MHT CET Exam Analysis: Shift-wise Difficulty Level, Topic Weightage and Good Attempts

MHT CET exam analysis is a shift‑by‑shift breakdown of the examination that is compiled after each day of the test, covering difficulty level, subject‑wise question distribution, important topics tested, good attempts benchmarks, and overall student reactions. This analysis serves two purposes: candidates appearing in later shifts use it to calibrate last‑minute revision, while all candidates use it post‑exam to estimate their probable score and percentile before the official answer key is released.

This page covers the overall pattern of MHT CET difficulty levels across recent cycles, subject‑wise trends for PCM and PCB groups, what constitutes a good attempt, and how to read the analysis correctly.

For context on how the exam is structured and what to expect, visit the MHT CET complete guide and the MHT CET Syllabus page.

MHT CET Exam Structure: A Quick Reminder

Before diving into analysis, the exam structure determines what the analysis covers:

Two shifts are conducted daily: Shift 1 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Shift 2 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. PCM candidates appear in Paper 1 and Paper 2. PCB candidates appear in Paper 1 and Paper 3. No negative marking applies.

MHT CET 2025 Exam Analysis: Overall Summary

The MHT CET 2025 PCB examination was held from April 9 to 17, 2025, and the PCM examination from April 19 to 27, 2025. The exam was conducted in two shifts daily across all days.

Overall Difficulty: 2025

Based on verified student reactions and expert analysis across all shifts:

The broad consensus from students who appeared in MHT CET 2025 was that the paper maintained a moderate standard consistent with recent years. Chemistry was the most scoring subject, with the majority of questions drawn directly from Maharashtra HSC textbooks. Physics required a balance of conceptual understanding and numerical application. Mathematics was the most time‑consuming section, with longer, calculation‑intensive problems in Integration, Vectors, and 3D Geometry. Biology had a mix of diagram‑based and statement‑based questions.

MHT CET 2025 PCM Analysis: Subject‑wise Breakdown

Physics: 2025

Difficulty: Moderate across most shifts

Key topics observed across shifts:

Question types: Application‑based numerical problems were more prominent than direct formula‑substitution questions. Candidates who had practised sufficient problems from Maharashtra State Board textbooks and reference books found the section manageable. A few questions in each shift required multi‑step calculation.

Good attempts (Physics): 38 to 44 out of 50

Chemistry: 2025

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate; consistently the most scoring section

Key topics observed across shifts:

Question types: Predominantly direct, theory‑based questions. The majority were straightforward and drawn from Maharashtra HSC textbook content. Numerical questions in Electrochemistry and Chemical Kinetics required attention to formula application.

Good attempts (Chemistry): 42 to 48 out of 50

Mathematics: 2025

Difficulty: Moderate to Moderately Difficult; most time‑consuming section

Key topics observed across shifts:

Question types: Integration questions were multi‑step and required familiarity with a wide range of standard forms and methods. Vector and 3D Geometry questions were conceptual but involved detailed calculations. Probability Distribution questions were formula‑intensive. A few shifts had more straightforward questions while others were noticeably more calculation‑heavy.

Good attempts (Mathematics): 35 to 43 out of 50

MHT CET 2025 PCB Analysis: Subject‑wise Breakdown

Biology: 2025

Difficulty: Moderate overall; diagram and statement‑based questions added a layer of precision required

Botany: Key topics observed:

Zoology: Key topics observed:

Question types: Biology had a combination of direct recall questions, diagram‑based identification, and statement‑based true/false style options. Questions from Genetics tested Mendelian ratios, pedigree analysis, and molecular biology concepts. Human Health and Disease had numerous questions on specific pathogens, symptoms, and immunity mechanisms.

Good attempts (Biology): 78 to 88 out of 100

Physics and Chemistry in PCB: The Physics and Chemistry component (Paper 1) in the PCB group followed the same pattern as the PCM group.

MHT CET 2024 Exam Analysis Summary

MHT CET 2024 offered a useful comparison point. Based on available shift‑wise data:

In MHT CET 2024, the April 22 Shift 2 PCM paper was considered moderate with Chemistry being the easiest section. Physics tested formulae and application, and Mathematics featured lengthy JEE Main‑style questions. The PCB paper on the same date had a moderate difficulty across all subjects, with Biology presenting balanced diagram and statement‑based questions.

Year‑wise Difficulty Trend: MHT CET PCM

The consistent pattern across years is that Chemistry remains the most scoring subject, Physics maintains a moderate challenge, and Mathematics is the differentiating section where candidates either gain or lose significant ground. The absence of negative marking means attempting all questions is always the right strategy.

What Constitutes a Good Score in MHT CET?

"Good attempts" refers to the number of questions answered correctly without guessing randomly. Since there is no negative marking, all questions should be attempted. The following benchmarks reflect good score targets based on difficulty trends:

PCM Group (Total: 200 marks)

PCB Group (Total: 200 marks)

Note: In MHT CET 2025, the highest score was 165 out of 200, and scores between 165 and 153 were awarded the 99.99 percentile, reflecting the overall difficulty of the examination that year.

