MHT CET 2020 was the state-level entrance test conducted by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra, for admission to engineering, pharmacy and agriculture programmes. The online exam ran in October 2020, and the result followed on 28 November 2020. This guide covers the MHT CET 2020 result, question paper, syllabus and exam pattern in simple language. It also explains normalization, answer key dates, and how the 2020 test compares with the latest cycle. Because MHT CET 2020 is a past exam, we focus on what is still useful to you today, and we clearly flag every detail that sources report differently.
Key Highlights
- Conducted by: State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra
- Exam dates: 1-9 October (PCB) and 12-20 October 2020 (PCM)
- Re-exam: 7 November 2020
- Answer key: 10 November 2020
- Result: 28 November 2020
- Pattern (PCM): 150 questions, 200 marks, 180 minutes, no negative marking
Quick Answer: MHT CET 2020 was held online in October 2020. The PCB group tested first, then PCM. NTA-style normalization produced percentile scores. The provisional answer key came on 10 November, and the result on 28 November 2020 at cetcell.mahacet.org.
MHT CET 2020 Overview
MHT CET 2020 was an online, state-level entrance test run by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra. Students used the percentile score to apply for engineering (PCM group), and pharmacy and agriculture (PCB group) through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP). The pandemic delayed the exam from its usual spring slot.
Key facts:
- Groups: PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) and PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Mode: computer-based test, in multiple sessions
- Syllabus base: Maharashtra State Board, Classes 11 and 12
- Score type: normalized percentile
Why did the exam move to October? COVID-19 disrupted the normal schedule, and the CET Cell announced a revised plan in September 2020. You can read the official updates on the State CET Cell website.
MHT CET 2020 Important Dates
The MHT CET 2020 exam took place from 1 to 20 October 2020, in two blocks: PCB first, then PCM. A re-exam followed on 7 November 2020. The provisional answer key came on 10 November, and the result on 28 November 2020.
MHT CET 2020 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application window reopened | 7-8 September 2020 |
| Revised schedule notification | 9 September 2020 |
| Admit card (PCB) | 26 September 2020 |
| Admit card (PCM) | 4 October 2020 |
| PCB exam | 1-9 October 2020 |
| PCM exam | 12-20 October 2020 |
| Re-exam | 7 November 2020 |
| Answer key, responses and question papers | 10 November 2020 (by 1 pm) |
| Objection deadline | 12 November 2020 (1 pm) |
| Result | 28 November 2020 |
Some sources give different registration start and end dates. Confirm in the official notification.
A common confusion: one portal says the result came out on 10 November. That was the answer key date. The result followed on 28 November.
MHT CET 2020 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
The MHT CET 2020 exam pattern had 150 questions for PCM and 200 for PCB. The test lasted 180 minutes. There was no negative marking. Mathematics carried 2 marks per question, and the other subjects 1 mark each.
MHT CET 2020 Exam Pattern
| Group | Subject | Questions | Marks per question | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCM | Physics | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| PCM | Chemistry | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| PCM | Mathematics | 50 | 2 | 100 |
| PCM total | 150 | 200 | ||
| PCB | Physics | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| PCB | Chemistry | 50 | 1 | 50 |
| PCB | Biology (Botany + Zoology) | 100 | 1 | 100 |
| PCB total | 200 | 200 |
Other details:
- Duration: 180 minutes in total, with two sections of 90 minutes each (Mathematics, and Physics with Chemistry).
- Negative marking: none, as stated in the CET Cell’s candidate instructions.
- Language: reports say Mathematics was in English, while the other subjects had English, Hindi and Marathi options.
Why No Negative Marking Matters
You could attempt every question without losing marks. That made time management the main challenge, not guessing risk.
MHT CET 2020 Syllabus
The MHT CET 2020 syllabus followed the Maharashtra State Board curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. Roughly 20% of questions came from Class 11 and 80% from Class 12. The topics below are indicative, so check the official syllabus for exact chapters.
