KEAM 2027 — Exam Pattern, Eligibility and How Plus Two Marks Count

KEAM is the Kerala entrance exam for engineering and pharmacy courses, conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE). For engineering, your Plus Two marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are used together with your KEAM score, so the board exam and the entrance exam both matter.

This guide explains how KEAM works, using the 2026 exam as the example. The official KEAM 2027 notification had not been confirmed as of 6 November 2026, so always follow the prospectus on cee.kerala.gov.in.

What KEAM is for

Engineering (B.Tech) and pharmacy (B.Pharm) admissions in Kerala colleges through the state allotment.
Medical courses such as MBBS and BDS use NEET-UG scores, not KEAM. Students still register with CEE for the Kerala medical allotment.
Applications are made online at cee.kerala.gov.in.

Who can apply

For engineering you need Plus Two (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, with at least 45% in these subjects together. The minimum is lower for reserved categories.
Students who are writing the Plus Two exam in the same year can apply.
There is a minimum age (17 years in recent prospectuses). Check the exact rules, including nativity categories, in the official prospectus.

The exam (2026 pattern)

KEAM is now a computer-based test. In 2026 engineering was held from 17 to 22 April and pharmacy from 18 to 20 April.
The engineering paper had 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours: Mathematics 75, Physics 45 and Chemistry 30, each with five options. Each correct answer gets 4 marks and each wrong answer loses 1 mark.
The pharmacy paper had Chemistry 45 and Physics 30 questions in 90 minutes.
These figures are from the official KEAM 2026 prospectus; check the 2027 prospectus for any change, and practise full mock tests with a timer.

How Plus Two marks count

The engineering rank uses equal weightage (50:50) for your normalised KEAM score and your Plus Two final-year Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry marks, taken in the ratio 5:3:2, to make an index mark out of 600 (KEAM 2026 prospectus).
In 2026 the rank list even waited for the CBSE Class 12 re-evaluation to finish, which shows how much board marks matter.
So a strong board exam can lift your rank, and a weak one can pull it down. Do not drop board preparation for entrance practice.

When to expect KEAM 2027

Going by recent years: applications around January–February 2027, admit cards in April and the exam in April 2027, followed by the rank list and allotments.
These are expected timings, not official dates. Watch cee.kerala.gov.in for the KEAM 2027 notification.

A study plan for Plus Two Science students

Now to December: finish the Plus Two chapters for the board exam, and practise KEAM-style questions on each chapter as you go.
January–February: board revision and model exams first; keep one timed KEAM mock test a week.
March: the Plus Two public exam.
After the board exam until KEAM: full-time entrance practice: timed mocks, error lists and Plus One topics (they are tested too).

Frequently Asked Questions

When is KEAM 2027?

The official KEAM 2027 dates had not been confirmed as of 6 November 2026. In recent years applications opened around January–February and the exam was in April; in 2026 engineering was held from 17 to 22 April. Check cee.kerala.gov.in for the notification.

What is the KEAM exam pattern?

In 2026 the engineering paper was a computer-based test with 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours: Mathematics 75, Physics 45 and Chemistry 30. Each correct answer gets 4 marks and each wrong answer loses 1 mark.

Do Plus Two marks count for KEAM?

Yes. For engineering, the KEAM 2026 prospectus gives equal weightage (50:50) to your normalised KEAM score and your Plus Two final-year Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry marks (in the ratio 5:3:2), for an index mark out of 600.

Is KEAM needed for MBBS in Kerala?

No. MBBS and other medical courses use NEET-UG scores. Students register with CEE for the Kerala medical allotment, but the KEAM paper is for engineering and pharmacy.

Does WonderZ help with Plus Two and KEAM preparation?

Yes. WonderZ Learning offers Plus Two Science online tuition for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, with 1-on-1, small batch and app classes, so board preparation and entrance practice go together. Fees are flexible and negotiable, and you can book a free demo class.

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