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MHT CET 2025: Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Preparation Guide

By Shivangi Mishra

Updated on Sep 23, 2025 | 2K+ views

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Are you willing to pursue engineering as a career in India? With more than 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, it remains one of the most popular careers. If you want to join some of the top engineering colleges of Maharashtra, you need to appear for the MHT CET 2025 exam. Maharashtra Common Entrance Test is the state-level entrance examination to undergraduate in engineering, technology, and pharmacy courses conducted by top universities and affiliated institutions. 

Though national-level tests like JEE Main 2025, BITSAT 2025, and VITEEE 2025 provide chances to the finest private and national institutions, MHT CET is a crucial test for those students who want to build their career with Maharashtra's best colleges. Students who appear for MHT CET also consider other opportunities like scholarships in India, the expense of studying engineering in India, and the process of admissions to some top-ranked engineering and software engineering colleges in India so it becomes essential to prepare in advance with a sound strategy. 

What is the MHT CET Exam

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) is the entry-level test for admitting candidates into engineering and pharmacy colleges in Maharashtra. Both private and government colleges accept the MHT CET entrance exam scores. The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell conducts the examination every year.  

Primarily, the MHT CET entrance exam has three question papers. Paper 1 is Mathematics, Paper 2 is a combined section of Physics and Chemistry, and Paper 3 is Biology. Engineering candidates must opt for Paper 1 and Paper 2, and candidates willing to pursue Pharmacy courses must opt for Paper 2 and Paper 3.

MHT CET 2024 Dates

The Maharashtra State CET cell has announced the MHT CET exam date 2024 to be from April 16 to May 2, 2024. 

Here is the tentative MHT CET Exam schedule:

Schedule

Tentative Dates

MH CET Exam Notification on the MH CET official website

1st week of March 2024

MHT CET Registration Begins

1st week of March 2024

MHT CET Application Closes

Early April 2024

MHT CET Admit Card 2024

2nd week of April 2024

MHT CET Exam 2024

April 16 to May 2, 2024

MHT CET Result

Last week of May

MHT CET Counselling Registration

1st week of June 2024

MHT CET 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must check the eligibility criteria before applying for the MHTCET Exam 2024. The general eligibility for the MHT CET 2024 Exam is as given below: 

Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen. 

Age: No age limit is defined for the MHT CET Exam. 

Educational Qualification: Candidates should have passed/are appearing for Class 12 or an equivalent examination with relevant subjects based on their chosen specialization from a recognized board. 

Qualifying Percentage: Candidates must obtain a minimum of 50% in the qualifying exam. Reserved category candidates must score at least 45% in the qualifying exam to be eligible. 

Other State Candidates

Candidates from states other than Maharashtra are also eligible for the exam. These candidates may or may not appear for the MHT CET exam, as the score of JEE Main is considered for Engineering courses. However, reservation policies are applicable for Maharashtra state candidates.

OCI/PIO/NRI Candidates

These candidates are exempted from appearing in the MHT CET exam. For OCI/PIO/NRI candidates, the marks of Class 12 or equivalent exams are considered for admission.

MHT CET 2024 Application Form

The MHT CET registration process follows an online mode. Candidates can visit the MHT CET official website for registration.   

Applying for the exam includes the following steps:

  1. Visit the website. 
  2. Click on the MHT CET registration link. 
  3. Provide the essential personal, educational, and other details. 
  4. Upload the scanned copies and signatures per the recommended format. 
  5. Pay the application fee through the online or offline mode. 
  6. Verify the entered details and submit the form. 
  7. Download and print the PDF of the application form for reference.

The CET cell will release the application fee details before the admission process. Here is the tentative fee.

Category

Fee

General Category Candidates / J&K Migrants/ Outside Maharashtra State 

₹800

Candidates of Economically Backward Class (SC/ST/OBC/SBC) and Persons with Disability 

₹600

MHT CET 2024 Syllabus

The MHT CET Exam syllabus includes subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (Engineering), and Biology (Pharmacy). The exam largely covers Maharashtra State Board Class 11 and Class 12 syllabi.  

Here are a few important topics:

Class 11 Syllabus

Mathematics: Trigonometry, Probability, Complex Numbers, Permutation and Combination, Limits, and Continuity

Physics: Laws of Motion, Gravitation, Sound, Optics

Chemistry: Structure of Atoms, Hydrocarbons, States of Matter

Class 12 Syllabus

Mathematics: Matrices, Pair of Straight Lines, Trigonometric Functions, Circle, Vector, Linear Programming Problems, Integration, Applications of Derivatives, Probability Distribution

Physics: Circular Motion, Elasticity, Magnetism, Rotational Motion, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation, Atoms, Molecules, Nuclei, Semiconductors

Chemistry: Electrochemistry, P-Block Elements, Halogen Derivatives of Alkanes, Alcohols, Phenols, and Ether Polymers

Remember to refer to the syllabus provided by the authority and cover all the topics mentioned. 

MHT CET 2024 Exam Pattern

The MHT CET Exam pattern will be released along with the notification on the official website. It is a computer-based test including multiple choice questions (MCQs) and with no negative marking. The total duration of the exam is 180 minutes. The medium of the exam is English for Mathematics. For other papers, candidates can choose English/ Urdu/Marathi. 

 The exam includes the following 3 question papers:  

Paper 1: Mathematics 

This section has 50 questions with a duration of 90 minutes. Each question is allotted 2 marks.  

