KEAM 2024: Key points to remember for test day

The Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (KEAM) entrance examination, a state-level entrance test conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, is set to be held from June 5 to 10. 

A major change is being introduced in the Kerala entrance exam this year, as it will be a computer-based test.

Last year, it was an OMR sheet-based test with two papers of two-and-a-half hours duration each. While Paper 1 was conducted in the morning, Paper 2 was held in the afternoon. This year, there will be a single paper of three-hour duration. Candidates will receive instructions to attend one among the several sessions to be conducted from June 5 to 10.

Those who wish to join medical/allied/agricultural courses need not attempt the engineering-pharmacy entrance exam. They will be selected based on the scores in NEET (UG)-2024 (National Eligibility-cum-entrance Test (Undergraduate). In other words, there is no state-level medical entrance exam.

Similarly, no separate entrance exam is conducted for admission to B Arch course in Kerala. Instead, candidates have to prove their aptitude in architecture by taking NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) conducted by the Council of Architecture.

KEAM 2024 Exam date and time
Engineering entrance exam: June 5 to 9, between 2 and 5 pm.
Reporting time: Candidates appearing for the exam have to report at the centre between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm.

Pharmacy entrance exam: June 10, from 3.30 to 5 pm.
Reporting time: From 1 to 3 pm.

Candidates appearing for the engineering entrance should report at the exam centres by 7.30 am and provide biometric data.

Entry will not be allowed into the centre after 9.30 am.

At 9.45 am, a mock test will start in the login window of the candidates. The actual test will begin when the timer reaches zero.

Candidates for the pharmacy entrance test should report at 1 pm.

Candidates should carry their Admit Card to the exam centre. They also have to mandatorily bring an identity card from the list given on the Admit Card.

For further details and clarifications, contact the phone number 0471-25252300.

Revised admit card
The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE)-Kerala released a new Admit Card for the exam on May 30 incorporating the revised time-table, which the candidates have to download from the portal, www.cee.kerala.gov.in

They need to submit their application number and password in the KEAM-2024 candidate portal. On the profile page, click ‘Admit Card’ in the menu and download it. Take a print of the Admit Card, preferably in colour.

Practice test
A practice test is available on the candidate portal which could be practiced several times to learn the mode of the exam. A 15-minute mock test too will be given to candidates in the exam hall, before the actual exam begins.

Division of marks
Weightage in the ratio 5:3:2 will be given to mathematics, physics and chemistry in the 180-minute paper for the engineering entrance exam. The questions will be of multiple-choice objective type. There will be 75 questions from mathematics, 45 from physics and 30 from chemistry. All questions are to be answered.

The pharmacy entrance test for admission to B Pharm course will be of 90-minute duration with 45 questions from physics and 30 from chemistry.

Five possible answers will be given for each question and candidates have to select the most likely one. Each correct answer carries four marks, while a wrong answer leads to one negative mark. No mark will be reduced for leaving a question unanswered.

72 seconds for each question
Candidates will receive 72 seconds to answer each question. They can initially answer easy questions and devote the time saved to attempt the tough questions later.

Normalisation
The engineering-pharmacy entrance test is held over several days in different shifts. The marks in the exams will be normalised in order to bring about equality and utilized for ranking. The ranks will be decided by considering the normalized marks and the standardized marks scored by the candidate in mathematics, physics and chemistry in class 12 in a ratio of 1:1.

Candidates should score a minimum of 10 normalized marks in the entrance exam to be included in the rank-list.

Applicants belonging to scheduled categories are exempted from this condition. However, they should attempt at least one question in the entrance exam.

Things to notice while attending the test

• Candidates should reach the venue two hours before the exam (7 am and 12.30 pm). There will be a biometric verification before sitting in the exam hall. The candidate has to ensure that the seat number displayed on the left-bottom corner of the computer screen is the same as the number allotted.
• Candidates are allowed to carry only the following items in the exam hall: Admit card, a photo-affixed identity card and a transparent ball pen.
• Pencils and calculators will not be allowed.
• Candidates will be given blank papers for rough work. Computer keyboards should not be used for the purpose. If necessary, the virtual keyboard on the screen could be utilized.
• If there are any complaints to the computer or mouse, they will be replaced immediately.
• A mock test will be conducted 15 minutes before the actual test. When the time of the mock test is completed, the computer will take the candidate to the real test.
• There will be 150 multiple-choice questions, to be answered in 180 minutes. The engineering entrance will have 75 questions from Mathematics, 45 from Physics and 30 from Chemistry. Candidates have to choose the best answer from five choices given. One correct answer will attract four marks and a wrong answer, one negative mark. No marks will be deducted for not attempting a question.
• Candidates who have applied only for BPharm have to answer the 75 questions in Physics and Chemistry within 90 minutes.
• The standard of questions is likely to differ as the exam will be conducted in various sessions. The ranking will be carried out after normalizing the scores.
• Questions will be of class 12-level and the syllabus is given in the prospectus.

There are exam centres in all 14 districts of Kerala, Delhi, Mumbai and Dubai.