Physics
Typical chapters include:
- Class 12: Rotational motion, oscillations, wave optics, electrostatics, current electricity, magnetism, semiconductors
- Class 11: Laws of motion, gravitation, thermal properties, optics basics
Chemistry
Typical chapters include:
- Class 12: Solid state, solutions, chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, coordination compounds, polymers
- Class 11: Basic concepts, atomic structure, hydrocarbons, thermodynamics
Mathematics
Typical chapters include:
- Class 12: Differentiation, integration, matrices, vectors, probability, mathematical logic
- Class 11: Trigonometry, coordinate geometry basics, functions
One pre-exam guide noted that a Class 11 chapter on complex numbers would not be examined in 2020. Confirm this in the official brochure before relying on it.
Biology (PCB)
Typical chapters include:
- Class 12: Genetics, biotechnology, reproduction, ecology, human health
- Class 11: Cell biology, plant and animal diversity, physiology basics
The safest study source is the Maharashtra State Board textbooks, since the exam follows them closely. For board details, see the Maharashtra State Board website.
MHT CET 2020 Question Paper
The MHT CET 2020 question paper was an online multiple-choice test. After the exam, the CET Cell shared candidates’ responses, the question papers and the provisional answer key on 10 November 2020 through the candidate login. A public archive of the full papers is not guaranteed, so check the official portal.
What the paper looked like:
- Format: MCQs, with 50 questions per subject (100 in Biology)
- Difficulty: pre-exam guides said it would be near JEE Main level; treat this as an expectation, not an official rating
- Weightage: about 20% Class 11, 80% Class 12
Where Can You Find the MHT CET 2020 Question Paper?
- Official portal: check cetcell.mahacet.org for archived notices and papers.
- Your own login: if you appeared, your responses and paper were available via login in the answer key window.
- Memory-based or practice papers: useful for practice, but treat them as unofficial.
Original Practice Questions (in the style of the 2020 paper)
These are original questions, not from the real paper.
Physics: A 2 kg body moves at 3 m/s. What is its kinetic energy?
Solution: KE = ½mv² = ½ × 2 × 9 = 9 J.
Chemistry: What is the pH of 0.01 M HCl?
Solution: [H⁺] = 10⁻² M, so pH = 2.
Mathematics: Evaluate ∫₀³ 2x dx.
Solution: The integral is [x²] from 0 to 3 = 9 − 0 = 9.
Biology: Which organelle is the main site of protein synthesis?
Solution: The ribosome.
MHT CET 2020 Answer Key
The CET Cell released the provisional answer key, candidate responses and question papers on 10 November 2020. Candidates could raise objections until 12 November 2020 (1 pm). This is separate from the result, which came later on 28 November.
How the process worked:
- Log in to the candidate portal.
- Download your responses, question paper and the provisional key.
- Check each answer against the key.
- Submit objections, if any, before the deadline.
Keep this process in mind for any future cycle too, because the CET Cell follows a similar flow each year.
MHT CET 2020 Result
The CET Cell declared the MHT CET 2020 result for PCM and PCB on 28 November 2020, late in the evening. Candidates checked the scorecard on the official portal using their login details. The scorecard showed subject-wise and total percentile scores.
How to Check MHT CET 2020 Result?
- Visit the official website, cetcell.mahacet.org.
- Open the result link for your group (PCM or PCB).
- Enter your application ID and date of birth.
- Submit the details.
- Download and save the scorecard.
At the time, the official 2020 portal was mhtcet2020.mahaonline.gov.in, which candidates also used for logins. It may no longer be active.
What the Scorecard Showed
- Candidate details and group
- Subject-wise percentile scores
- Total percentile score
- Qualification status
Validity
Scores were used for the 2020-21 admission cycle through CAP. For the validity rule, check the CET Cell’s brochure.
MHT CET 2020 Normalization and Percentile
MHT CET 2020 was held in many sessions over several days, so raw marks could not be compared directly. The CET Cell used normalization to convert them into percentile scores. A percentile shows the share of candidates who scored equal or lower than you.
