CUSAT School of Management Studies is expected to shortlist General and SEBC students scoring 130 to 155 marks out of 720 in KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 for the GD-PI round, based on previous year admission trends.

KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 was held on May 31, 2026, and CEE Kerala declared the provisional result on June 15, 2026. CUSAT SMS shortlists students above the exam authority’s minimum qualifying mark to fill its 120 MBA seats through a Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD-PI) process. GD-PI rounds at CUSAT SMS are expected from July 2026 onwards. The final merit rank is prepared in a 70:15:15 ratio of aptitude test score, personal interview, and group discussion.

  • KMAT Kerala 2026 is scored out of 720 marks (180 questions, 4 marks each, with a deduction of 1 mark for wrong answers).
  • Session 2 provisional result was released on June 15, 2026 at cee.kerala.gov.in.
  • KMAT Kerala 2026 minimum qualifying score: 72 marks for General and SEBC students and 54 marks for SC, ST, and PWD students.
  • Expected CUSAT SMS GD-PI shortlisting score for General category: 130 to 155 marks out of 720.
  • Aptitude test score carries 70% weight in the CUSAT SMS final MBA merit list.
  • All figures are expected and based on 2024 and 2025 trends; the official shortlist will be published by CUSAT SMS.
Direct Link to KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 Result (OUT — Provisional) — cee.kerala.gov.in

CUSAT SMS KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 Expected GD-PI Cutoff

CUSAT School of Management Studies announces a GD-PI shortlist after KMAT Kerala Session 2 results are finalised by CEE Kerala. The shortlisting threshold at CUSAT SMS is set above the exam authority’s minimum qualifying mark and varies by category. Based on 2024 and 2025 admission patterns, the table below shows the expected score at which CUSAT SMS is likely to call students for GD-PI.

Category Expected KMAT Kerala Score (out of 720) Remarks
General / SEBC 130 – 155 Aim for 155+ for a safe shortlist call
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 110 – 135 Varies with OBC applicant pool in Session 2
SC 85 – 110 Lower threshold due to reserved seats
ST 72 – 90 Near the minimum qualifying mark; subject to seat availability
PWD 54 – 75 Based on 5% PWD quota and applicant pool

All cutoff figures are expected and based on 2024–2025 trends. Final shortlisting scores will be published by CUSAT School of Management Studies.


Category-wise Expected Shortlisting Score

CUSAT SMS follows Kerala government reservation norms when shortlisting students for GD-PI. The category-wise breakdown below helps you assess your chances before the official shortlist is out.

  • General and SEBC students face the highest competition for the open merit pool. A score of at least 130 marks is the expected floor for a shortlist call, with 155 or above offering a safe margin. CUSAT SMS has 120 MBA seats and typically shortlists three to four students per seat for GD-PI across all categories.
  • OBC students applying under the reserved quota are expected to need 110 to 135 marks. The actual threshold shifts with the number of OBC applicants who sat for Session 2.
  • SC students have a lower expected bar at 85 to 110 marks, driven by the reserved seat proportion. Students at the lower end of this range must also have cleared the KMAT Kerala minimum qualifying mark of 72.
  • ST students may be shortlisted at scores near the minimum qualifying mark of 72 if the ST applicant pool is small. Where the pool is larger, the threshold will rise toward 90 marks.
  • PWD students with scores at or above 54 marks may receive a GD-PI call under the 5% PWD quota, subject to the size of the eligible PWD applicant group at CUSAT SMS.

Students scoring at or above the expected cutoff should monitor the CUSAT SMS admissions page for the official GD-PI notification in July 2026.


Previous Year KMAT Kerala Cutoff Trends

The table below shows the KMAT Kerala minimum qualifying cutoff set by CEE Kerala over the last four years. CUSAT SMS shortlists students well above these scores based on merit and seat matrix.

Year General / SEBC Score (out of 720) SC / ST / PWD Score (out of 720)
2025 72 54
2024 72 54
2023 108 81
2022 107 81

These are minimum qualifying cutoffs set by CEE Kerala, not CUSAT SMS-specific GD-PI shortlisting scores. Source: cee.kerala.gov.in official notifications.

