Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical Entrance Examination • Conducted by Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Government of Kerala
150 Questions Across Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry in a Single Online Paper
KEAM for Engineering aspirants is conducted as a single, consolidated Computer-Based Test (CBT) paper of 150 questions spanning Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, to be completed within 180 minutes (3 hours). B.Pharm aspirants attempt a separate, shorter paper covering only Physics and Chemistry with an adjusted duration.
Total Duration
180 Minutes
For Engineering Paper
Total Questions
150
Maths 75, Physics 45, Chemistry 30
Total Marks
600
Maths 300, Physics 180, Chem 120
Marking Scheme
+4 / -1
Negative Marking Applies
| Subject | Number of Questions | Marks Per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 75 | 4 | 300 |
| Physics | 45 | 4 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 30 | 4 | 120 |
| Total | 150 | - | 600 |
Every question carries +4 marks for a correct answer and -1 mark for an incorrect answer, a 4:1 positive-to-negative ratio that is somewhat more forgiving than JEE Main's +4/-1 (identical ratio, in fact) but still meaningfully penalizes careless guessing, especially given Mathematics' outsized 300-mark contribution to the total 600-mark paper.
All 150 questions in KEAM's Engineering paper are standard single-correct-answer multiple choice questions with four options each. There are no numerical value, multiple-correct, or matching-list questions, making the format comparatively straightforward and predictable compared to JEE Advanced.
A distinctive feature of KEAM's pattern is Mathematics' disproportionately large share — 75 of 150 questions (fully half) and 300 of 600 total marks (also exactly half) — making Mathematics performance the single most influential factor in a candidate's overall KEAM score, considerably more so than in JEE Main's more evenly balanced subject distribution.
As a computer-based test, KEAM's interface allows candidates to navigate freely between questions, mark questions for review, and track remaining time via an on-screen countdown timer, similar in basic functionality to JEE Main's CBT interface, though candidates transitioning from Kerala's historical OMR-based KEAM format should specifically familiarize themselves with this digital interface through official mock tests before the actual exam.
KEAM's shift from its historical offline OMR pen-and-paper format to a fully online CBT format represents one of the most significant recent pattern changes among major state entrance exams, requiring candidates and institutions alike to adapt to digital exam-taking conventions that didn't previously apply to KEAM.
KEAM's Engineering paper consists of 150 questions: 75 in Mathematics, 45 in Physics, and 30 in Chemistry, totaling 600 marks.
Each correct answer earns +4 marks, and each incorrect answer results in a -1 mark deduction. Unattempted questions receive zero marks.
KEAM is conducted as a fully online Computer-Based Test (CBT), having transitioned from its earlier offline OMR pen-and-paper format.
Mathematics carries 75 of the 150 total questions (half the paper) and 300 of the 600 total marks, reflecting KEAM's traditionally heavier weightage on Mathematics compared to Physics and Chemistry.
No, B.Pharm aspirants attempt a separate, shorter paper covering only Physics and Chemistry, distinct from the full 150-question Engineering paper.
Revise chapter-wise mathematical formulas before launching your test: