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MHT CET 2027 Guide: Dates, Eligibility, Exam Pattern and CAP Admission

13 min readNovember 7, 2026

MHT CET 2027 is the Maharashtra state entrance test for engineering, pharmacy and some other professional degree courses that start in 2027. It is run by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra. As of 7 November 2026, the official MHT CET 2027 dates and brochure are not out yet. So this guide uses the official MHT CET 2026 rules and dates, clearly labelled 2026. It is written for Class 11 and 12 students and their parents in India and abroad.

Key takeaways

MHT CET is run by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra. Official MHT CET 2027 dates are not yet announced. Check cetcell.mahacet.org.

In 2026, forms opened on 10 January. The PCM group test ran from 11 to 20 April (first attempt) and 12 to 21 May (second attempt).

PCM has 150 questions in 180 minutes for 200 marks. Maths questions carry 2 marks. There is no negative marking.

About 20% of questions come from Class 11 and about 80% from Class 12, as per the 2026 syllabus.

For B.E./B.Tech seats in Maharashtra you need at least 45% in Class 12 PCM-type subjects (40% for reserved categories from Maharashtra), plus a non-zero MHT CET score.

What is MHT CET 2027 and who conducts it?

Quick answer: MHT CET 2027 will be the 2027 edition of the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test. The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra, conducts it. It is a computer-based test in two groups: PCM (for engineering) and PCB (for pharmacy and some other courses). Its score is used for Maharashtra seats in the 2027-28 admission year.

The CET Cell was set up under a 2015 Maharashtra admissions law and sits in Fort, Mumbai. Its official website is www.mahacet.org.

Which courses and colleges use MHT CET?

The MHT CET 2026 brochure lists these first-year courses:

B.E. / B.Tech (Engineering and Technology)
B.Pharm and Pharm.D
B.Planning and M.Planning (Integrated)
Master of Engineering and Technology (Integrated)

CET Cell notices also link MHT CET to agriculture courses. The rules cover government, aided, university-run and private colleges in Maharashtra, including ICT Mumbai. Seats are filled through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) on the engineering CAP portal.

When will MHT CET 2027 be held?

Official MHT CET 2027 dates are not yet announced. On 7 November 2026, the CET Cell notices page showed no 2027 schedule. The only 2027 item was a 30 September 2026 circular asking experts to apply for question paper setting for CET 2027-28.

News sites report that the CET Cell may hold the first attempt earlier, possibly in December 2026. Careers360 quoted an official saying "nothing final yet". Treat this as a possibility, not a date.

Last year, a tentative schedule came out on 21 November 2025. Here is how the 2026 cycle ran:

MHT CET 2026 key dates (official). 2027 dates are not yet announced.

In 2026, registration ran from 10 January to 12 February 2026. The PCM first attempt was on 11 to 20 April and the PCB first attempt on 21 to 26 April. The PCB second attempt was on 10 and 11 May. The PCM second attempt was on 12 to 21 May, leaving out 16 and 17 May. Late-fee windows ran to 27 February and 19-20 March. Results came out from 9 to 18 June 2026 (PCM first attempt: 15 June).

Each day had two shifts: 9.00 am to 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. Last entry was 8.30 am or 1.30 pm. See the final dates notice and second attempt notice.

Who is eligible for MHT CET 2027?

To sit the test in 2026, you had to be an Indian national who had passed or was appearing for Class 12 (HSC) or an equivalent exam. There was no age limit. You could pick PCM, PCB or both. Once chosen, the group could not be changed, and marks in one group are not moved to the other.

To get a seat, you also need to meet the course rules. For B.E./B.Tech in 2026-27, the CAP brochure said:

You must be a citizen of India.
You must pass Class 12 with Physics and Maths as compulsory subjects, plus one of Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Computer Science, IT, a technical vocational subject or a few others listed.
You need at least 45% in these subjects taken together. For reserved categories, EWS and PwD candidates from Maharashtra, it is 40%.
You must appear in all subjects of PCM MHT CET and get a non-zero score.

A PCB MHT CET score opens only a short list of branches, such as Biotechnology, Food Engineering and Pharmaceutical Engineering. For B.Pharm, you need Class 12 with English and Physics, Chemistry, and Maths or Biology, plus a non-zero MHT CET score. If you are in Class 12 under CBSE, see our CBSE board exams 2027 guide for your board dates.

What is the difference between Maharashtra State and All India seats?

Your "candidature type" decides which seats you can claim. Maharashtra State candidates fall under Type A to E. In short:

Type	Who it covers (simplified)
A	Passed SSC and HSC (or diploma) in Maharashtra, and is domiciled or born in Maharashtra
B	Candidate or a parent is domiciled in Maharashtra
C	Parent is a central government or PSU employee posted in Maharashtra
D	Parent is a Maharashtra government employee or retired employee
E	Maharashtra-Karnataka border area, Marathi mother tongue

All India candidates are any Indian nationals. For engineering, MHT CET is compulsory for Maharashtra State and Minority candidates. All India candidates may or may not take it, because a JEE Main score is preferred for All India seats. See our JEE Main 2027 guide for that test.

