The expected GD-PI shortlisting cutoff for KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 is around 36–46 marks for OBC students, 26–34 marks for SC students, and 20–28 marks for ST students out of 120, based on 2025 trends.

KMAT Kerala is conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala for MBA admissions across participating colleges in the state. After Session 2 results are declared, CEE Kerala publishes a category-wise merit list and shortlists students above the GD-PI cutoff for Group Discussion and Personal Interview rounds. OBC, SC and ST students benefit from relaxed cutoffs compared to the General category, in line with Kerala government reservation norms. The final official cutoff is released on cee.kerala.gov.in after the Session 2 result.

  • KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 is conducted by CEE Kerala for MBA admissions across the state.
  • The written test carries 120 marks — 120 questions at 1 mark each, with 0.25 negative marking per wrong answer.
  • Students scoring at or above the category-wise cutoff are shortlisted for GD-PI rounds at participating MBA colleges.
  • Based on 2025 trends, the OBC cutoff is expected around 36–46 marks, SC around 26–34 marks, and ST around 20–28 marks.
  • If you appeared in both sessions, CEE Kerala considers your best score for the final merit list.
Direct Link to KMAT Kerala 2026 Official Website (Active)cee.kerala.gov.in

What is KMAT Kerala 2026 GD-PI Shortlisting Cutoff

The GD-PI shortlisting cutoff is the minimum score in the KMAT Kerala written test that you must obtain to be called for the Group Discussion and Personal Interview round. After Session 2 results are announced, CEE Kerala releases a merit list and only students at or above the cutoff for their category are shortlisted. The cutoff differs by category — General, OBC, SC and ST — in line with Kerala government reservation policies.

The written test for KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 carries a total of 120 marks. With 0.25 negative marking per wrong attempt, your net score (correct marks minus penalty) determines whether you cross the GD-PI cutoff for your category. Students shortlisted in Session 2 go through GD-PI at the college level; the combined score of written test and GD-PI is used to prepare the final merit list for seat allotment.


Category-Wise Expected GD-PI Cutoff for Session 2

The table below shows the expected GD-PI shortlisting cutoff for KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 for OBC, SC and ST categories, based on 2024 and 2025 trends. These are indicative figures — the official cutoff will be released by CEE Kerala after the Session 2 result on cee.kerala.gov.in.

Category Expected Cutoff (out of 120) Approximate Percentile Range
General / Unreserved 42–52 marks Above 70th percentile
OBC (Other Backward Classes) 36–46 marks Above 60th percentile
SC (Scheduled Caste) 26–34 marks Above 45th percentile
ST (Scheduled Tribe) 20–28 marks Above 35th percentile

The cutoff range above is expected based on 2025 trends. Actual cutoffs will depend on total applicants, Session 2 difficulty level, and the number of seats available under each category.


Previous Year KMAT Kerala GD-PI Cutoff Trends

Tracking previous year cutoffs helps you gauge the score range you need. The table below shows approximate GD-PI shortlisting cutoffs from KMAT Kerala 2024 and 2025 across all categories.

Category KMAT Kerala 2024 Cutoff (approx.) KMAT Kerala 2025 Cutoff (approx.)
General / Unreserved 40–50 marks 42–52 marks
OBC 34–44 marks 36–46 marks
SC 24–32 marks 26–34 marks
ST 18–26 marks 20–28 marks

The data shows a gradual increase of 1–2 marks per year across all categories. Growing awareness of KMAT Kerala and a rising number of applicants have steadily pushed the competitive threshold upward. SC and ST cutoffs have remained significantly lower than the general category in every cycle, reflecting the state’s reservation framework.


Factors Affecting KMAT Kerala 2026 GD-PI Cutoff

Several variables shape the final GD-PI shortlisting cutoff that CEE Kerala releases after Session 2 results:

  • Total number of applicants: A higher number of Session 2 test-takers increases competition and can push the cutoff upward for all categories.
  • Exam difficulty level: A harder Session 2 paper lowers average scores across the board, which can bring the cutoff down compared to previous years.
  • Total available seats: The number of MBA seats under the CEE Kerala quota directly determines how many students are shortlisted for GD-PI in each category.
  • Category-wise seat distribution: Reservation-based seat allocation under OBC, SC and ST quotas sets the proportion of shortlisted students per category, influencing how relaxed or tight the cutoff is.
  • Negative marking effect: Heavy negative marking among test-takers lowers net scores across the cohort, which can shift the effective cutoff band downward.

What Happens After GD-PI Shortlisting

Once CEE Kerala releases the Session 2 merit list, shortlisted students are called for GD-PI rounds at participating MBA colleges. Here is what to expect at each stage:

  1. Download your shortlisting letter: Log in to cee.kerala.gov.in after the merit list is published. Download the shortlisting call letter for the GD-PI round.
  2. Group Discussion round: A GD is held to assess your communication, team behaviour and analytical thinking. Each group session typically runs for 10–15 minutes.
  3. Personal Interview round: A college panel interviews you on your academic background, career goals and situational questions. Interview duration is usually 15–20 minutes.
  4. Final merit list preparation: CEE Kerala prepares a combined merit list based on your written test score and GD-PI performance for seat allotment.
  5. Centralised seat allotment: Seats are allotted through CEE Kerala’s centralised counselling process, with category-wise seats distributed under reservation norms.

KMAT Kerala 2026 GD-PI Cutoff FAQs

Ques. What is the expected KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 GD-PI cutoff for OBC students?

Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected GD-PI shortlisting cutoff for OBC students in KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 is approximately 36–46 marks out of 120. The official cutoff will be released by CEE Kerala on cee.kerala.gov.in after the Session 2 result is declared.

Ques. What is the expected KMAT Kerala 2026 cutoff for SC and ST categories?

Ans. The expected GD-PI cutoff for SC students is approximately 26–34 marks and for ST students is approximately 20–28 marks out of 120, based on 2024 and 2025 data. These are estimates — actual cutoffs depend on exam difficulty and total applicants in Session 2.

Ques. What is the total marks for KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2?

Ans. KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 carries a total of 120 marks — 120 questions at 1 mark each. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer, so your net score is used for GD-PI shortlisting and merit ranking.

Ques. Where is the KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 GD-PI cutoff released?

Ans. The official GD-PI shortlisting cutoff and merit list for KMAT Kerala 2026 Session 2 are published on the CEE Kerala official website at cee.kerala.gov.in. Log in with your application credentials to check your shortlisting status and download the call letter.

Ques. Is the GD-PI cutoff different for Session 1 and Session 2 of KMAT Kerala 2026?

Ans. Yes, CEE Kerala sets separate cutoffs for Session 1 and Session 2 based on each session’s result data. If you appeared in both sessions, your best score is considered for the final merit list and GD-PI shortlisting.

Ques. What documents are required for the KMAT Kerala 2026 GD-PI round?

Ans. You need your KMAT Kerala 2026 admit card, the GD-PI shortlisting call letter downloaded from cee.kerala.gov.in, a valid government photo ID, recent passport-size photographs, and academic mark sheets (10th, 12th and graduation). CEE Kerala will communicate any additional requirements at the time of shortlisting.