KEAM Syllabus 2027 for Engineering and Pharmacy

The KEAM syllabus covers Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry from the Class 11 and Class 12 Higher Secondary course. For B.Tech, all three subjects are tested in a single computer-based paper. For B.Pharm, only Physics and Chemistry are tested. CEE Kerala sets the paper, and the official syllabus is given as an annexure in the KEAM prospectus.

A note on sources: the prospectus extract available to us for this page did not include the syllabus annexure itself, and CEE does not publish a separate weightage chart. The chapter lists below are built from the standard Class 11 and 12 course and from the way recent papers have been reported. Use them as a working checklist, then compare them with the annexure in the latest prospectus at https://cee.kerala.gov.in/keam2026/pdf/Prospectus.pdf once the KEAM 2027 edition is out.

Table of Contents

KEAM syllabus at a glance

The marks split follows a 5:3:2 pattern, which also matches the weightage of the three subjects in the Plus Two part of the rank list. The numbers below are from the KEAM 2026 paper.

What to know before you start

• Base: the questions come from the Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus. Nothing beyond the Higher Secondary level is expected.

• No official topic weightage: CEE does not publish chapter-wise marks. Treat every chapter as examinable, and use previous papers to see which ones appear more often.

• Board differences: candidates from CBSE, ICSE and other boards write the same paper. If your board skipped or trimmed a chapter, check it against the prospectus annexure, then cover the gap.

• Maths has the highest stake: it carries half the B.Tech marks and is usually the subject that separates ranks.

• Plus Two also counts: your board marks in these same three subjects make up half the engineering index mark, so the syllabus does double duty.

KEAM Mathematics syllabus

With 75 questions in 180 minutes shared with the other subjects, Mathematics needs speed as much as understanding. Cover each unit below with both concept practice and timed problem sets.

Algebra

• Sets, relations and functions: types of relations and functions, domain and range, composition and inverse.

• Complex numbers and quadratic equations: algebra of complex numbers, modulus and argument, roots of quadratic equations.

• Sequences and series: arithmetic, geometric and harmonic progressions, special series.

• Permutations, combinations and binomial theorem: counting methods and general term problems.

• Matrices and determinants: operations, inverse, properties of determinants, solving linear systems.

• Linear inequalities: solving and graphing, linear programming as an application.

Trigonometry

• Trigonometric functions: identities, equations, graphs and general solutions.

• Inverse trigonometric functions: principal values, properties and simplification.

Coordinate geometry and vectors

• Straight lines and conic sections: circle, parabola, ellipse and hyperbola.

• Vectors: dot and cross products, scalar triple product.

• Three-dimensional geometry: direction cosines, lines and planes in space.

Calculus

• Limits, continuity and differentiability: standard limits and derivative rules.

• Applications of derivatives: tangents, maxima and minima, rate of change.

• Integration: indefinite and definite integrals, area under curves.

• Differential equations: order, degree and standard solving methods.

Statistics and probability

• Statistics: mean, variance and standard deviation.

• Probability: conditional probability, Bayes' theorem, random variables and distributions.

Topic names and order differ slightly between textbook editions. If a heading here does not match your textbook, look for the same concept under a nearby chapter.

KEAM Physics syllabus

The Physics section has 45 questions, so each chapter matters. A useful way to organise it is by the usual Class 11 and Class 12 split.

Physics questions mix formula use with concept checks. Keep a one-page formula sheet for each area and revise it weekly. Units and dimensions appear inside many other chapters, so they are worth mastering early.

KEAM Chemistry syllabus

Chemistry has the smallest share (30 questions, 120 marks), but it is often the quickest to score. Organise it into three blocks.

Physical chemistry

• Basic concepts and atomic structure: mole concept, stoichiometry, quantum numbers, electronic configuration.

• States of matter and thermodynamics: gas laws, enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs energy.

• Chemical and ionic equilibrium: equilibrium constants, pH, buffers, solubility product.

• Solutions, electrochemistry and kinetics: colligative properties, cells, Nernst equation, rate laws.

Inorganic chemistry

• Periodic table and chemical bonding: periodic trends, bond types, molecular shapes.

• d-block and f-block elements: properties, compounds and common trends.

• Coordination compounds: naming, isomerism, bonding theories.

• p-block elements: group-wise properties and compounds where they appear in the course.

Organic chemistry

• Hydrocarbons and basic principles: nomenclature, isomerism, reaction mechanisms.

