MHT CET 2027 Phase 1 in December? Exam Date, Pattern and Updates

MHT CET 2027 Phase 1 May Move to December: What Maharashtra Students Need to Know

Maharashtra: MHT CET 2027 could arrive much earlier than Maharashtra students are used to. The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell is planning to conduct the first phase of the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test in December 2026, although the final dates are yet to be notified officially.

A State CET Cell official told Careers360 that the authority is aiming to hold the examination in December but stressed that the schedule has not been finalised yet. The possible shift is significant for students targeting engineering, pharmacy and other professional courses because MHT CET traditionally sat closer to the board-exam season. The proposed calendar would bring the first attempt closer to JEE Main 2027.

MHT CET 2027 Phase 1: What Has Been Proposed?

The latest information points to a first attempt window of December 15, 2026, to January 15, 2027. This window was earlier indicated by CET Cell Commissioner Dileep Sardesai, who said the authority wanted to conduct the first attempt before the January JEE Main examination.

However, students should treat these dates as proposed rather than confirmed. The CET Cell's official website has not yet published the final MHT CET 2027 timetable.

MHT CET 2027 Expected Timeline

These dates are indicative and can change when the official information brochure is released.

Why Is MHT CET Being Shifted to December?

The proposed change is not simply a calendar adjustment. According to Commissioner Sardesai's earlier explanation, students generally complete much of their syllabus by December, while JEE Main's January session follows soon afterwards. Holding MHT CET earlier could therefore bring the state examination closer to the broader national entrance-exam cycle.

For students, though, the practical consequence is clear: MHT CET preparation may need to become exam-ready several months earlier than in the 2026 cycle.

Two Attempts Expected for MHT CET 2027

The CET Cell introduced a two-attempt system for MHT CET in the 2026 admission cycle. Candidates were given the opportunity to appear in both attempts, with the better performance considered for admission.

For 2027, the first attempt is expected around December 2026–January 2027 and the second around April 2027. The exact rules, however, will be confirmed through the 2027 notification. The 2026 cycle was the first year in which the Cell conducted MHT CET twice for the PCM and PCB groups.

MHT CET 2027 Exam Pattern: What Students Can Expect

The final 2027 pattern is still awaited. Based on the existing framework, the examination is expected to be conducted as a computer-based test (CBT) through the PCM and PCB groups. The expected structure is:

• PCM: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
• PCB: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
• Multiple-choice questions
• No negative marking under the existing pattern
• Questions broadly based on the Maharashtra State Board syllabus
• Greater emphasis on Class 12 content than Class 11

Recent exam-pattern information indicates an approximate 20% Class 11 and 80% Class 12 weightage. Students should verify the final syllabus once the CET Cell releases the 2027 information brochure.

What Should MHT CET 2027 Aspirants Do Now?

The biggest mistake would be to wait for the final timetable before beginning preparation. Students targeting the December window should:

• Complete core Class 12 concepts early.
• Revise important Class 11 topics alongside board preparation.
• Practise MHT CET-style MCQs regularly.
• Begin full-length CBT mock tests well before December.
• Track the official CET Cell website for registration and notification updates.
• Keep documents and application details ready once registration opens.

The official source for MHT CET 2027 notifications, applications and examination updates is the Maharashtra State CET Cell website.

Bottom Line

MHT CET 2027 is shaping up for an earlier first attempt, with December 2026 to January 2027 emerging as the proposed examination window. But there is one detail students should not overlook: the dates are not officially final yet.

If the December plan goes ahead, Maharashtra's engineering and pharmacy aspirants will have less time to treat the exam as a last-minute exercise. For the Class of 2027, the preparation clock may start ticking much earlier.