MHT CET 2026 Passing Marks: Minimum Marks for PCM & PCB

Candidates who are preparing for the MHT CET 2026 first and second attempts can check this page to know the passing marks in MHT CET. The total marks for MHT CET are 200 marks for both the PCM and PCB groups. The passing marks of any exam refer to the minimum scores required to pass the exam. In this article, students can check the MHT CET passing marks group-wise, cutoff required for admission and how the cutoff system works.

MHT CET 2026 Passing Marks

MHT CET Passing Marks 2026: The MHT CET passing marks are one of the most searched topics among engineering and pharmacy aspirants in Maharashtra. Every year, lakhs of students appear for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test to get admission into top colleges across the state. But many students are confused about one important question - what are the actual passing marks in MHT CET?

MHT CET does not have official passing marks. There is no pass or fail system. Every student who appears for the exam receives a percentile score. If you are preparing for MHT CET, focus on scoring as high as possible instead of worrying about minimum passing marks. A higher score always gives better college and branch options. Even if your marks are not very high, do not lose hope. There are many colleges and courses available through the CAP rounds.

What is MHT CET?

MHT CET stands for Maharashtra Common Entrance Test. It is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, for admission into Engineering (PCM) and Pharmacy (PCB) courses. The exam is held online and includes multiple-choice questions.

The total marks for the exam are:

• PCM Group (Engineering) - 200 marks
• PCB Group (Pharmacy) - 200 marks

Each paper is based on the Maharashtra State Board syllabus of Class 11 and 12.

Is There Any Official Passing Marks in MHT CET?

Unlike school board exams, MHT CET does not have fixed “passing marks” declared officially.

There is no rule that says a student must score a minimum number like 35% or 40% to pass the exam. Instead, MHT CET works on a percentile and cutoff system.

This means:

• If you appear for the exam, you will receive a percentile score.
• There is no pass or fail status.
• Admission depends on the cutoff marks of colleges.

So technically, there are no fixed passing marks in MHT CET.

What is the Minimum Score Required in MHT CET?

Even though there are no official passing marks, students need to score a certain range of marks to get admission into colleges.

Here is a general idea:

• Below 40 marks - Very low chances for engineering in government colleges
• 40 to 80 marks - Possible admission in private colleges
• 80 to 120 marks - Good chances in mid-level colleges
• 120+ marks - Strong chances in top government or reputed colleges

This is only an estimate. The actual admission depends on category, seat availability, and college preference.

Understanding Percentile in MHT CET

MHT CET uses a percentile system instead of raw marks ranking.

Percentile means how you performed compared to other students.

For example:

• If you score 90 percentile, it means you performed better than 90% of candidates.
• If you score 50 percentile, it means you performed better than 50% of candidates.

Even if your marks look low, your percentile may be decent depending on the difficulty level of the exam.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria for Admission

To take admission through MHT CET, students must also satisfy academic eligibility criteria.

For Engineering (PCM group):

• General category students must score at least 45% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class 12.
• Reserved category students must score at least 40% in Class 12 PCM subjects.

For Pharmacy (PCB group):

• General category students need minimum 45% in PCB subjects.
• Reserved category students need minimum 40%.

This is the only place where minimum percentage matters officially.

MHT CET Passing Marks for Different Categories

While there are no official passing marks, category plays a big role in admission.

Reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and others often have lower cutoff marks compared to the General category.

For example:

• A General category student may need 110+ marks for a government engineering college.
  
  
• An OBC or EWS student may get the same branch at slightly lower marks.
  
  
• SC and ST candidates may get admission at even lower scores due to reservation policy.
  
  

This varies every year depending on competition.

Difference Between Passing Marks and Cutoff Marks

Many students mix up passing marks and cutoff marks.

Passing marks usually mean the minimum marks required to clear an exam.

Cutoff marks mean the minimum marks required to get admission into a specific college or branch.

In MHT CET, only cutoff marks matter.

For example:

• College A Computer Science cutoff may be 150 marks.
  
• College B Mechanical cutoff may be 95 marks.
  
• College C Civil cutoff may be 80 marks.
  

So even if you score 85 marks, you may not get Computer Science in a top college, but you may get admission in another branch or college.

How Are MHT CET Cutoff Marks Decided?

Cutoff marks are decided based on:

1. Number of students appearing for the exam
2. Difficulty level of the paper
3. Number of available seats
4. Category reservation
5. Previous year trends

If the paper is difficult, cutoff may go lower. If the paper is easy, cutoff may go higher.

Previous Year Trends

Looking at past trends helps understand safe scores.

For top government engineering colleges in Maharashtra:

• Computer Science – Usually above 140–160 marks
• IT and Electronics – Around 130–150 marks
• Mechanical – Around 110–130 marks
• Civil – Around 90–110 marks
  

For private colleges:

• Admission is possible even at 60–80 marks depending on the branch.

Again, these numbers are general trends and may change every year.

Can You Get Admission With Low Marks?

Yes, it is possible to get admission with low marks, especially in private colleges or less-demanding branches.

Students who score below 50 marks may still get admission in:

• Private engineering colleges
• New institutes
• Less popular branches

However, options become limited.

What is a Safe Score in MHT CET?

If you are aiming for safe admission in a decent college, try to score at least:

• 100+ marks for average government or good private colleges
• 130+ marks for top branches
• 150+ marks for highly competitive colleges

Aiming higher always gives more options during counselling.