What KEAM rank is needed for CUSAT CSE?

CUSAT CSE typically requires KEAM rank under 3000 for general category Kerala students (2024). Model Engineering College (MEC) Kochi CSE requires ~Rank 2000. SCMS and other private colleges open at Rank 5000–8000.

Can non-Kerala students appear for KEAM?

KEAM is primarily for Kerala domicile students (origin or continuous study in Kerala). Non-Kerala candidates have limited options — some private colleges offer management quota seats. JEE Main is the alternative for national institutes and select private colleges.

KEAM 2026 registration is expected February–March on cee.kerala.gov.in. Exams typically run in May (Paper 1 and Paper 2 on separate days). Results release in June, followed by CAP (Centralised Allotment Process) rounds through August.

How to prepare for KEAM alongside JEE Main?

KEAM syllabus aligns with Kerala state board + NCERT PCM. KEAM has no negative marking and moderate difficulty. JEE Main prep covers 85%+ of KEAM content — add Kerala-specific topic revision and KEAM-pattern timed mocks in the final 2 months.

Which are the top KEAM engineering colleges?

Top options: CUSAT Kochi (NIRF #51), Model Engineering College Kochi (NIRF #79), NIT Calicut (via JEE Main, not KEAM), College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET), and TKM College of Engineering. Compare KEAM ranks, fees, and placements on College1st.

What KEAM rank is needed for CUSAT CSE?

CUSAT CSE typically requires KEAM rank under 3000 for general category Kerala students (2024). Model Engineering College (MEC) Kochi CSE requires ~Rank 2000. SCMS and other private colleges open at Rank 5000–8000.

Can non-Kerala students appear for KEAM?

KEAM is primarily for Kerala domicile students (origin or continuous study in Kerala). Non-Kerala candidates have limited options — some private colleges offer management quota seats. JEE Main is the alternative for national institutes and select private colleges.

KEAM 2026 registration is expected February–March on cee.kerala.gov.in. Exams typically run in May (Paper 1 and Paper 2 on separate days). Results release in June, followed by CAP (Centralised Allotment Process) rounds through August.

How to prepare for KEAM alongside JEE Main?

KEAM syllabus aligns with Kerala state board + NCERT PCM. KEAM has no negative marking and moderate difficulty. JEE Main prep covers 85%+ of KEAM content — add Kerala-specific topic revision and KEAM-pattern timed mocks in the final 2 months.

Which are the top KEAM engineering colleges?

Top options: CUSAT Kochi (NIRF #51), Model Engineering College Kochi (NIRF #79), NIT Calicut (via JEE Main, not KEAM), College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET), and TKM College of Engineering. Compare KEAM ranks, fees, and placements on College1st.

Entrance exam guide · Class 11 & 12

KEAM 2026

KEAM 2026 dates, syllabus & Kerala engineering college guide. CUSAT cutoffs, fees & KEAM rank predictor for Class 11–12 on College1st.

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Key facts

KEAM 2026 — what you need to know

Kerala engineering CAP rounds

KEAM ranks determine admission to 150+ Kerala engineering colleges including CUSAT, MEC Kochi, and CET Trivandrum through CAP counselling.

Two papers on separate days

Paper 1: Physics & Chemistry (120 questions, 480 marks). Paper 2: Mathematics (120 questions, 480 marks). Kerala state board + NCERT syllabus.

No negative marking

Each correct answer earns 4 marks. No penalty for wrong answers — encourages attempting all questions unlike JEE Main.

Schedule

KEAM 2026 — important dates

Tentative schedule based on official notifications and previous year timelines. Always verify on the conducting body's website.

Event	Date
Notification release	February 2026
Registration	February–March 2026
Admit card	April 2026
Paper 1 — Physics & Chemistry	May 2026
Paper 2 — Mathematics	May 2026
Answer key & objections	May 2026
Result & rank list	June 2026
CAP Round 1 counselling	July 2026
CAP Rounds 2–3 + spot	July–August 2026

Eligibility

Who can appear for KEAM 2026?

Kerala domicile (origin or continuous study in Kerala)
Passed/appearing Class 12 with PCM (50% aggregate, 45% for SC/ST)
Age: born on or before December 31, 2009 (for 2026)

Application details

Application fee: ₹700 (General) · ₹300 (SC/ST)
Total marks: 960 (480 per paper)
Attempts / sessions: 1 attempt per year
Conducting body: Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala

Exam structure

KEAM 2026 — exam pattern

Section	Subjects	Questions	Marks	Duration	Marking
Paper 1	Physics & Chemistry	120 (60+60)	480	2.5 hours	+4 / 0
Paper 2	Mathematics	120	480	2.5 hours	+4 / 0

Syllabus

KEAM 2026 — subject-wise syllabus

Cutoff trends

KEAM — branch-wise cutoffs (2023 vs 2024)

Closing ranks/scores from recent admission cycles. Use College1st Predictor First to map your mock score to these trends.

Institute · Branch	Metric	2024	2023	Category
CUSAT CSE	KEAM Rank	~3000	~2800	General
MEC Kochi CSE	KEAM Rank	~2000	~1900	General
CET Trivandrum CSE	KEAM Rank	~1500	~1400	General
SCMS Kochi CSE	KEAM Rank	~6000	~5500	General

Preparation First — KEAM mocks

Full-length KEAM mocks, chapter drills, and PYQs with instant topic-wise weak-area analysis and rank estimate.

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Predictor First — KEAM colleges

Your mock score powers college shortlists — filter by fees, location, branch, and cutoff trends from 2020–2024 data.

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Build your foundation

CBSE Class 11–12 syllabus for KEAM prep

Master board syllabus first — free unit-wise guides and solved PYQs for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Class 12 Physics syllabus Class 12 Maths PYQ All CBSE resources

Participating colleges

Colleges accepting KEAM

3 of 3 colleges · Cutoffs from 2024 admission cycle

CUSAT Kochi

Kochi, Kerala · Est. 1971

Fees

₹1–2 Lakh

Cutoff

Rank ~3000 (KEAM CSE, 2024)

Placement

₹8 LPA avg · ₹32 LPA highest

Type

Government

Exams

KEAMJEE Main

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Model Engineering College

Kochi, Kerala · Est. 1999

Fees

₹1–2 Lakh

Cutoff

Rank ~2000 (KEAM CSE, 2024)

Placement

₹9 LPA avg · ₹36 LPA highest

Type

Government

Exams

KEAM

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SCMS School of Engineering

Kochi, Kerala · Est. 2001

Fees

₹3–5 Lakh

Cutoff

Rank ~6000 (KEAM CSE)

Placement

₹7 LPA avg · ₹25 LPA highest

Type

Private

Exams

KEAMJEE Main

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Explore by city

Top cities for KEAM

Kochi

16+ colleges

Engineering colleges →

Common questions

KEAM 2026 FAQs

What is KEAM and who conducts it?

KEAM (Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical) is Kerala's state entrance exam conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala). It has two papers — Paper 1 (Physics & Chemistry) and Paper 2 (Mathematics) — for engineering admission to 150+ Kerala colleges.

Prepare for KEAM 2026 on College1st

Free mocks with rank estimates, college predictor mapped to real cutoff trends, and exam alerts — built for Class 11–12 students.

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Entrance exam guide · Class 11 & 12

KEAM 2026

KEAM 2026 dates, syllabus & Kerala engineering college guide. CUSAT cutoffs, fees & KEAM rank predictor for Class 11–12 on College1st.

Try Preparation Predict colleges

Key facts