The percentile formula reported at the time:
Percentile = 100 × (candidates with normalized marks equal to or lower than yours ÷ total candidates in the exam)
Simple Example
If 1,000 candidates took a session and 900 scored the same as or lower than you, your percentile is 100 × 900 ÷ 1,000 = 90.
Why It Matters
Different sessions can have slightly different difficulty. Normalization aims to keep the comparison fair, so a tough session does not hurt you. Merit lists were then built from percentile scores.
MHT CET 2020 Statistics
Reports list about 4.52 lakh registrations for MHT CET 2020, with about 4 lakh candidates appearing. The group split is shown below. Some pages call these numbers “appeared”, but they add up exactly to the registration total, so they look like registrations.
MHT CET 2020 Registrations by Group
| Group | Candidates |
|---|---|
| PCM only | 1,66,107 |
| PCB only | 1,95,275 |
| Both PCM and PCB | 90,524 |
| Total registered | 4,51,906 |
Reports say about 4 lakh candidates appeared. Confirm final numbers in the CET Cell’s statistics.
MHT CET 2020 vs Latest MHT CET
The core pattern stayed similar: computer-based, 200 marks, 180 minutes and no negative marking. The big changes are timing and the chance to take the exam in two sessions. This table compares the 2020 cycle with the 2026 cycle, as reported.
MHT CET 2020 vs MHT CET 2026
| Feature | MHT CET 2020 | MHT CET 2026 (reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test | Computer-based test |
| PCM questions and marks | 150 questions, 200 marks | 150 questions, 200 marks |
| Duration | 180 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Negative marking | None | None |
| Syllabus weightage | 20% Class 11, 80% Class 12 | 20% Class 11, 80% Class 12 |
| Exam window | October 2020 (re-exam 7 Nov) | April-May 2026, two sessions |
| Result timing | 28 November 2020 | June 2026 (PCB first attempt about 8-9 June; PCM first attempt 15 June) |
| Official portal | mhtcet2020.mahaonline.gov.in and cetcell.mahacet.org | cetcell.mahacet.org |
Sources differ slightly on some 2026 dates. Verify on the CET Cell website.
Admission Process After MHT CET
Admission to engineering and pharmacy in Maharashtra runs through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP). The steps are broadly the same each year. Exact dates and rules come from the CAP brochure.
- Register for CAP on the official portal.
- Upload documents and complete verification.
- Check the provisional merit list and raise any grievance.
- Fill the option form with your preferred colleges and branches.
- Check seat allotment after each round.
- Confirm admission and pay the fee, or continue to the next round.
Keep your scorecard, HSC marksheet, domicile and category documents ready.
How to Use the MHT CET 2020 Question Paper for Preparation Today
Treat an old paper as a timed practice test. It shows the question style, the speed needed and your weak chapters. Because the pattern is similar today, it is still a useful tool.
- Set a timer: 90 minutes per section.
- Attempt in one sitting, without breaks.
- Score it: 1 mark each in Physics, Chemistry and Biology; 2 marks in Mathematics.
- Sort mistakes: concept gap, calculation slip or time pressure.
- Revise by chapter, using Maharashtra State Board textbooks.
- Retest in a week and compare accuracy.
Remember the exam has no negative marking, so attempt every question.
Beyond MHT CET: Planning for MBA Entrance Exams
MHT CET leads to engineering, pharmacy and agriculture. Some engineering graduates later aim for an MBA through exams such as CAT, XAT, SNAP or CMAT. This section is for them. CATMock is an MBA-exam platform and does not offer MHT CET papers or mocks.
If you plan an MBA after your degree:
- Browse previous year papers on the CATMock PYQ.
- Practise from the CAT previous year papers and the XAT previous year papers.
- Try the SNAP previous year papers and SNAP full-length mocks.
- Use the formula book to keep quant formulas handy.
- Read how each exam differs on the exam details page.
CATMock’s CMAT and XAT mock categories are marked “coming soon”, while its previous year papers and SNAP mocks are available. You can start from the CAT Mock.