How the Exam Analysis Is Compiled

MHT CET exam analysis is prepared using two methods:

Method 1: Memory‑Based Student Feedback

Immediately after the examination, students share the questions they remember with coaching institutes and education portals. These memory‑based questions are used to reconstruct the paper and identify topics tested. Since MHT CET runs across many shifts and days, the accumulated feedback covers a wide range of questions.

Method 2: Expert Review

Faculty from coaching institutes review the reconstructed paper and assign difficulty ratings (Easy / Moderate / Difficult) to each question and each section. They also calculate expected good attempts and safe score ranges based on the difficulty of the reconstructed paper.

Limitations: Memory‑based analysis is not 100% accurate. Some questions may be misremembered or skipped. Difficulty ratings are subjective and may vary between reviewers. The official analysis can only be confirmed after the CET Cell releases the answer key and the result.

How Shift‑wise Difficulty Affects Your Percentile

Since MHT CET is conducted in multiple shifts with two shifts daily across several days, the difficulty level is not identical across all shifts. The CET Cell uses a normalisation process to ensure fairness:

1. Raw marks obtained in each shift are converted to a shift‑specific percentile.
2. These percentile scores are then combined into a single merit list across all shifts.
3. Candidates who appeared in a more difficult shift benefit from normalisation, as their raw marks may be lower but their percentile is adjusted upward.

This means that a candidate who scores 145 marks in a difficult shift may receive a higher percentile than a candidate who scores 150 marks in an easier shift. The normalisation formula used by the CET Cell is:

MHT CET Percentile = (Number of candidates scoring equal to or less than the candidate's score / Total number of candidates in the session) × 100

In the two‑session format introduced from 2026, normalisation is applied across sessions as well, and the best percentile from either session is used for the merit list.

Key Insights from MHT CET Analysis Across Years

Insight 1: Mathematics is the Differentiator

In every cycle, Mathematics separates candidates at the top of the merit list. A score above 85 out of 100 in Mathematics (approximately 43 out of 50 questions correct) places a candidate in the top 1 to 2 percentile. Since each Mathematics question is worth 2 marks, a single question improvement is worth more than two Chemistry or Physics questions.

Insight 2: Chemistry Is the Easiest Scoring Opportunity

Chemistry has consistently been the easiest subject in MHT CET across all recent cycles. Questions are largely direct and drawn from Maharashtra HSC textbooks. A well‑prepared candidate should score above 40 out of 50 in Chemistry in most shifts.

Insight 3: Biology Knowledge Depth Matters

In the PCB group, Biology questions test precision. Statement‑based and diagram‑based questions require candidates to remember specific details such as the names of enzymes, the sites of particular reactions, and the structural differences between similar organisms. Broad conceptual reading is not enough; NCERT and Maharashtra HSC Biology textbook chapter‑level details are tested.

Insight 4: Physics Numerical Practice Is Essential

Physics questions in MHT CET require multi‑step calculation more often than simple formula substitution. Candidates who have solved a large bank of numerical problems from their Class 12 Maharashtra State Board textbooks and standard reference books are better equipped to handle the Physics section under time pressure.

Insight 5: No Negative Marking Means Attempt Everything

The absence of negative marking is one of the most important strategic features of MHT CET. Candidates should never leave any question unanswered. Even a blind guess on a 4‑option MCQ has a 25% probability of being correct. In a paper of 200 questions, leaving 20 unattempted questions has a potential expected‑value cost of 5 marks.

MHT CET 2026 Exam Analysis

The MHT CET 2026 Session 1 examinations were held from April 11 to 26, 2026 (PCM: April 11 to 20; PCB: April 21 to 26) in two shifts daily. Session 2 examinations were held in May 2026.

Based on early student feedback and expert assessments for MHT CET 2026:

• Mathematics had a moderate difficulty level, consistent with 2025. Topics such as Integration, Vectors, 3D Geometry, and Probability Distribution continued to dominate.
• Physics was moderate, with application‑based numerical questions from Rotational Dynamics, Electromagnetic Induction, and Wave Optics.
• Chemistry was easy to moderate, with the majority of questions drawn from Maharashtra HSC textbooks across both Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.
• Biology maintained a moderate difficulty with a mix of direct recall and diagram‑based questions from Genetics, Biotechnology, and Human Health.

The result for MHT CET 2026 is expected in June 2026.

Using Exam Analysis for Future Preparation

Candidates preparing for MHT CET in upcoming cycles should use exam analysis data from recent years to:

1. Prioritise chapters that appear most frequently (Integration, Electromagnetic Induction, p‑Block Elements, Genetics)
2. Understand the question type distribution (direct recall vs application‑based vs numerical)
3. Set realistic time management targets per paper based on good attempt benchmarks
4. Practice solving mock tests within the 90‑minute time limit for each paper
5. Focus revision on high‑frequency but conceptually dense chapters like Rotational Dynamics and Coordination Compounds

For previous year question papers to supplement this analysis, visit MHT CET PYQ.