My Analysis of MHT CET Paper Analysis April 11 Shift 1 2026

I went through the April 11 Shift 1 paper of MHT CET 2026 PCM carefully. I pulled data from student reactions on social media, on-ground feedback from multiple exam centres, and cross-referenced with past-year trends. Here is my honest read of how the day went.

As per  MHT CET paper analysis, the overall paper was moderate. But it was not the same experience across all three subjects. Physics was the most time-consuming section. Chemistry gave students breathing room. Mathematics was manageable in concept but heavy on calculations and time. Around 4.79 lakh students appeared for the MHT CET Exam 2026 PCM Phase . The exam was held across 198 centres in 36 districts. Shift 1 ran from 9 AM to 12 noon. The paper had 150 questions carrying 200 marks in total with no negative marking.

MHT CET PCM Exam Paper Analysis: My Take on Overall Difficulty

I have broken down the paper into sections based on difficulty and student feedback of MHT CET Exam. The table below gives a quick picture before I go deeper into each subject.

Section	Difficulty Level	My Key Observation Through MHT CET Paper Analysis
Overall	Moderate	Balanced but time-heavy
Physics	Moderate to Difficult	Lengthy and toughest section of the shift
Chemistry	Easy to Moderate	NCERT-based and most scoring
Mathematics	Moderate	Manageable concepts but calculation-heavy

👋 Attempted MHT CET today? Here’s what comes next!

MHT CET Paper Analysis April 11 Shift 1: What I Found Through Subject-wise Analysis?

After checking the paper and student feedback, I looked at each subject separately of MHTCET Paper. All three sections felt different. Physics took more time, Chemistry was easier, and Maths depended a lot on speed. Here is how each subject went:

MHT CET Paper Analysis: Physics Analysis

Physics was the section that generated the most conversation after the exam. Most of it was not positive. MHT CET assigns around 30 to 35% weightage to Physics. In this shift, the questions leaned heavily towards Class 12 topics. As per previous year trends, roughly 80% of MHT CET Physics questions come from Class 12. That held true here as well.

Topics that appeared:

• Electromagnetic Induction
• Oscillations
• Electrostatics
• Rotational Motion
• Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation

EMI and Oscillations questions were multi-step. They needed careful application rather than straight formula substitution. One student from Pune, Shailesh Jhadhav, said Physics was tougher than he expected. He specifically called out EMI and Oscillations as challenging. The question type was mostly numerical. Theory-based questions were present but fewer. Most problems required setting up equations from given data. This is manageable with practice. But it becomes a serious time sink without it.

MHT CET Paper Analysis: Chapter-wise Question Distribution

Physics was not evenly spread across all chapters. Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation stood out with the highest number of questions, around 5 to 6. Electrostatics, Rotational Motion, and Electromagnetic Induction followed with moderate weightage. The remaining topics like Oscillations and Magnetic Effects of Current had fewer questions but still showed up in the paper.

Chapter	Estimated Questions	Weightage
Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation	5 to 6	12%
Electrostatics	3 to 4	7%
Electromagnetic Induction	3	6%
Rotational Motion	3	7%
Magnetic Effects of Current	2 to 3	6%
Oscillations	2 to 3	8%

MHT CET Paper Analysis: Chemistry Analysis

Chemistry was the clear relief section of this shift. Most students agreed on this. MHT CET Chemistry carries around 30 to 35% of the total paper. Historically, around 90 to 95% of Chemistry questions in MHT CET are NCERT-based. This shift followed that pattern closely.

Topics that appeared:

• Chemical Thermodynamics and Energetics
• Coordination Compounds
• Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
• d and f Block Elements
• Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen

Question types were mostly direct. Some needed conceptual understanding. A few assertion-reasoning types appeared and caught some students off guard. But overall, solid NCERT revision was enough to handle this section comfortably.

MHT CET 2026 PCM Exam: Chapter-wise Estimated Questions

Chemistry questions were focused on a few key chapters. Chemical Thermodynamics and Energetics had the highest weightage with around 7 to 8 questions. Coordination Compounds also had a strong presence. Other topics like d and f Block, Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, and Organic Compounds with Nitrogen were evenly covered with a similar number of questions.

Chapter	Estimated Questions	Weightage
Chemical Thermodynamics and Energetics	7 to 8	15%
Coordination Compounds	4 to 5	9%
d and f Block Elements	4	8%
Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers	4	8%
Organic Compounds with Nitrogen	4	8%

MHT CET Paper Analysis: Mathematics Analysis

Mathematics sat in an interesting spot this shift. It was not conceptually brutal. But it was demanding in terms of how long each question took to solve.