In 2026-27, private non-minority colleges kept 65% of seats for Maharashtra candidates, 15% for All India candidates and 20% at institute level.

Can NRI, OCI and foreign students apply?

Yes, by a different route. Children of NRIs and of Indian workers in Gulf countries, OCI/PIO candidates and foreign nationals are exempt from MHT CET. They apply on the CET Cell's Foreign Candidate Registration portal. Extra seats of up to 15% of intake are kept for them, and NRI seats (up to 5%) come from the institute quota. OCI rules depend on when you got OCI status.

What is the MHT CET exam pattern?

MHT CET is a computer-based test of multiple-choice questions. Each question has four options and one correct answer. There is no negative marking. Questions come in English, Marathi or Urdu. If in doubt, the English version is final.

MHT CET exam pattern (2026 official scheme).

Physics and Chemistry have 50 questions each, at 1 mark per question. Maths has 50 questions at 2 marks each, for 100 marks. Biology has 100 questions at 1 mark each, for 100 marks. The test lasts 180 minutes and has no negative marking.

So PCM is 150 questions and PCB is 200 questions, each for 200 marks. Physics and Chemistry come first for 90 minutes and are then auto-submitted. Maths or Biology follows for 90 minutes. Calculators and smart watches are not allowed.

What is the MHT CET syllabus and weightage?

The 2026 syllabus says questions follow the Maharashtra SCERT syllabus. About 20% weightage goes to Class 11 and 80% to Class 12. In each subject paper of 50 questions, 10 came from Class 11 and 40 from Class 12. The level is at par with JEE Main for PCM and NEET for Biology.

Only some Class 11 chapters are tested. For 2026 they were:

Physics: Vectors, Error Analysis, Motion in a plane, Laws of Motion, Gravitation, Thermal properties of matter, Sound, Optics, Electrostatics, Semiconductors.
Chemistry: Some basic concepts, Structure of atom, Chemical bonding, Redox reactions, Elements of group 1 and 2, States of matter, Adsorption and colloids, Hydrocarbons, Basic principles of organic chemistry, Chemistry in everyday life.
Maths: Trigonometry II, Straight Line, Circle, Probability, Complex Numbers, Permutations and Combinations, Functions, Limits, Continuity, Conic Section.

The whole Class 12 syllabus is tested. The 2027 list may change.

How much is the MHT CET application fee?

MHT CET 2027 fees are not yet announced. In 2026, the fee was per group and per attempt:

Candidate	One attempt	Both attempts
General (Open), Outside Maharashtra (OMS), J&K migrant	Rs 1,300	Rs 2,600
Maharashtra reserved categories, EWS, PwD, orphan, transgender	Rs 1,000	Rs 2,000

Service charges were extra, and the fee is not refundable. Late registration windows in 2026 added Rs 500.

How does MHT CET percentile and normalisation work?

MHT CET runs in many shifts, so you get a percentile worked out from your raw marks. Percentile is not the same as percentage. The CET Cell promised a normalisation document "in due course", but we could not find it, so we show no formula here.

If you take both attempts in a group, the better of your two total percentiles is used. Subject percentiles are not mixed between attempts. In 2026, 4,54,069 candidates appeared in the PCM first attempt alone, out of 4,79,332 who registered.

What kind of maths question comes in MHT CET?

Here is a short calculus question in MHT CET style.

Worked example: a definite integral in MHT CET style.

Question: find the integral of (3x^2 - 2x) from x = 0 to x = 2. Step 1: the antiderivative is x^3 - x^2. Step 2: at x = 2, this is 8 - 4 = 4. At x = 0, it is 0. Step 3: the answer is 4 - 0 = 4. In PCM, each maths question is worth 2 marks, and there is no negative marking.

You have 90 minutes for 50 maths questions, so standard methods must be fast and sure.

Book a free demo class with an Asymptode maths or physics mentor to check your speed on MHT CET-style questions, or compare our plans and fees.

How do you apply for MHT CET, step by step?

These steps follow the 2026 process. Read the 2027 brochure when it is out.

Keep your Aadhaar details up to date. The CET Cell checks Aadhaar and your APAAR ID through DigiLocker.
Register online at mahacet.org with your own email and mobile number.
Choose your group: PCM, PCB or both. Choose one attempt or both attempts.
Choose the question paper language (English, Marathi or Urdu). You cannot change it later.
Pick your exam cities. Centres are in Maharashtra, at most district headquarters.
Upload a clear colour photo (2 x 2 inches, 100 KB to 5 MB) and other details.
Pay the fee online and print your form and receipt. Submit only one form.
Download your admit card when it is out. Carry it with an original photo ID. A ration card or learner's licence is not accepted.