Paper 2: Physics and Chemistry 

This section has 100 questions: 50 questions from Physics and Chemistry each. The total duration is 90 minutes. The candidate will be awarded 1 mark for every correct answer. 

Paper 3: Biology 

The Biology section has 100 questions. Each question is allotted 1 mark. The total duration of the paper is 90 minutes.

MHT CET 2024 Result

The MHT CET result will be released on its official website. To check the exam results, candidates can log in to the website.  

To access the exam results, follow the following steps: 

  • Visit the MHT CET official website- https://cetcell.mahacet.org/
  • Click on the MHT CET Result link. 
  • Enter username and password and click on submit. 
  • Download or print the MHT CET result.  

MHT CET 2024 Counselling

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell conducts the counseling session for admission. The counseling session is conducted in three rounds and will be announced after the exam results are declared. 

To participate in the counseling, candidates must register on mahacet.org. Once registered, the candidate can check the merit list released by the State cell. The merit list is based on the CET and Class 12 scores. Further, the seat allotment is based on the candidate’s merit list ranks and scores.

Colleges Accepting MHT CET Scores

Private colleges and government and university colleges accept MHT CET scores. The authorities will release the list of participating colleges with the official notification. Candidates can select their preferred college during the registration process.

Conclusion

MHT CET 2025 exam continues to be one of the most significant state-level engineering entrance exams for candidates waiting to get admission into engineering, technology, and pharmacy courses in Maharashtra. Its wide syllabus, well-organized exam pattern, and easy counseling process provide a sure route to some of the best engineering colleges in India. Although exams such as JEE Main 2025, BITSAT 2025, and VITEEE 2025 also provide opportunities for higher studies in premier colleges, MHT CET is a prominent option for students seeking quality education at an affordable price at Maharashtra. 

Students need to begin early, study comprehensively throughout the MHT CET syllabus, and look for more resources like scholarships in India, how to study engineering in India at what cost, and admissions step-by-step procedures in the top engineering colleges of Maharashtra. By following a correct preparation plan and educating themselves about MHT CET exam date, eligibility criteria, and application procedure, the aspirants can better their chances to be successful and brighten up their career in pharmacy and engineering. 

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FAQs

What are common MHT CET cut-off marks for good engineering colleges in Maharashtra?

Every year cutoff changes. For COEP, Pune, and VJTI, Mumbai, which are the best colleges, computer science engineering cutoff is typically above 99.5 percentile. In other streams, a percentile of about 98+ is typically required to join the best college. 

What is MHT CET calculation and what is the method of percentile?

The MHT CET is calculated on the basis of a process of normalization, taking into account variations in the difficulty levels of question papers in various shifts of examinations. The percentile score shows you the proportion of students whose marks are equal to or less than yours in the exam. This is the admissions score. 

What is the tie-breaking factor in MHT CET if two competitors have equal marks?

If two or more than two candidates obtain the same percentile, the tie breaking principle is applied. In PCM group candidates, those candidates who obtain higher marks at Mathematics are preferred first, then Physics and then Chemistry. If the tie continues, marks in Class 12th and age are taken into consideration. 

Can a candidate with a JEE Main score apply to engineering colleges in Maharashtra without MHT CET?

Yes, they are also eligible for engineering in Maharashtra through JEE Main rank, but they are not eligible for the state-level reservation scheme and are under All-India quota for a limited number of seats. 

What is the MHT CET reservation policy for various categories?

The MHT CET reservation policy keeps certain percentages of seats reserved for different categories. For Maharashtra state candidates, these are 13% for SC, 7% for ST, 19% for OBC, and 30% for female candidates. Defense personnel, disabled persons, and orphans also have reservation. 

Is there a facility to make changes in the MHT CET application form after submitting it?

Yes, the MHT CET Cell also provides a small window to correct after the application procedure closes. During this time, the candidates are able to login to their portal and make some of the fields correct, but certain details like the registered email address cannot be changed.  

What documents are required for the MHT CET counseling and admission?

For counseling, you will require the MHT CET scorecard, admit card, 10th and 12th mark sheets and passing certificates, and domicile certificate (if you belong to Maharashtra). You might also be required to furnish a caste certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, and income certificate, as per your reservation category. 

What are the variations in the MHT CET exam and JEE Mains?

MHT CET is a state-level examination on the Maharashtra State Board syllabus with less difficulty level and without negative marking, while JEE Mains is a national-level test on the CBSE/NCERT syllabus with greater difficulty level and negative marking for the wrong options. 

What are some good books and study material for MHT CET preparation?

Even though books of Maharashtra State Board are widely used, general reference books are "Concepts of Physics" by H.C. Verma, "Objective Chemistry" by R.K. Gupta, and "Objective Mathematics" by R.D. Sharma. Candidates also refer to test series and mock papers brought out by companies like Target Publications. 

Am I eligible to appear for both the PCM and PCB groups?

Yes, a student can attempt both the PCM (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) and PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) groups by opting for both in the application form and paying the extra fee. This helps the aspirants to seek admission in pharmacy as well as engineering courses. 

Is there any scholarship for MHT CET rank holders?

Yes, the Maharashtra Government also provides a number of merit-cum-means scholarships and schemes for technical course students, including the Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Vasatigruh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna. There are numerous private colleges also who provide MHT CET score-based scholarships. 

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Shivangi Mishra

Sr. Content Editor |279 articles published

She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them w...

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