The introduction of a second attempt for MHT CET marks a significant change in the examination process, allowing students more opportunities to improve their scores. Starting on May 9, 2026, around 4,92,383 students will participate in this unprecedented opportunity.
This year, the first attempt saw 8,96,236 students register, with 8,33,482 appearing for the exam — an impressive attendance rate of 92.99%. The MBA/MMS CET will also take place on May 9 for 53,931 candidates.
The PCB group exam follows on May 10 and 11 for 1,16,538 students. Meanwhile, the PCM group exam will run from May 12 to May 21, excluding May 16 and 17, accommodating 3,21,914 candidates.
This change comes as part of the CET Cell’s efforts to enhance fairness in the examination process. For the first time ever, candidates have the option to attempt the exam twice — following a model similar to national-level JEE (Main).
Key features of the second attempt:
- The second attempt is optional but mandatory for at least one exam.
- The higher percentile score will be considered for admission if a candidate appears for both attempts.
- A score of 100 marks is expected to correspond to a percentile range of around 88 to 92 for PCM and 85 to 90 for PCB.
The official release of the MHT CET 2026 Answer Key Session 1 is expected by May 2. Candidates can download it along with their response sheets from cetcell.mahacet.org.
The changes have drawn various reactions from students and educators alike. “If a candidate appears for both attempts,” an official noted, “the higher percentile score will be considered for admission.” This new approach aims to alleviate some pressure on students while maintaining rigorous standards.
