Maharashtra Shifts MHT-CET Exams to Follow Class 12 Boards

Both attempts for the Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test, used for engineering and pharmacy admissions, will now take place after the Class 12 board examinations starting this year.

Reasons for Change

The higher and technical education department made this change after talking with parents, admission counsellors, and others who worried that a December test date sat too close to the Class 12 board exams.

Schedule Details

While the CET cell has not released the final timetable yet, officials expect both exam attempts to happen between March and May with a gap of at least four weeks. The state will count a candidate's best score from the two tries for admissions. The original plan had set the first attempt for December 2026 and the second for April 2027. Officials from the CET Cell noted they received many requests explaining that the early December test date made it hard for students to balance preparation for both board and entrance tests.

Feedback from Districts

The state gathered feedback from various stakeholders while planning the schedule, especially from interior districts like Nandurbar, Dharashiv, and Chandrapur. These areas pointed out that Class 12 practical exams start in January, making a December entrance test unfair for students preparing for practicals.

Context

Entrance exams like MHT-CET serve as a gateway for students seeking professional degree admissions after finishing school. Moving test dates helps align schedules so students do not face conflicting study pressures during their final school months.