Common Mistakes Students Made in MHT CET 2020
Most lost marks came from avoidable habits, not from missing knowledge.
- Ignoring Class 11 chapters: about 20% of questions came from them.
- Spending too long on Mathematics: each question carried 2 marks and took time.
- Mixing up the two sections’ timing: each section had its own 90 minutes.
- Skipping questions: with no negative marking, blanks cost marks.
- Relying only on coaching notes: the exam follows the State Board textbooks.
- Not practising online: the computer-based interface felt new to many.
- Confusing dates: answer key and result dates are different.
Key Takeaways
- MHT CET 2020 ran from 1 to 20 October 2020, with a re-exam on 7 November.
- The answer key came on 10 November, and the result on 28 November 2020.
- PCM had 150 questions and 200 marks; PCB had 200 questions and 200 marks.
- There was no negative marking, and each group had 180 minutes.
- Percentile scores came from normalization across sessions.
- The syllabus weightage was 20% Class 11 and 80% Class 12.
- Use old papers as timed practice and verify details on the official site.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the MHT CET 2020 exam held?
MHT CET 2020 was held online from 1 to 9 October 2020 for the PCB group and from 12 to 20 October 2020 for the PCM group. A re-exam took place on 7 November 2020. The delay came from the COVID-19 pandemic.
When was the MHT CET 2020 result declared?
The State CET Cell declared the MHT CET 2020 result for PCM and PCB on 28 November 2020, late in the evening. Some pages confuse this with 10 November, which was the answer key date. The scorecard showed percentile scores.
How many questions were in MHT CET 2020?
The PCM paper had 150 questions: 50 each in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The PCB paper had 200 questions: 50 each in Physics and Chemistry, and 100 in Biology. All were multiple-choice questions with a total time of 180 minutes.
Is there negative marking in MHT CET?
No. MHT CET 2020 had no negative marking, according to the CET Cell’s candidate instructions. You could attempt every question without losing marks. Mathematics carried 2 marks per question, and the other subjects carried 1 mark each.
What was the MHT CET 2020 syllabus?
The syllabus followed the Maharashtra State Board curriculum for Classes 11 and 12, covering Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. About 20% of questions came from Class 11 and 80% from Class 12. Check the official brochure for exact chapters.
Can I download the MHT CET 2020 question paper?
Candidates received their paper, responses and the provisional key through login on 10 November 2020. A public archive is not guaranteed. Check cetcell.mahacet.org, and treat memory-based papers as unofficial practice material rather than the real paper.
How was MHT CET 2020 normalization done?
The exam ran in many sessions, so the CET Cell converted raw marks into percentile scores. The formula was 100 times the number of candidates with normalized marks equal to or lower than yours, divided by the total candidates. It keeps session difficulty fair.
How many candidates registered for MHT CET 2020?
Reports show about 4.52 lakh registrations (4,51,906): 1,66,107 for PCM only, 1,95,275 for PCB only and 90,524 for both. Around 4 lakh candidates appeared, according to reports. Confirm final counts with the CET Cell.
Is the MHT CET 2020 score valid today?
No. The MHT CET 2020 score served the 2020-21 admission cycle through CAP. If you want admission now, you need a score from a current MHT CET cycle. Check the latest CET Cell notice for eligibility and dates.
How is the current MHT CET different from 2020?
The core pattern is similar: computer-based, 200 marks, 180 minutes and no negative marking. The main change is the schedule. The 2026 cycle ran in April and May with two sessions, and results came in June. Check cetcell.mahacet.org for the latest rules.
Conclusion
MHT CET 2020 was an online, 180-minute test with no negative marking, a 20:80 Class 11 to Class 12 split and percentile scores from normalization. The exam ran in October 2020, the answer key came on 10 November, and the result on 28 November 2020. Use the old question paper as a timed practice test, and always confirm current details on cetcell.mahacet.org. If you plan an MBA later, start with the CAT Mock PYQ hub.
Disclaimer: Always confirm details on the official State CET Cell website.