Mathematics carries the highest weightage in MHT CET PCM at around 35 to 40%. Each correct answer in Mathematics carries 2 marks, compared to 1 mark for Physics and Chemistry questions. This makes it the highest-scoring section as well as the most time-consuming one.

Topics that appeared prominently:

• Integration (Indefinite and Definite)
• Vectors
• 3D Geometry
• Probability Distribution
• Trigonometric Functions
• Differential Equations

Integration problems required multiple steps. Substitution, by parts, and standard formula application all showed up. Students who attempted Maths after Physics reported feeling the time pressure badly.

MHT CET Analysis: Chapter-wise estimated Question

To understand the paper better, I looked at which chapters had more questions. Integration had the highest number of questions, around 4 to 5. Trigonometric Functions and 3D Geometry also had good weightage with about 4 questions each. Probability, Vectors, and Differential Equations had fewer questions but were still important.

Chapter	Estimated Questions	Weightage
Integration (Indefinite and Definite)	4 to 5	9%
Trigonometric Functions	4	8%
Three Dimensional Geometry	4	8%
Probability Distribution	2 to 3	8%
Vectors	2 to 3	7%
Differential Equations	2 to 3	6%

MHT CET Question Paper: Memory-Based Questions

These questions are based on student recall and solutions shared after the exam. They give a clear sense of what the paper actually looked like.

Physics

Here is one of the commonly reported questions from Physics. It was concept-based but required proper formula application.

• When two sound waves with amplitudes 3 and 5 units are superimposed, find the ratio of maximum to minimum intensity of the resultant wave. Answer: Using I_max/I_min = (A1 + A2)² / (A1 – A2)² = (3+5)² / (3-5)² = 64/4 = 16:1

Mathematics

Mathematics had a mix of standard and slightly lengthy questions. Most were doable but required time and careful calculation

• Evaluate: ∫ 1 / (x^(1/2) + x^(1/3)) dx

(a) √x – ³√x + ⁶√x – log|⁶√x + 1| + C

(b) 2√x – 3³√x + 6⁶√x – 6log|⁶√x + 1| + C

(c) 2√x + 3³√x + 6⁶√x + 6log|⁶√x + 1| + C

(d) √x + ³√x + ⁶√x + log|⁶√x + 1| + C

Answer: (b)

• Find the principal values of x for which cosec(x) = -2.

Answer: x = 11π/6 and 7π/6

• For y = 3x³ – 3x² + 1, find the equation of normal at x = 1.

Answer: At x = 1, y = 1. dy/dx = 9x² – 6x. Slope of tangent at x=1 is 3. Slope of normal = -1/3. Point = (1, 1). Equation of normal: x + 3y – 4 = 0

• Evaluate: ∫₁⁴ x[x] dx (where [x] is the greatest integer function)

Answer: Split into intervals: ∫₁² x(1)dx + ∫₂³ x(2)dx + ∫₃⁴ x(3)dx = 3/2 + 5 + 21/2 = 17

• If ∫₁ᵃ (2x + 1) dx = 5, find the sum of all values of a.

Answer: Solving gives a² + a – 7 = 0. Sum of values = -1/1 = -1

• For the equation x² – ky² – 4x + 6y – 5 = 0 to represent a pair of straight lines, find k and the point of intersection.

Answer: Using condition Δ = 0: k = 1. Point of intersection = (2, 3)

MHT CET Paper Analysis: My Observation Through Student Reviews

After going through feedback from students across Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, and several smaller towns, a few consistent themes came up.

• Physics felt lengthy for most students: Many were surprised by how much time it took. EMI and Oscillations were mentioned again and again as tricky and time-consuming. A lot of students said Physics slowed them down early in the paper.
• Chemistry was the easiest and most scoring section: Most students were comfortable here. Questions were direct and mostly NCERT-based. A few assertion-reasoning questions caused confusion, but overall, this was the section where students felt confident. Those who focused on NCERT seemed to have an advantage.
• Mathematics was not difficult, but time was the issue: Students generally agreed that concepts were manageable. The real problem was speed. Many reported leaving 6 to 8 questions because time ran out. Those who had practiced mock tests under time limits handled this section better.
• Time management made a big difference: One pattern I noticed was that students who started with Chemistry in the Physics-Chemistry block performed better. It helped them secure marks quickly and reduced pressure before moving to Physics.

