Updated: August 26, 2026.
The Kerala plus one improvement exam will be held from October 12 to 17, 2026. DHSE Kerala issued the notification for the First Year Higher Secondary Improvement / Supplementary Examination on August 22, with applications due by September 10.
This is a separate October examination cycle under Notification No. Ex-II-1/19693/HSE/2026. It is different from the March 2026 improvement cycle and the results already published for that examination.
Quick Facts
| Detail | 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Conducting authority | DHSE Kerala |
| Official examination | First Year Higher Secondary Improvement / Supplementary Examination |
| Exam dates | October 12–17, 2026 |
| Application deadline | September 10, 2026 |
| Late application deadline | September 15, 2026 |
| Late fee | ₹600 |
| Maximum improvement subjects for regular candidates | 3 |
| Exam locations | Kerala, Lakshadweep and UAE |
| Application mode | Through the candidate's school |
Plus One Improvement Exam Date 2026 and Time Table
The subject-wise plus one improvement exam time table is arranged by date and session:
| Date | Session | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| October 12 (Mon) | FN | Physics, Sociology, Anthropology |
| October 12 (Mon) | AN | Geography, Music, Social Work, Geology, Accountancy |
| October 13 (Tue) | FN | Part I English |
| October 14 (Wed) | FN | Mathematics, Part III Languages, Sanskrit Sastra, Psychology |
| October 14 (Wed) | AN | Economics, Electronic Systems |
| October 15 (Thu) | FN | Part II Languages, Computer Science and Information Technology |
| October 15 (Thu) | AN | Home Science, Gandhian Studies, Philosophy, Journalism, Computer Science, Statistics |
| October 16 (Fri) | FN | Chemistry, History, Islamic History & Culture, Business Studies, Communicative English |
| October 17 (Sat) | FN | Biology, Electronics, Political Science, Sanskrit Sahithya, Computer Application, English Literature |
FN means Forenoon and AN means Afternoon. Paper duration varies according to whether the subject includes a practical component, so students should also check the timing table below.
Art Subjects Time Table
| Date | Session | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| October 12 (Mon) | FN | Main |
| October 13 (Tue) | FN | Part I English |
| October 13 (Tue) | AN | Subsidiary |
| October 14 (Wed) | FN | Sanskrit |
| October 15 (Thu) | FN | Part II Languages |
| October 16 (Fri) | FN | Literature |
| October 17 (Sat) | FN | Aesthetic |
Application Deadline and How to Apply
Students do not register independently on the HSE Portal. The application is submitted through the school, while the Principal completes the departmental online registration.
| Stage | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Student submits application without fine | September 10, 2026 |
| Principal remits fee without fine | September 11, 2026 |
| Student submits application with ₹600 late fee | September 15, 2026 |
| School completes fee remittance and online registration/data upload | September 16, 2026 |
For the student, September 10 is the normal application deadline. September 16 is a school-level processing deadline and should not be treated as extra time for a regular application.
- Obtain and complete the prescribed application form.
- Select only the subjects permitted under the candidate's category.
- Attach a passport-size photograph attested by the Principal.
- Submit the form and applicable fee to the Principal of the school through which the candidate is registered.
- The school completes the online registration with the Department.
The admission ticket should be issued through the school at least three days before the examination. Students should check their name, subjects and examination centre immediately after receiving it.
Fees by Candidate Category
| Candidate category | Examination fee | Certificate fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | ₹175 per paper | ₹40 |
| Lateral Entry | ₹175 per paper | ₹40 |
| Re-admission | ₹175 per paper | ₹40 |
| Compartmental | ₹225 per paper | ₹80 for two certificates |
Applications accepted during the late period carry an additional ₹600 late fee.
A regular candidate choosing three improvement papers pays ₹525 in examination fees plus the ₹40 certificate fee, or ₹565 in total before any late fee.
For compartmental candidates, the ₹225 rate applies within the combined registration arrangement involving the supplementary paper and the corresponding Second Year examination in March 2027. The ₹80 charge covers two certificates and is not a per-paper fee.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility depends on the candidate's March 2026 First Year examination record and registration category.
Regular and Absent Candidates
A regular student who appeared for the March 2026 First Year Higher Secondary Examination may choose up to three subjects already attempted for improvement.
Missed papers are handled separately. A student can register for all subjects in which they were absent and may also select up to three completed subjects for improvement.
For example, a student who wrote four papers and missed two can take:
- both missed papers as supplementary examinations;
- up to three of the four completed subjects for improvement.
A candidate who was absent for all six First Year subjects may register for all six. The three-subject limit applies to papers chosen specifically for improving an existing score, not to subjects that were missed.
Lateral Entry, Re-admitted, Compartmental and Special Category Candidates
Lateral Entry candidates admitted directly to the Second Year during 2026–27 must register for and appear in all First Year subjects. Completion of the required First Year examinations is necessary for the subsequent Second Year result.
Re-admitted candidates retain their existing First Year direct scores subject to the notification rules. If a previous Second Year examination registration was cancelled, the related practical is also cancelled and must be taken again with the subsequent Second Year theory examination.
The compartmental route applies to eligible candidates who first registered for the Second Year examination from 2017 onward, completed the Higher Secondary course but did not qualify for higher studies. Registration is a one-time arrangement covering both the 2026 First Year supplementary paper and the corresponding Second Year paper in March 2027.
Compartmental candidates can register for First Year and Second Year papers in subjects where they have not obtained D+ or above. Both examination stages must be attended where required. In Biology, Botany and Zoology cannot be selected separately under this arrangement.
Special Category candidates are also covered by the October notification and the September 10 application deadline. Category-specific eligibility should be confirmed with the school before submitting the form.
Exam Timings and Cool-Off Time
All exam timings are in IST.
| Paper type | Forenoon | Afternoon | Cool-off time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without practical | 9:30 AM–12:15 PM | 2:00 PM–4:45 PM | 15 minutes |
| With practical, except Biology and Music | 9:30 AM–11:45 AM | 2:00 PM–4:15 PM | 15 minutes |
| Biology | 9:30 AM–11:55 AM | – | 25 minutes |
| Music | – | 2:00 PM–3:45 PM | 15 minutes |
Biology has a 25-minute preparation period: the standard 15-minute cool-off is supplemented by 10 additional minutes for the Zoology component. Candidates should follow the timing specified for their paper rather than assuming that every FN or AN examination has the same duration.
Students using the weeks before the October examination for revision can also see our guide to study and exam preparation apps for students.
How Improvement Marks Are Calculated
For a regular improvement candidate, a lower October score does not automatically replace a better First Year mark. The higher applicable score is retained under the best-of-marks principle.
Grace marks require separate treatment. Grace already attached to an earlier result is not automatically added again to a new improvement score.
For example:
- original mark: 50;
- grace marks: 5;
- recorded total: 55;
- improvement mark: 52.
The new result should not be calculated as 52 + 5 = 57. The earlier grace component is not simply transferred to the fresh score.
Compartmental candidates also retain the better applicable score under the rules governing their combined First Year and Second Year registration.
Official source: DHSE Kerala, First Year Higher Secondary Improvement Examination – October 2026, Notification No. Ex-II-1/19693/HSE/2026 dated August 22, 2026. See the official HSE Portal Kerala examination page for the latest notification and any subsequent changes.
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