MHT-CET

MHT-CET 2026 - Overview

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) is a state-level entrance examination conducted by State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra for admission to Engineering & Technology programmes across India. The exam is conducted in online mode with a duration of 3 hours for a total of 200 marks . MHT-CET is held once a year. The next key date is Counselling Registration on 10 Jul 2026.

MHT-CET Important Dates

Application Form Release

22 Jan 2026, Thursday

Last Date to Apply

15 Mar 2026, Sunday

Admit Card Download

25 Apr 2026, Saturday

Exam Date - PCM Group

04 May 2026, Monday

MHT-CET Important Dates

MHT-CET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Understanding the eligibility criteria is the first step towards preparing for Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET). The exam is conducted by State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra at the state level for candidates seeking admission to Engineering & Technology programmes across India. Candidates must carefully verify that they meet all requirements before filling the application form to avoid rejection at a later stage.

MHT-CET Application Fee

MHT-CET Counselling Process

After MHT-CET results are declared by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Maharashtra, admissions to engineering colleges across Maharashtra are conducted through CAP (Centralized Admission Process) managed by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra. The process is entirely online via the official portal cetcell.mahacet.org.

Note: Candidates from outside Maharashtra (OMS category) are eligible only for seats in unaided non-minority engineering colleges in Maharashtra under CAP, subject to separate merit lists.

• Result Declaration & Score Download: MHT-CET results are declared on cetcell.mahacet.org. Candidates must download their scorecard and note their percentile. Only candidates meeting the minimum eligibility (pass in HSC with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and minimum 45% aggregate; 40% for reserved categories) are eligible for CAP.
• CAP Registration: Eligible candidates must register separately for CAP on the official portal. This involves filling personal details, uploading documents (marksheets, category certificate, domicile certificate, HSC passing certificate), and paying the registration fee (approximately ₹500 for open category, ₹300 for reserved).
• Verification of Documents (ARC): Candidates must visit their designated Admission Reporting Centre (ARC) - typically the nearest government or aided engineering college - for physical document verification. Original documents including HSC marksheet, domicile certificate, caste/validity certificate (if applicable), and gap certificate (if applicable) must be produced.
• Choice Filling and Locking: After verification, candidates log in to fill their college and branch preferences in order of priority. Maharashtra offers over 300 engineering colleges across CAP rounds. Candidates can fill unlimited choices - it is advisable to fill as many as possible, from most preferred to least preferred. Choices must be locked before the deadline; unlocked preferences are auto-locked by the system.
• Seat Allotment - CAP Round I: Seats are allotted based on MHT-CET percentile, category, and preferences filled. The allotment letter is published on the portal. Candidates must either accept the seat by paying the first instalment of fees online and reporting to the allotted college, or float/freeze/upgrade for the next round.
• CAP Round II and Round III: Candidates who were not allotted a seat, or who wish to upgrade to a better college/branch, participate in subsequent rounds. Typically 2-3 CAP rounds are conducted. After Round III, an Institute Level Round is held for remaining vacant seats, conducted directly by individual colleges.
• Reporting to Allotted College: After final seat allotment, candidates must report to the allotted institute within the stipulated date with original documents and pay the remaining fee. Failure to report within the deadline results in cancellation of the seat.
• Minority and Management Quota: Seats under minority quota (linguistic/religious) and management quota are filled separately outside CAP, directly by the respective institutions as per Maharashtra government norms.

Know the Syllabus and Exam Pattern

MHT-CET 2025 follows the Maharashtra State Board Class 11 and 12 syllabus. The PCM paper carries 100 marks each for Mathematics and Physics+Chemistry combined (50 marks each). Approximately 20% weightage is given to Class 11 topics and 80% to Class 12 topics. Download the official syllabus from cetcell.mahacet.org and mark topics accordingly.

MHT-CET Exam Pattern

MHT-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) for Engineering & Technology is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted in two separate papers covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The exam is structured on the Maharashtra State Board (MSBSHSE) syllabus for Classes 11 and 12, with approximately 20% weightage from Class 11 and 80% weightage from Class 12 topics.

