KMAT Kerala: Eligibility, Dates, Application Form, Exam Pattern, Syllabus

The Kerala Management Aptitude Test (KMAT Kerala) 2026 is a crucial state-level entrance exam conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, for admission into MBA and related postgraduate management programs across the state.

The exam is held twice annually in a computer-based test (CBT) mode. For Session I, the KMAT 2026 application form will be out in February 2026, with the exam likely scheduled for the last week of February. Session II is expected to commence in April 2026, with the test taking place in June 2026.

About KMAT Kerala

Organized by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), the Kerala Management Aptitude Test (KMAT) is conducted for candidates aspiring to pursue different courses under MBA across different management colleges of the state of Kerala. KUFOS conducts KMAT Kerala 2026 under the supervision of the Admission Supervisory Committee (ASC).

The Kerala Management Aptitude test presents an opportunity for candidates to get admission into different management colleges in Kerala.

• Participating Colleges: Candidates can be admitted into many colleges for management courses. Some of the best universities under this examination are Kannur University (KU), Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kerala Agriculture University (KAU), Kerala University of Fisheries Ocean Studies(KUFOC) and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Statement: The examination empowers candidates to look for confirmation for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program and a graduation Diploma in Management. All applicants who fulfil the qualification criteria can apply for the online examination.
• Weightage: The weight for the whole procedure is in the ratio of 80:10:10 respectively for the composed test, Group discussion and Personal Interview.
• Recurrence: The exam is held twice a year.

Check the exam highlights for KMAT Kerala 2026 in the table below.

KMAT Kerala Exam Highlights

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	KMAT Kerala
Full Name	Kerala Management Aptitude Test
Conducting Body	Government of Kerala - Office of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations
Exam Level	State level
Recurrence	Two times per year
Exam Mode	Offline - Pen and Paper-Based Test
Exam Duration	150 Minutes
Type of Questions	Multiple-choice questions
Application Mode	Online Only
Helpdesk	0471-2525300 ceekinfo.cee@kerala.gov.in
Official Website	cee.kerala.gov.in

KMAT Kerala Important Dates

KMAT Kerala 2026 exam is held in two sessions every year. The tentative dates for the session 1 and 2 exams have been shared in the table below.

KMAT Kerala Session 1 Dates

An overview of the important dates related to the KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 1 exam is provided in the table below.

KMAT Kerala Session 2 Dates

An overview of the important dates related to the KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 exam is provided in the table below.

KMAT Kerala Eligibility Criteria

You are advised to go through the eligibility criteria of KMAT Kerala 2026 carefully to avoid unnecessary mistakes. These criteria change from exam to exam. The eligibility criteria are set based on different courses.

The eligibility criteria that are mentioned by the conducting authority, for taking the exam are as follows.

• Citizenship: You should be a citizen of India and a native of Kerala.
• Capability: You should pass a graduation degree from Kerala state or some other perceived college and need to secure a minimum of 50% marks in the qualifying exam. For the reserved categories namely the ST and SC, the candidate has to secure 40% marks in the qualifying exam.
• Bachelor's Degree: You must have finished your bachelor's degree from any recognized university, college, or institution of at least 3 years span. Candidates, who are pursuing the last semester of a bachelor's degree can also apply for KMAT Kerala 2026. Candidates who have appeared for CMAT or CAT are also eligible.
• Age Limit: There are no certain age limitations for the examination.
• Final Year Students: If you are appearing for the last year of the qualifying examination are eligible to apply. They should submit their final result of the bachelor's degree before the last day of admission.

KMAT Kerala Application Form

KMAT Kerala 2026 application form will be released separately for session 1 and session 2. The KMAT application form 2026 will be accessible online at CEE's official website (https://cee.kerala.gov.in/main.php). Students who want to take the KMAT Kerala exam are supposed to fill out an online application form and pay a registration fee. Candidates must carefully read the KMAT Kerala eligibility criteria 2026 before proceeding with the registration process.

You are supposed to register for the KMAT Kerala 2026 exam online only.

KMAT Kerala Application Fee

The application fee of KMAT Kerala is as follows:

Category	Application Fee
General	INR 1000
SC/ ST	INR 750

KMAT Kerala Document Guidelines

Document Specifications for KMAT Kerala 2026 Application Process

Documents	File Size	File Dimensions	File Format
Passport size Photograph	40 KB	150 x 200	JPG
Signature	40 KB	150 x 200	JPG

KMAT Kerala Exam Pattern

KMAT Kerala 2026 is conducted twice a year to select students for MBA and PGDM courses in colleges throughout Kerala. This exam is conducted to check the ability of the students. Based on the exam a merit list is prepared according to the scores of the candidates. The KMAT Kerala exam pattern is as follows.

• KMAT Kerala Exam Duration: The aggregate time accessible for the candidate to complete the exam is 150 minutes or two and a half hours.
  