The minimum qualifying cutoff dropped in 2024 compared to 2022 and 2023. This reflects a policy change by CEE Kerala and does not lower the competitive bar at CUSAT SMS. Students who score the minimum qualifying mark are eligible to apply to CUSAT SMS but will need scores significantly above 100 marks to have a realistic chance of a GD-PI shortlist call in the General category.


How CUSAT SMS Final Merit List is Prepared

Being shortlisted for GD-PI is the first step. CUSAT SMS prepares the final MBA admission merit rank using a weighted formula across three components.

Component Weightage in Final Merit
Aptitude Test Score (KMAT Kerala / CAT / CMAT / CUET PG) 70%
Personal Interview (PI) 15%
Group Discussion (GD) 15%

With the aptitude test carrying 70% of the final weight, your KMAT Kerala Session 2 score is the single biggest factor in your merit rank at CUSAT SMS. Students with scores above 155 marks can secure a seat with an average GD-PI performance, while those in the 130 to 155 range need a strong showing in both GD and PI to stay competitive in the final list.

CUSAT SMS accepts CAT, CMAT, and CUET PG scores alongside KMAT Kerala for the same 120 MBA seats. Students with strong CAT or CMAT scores may appear in the open merit list and raise the effective competition bar for KMAT Kerala takers.


How to Check CUSAT SMS KMAT Kerala Shortlist 2026

Once CEE Kerala publishes the final KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 result, CUSAT SMS will release its GD-PI shortlist on its official website. Follow these steps to check your name.

  1. Visit cee.kerala.gov.in and download your KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 scorecard using your application number and date of birth.
  2. Note your total score, rank, and percentile as these are the figures CUSAT SMS uses to prepare the shortlist.
  3. Visit the CUSAT SMS official website (sms.cusat.ac.in) and check the Admissions section for the GD-PI shortlist notification.
  4. Open the shortlist PDF and search for your application number or roll number.
  5. If you find your number, download the GD-PI call letter and note the date, time, venue, and documents required.
  6. Report on the scheduled GD-PI date with original mark sheets, degree certificate, category certificate if applicable, and two passport-size photographs.

CUSAT SMS does not reschedule GD-PI for absent students. Students who miss the date are excluded from merit consideration. Set a calendar reminder and confirm attendance in advance of the GD-PI day.

CUSAT SMS KMAT Kerala 2026 GD-PI Cutoff FAQs

Ques. What is the expected KMAT Kerala 2026 cutoff for CUSAT SMS GD-PI shortlisting?

Ans. General and SEBC students are expected to need 130 to 155 marks out of 720 for the CUSAT SMS GD-PI shortlist in Session 2 2026, based on previous year trends. SC students may be shortlisted at 85 to 110 marks and ST students near the minimum qualifying mark of 72, subject to seat availability.

Ques. What is the total marks in KMAT Kerala 2026?

Ans. KMAT Kerala 2026 is scored out of 720 marks. The exam has 180 multiple choice questions with 4 marks for each correct answer and a deduction of 1 mark for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.

Ques. What is the minimum qualifying score for KMAT Kerala 2026?

Ans. The KMAT Kerala 2026 minimum qualifying mark is 72 for General and SEBC students and 54 for SC, ST, and PWD students out of 720. Clearing this minimum makes you eligible to apply to participating colleges. CUSAT SMS shortlists students above this minimum based on merit.

Ques. How many MBA seats does CUSAT SMS offer and how is the merit list made?

Ans. CUSAT School of Management Studies offers 120 MBA seats. The final merit list is prepared in a 70:15:15 ratio, where the aptitude test score (KMAT Kerala or other accepted exams) accounts for 70%, personal interview for 15%, and group discussion for 15%.

Ques. When will CUSAT SMS release the KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 GD-PI shortlist?

Ans. CUSAT SMS is expected to release its GD-PI shortlist for KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 in July 2026, within a few weeks of CEE Kerala publishing the final result. Check sms.cusat.ac.in and cee.kerala.gov.in for updates.

Ques. Does CUSAT SMS consider both KMAT Kerala sessions for MBA admission?

Ans. Yes. CUSAT SMS treats KMAT Kerala Session 1 and Session 2 scores equally. Students who appeared in both sessions can use either score. CUSAT SMS considers the best valid score submitted at the time of application when preparing the GD-PI shortlist and final merit rank.