• Haloalkanes, alcohols, phenols and ethers: preparation and reactions.

• Aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids: named reactions and conversions.

• Amines and biomolecules: organic compounds containing nitrogen, carbohydrates, proteins.

In Chemistry, reading the textbook line by line pays off, because many questions are direct recall of facts and reactions given there.

Subject-wise study approach

The three subjects reward different habits, so do not study them in the same way.

• Mathematics: learn a method, then solve many problems with it. After each chapter, solve at least 40 to 50 mixed questions, and note down every shortcut you find. Practise mental calculation too, since long calculations eat into the clock.

• Physics: understand the concept first, then derive the formula once yourself. Solve numericals with units written out, which helps catch unit errors. Keep diagrams for optics, electricity and magnetism in a separate notebook.

• Chemistry: read the textbook closely, including exceptions, tables and reaction schemes. Revise short notes every week, since forgetting is the main risk here.

Key changes to know

Older web pages often describe KEAM as a two-paper exam taken on paper. The 2026 cycle used a single computer-based paper for engineering, with the three subjects in one sitting. When you read any syllabus or pattern article, check whether it refers to the current cycle. Prefer the official prospectus whenever a number or subject split looks different from what you see here.

The syllabus for KEAM 2027 may also be revised. CEE has not announced anything yet, so keep an eye on the notification page at https://cee.kerala.gov.in/keam2026/notification and recheck your plan when the new prospectus is released.

Syllabus for B.Pharm candidates

In the 2026 cycle, the B.Pharm entrance paper had 75 questions: 45 in Physics and 30 in Chemistry, with no Mathematics or Biology questions. If you are applying for both B.Tech and B.Pharm, the Physics and Chemistry preparation is shared. The Mathematics portion is extra for B.Tech only.

Check the prospectus carefully for the subject combination you need at the Plus Two level for pharmacy, because it is different from engineering. The pharmacy rank is based on the entrance marks alone.

Class 11 and Class 12 topics: how to plan

If you are in Class 12, you will be studying board chapters in school while preparing for KEAM. If you are a repeater, you have the freedom to plan by priority. In both cases, the aim is to study each topic once for both the board exam and KEAM.

The split can vary by board, so check your own textbook list against the topic checklists above.

Topics students report most often

Paper analyses for KEAM 2026 describe the paper as moderate overall. Chemistry was reported as easy to moderate and often close to textbook content, Physics as moderate with some difficult days, and Mathematics as moderate to tough because of lengthy calculations. These are student and coaching observations, not official statements, and difficulty varied by day and shift.

• Mathematics: calculus, coordinate geometry, vectors and three-dimensional geometry, matrices and determinants, probability, complex numbers, and sequences and series.

• Physics: laws of motion, work and energy, gravitation, current electricity, electrostatics, electromagnetic induction, ray optics, modern physics and semiconductors.

• Chemistry: chemical bonding, coordination compounds, electrochemistry, equilibrium, solutions, organic reactions and biomolecules.

This list is a guide for revision order, not a reason to skip anything. Chapters that look small can still produce two or three questions.

Common mistakes while covering the syllabus

• Skipping "small" chapters: units such as semiconductors, biomolecules or linear programming look minor, but they are reliable scoring areas because the questions are usually direct.

• Studying only from coaching notes: notes are useful for revision, but the paper follows the textbook course. Read the textbook at least once.

• Leaving Class 11 for later: many Class 12 problems depend on Class 11 basics, such as mechanics in magnetism problems or algebra in calculus.

• Ignoring board-exam timing: your Plus Two marks count for half of the engineering index mark, so plan your KEAM practice around the school calendar.

How to cover the syllabus in phases

1. Phase 1, concepts (first 3 to 4 months): complete every chapter once from the textbook, with 15 to 20 solved examples each. Make short notes as you go.

2. Phase 2, topic practice (next 2 to 3 months): take a chapter-wise test after each unit. Start timing yourself, aiming for about 1 minute per Mathematics question and a little less per Chemistry question.

3. Phase 3, mixed practice (next 1 to 2 months): attempt subject-wise tests that combine chapters, to train yourself to switch topics quickly.

4. Phase 4, full-length mocks (last 6 to 8 weeks): attempt full 150-question mocks in the 180-minute format, ideally at the real exam time (the 2026 engineering test started at 2:00 PM).

5. Phase 5, revision: reread formula sheets and your error log. Avoid starting new topics in the final week.