The Kerala General Education Department has released the First Term (Onam) Examination timetable for the 2026–27 academic year. These exams are held every year just before the Onam holidays, giving schools a natural checkpoint to see how much of the first term’s syllabus students have actually absorbed. If you’re a parent, student, or teacher trying to plan the next couple of weeks, here’s everything you need in one place.
Quick Summary
- Exam period: 13 August 2026 – 20 August 2026 for most classes
- LP (Lower Primary) and Plus Two: Exams begin one day later, on 14 August 2026
- Classes covered: LP (1–4), UP (5–7), High School (8–10), and Plus Two (Class 12)
- Purpose: To assess how well students have grasped the portions taught in the first term, ahead of the Onam break
Kerala Onam Exam Dates 2026 at a Glance
| Category | Classes | Exam Window |
|---|---|---|
| LP | 1–4 | 14 Aug – 20 Aug 2026 |
| UP | 5–7 | 13 Aug – 20 Aug 2026 |
| High School | 8–10 | 13 Aug – 20 Aug 2026 |
| Plus Two | 12 | Begins 14 Aug 2026 |
The one-day gap for LP and Plus Two students is intentional — it staggers the start slightly so that schools running combined campuses aren’t handling every grade’s exam on the same opening day.
Exam Timings by Level
Timing structures differ a little between the younger and older classes, mainly because paper lengths and the number of subjects tested per day vary.
LP & UP (Classes 1–7)
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Forenoon (FN) | 10:00 AM – 12:15 PM |
| Afternoon (AN) | 1:30 PM – 3:45 PM |
High School (Classes 8–10)
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Forenoon (FN) | 10:00 AM – 12:45 PM |
| Afternoon (AN) | 1:30 PM – 3:15 PM (a few papers may run slightly longer) |
LP Timetable (Classes 1–4)
| Date | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 3 | Class 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug (Fri) | English | Malayalam / Sanskrit | English | Malayalam / Arabic / Urdu |
| 17 Aug (Mon) | EVS – I | English | Environmental Studies | English |
| 18 Aug (Tue) | EVS – II | EVS – I | Basic Science / Social Science | Mathematics |
| 19 Aug (Wed) | Mathematics | EVS – II | Mathematics | Basic Science / Social Science |
| 20 Aug (Thu) | Arabic / Sanskrit | Mathematics | Malayalam / Arabic / Urdu | Environmental Studies |
Which second-language paper a child sits for depends on the option chosen at school.
UP Timetable (Classes 5–7)
| Date | Class 5 | Class 6 | Class 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Aug (Thu) | 2nd Language (Malayalam/Arabic/Sanskrit/Hindi/Urdu) | Malayalam II | Hindi |
| 14 Aug (Fri) | English | Hindi | Malayalam II |
| 17 Aug (Mon) | Social Science | Social Science | Mathematics |
| 18 Aug (Tue) | Basic Science | Mathematics | English |
| 19 Aug (Wed) | Mathematics | English | Social Science |
| 20 Aug (Thu) | Hindi | Basic Science | Basic Science |
High School Timetable (Classes 8–10)
| Date | Class 8 | Class 9 | Class 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Aug (Thu) | 2nd Language – Paper I | 2nd Language – Paper I | 2nd Language – Paper I |
| 14 Aug (Fri) | English | Hindi | English / 2nd Language – Paper II |
| 17 Aug (Mon) | Mathematics | English | English |
| 18 Aug (Tue) | Science | Social Science | Social Science |
| 19 Aug (Wed) | Social Science | Mathematics | Mathematics |
| 20 Aug (Thu) | 2nd Language – Paper II | Biology | Biology |
Timetables are set by the state education department and are usually confirmed by individual schools a few days before the exam — it’s worth double-checking with your school’s official notice, since minor local adjustments do happen.
Exam-Day Checklist
A little preparation the night before goes a long way toward a calm exam morning:
Before the exam
- Arrive at least 15–30 minutes ahead of the reporting time
- Pack stationery the previous night — pens, pencils, an eraser, ruler, and geometry box where needed
- Re-check the date and subject against the timetable before leaving home
- Read through the entire question paper once before writing anything
During the exam
- Write legibly and keep answers organized
- Divide time roughly according to the marks allotted to each question
- Attempt questions you’re confident about first, then come back to the harder ones
- Leave a few minutes at the end to review what you’ve written
How to Use the Days Between Now and the Exam
With the timetable in hand, the more useful question is what to actually do with the time. A few habits tend to matter more than cramming volume:
- Map the syllabus to the dates. Once you know which subject falls on which day, work backward and allot revision days accordingly — subjects with two-day gaps deserve less panic than back-to-back ones.
- Revise actively, not passively. Rereading notes feels productive but recalling answers from memory (or writing them out) sticks far better.
- Redo old class tests and worksheets. These are the closest thing to a preview of how questions from this syllabus are typically framed.
- Don’t skip sleep for “one more revision round.” A tired mind loses more marks to careless mistakes than it gains from extra reading.
- Keep a short daily target instead of an all-or-nothing plan. Even 90 focused minutes a day across a week outperforms a single exhausting cram session.
Subject-Wise Focus Areas
| Subject | Where to Spend Your Time |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Practice problem-solving daily; keep a formula sheet handy |
| English | Grammar rules, comprehension practice, and writing full answers (not just outlines) |
| Malayalam / 2nd languages | Reading comprehension, grammar, and important textbook questions |
| Science | Concept clarity over memorization; revisit diagrams and labeled parts |
| Social Science | Dates, maps, and definitions — these are easy marks if practiced |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Kerala Onam Exams 2026 start?
Most classes begin on 13 August 2026. LP classes and Plus Two students start a day later, on 14 August 2026.
When do the exams end?
The First Term exams conclude on 20 August 2026 for most classes.
Is the timetable the same for every school?
The state-level timetable sets the overall structure, but individual schools may issue their own confirmation notices closer to the date — it’s a good idea to check with your school for any last-minute changes.
What happens if a student misses an exam?
Policies vary by school. Contact your class teacher or school office directly if illness or an emergency prevents a student from attending.
Are these marks counted toward the final result?
First Term exams typically contribute to internal/continuous assessment rather than being the sole determinant of promotion, but schools may weigh them differently — check your school’s assessment policy for specifics.
This article is intended as a general guide based on the publicly announced Kerala First Term (Onam) Examination schedule for 2026–27. Always confirm exact dates, timings, and any last-minute changes with your school’s official communication, as individual institutions occasionally adjust local scheduling.