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KEAM | Complete Information Guide
KEAM is a state-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate engineering, architecture, pharmacy, and other professional courses in Kerala. It serves as a major gateway for students seeking admission to participating colleges across the state.
KEAM (Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical) is the state-level entrance examination system run by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, that serves as the single registration and centralised counselling gateway for a wide range of undergraduate professional courses in Kerala — Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Medical & Allied Sciences, Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Science, and Fisheries — across government, private, and self-financing colleges in the state.
It is important to understand that the KEAM Computer-Based Test (CBT) itself — the actual written exam — is conducted only for Engineering and Pharmacy admission. Candidates seeking Medical & Allied courses (MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BSMS, BUMS) qualify using their NEET-UG score, and candidates seeking Architecture qualify using their NATA score. Even so, every candidate — regardless of which course they’re targeting — must register through the common KEAM portal and go through the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP) to be considered for a seat.
| Particular | Details |
| Full Form | Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (Entrance Examination) |
| Conducted By | Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala |
| Courses Under the KEAM/CAP Umbrella | Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Medical & Allied Sciences, Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Science, Fisheries |
| Courses with an Actual KEAM Written Exam | Engineering and Pharmacy only (Architecture uses NATA; Medical & Allied use NEET-UG) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT), English only |
| Exam Date (2026) | Mid-to-late April 2026, across multiple sessions/days, with buffer days reserved |
| Engineering Pattern | 150 questions (75 Mathematics + 45 Physics + 30 Chemistry), 600 marks |
| Pharmacy Pattern | 75 questions (45 Physics + 30 Chemistry), 300 marks |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct answer, −1 for wrong answer, no penalty for unattempted questions |
| Application Fee (2026, revised) | ₹925 (General, Engineering/B.Pharm); ₹400 (SC); Nil (ST) |
| Minimum Marks in Class 12 | 45% aggregate in the relevant qualifying subjects |
| Participating Institutes | 167+ engineering and allied institutes across Kerala |
| Official Website | cee.kerala.gov.in |
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Qualifying Exam — Engineering | Passed 10+2/Plus Two or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics |
| Qualifying Exam — Pharmacy | Passed 10+2/Plus Two or equivalent with Physics and Chemistry |
| Minimum Marks | 45% aggregate in the relevant qualifying subjects (relaxed for SC/ST as per applicable norms) |
| Age Limit | Minimum 17 years as of December 31, 2026; no upper age limit specified |
| Nationality | Indian citizens; OCI/PIO cardholders are also eligible to apply |
| Kerala Domicile | Not mandatory to appear, but Kerala-origin candidates receive state-quota reservation benefits that non-Keralite candidates do not |
| Medical & Allied Courses (via NEET-UG) | Minimum 50th percentile in NEET-UG (40th percentile for SC/ST/SEBC; 45th percentile for PwD) to be included in the KEAM rank list for these courses |
| Architecture | Valid NATA score, in place of the KEAM written exam |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks (Engineering CBT) | At least 10 marks in each of Paper 1 and Paper 2 to be included in the rank list; no minimum applies for SC/ST candidates, though at least one question per paper must be attempted or the candidate is disqualified |
| Step | What to Do |
| 1 | Visit the official CEE Kerala portal — cee.kerala.gov.in — and register with your basic personal details, regardless of which course(s) you are targeting. |
| 2 | Fill in academic details, and indicate which course group(s) you are applying for — Engineering/B.Pharm, Architecture/Medical & Allied, or all courses. |
| 3 | Pay the applicable application fee online via credit card, debit card, or net banking. |
| 4 | Upload a recent colour photograph, scanned signature, and any supporting documents/certificates as required for your category. |
| 5 | For Engineering/Pharmacy candidates: download the KEAM CBT admit card once released, and appear for the exam on your allotted date and session. |
| 6 | For Medical & Allied candidates: separately appear for and qualify NEET-UG; for Architecture candidates: separately appear for and qualify NATA. |
| 7 | Check the provisional and final KEAM answer key (for Engineering/Pharmacy), and raise objections if needed (₹200 per question, refunded if accepted). |
| 8 | Submit your Plus Two (Class 12) marks once results are declared, since the final rank list combines these with your KEAM score. |
| 9 | Check the KEAM rank list for your relevant course category, and register for CAP (Centralised Allotment Process) counselling. |
| 10 | Fill college/course options in order of priority, pay the seat acceptance fee/caution deposit upon allotment, and report to the allotted institute within the deadline. |
The KEAM CBT is conducted only for Engineering and Pharmacy aspirants, since the exam is held across multiple sessions on different days, with a normalisation procedure applied so that candidates in different sessions are neither benefited nor disadvantaged by variations in question difficulty.
| Course | Paper Structure | Total Questions | Total Marks |
| Engineering | Paper 1: Physics (45) + Chemistry (30) = 75 Qs; Paper 2: Mathematics (75 Qs) | 150 | 600 |
| Pharmacy | Single paper: Physics (45) + Chemistry (30) | 75 | 300 |
The KEAM syllabus is based on the Kerala Plus Two (Class 11–12) curriculum, closely aligned with NCERT content, and does not extend beyond the state board syllabus.
