from early November, that leaves roughly ten weeks. That is enough time to prepare well, but only if every week has a clear purpose.
This article gives you a practical 10-week study plan, the daily routine that makes it work, and the mistakes that cost candidates marks in objective, negative-marking examinations.
Before you start: make sure your application is submitted on the KEA portal by 25 November 2026 and the fee is paid by 26 November 2026. Full notification details are on our KEA FDA SDA Recruitment 2026 page.
1. Know exactly what you are preparing for
As reported in the 2026 notifications, the competitive examination has two objective (OMR) papers, each of 100 questions, 100 marks and 2 hours:
| Paper | Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Knowledge – current affairs, general science, Indian & Karnataka history, geography, Indian Constitution, Karnataka economy, rural development | 100 |
| Paper 2 | General Kannada, General English, Computer Knowledge | 100 |
| Kannada Language Test | Qualifying only, for candidates not exempted | 150 (min. 50) |
There is a negative mark of 0.25 for every wrong answer. That single rule should shape how you practise: accuracy matters as much as coverage. Always confirm the final scheme in your official notification.
2. The 10-week study plan
| Wk | Main focus (3–4 hrs/day) | Daily side-track (1.5–2 hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read the notification, list the syllabus, solve one previous FDA/SDA paper to find your weak areas | Start a current-affairs notebook; Kannada grammar basics |
| 2–3 | Karnataka history & Indian history (ancient, medieval, modern, national movement) | English grammar – articles, prepositions, tenses |
| 4 | Indian Constitution & polity – rights, Parliament, state legislature, Panchayati Raj | Computer basics – hardware, software, MS Office |
| 5 | Geography – India and Karnataka (rivers, districts, dams, forests, agriculture) | Kannada vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms |
| 6 | Karnataka economy, rural development, government schemes | English – voice, speech, error spotting |
| 7 | General science and environment | Computer – internet, email, shortcuts, cyber safety |
| 8 | Current affairs revision (last 12 months) + two full mock tests | Mock-test analysis |
| 9 | Two to three full mocks on OMR sheets, timed | Revise every wrong answer |
| 10 | Final revision of short notes, light practice, rest before the exam | Check admission ticket, centre and timings |
If you are writing both a degree-level and a PUC-level paper, note that the degree-level papers come first (9–10 January) and the PUC-level papers follow (16–17 January). Use the gap for revision, not new topics.
3. A daily routine that works
- Morning (fresh mind): the heavy GK subject of the week – history, polity or geography.
- Afternoon: one language or computer block (General Kannada, English or Computer Knowledge).
- Evening: 30–40 minutes of current affairs and 30–50 objective questions on what you studied that day.
- Night: 15 minutes revising your short notes. Small daily revision beats long weekend revision.
4. Give Karnataka its due weight
State-level examinations reward Karnataka-specific knowledge. Prioritise: dynasties of Karnataka (Kadambas, Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara, Wodeyars), the unification of Karnataka, districts and rivers of the state, major state schemes, Karnataka's economy and agriculture, and Panchayati Raj under the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act. Many candidates over-read national topics and under-prepare these.
5. Handling negative marking
- Don't guess blindly. With −0.25 per wrong answer, a pure guess among four options does not help on average.
- Do attempt "50-50" questions. If you can eliminate two options confidently, attempting usually pays off.
- Read the OMR instructions carefully. The OMR sheet is reported to have a separate option for "not attempted" and leaving every circle blank may also attract a deduction – follow the instructions printed on your paper.
- Track your accuracy in mocks. Aim for 85%+ accuracy on attempted questions before increasing the number of attempts.
6. Don't ignore the Kannada Language Test
The Kannada Language Test is qualifying only, but failing it ends your candidature. Check whether you are exempted (for example, if you studied Kannada as a language up to SSLC or studied in Kannada medium – as per the notification). If you are not exempted, spend 30 minutes a day on Kannada reading, grammar and comprehension from week one.
7. Common mistakes to avoid
- Collecting too many books instead of finishing one good source per subject.
- Skipping full-length mocks until the last week.
- Not revising wrong answers – the same mistakes then repeat in the exam.
- Leaving current affairs for the end. Ten minutes daily is easier than ten hours in December.
- Waiting until the last day to apply – portals slow down near the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 10 weeks enough to prepare for KEA FDA SDA?
Yes, for a focused aspirant studying 5–6 hours a day. Cover each GK area once, practise languages and computers daily, and take at least six full mock tests before the exam.
Which subjects carry the most weight in FDA SDA preparation?
Paper 1 (General Knowledge) needs the widest preparation – especially Karnataka history, geography, polity and current affairs. Paper 2 tests General Kannada, General English and Computer Knowledge.
Is there negative marking in the KEA FDA SDA exam?
Yes. As reported in the 2026 notifications, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the competitive papers.
Can I prepare for FDA and SDA together?
Yes. The syllabus areas are the same; degree-level and PUC-level papers are held on different dates, so a graduate can prepare once for both, subject to eligibility in the notification.