• KMAT Kerala Exam Mode: The examination is an online mode computer-based exam comprising 180 multiple-choice questions or MCQs. Each right answer to the question brings (+) 4 marks. There is a negative marking so each wrong answer gets (-) 1 mark.
• KMAT Kerala Exam Pattern: The KMAT Kerala exam pattern 2026 has 4 sections, having MCQs that are to be completed in 2 hours 30 minutes or 150 minutes.
• KMAT Kerala Sectional Timing: There is no sectional time limit to complete the paper.

Section-Wise Pattern of KMAT Kerala 2026

Section Name	Number of Questions
English Language and Reading Comprehension	50
Quantitative Aptitude	50
Data Sufficiency & Logical Reasoning	40
General Knowledge & Contemporary Business Scenario	40
Total	180 Questions

KMAT Kerala Syllabus

The syllabus for KMAT Kerala 2026 is outlined on its official website. It is pretty much similar to other ongoing examinations. The syllabus is set as per the requirement to analyze the performance of the students. The candidates have to prepare for the exam as the syllabus is set.

There are four sections in the KMAT Kerala Syllabus 2026. The detailed syllabus is listed below.

Subjects	Chapters
English Language and Reading Comprehension	English Grammar, Vocabulary and Language Usage, Comprehension Passage
Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Calculus, Geometry
Data Sufficiency and Logical Reasoning	Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Combination of graphological
General Knowledge and Contemporary Business Scenario	Latest Current Affairs and Trending Topics of the Year

KMAT Kerala Reference Books

There is no particular book for KMAT Kerala by ASC, but a few suggested KMAT Kerala reference books 2026 for the examination are below.

• P Sinha for Quantitative Ability
• Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit Sinha, Publisher- Pearson
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination Tips, Techniques, and Short-cut Methods by Abhijit Guha
• Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Nishit Sinha, Publisher- Pearson
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT by Arun Sharma, Publisher- Tata Mcgraw Hill

How to Prepare for KMAT Kerala?

Every preparation for exams like KMAT Kerala requires dedication, focus and perseverance. You need to have proper dedication towards your aim to crack the entrance exam and take another step towards forming your career. You need the presence of mind and focus to concentrate on finishing the required syllabus of the exam. Finally, you need to have the perseverance to avoid disappointments when facing difficulties.

1. Create a Custom Schedule

The first thing you need to do before you start your real exam preparation is that you need to prepare a proper preparation schedule. A proper preparation schedule consists of equal time distribution for all of the topics involved, time for practising sample question papers, time in the end for multiple revisions and last but not least is the inclusion of breaks in the middle of the preparation sessions. Make sure that you stick to that schedule throughout the preparation.

2. Intense Practice Sessions

Most of the topics in the KMAT Kerala Exam are intense. So, you need to collect as much KMAT Kerala-related material as possible. This includes KMAT Kerala sample papers, mock tests, previous year papers, and other workbooks. Intense practices help you familiarize yourself with the structure and type of questions in these sections. Also, it increases your speed in answering the questions with accuracy.

KMAT Kerala Section-Wise Preparation Tips

There are four sections in the KMAT Kerala 2026 exam. Each of these sections needs different approach methods.

1. Quantitative Aptitude: The most important aspect of this section is effectively using the calculator to answer the questions. The easy alternative to this is using various tips and tricks to answer the questions. To learn and retain as many as you can.

2. Data Sufficiency & Logical Reasoning Section: This section demands speed and accuracy from you. So you need to develop those two things with intense practice sessions on this section from the sample and practice papers. Time management is the key to scoring in this section.

3. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: This section requires you to brush up on the basics of English like grammar and stuff. Reading more also helps with answering in this section.

4. General Knowledge & Contemporary Business Scenario: There is no alternative for this section except that you need to read newspapers and magazines regularly. This will develop your knowledge about what's happening around you.

KMAT Kerala Admit Card

KMAT Kerala 2026 admit card is a very important document that is to be carried to the examination hall without fail. Failing to do so, the candidates will not be allowed to write the exam. 

Students must check the KMAT Kerala admit card 2026 for any errors, if any discrepancies are present, then the candidates are advised to contact the university.

• Admit Card Download: Candidates who successfully register themselves can download the admit card from the official website.
• Identity Proof: With a specific end goal to get the admit card, the candidates must enter enrollment numbers and passwords. The hall ticket contains important elements, for example, registration number, exam centre, examination date and time, applicant photograph, and so on.
• Documents Required: It is required to carry the admit card alongside the identity card, the applicant will not be permitted to enter the examination hall if they fail to bring one.

Details Mentioned on KMAT Kerala Admit Card

The various particulars that are present on KMAT Kerala admit card are as follows.

• Name of the Candidate
• Photograph of the Candidate
• Address of Test Centre
• Test Date
• Admit Card Number.

KMAT Kerala Exam Centres

The KMAT Kerala Exam Centre List 2026 will be released by the conducting authority of the exam. There are a total of 14 cities in Kerala in which the exam will be conducted. They are listed in the table below.