Mechanics, Thermal Properties of Matter, Thermodynamics, Oscillations and Waves, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction, Optics, and Modern Physics, based on the Kerala Plus Two syllabus.
Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry topics from the Plus Two syllabus, including Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Electrochemistry, and Organic Reaction Mechanisms.
Algebra, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus, Vectors, and Probability, based on the Kerala Plus Two Mathematics syllabus — tested only in the Engineering paper, not in Pharmacy.
| Stage | Details |
| KEAM Score Release | Raw KEAM CBT scores released first, before the final rank list. |
| Plus Two Marks Submission | Qualified candidates submit their Class 12/Plus Two marks online, since these are combined with the KEAM score for the final rank. |
| Rank List Calculation (Engineering) | 50% weightage to KEAM score + 50% weightage to Plus Two marks, combined into a single rank. |
| Rank List Calculation (Pharmacy) | Chemistry raw score × 2.25, added to the Physics raw score, then multiplied by 2/3 to give an index mark (maximum 300), which is then normalised and combined with Plus Two marks for the final rank. |
| Separate Rank Lists | Published separately for Engineering, Architecture, Medical & Allied (except BAMS), BAMS, and B.Pharm courses. |
| CAP Registration | Candidates register separately for the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP) after rank lists are published. |
| Option Registration & Allotment | Candidates fill college/course preferences; seats allotted across multiple rounds based on rank, category, and preferences. |
| Seat Acceptance Fee | A caution deposit (approx. ₹1,000 for General/OBC on a government engineering seat; exempted or reduced for SC/ST/OEC/fee-waiver candidates) confirms your allotted seat and keeps you eligible for upgrades in later rounds. |
Q1. Do I need to take the KEAM exam for Medical or Architecture admission in Kerala?
No. The actual KEAM written exam is conducted only for Engineering and Pharmacy. Medical & Allied admission uses your NEET-UG score, and Architecture admission uses your NATA score — but you still must register through the common KEAM portal and CAP counselling system for either.
Q2. How is the final KEAM Engineering rank calculated?
CEE Kerala gives 50% weightage to your KEAM CBT score and 50% weightage to your Plus Two (Class 12) marks in the relevant subjects, combining both into a single merit rank.
Q3. What is the exam pattern for KEAM Engineering?
150 questions across two papers — Paper 1 (Physics 45 + Chemistry 30 = 75 questions) and Paper 2 (Mathematics, 75 questions) — for 600 total marks, with +4 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong one.
Q4. Is there negative marking in KEAM?
Yes. Each wrong answer deducts 1 mark against +4 for a correct answer, so candidates need to balance speed with accuracy rather than guess blindly.
Q5. What is the application fee for KEAM?
For Engineering/B.Pharm, ₹925 for General category, ₹400 for SC, and no fee for ST candidates (2026, revised figures). Architecture/Medical & Allied has a separate, lower fee structure. Candidates opting for an overseas exam centre pay an additional ₹16,000.
Q6. Is KEAM the same as JEE Main?
No. KEAM is Kerala’s own state-level exam for Engineering/Pharmacy state-quota seats, while JEE Main is the separate, all-India exam conducted by the NTA for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and all-India quota seats nationwide, including some seats in Kerala.
Q7. Can students from outside Kerala apply for KEAM?
Yes. Indian citizens as well as OCI/PIO cardholders can apply. However, Kerala-origin candidates receive state-quota reservation benefits that non-Keralite candidates generally do not.
Q8. What is the minimum score needed to be included in the KEAM rank list?
Candidates must score at least 10 marks in each of Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the Engineering exam to be included in the rank list; this minimum does not apply to SC/ST candidates, though attempting at least one question per paper is still mandatory to avoid disqualification.
Disclaimer
This document is an unofficial educational resource created for exam aspirants. All information should be verified on the official recruitment website before applying. Vacancy numbers, age limits, and eligibility criteria are subject to change with each notification.
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