Entrance exam
MHT CET: who can sit it, the paper, and where it leads
MHT CET is Maharashtra’s entrance test for degree courses in engineering, pharmacy and agriculture, run by the State Common Entrance Test Cell. It is the main route into the engineering colleges of the state, government and private, outside the IITs and NITs. The test is held separately for two groups. The PCM group, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, is the one for engineering. The PCB group, with Biology in place of Mathematics, is for pharmacy and related courses. A candidate may sit one group or both, and marks from one group are not carried to the other.
Important note: Please verify all examination details, including eligibility, dates, fees and application procedures, on the official website of the examination authority before taking any action.
Who can sit MHT CET
You need Class 12 in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for the PCM group, from the Maharashtra board or an equivalent one. What decides your seat is your candidature type. The rules sort candidates into types by domicile, by where they studied and by where a parent is domiciled or posted, and seats are allotted by type. Candidates from other states are considered under all-India candidature, where the brochure says a JEE Main score is preferred and MHT CET is optional. Work out your type before you apply, because it governs which seats you can claim.
How the paper is set
The test is computer-based and held at centres across Maharashtra. The PCM paper has 150 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 180 minutes. Physics and Chemistry questions carry one mark each and Mathematics questions carry two, so Mathematics is worth half the paper. There is no negative marking. Questions are offered in English, Marathi and Urdu. Because the test runs over many sessions, scores are normalised and the result is reported as a percentile. The 2026 brochure also allowed a candidate to opt for two attempts in a group.
The facts, and where each one comes from
Based on the MHT CET 2026 information brochure, and indicative only. Follow the source beside each one for the current rule.
- Conducted by
- State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra source
- Mode
- Computer-based, at centres in Maharashtra source
- Groups
- PCM and PCB, held separately; one or both may be taken source
- PCM paper
- 150 questions, 180 minutes source
- Marks
- Physics and Chemistry 1 mark a question; Mathematics 2 source
- Negative marking
- None source
- Languages
- English, Marathi and Urdu source
- Result
- Normalised and reported as a percentile source
- Candidature
- Types A to E, set by domicile and schooling source
- All-India candidates
- JEE Main score preferred; MHT CET optional source
Before you decide to sit it
With no penalty for a wrong answer, no question should be left blank, and speed matters more here than in JEE Main. The double weight on Mathematics means an hour spent there is worth two spent elsewhere. For a Maharashtra student, this test and JEE Main are worth sitting together, since the syllabus overlaps. The harder choice comes afterwards. A good percentile opens many branches at many colleges, and the branch decides the working life more than the college does. Read about the branches below before filling the option form.
Where this exam leads
22 careers in our database route through MHT CET. Each one shows the full route in, what the work is actually like, and what it costs.
- Automobile EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Biomedical EngineerEngineering & Technology
- BiotechnologistLife Sciences & Environment
- Business Analyst (IT)Computing & Data
- Chemical EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Cloud & DevOps EngineerComputing & Data
- Computer Science EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Cybersecurity AnalystComputing & Data
- Data ScientistComputing & Data
- Database AdministratorComputing & Data
- Electrical EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Electronics & Communication EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Environmental EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Food TechnologistLife Sciences & Environment
- Industrial & Production EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Instrumentation & Control EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Mobile Application DeveloperComputing & Data
- QA & Test Engineer (Software)Computing & Data
- Robotics & Automation EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Software EngineerComputing & Data
- Structural EngineerEngineering & Technology
- Textile EngineerEngineering & Technology
The practical detail
- Typical duration of this stage
- 3 to 4 years, depending on the career
- Indicative cost of this stage
- ₹90,000 to ₹25 lakh
- Fields it opens
- Computing & Data, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences & Environment
- Reachable from these streams
- Arts / HumanitiesCommerceScience with Mathematics (PCM)Science with Biology (PCB)Vocational / Diploma
Worth sitting this exam at all?
This page tells you where MHT CET leads. It cannot tell you whether any of those destinations suit you — that depends on what you enjoy, how you reason and what you want from work. The assessment scores you against every career listed above and shows the arithmetic behind each match.
Worth 45 minutes even if you have already decided. Being certain is not the same as having checked, and it is free to take.
Compiled from 22 career records, the oldest verified on 2026-08-01. Sources: https://bis.gov.in/, https://cdsco.gov.in/, https://cpcb.nic.in/, https://dbtindia.gov.in/ and 26 more.