Maharashtra Common Entrance Test — PCM Group (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)

Key facts

Conducting body

State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra

Eligible class

Class-12

Exam level

State

Exam areas

Agriculture, Engineering, Pharmacy

Typical exam month

April (for Attempt 1) and May (for Attempt 2).

Academic year

2026-2027

Primary goal

Entrance examination conducted to determine merit-based admissions to the First Year of Full-Time Under Graduate Degree courses in Engineering and Technology (B.E./B.Tech) and Planning (B.Planning) in the State of Maharashtra. (Note: It is also accepted downstream for Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) courses, though those are primarily served by the PCB group).

Syllabus subjects

Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics

Exam structure

examStructureDetails: Mode of Exam: Online Computer-Based Test (CBT). Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours) total, divided into two equal sectional timings of 90 minutes each. Locking Rule: A strict sectional time lock is enforced. The first 90 minutes are reserved exclusively for Section 1 (Physics & Chemistry). Once the first 90 minutes conclude, Section 1 auto-submits, gets locked, and Section 2 (Mathematics) is enabled for the remaining 90 minutes. Switching back to Section 1 is prohibited. Number of Questions: 150 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) total. Marks Distribution: 1 mark per question for Physics and Chemistry; 2 marks per question for Mathematics. Total marks = 200. Language of Examination: Mathematics is provided in English only; Physics and Chemistry are bilingual (available in English, Marathi, or Urdu as chosen during registration). examSections: Section 1 (Physics & Chemistry): name: Physics & Chemistry syllabusSubject: Physics, Chemistry maxMarks: 100 questionsPresented: 100 (50 Physics + 50 Chemistry) questionsToAttempt: 100 Section 2 (Mathematics): name: Mathematics syllabusSubject: Mathematics maxMarks: 100 questionsPresented: 50 questionsToAttempt: 50 sessionsPerYear: 2 attempts (Session 1 in April, Session 2 in May). attemptPolicy: Candidates can optionally register and pay for either a single attempt or both attempts. If a candidate sits for both attempts, the best percentile score of the two sessions will be utilized for downstream centralized counseling and merit rankings. There is no limit on the number of attempts a candidate can take over consecutive years. applicationWindow: The online application window typically opens in early January and closes in mid-to-late February, with subsequent extensions with late fees continuing into early March. For the 2026 cycle, registration opened on January 10, 2026, and closed on February 24, 2026 (extended with late fees until February 27, 2026). --