MHT-CET 2026 Cutoff Scores

MHT-CET cutoff is the minimum score required by candidates to qualify the examination and become eligible for the next stage of admission. The cutoff is determined by State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra based on factors like total number of candidates, difficulty level of the paper, and availability of seats. The exam is conducted for a total of 200 marks. Candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) generally have lower cutoff scores compared to the General category.

Cutoff Data Not Yet Available

MHT-CET 2026 cutoff scores will be published after the results are declared. Check back for updates.

How MHT-CET Cutoff is Determined

Difficulty Level

The overall difficulty of the question paper directly affects cutoff scores.

Number of Candidates

Higher participation generally leads to higher cutoff scores due to increased competition.

Available Seats

The total number of seats across participating institutes impacts how many candidates qualify.

Reservation Policy

Different cutoffs apply for General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories as per government norms.

Top Colleges Accepting MHT-CET 2026

A total of 0+ colleges and institutions across India accept MHT-CET scores for admission to Engineering & Technology programmes .

Important Points to Remember

Verify your eligibility well before the application deadline to avoid last-minute issues.

Keep all required documents (marksheets, certificates, ID proof) ready before starting the application.

Final-year students can usually apply provisionally - check the official notification for details.

Always refer to the official MHT-CET website for the most up-to-date eligibility norms.

Paper-wise Structure

Question Type & Marking Scheme

• All questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options (A, B, C, D).
• Each correct answer carries 2 marks in both papers.
• No negative marking - incorrect or unattempted answers carry zero marks with no deduction.
• Candidates must select only one correct option per question.

Exam Mode & Medium

• Conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode at designated test centres across Maharashtra.
• Available in English and Marathi medium; candidates choose during registration.
• Questions appear one at a time; candidates can navigate, bookmark, and review before final submission.

Important Exam Guidelines

• Paper 1 and Paper 2 are conducted on the same day with a short break in between.
• Candidates applying for engineering courses (B.E./B.Tech.) must appear for PCM group (Papers 1 & 2).
• Rough work sheets are provided at the test centre; no physical calculators are permitted.
• The MHT-CET score is valid only for admissions to Maharashtra state colleges and is not accepted outside the state.

Physics

• Class 11 (20% weightage): Measurements & Units, Scalars and Vectors, Projectile Motion, Force, Laws of Motion, Friction in Solids and Liquids, Refraction of Light, Ray Optics, Magnetic Effect of Electric Current, Magnetism
• Class 12 (80% weightage): Circular Motion, Gravitation, Rotational Motion, Oscillations, Elasticity, Surface Tension, Wave Motion and Stationary Waves, Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation, Wave Theory of Light, Interference and Diffraction, Electrostatics (Electric Charges, Fields, Potential, Capacitors), Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current, Magnetism (Bar Magnet, Earth's Magnetism), Electromagnetic Induction, AC Circuits (LCR circuits, Resonance, Power Factor), Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter, Structure of Atoms and Nuclei, Semiconductors (p-n junction, transistors, logic gates), Communication Systems

Chemistry

• Class 11 (20% weightage): Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry (Mole Concept), Structure of Atom (Bohr Model, Quantum Numbers), Periodic Table and Periodicity, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, Redox Reactions, States of Matter (Gases and Liquids), Adsorption and Colloids, Hydrogen and s-Block Elements
• Class 12 (80% weightage): Solid State (Crystal Lattice, Defects), Solutions and Colligative Properties, Chemical Thermodynamics and Energetics (Hess's Law, Enthalpy, Gibbs Energy), Electrochemistry (Galvanic Cells, Nernst Equation, Electrolysis), Chemical Kinetics (Rate Laws, Arrhenius Equation), General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals, p-Block Elements (Groups 15 to 18 - Nitrogen, Oxygen, Halogens, Noble Gases), d and f Block Elements and Coordination Compounds, Halogen Derivatives of Alkanes and Arenes (Nucleophilic Substitution), Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, Amines (Basicity, Reactions), Biomolecules (Carbohydrates, Proteins, Nucleic Acids), Polymers, Chemistry in Everyday Life