MHT CET Paper Analysis: Good Attempts and Expected Score

I estimated these numbers by looking at the section-wise difficulty, time pressure reported by students, and patterns from MHT CET 2024 and 2025 sessions. The table below reflects what a reasonably well-prepared student could realistically attempt in this shift.

Section	Good Attempts	Expected Marks
Physics (50 questions, 1 mark each)	32 to 38	32 to 38
Chemistry (50 questions, 1 mark each)	38 to 44	38 to 44
Mathematics (50 questions, 2 marks each)	33 to 40	66 to 80
Total	103 to 118	136 to 162

MHT CET Paper Analysis: What Does Your Score Mean for College Admissions?

Not every student is chasing COEP or VJTI. Where your score lands matters differently depending on what you are aiming for. Here is a rough picture based on past cutoff trends:

• 150+ marks: You can aim for premier institutes like COEP Pune and VJTI Mumbai.
• 125 to 150 marks: Strong range for top government engineering colleges across Maharashtra.
• 100 to 110 marks: Several reputed mid-tier colleges remain accessible.

160 marks in MHT CET Percentile

A score of 160 generally places you around the 99th percentile or above. At this level, you are competing for the most sought-after branches at Maharashtra’s top institutes. Based on past year cutoffs, here is what opens up:

College	Branch	Approximate Cutoff Percentile
College of Engineering Pune (COEP)	Computer Science and Engineering	99.8+
College of Engineering Pune (COEP)	Information Technology	99.7+
VJTI Mumbai	Computer Engineering	99.8+
VJTI Mumbai	Electronics Engineering	99.5+
Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai	Chemical Engineering	99.4+
Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai	Computer Engineering	99.2+

Also Check: MHT CET College Predictor 2026

130 Marks in MHT CET Percentile

A score of 130 usually falls in the 96 to 97 percentile range. This is a good score. It keeps government college options open and gives you strong access to reputed private colleges across Maharashtra.

College	Branch	Expected  Cutoff Percentile
Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli	Computer Science and Engineering	97+
Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad	Computer Science and Engineering	96.5+
SGGS Institute of Engineering and Technology, Nanded	Computer Science and Engineering	96+
Government College of Engineering, Nagpur	Information Technology	96+
K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai	Computer Engineering	95 to 96
Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT)	Computer Engineering	97+
Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT Pune)	Computer Engineering	96 to 97

Check: VIT Cutoff

MHT CET Paper Analysis: Quick Tips for Students Appearing in Upcoming Shifts

The April 11 Shift 1 paper is a useful reference point for the rest of the session. Based on what I observed:

• Physics has been the most time-consuming section. Do not treat it as an easy opener. Plan time carefully.
• Chemistry is your best scoring opportunity. NCERT revision directly translates to marks here.
• For Mathematics, speed matters more than concept clarity at this stage. Timed practice is the key.
• The paper runs on two separate timers. The first 90 minutes covers Physics and Chemistry together. The second 90 minutes is for Mathematics alone. Most students underestimate how fast the first timer moves when Physics is heavy.
• Attempt every question. With no negative marking, even a rough guess gives you a chance at 2 marks in Mathematics and 1 mark in Physics or Chemistry.

Conclusion

Based on  MHTCET Paper Analysis for April 11 Shift 1 was a fair paper overall. It was not unusually hard. It was not a giveaway either. The difficulty came mostly from the length and time-management demands rather than from tricky or out-of-syllabus content. Students who had done consistent timed practice with Class 12 NCERT as their base likely found this shift manageable. For those who skipped mocks or relied on selective preparation, the time pressure in Physics and Maths would have been a real challenge. If you are yet to sit for MHT CET 2026 PCM, this shift gives you a realistic preview. Keep your Chemistry sharp. Keep your Physics formulas ready. Make sure your Maths practice is built for speed, not just accuracy.consistent pattern: Maths was the differentiator in every shift, and April 6 Shift 1 remains the hardest paper of the lot. If you sat in today’s shift, the 99th percentile bar is 170 to 180 marks, depending on the difficulty level. Session 2 results will come out by April 20. The official answer key is expected by April 10. If you want to challenge any answer, you have to pay Rs. 200 per question on the official portal. JEE Advanced 2026 registrations open on April 23, and the exam is on May 17. The top 2.5 lakh candidates from JEE Mains will be eligible to register.