KMAT Kerala 2026 Exam Centres
Thiruvananthapuram	Kollam
Alappuzha	Pathanamthitta
Kottayam	Idukki
Ernakulam	Thrissur
Palakkad	Malappuram
Kozhikode	Wayanad
Kannur	Kasargod

KMAT Kerala Exam Day Guidelines

Some important instructions regarding KMAT Kerala 2026 are mentioned below:

• The candidate needs to be present at the exam centre 30 minutes before the commencement of the KMAT Kerala examination.
• The entry of a student would be prohibited in the centre without the issued admit card in any circumstances.
• Electronic gadgets including mobile phones, calculators or such like are not allowed inside the test centre.
• The candidate is not allowed to open the exam booklet unless instructed.
• Candidates will be given an extra 10 minutes to read the test booklet thoroughly to avoid confusion regarding anything.
• Personal belongings like baggage are not allowed inside the centre. The centre would not be responsible for any sort of stealing or losing the belongings.
• Accurate details must be filled in the answer sheet by the applicant or else there is a possibility that the result will not be evaluated.
• Answers should be marked correctly as per the applicant’s ability and knowledge by darkening the option in the OMR sheet.
• The candidate is not allowed to leave the centre before the exam timings as it will lead to the cancellation of the exam.
• The candidate who is found guilty of any unfair means will be responsible for the disqualification of his/her candidature.

Colleges Accepting KMAT Kerala Score

The list of Colleges Accepting KMAT Kerala Score in INDIA 2026 is provided below.

• Kannur University
• Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
• Kerala Agricultural University
• KUFOS (Kerala University Of Fisheries and Ocean Studies)
• Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University

KMAT Kerala Answer Key

KMAT Kerala 2026 answer key will be released on the official website. You must visit the official website to check and download their KMAT Kerala answer key PDF. 

Furthermore, students got the chance to object to the provisional answer key by paying the prescribed fee required for each question from June 2-4, 2026. If candidates find any discrepancy in the answers, they could reach out to the exam officials. They could provide the required documents and pay a fee of INR 100 /- per question to challenge the answer key. The final answer key will be released after the answer key objection period is over.

Steps to Download KMAT Kerala Answer Key 2026

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download the KMAT Kerala 2026 answer key.

• Step 1: Candidates must visit the official KMAT Kerala website (cee.kerala.gov.in)
• Step 2: Click on 'KMAT Kerala Candidate Portal 2026'
• Step 3: Press on the 'KMAT Kerala 2026 Answer Key' link
• Step 4: The answer key will be presented on your screen as a PDF.
• Step 5: Candidates can go through these keys and compare their answer responses.
• Step 6: Calculate your probable score.

KMAT Kerala Results

KMAT Kerala 2026 results will be declared for session 1 and session 2 seperately, at cee.kerala.gov.in. The steps for the same are listed below.

Steps to Check KMAT Kerala 2026 Result

Follow the steps mentioned below to check their KMAT Kerala results 2026.

• Step 1: Candidates must visit the official website.
• Step 2: Click the ‘KMAT Kerala 2026 Result’ link.
• Step 3: A PDF file will appear.
• Step 4: Search your name & check your results.
• Step 5: Download the file for future reference.

KMAT Kerala Cut Off

The ASC of Kerala sets up the minimum required marks to qualify for admission into any institute or college through KMAT Kerala. The category-wise expected offs are listed in the table below.

Cut Offs for KMAT Kerala 2026

Category	Qualifying Cut Off
General	108/720
SEBC	72/720
SC/ST	54/720

KMAT Kerala Counselling

KMAT Kerala 2026 counselling process for the selection of the college starts after the results are announced. Candidates are required to apply for the colleges individually. There will not be any combined counselling procedures. Depending on the merit list, the candidates are called for counselling along with their documents for the verification process.

• Beginning: The counselling procedure will begin after the declaration of the result.
• Cut Off: Cut-off marks will be declared for General, SEBC and ST/SC categories separately.
• Merit list of Candidates: The counselling process will be completely based on its merit list. The validity of the candidate will be based on the marks acquired in the examination.
• Rounds: Based on ranks secured in KMAT Kerala 2026, candidates are called for further selection rounds, namely GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview) rounds.
• Ratio: As per ASC guidelines, the weight given to the entrance examination, group discussion and interview is 80:10:1,0, respectively.

KMAT Kerala Contact Details

In case of any discrepancies arising at any stage of the exam, contact the conducting authorities.

Head Office Address:
T.C. 15/ 1553-4, Prasanthi Buildings,
MP Apan Road, Vazhuthacaud,
Thiruvananthapuram.

Phone/ Fax: 0471-2335133, 8547255133

Help-desk Contact Numbers: 0471-2335133, 8547255133

Email ID: ceekinfo.cee@kerala.gov.in

Official Website: cee.kerala.gov.in