Mathematics

• Class 11 (20% weightage): Trigonometric Functions and Angle Measurement, Straight Lines, Circles (Standard Form, Tangents), Permutations and Combinations, Sequences and Series (AP, GP, HP), Limits, Sets and Relations, Complex Numbers
• Class 12 (80% weightage): Mathematical Logic (Statements, Connectives, Truth Tables), Matrices (Operations, Inverse, Rank), Determinants (Properties, Cramer's Rule), Trigonometric Functions - Inverse, Pairs of Straight Lines (Combined Equation, Angle Between Them), Vectors (Dot Product, Cross Product, Scalar Triple Product), Three-Dimensional Geometry (Direction Cosines, Lines and Planes in 3D), Linear Programming (Graphical Method, Corner Points), Continuity and Differentiability, Differentiation (Implicit, Parametric, Higher Order), Applications of Derivatives (Tangent/Normal, Maxima/Minima, Rolle's and MVT), Integration (Substitution, By Parts, Partial Fractions), Definite Integration (Properties, Applications to Area), Differential Equations (Variable Separable, Linear DE), Probability Distribution (Mean, Variance), Binomial Distribution (Bernoulli Trials)

College List Coming Soon

The list of colleges accepting MHT-CET scores is being updated. Check back soon.

Recommended Books by Subject

• Physics: H.C. Verma (Concepts of Physics Vol. 1 & 2), D.C. Pandey (Arihant), MHT-CET Champion by Ninad Barve
• Chemistry: N.C.E.R.T. Chemistry (Class 11 & 12), O.P. Tandon, MHT-CET Chemistry by Target Publications
• Mathematics: R.D. Sharma, S.L. Loney (Trigonometry & Coordinate Geometry), MHT-CET Mathematics by Target Publications
• All-in-One: Target Publications MHT-CET series is specifically designed for this exam and covers the Maharashtra board pattern precisely.

High-Weightage Topics to Prioritize

• Mathematics: Integration, Differentiation, Probability, Matrices & Determinants, Vectors, 3D Geometry
• Physics: Electromagnetic Induction, Semiconductors, Optics, Laws of Motion, Rotational Dynamics
• Chemistry: Chemical Bonding, Coordination Compounds, Organic Reactions (Named Reactions), Electrochemistry, p-Block Elements

Study Schedule Strategy

With approximately 90 days before the exam, allocate time as follows: dedicate the first 45 days to completing the Class 12 syllabus with daily 6-7 hour study sessions. Use the next 30 days for Class 11 revision and integration of both years. Reserve the final 15 days exclusively for practice tests and weak-area revision. Aim to complete at least one full subject chapter per day during the initial phase.

practice tests and PYQ Strategy

MHT-CET has no negative marking, so always attempt all 150 questions. Solve at least 20 full-length practice tests mimicking the 180-minute duration. Analyse previous years' papers from 2019-2024 - questions are often repeated in a slightly modified form. Use platforms like Embibe, Toppr, or the official MHT-CET practice tests portal for practice.

Time Management During Exam

The exam is split into two shifts: PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics). For the PCM paper, allocate approximately 70 minutes for Mathematics (50 questions), 35 minutes each for Physics and Chemistry (25 questions each), and keep 10 minutes for review. Since there is no negative marking, never leave a question blank - make an educated guess if unsure.

Revision and Formula Sheets

Prepare handwritten formula sheets for each chapter - particularly for Physics (laws, formulas) and Mathematics (standard results, integration formulas). Revise these sheets daily in the last 30 days. For Chemistry, maintain a separate notebook for named reactions, exceptions, and periodic table trends.

Exam-Day Tips

• Carry your MHT-CET Hall Ticket and a valid photo ID (Aadhaar card preferred) to the exam centre.
• Reach the centre at least 30 minutes before the reporting time; entry is not permitted after gate closure.
• Use the initial 5-minute question-paper reading time to identify easy questions and plan your attempt order.
• Do not waste time on a single difficult question - mark it for review and return later.