What happens after the result? MHT CET CAP counselling

After results, the CET Cell runs the Centralised Admission Process (CAP). In 2026-27, engineering CAP had four rounds, followed by an extra vacancy round (ACAP).

The MHT CET admission path, based on the 2026 cycle.

First, you register on mahacet.org. Next, you take the PCM or PCB test, in one or two attempts. Then you get a percentile result, and your best total percentile counts. Last, you join CAP: merit list, option form and Rounds I to IV.

The CAP steps in 2026-27 were:

Apply for CAP online, upload documents and get them verified.
Check the provisional merit list and raise any grievance in time.
See the final merit list and seat matrix.
Confirm an option form with 1 to 300 choices, in order of preference.
See your allotment. A first choice in Round I is auto-frozen (top 3 in Round II, top 6 in Round III). Otherwise, freeze it or stay on for "betterment".
Report to the college. There is no betterment after Round IV.

A merit list rank does not guarantee a seat. Past cut-offs are on the CAP portal.

What are the benefits of taking MHT CET?

It is the main route to Maharashtra State quota seats in engineering and pharmacy.
There is no negative marking, and in 2026 the better of two attempts counted.
The syllabus is mostly Class 12, and you can write it in English, Marathi or Urdu.

Many students take MHT CET along with other tests. Compare it with BITSAT 2027, VITEEE 2027 and, for PCB students, NEET UG 2027.

How should you prepare for MHT CET 2027?

Start now: the first attempt may come early. Finish your school Class 12 chapters and revise only the listed Class 11 chapters.
Weekly: take one timed 90-minute Physics-Chemistry set and one 90-minute Maths (or Biology) set. Copy the real split.
Maths first: in PCM, Maths is half the marks. Practise the Class 12 chapters, such as calculus, until the standard steps are automatic.
Use SCERT Maharashtra textbooks as your base, and the official mock link when it is out.
Balance with boards and JEE: MHT CET needs speed, JEE needs depth. Our how to become an engineer guide shows how these tests fit together.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Waiting for 2027 dates before starting. The schedule may move earlier.
Spending too long on one question. If one is slow, move on.
Leaving questions blank. There is no negative marking.
Wrong form details. Fees are not refunded for mistakes. Aadhaar or APAAR mismatches can delay or reject a form.
Skipping Class 11 chapters. About 20% of questions come from them.
Missing CAP steps. If you do not confirm your option form or report on time, you can lose a seat.

How 1-on-1 tutoring helps with MHT CET 2027

At Asymptode, each student has one dedicated mentor in live online 1-on-1 classes. For MHT CET:

Maths and physics built for speed. Your mentor watches each step of your working on MHT CET-style questions, finds where time is lost, and fixes the method first.
Your syllabus and your dates. Classes follow your own board syllabus, the SCERT-based MHT CET topics and your exam dates, including JEE or NEET if you take them too.
Personalised homework with feedback. Timed sets that copy the 90 + 90 minute split, marked with notes on what to change. Parents get short updates.
Planning help for the non-academic parts. For forms, CAP and choice filling, the mentor helps with planning and method. Always follow the official CET Cell notices. Every class is recorded, and you can start with a free demo class.

Facts checked against official sources on 7 November 2026.

FAQ

Has MHT CET 2027 registration started?

No. As of 7 November 2026, the CET Cell has not published the MHT CET 2027 schedule or registration notice. In 2026, registration opened on 10 January 2026. Watch cetcell.mahacet.org for the official notice.

Is MHT CET 2027 in December 2026?

It is not confirmed. News reports say the CET Cell is considering an earlier first attempt, possibly in December, but an official said nothing is final. Wait for the official schedule on the CET Cell website.

Is there negative marking in MHT CET?

No. The 2026 brochure says there is no negative marking in either the PCM or the PCB group. So it makes sense to answer every question.

How many times can I take MHT CET?

In 2026, you could take one or two attempts in each group in the same year. If you took both, the better total percentile was used. The brochure says there is no age limit. Check the 2027 brochure for the exact attempt rules.

Can I get engineering admission in Maharashtra with JEE Main instead of MHT CET?

For All India seats, yes: a JEE Main score is preferred over MHT CET. For Maharashtra State seats, MHT CET is compulsory. You can read about JEE forms in our JEE Main 2027 registration guide.

What is a good percentile in MHT CET?

There is no official "good" percentile. The cut-off depends on the college, branch, category and round. Past CAP round cut-offs are on the CET Cell's CAP portal. Use them only as a guide, as they change every year.

Ready to start? Book a free demo class and advisor call, or see our plans and fees.

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One mentor, one student, live
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The gap gets found, not taught over
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Practice matched to that gap
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You can see what happened
After each class you can read what was taught, how your child got on, and what to practise next — in your own words, not a mark out of ten.

No score is promised here, and none should be: an exam result depends on the student. What a mentor changes is how quickly a misunderstanding is found and fixed.

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