MHT CET 2026 Session 1 vs Session 2: Which Score Will Be Used for CAP Admission?

MHT CET 2026 Session 1 vs Session 2: Which Score Will Be Used for CAP Admission?

The introduction of two MHT CET attempts in 2026 has created one of the biggest questions among engineering aspirants: If I appear in both Session 1 and Session 2, which score will be considered for CAP counselling and admission?

The good news is that students do not need to worry about losing their chances by appearing in both sessions. The Maharashtra State CET Cell has adopted a system similar to JEE Main, allowing candidates to improve their performance through multiple attempts. The admission process remains percentile-based, and CAP merit preparation uses the candidate’s best valid performance.

Predict, Compare, and Choose the Right College : CLICK HERE

This detailed guide explains how Session 1 and Session 2 scores are treated, how percentile calculation works, and what students should expect during CAP admissions in 2026.

Understanding the Two-Session MHT CET 2026 System

For the first time, MHT CET is being conducted in two sessions for both PCM and PCB groups. Students can appear in:

• Session 1 only
• Session 2 only
• Both Session 1 and Session 2

The main objective is to provide students with an additional opportunity to improve their performance and reduce examination pressure. The Maharashtra CET Cell introduced this system to offer greater flexibility and a fairer admission process.

Many students initially feared that appearing twice might negatively affect their ranking. However, the two-attempt model is designed to benefit candidates rather than penalize them.

The Direct Answer: Which Score Is Used for CAP?

If a candidate appears in both Session 1 and Session 2, the better score/percentile is considered for CAP admission and merit list preparation. The lower score does not harm the candidate’s admission prospects.

Visit Official Portal : CLICK HERE

For example:

For CAP counselling, the candidate will be considered with 96.80 percentile.

Similarly:

For CAP counselling, the candidate will be considered with 98.50 percentile.

Therefore, students can safely appear in both attempts without worrying about score reduction.

Why the Best Score Policy Is Important

The best-score policy offers several advantages:

1. Reduced Pressure

Students know they have another opportunity if their first attempt does not go well.

2. Better Performance

Many students learn from their Session 1 mistakes and perform significantly better in Session 2.

3. No Risk

Since the better score is considered, candidates have nothing to lose by attempting both sessions.

4. Improved Admission Chances

A higher percentile directly improves CAP rank and college allocation possibilities.

How CAP Merit List Is Prepared

The Centralized Admission Process (CAP) is conducted by the Maharashtra State CET Cell after result declaration.

Know More : CLICK HERE

The CAP merit list is prepared using:

• MHT CET percentile
• Eligibility criteria
• Reservation category
• Verified documents
• Candidate category rank and state rank

Seat allotment is then carried out based on the merit list and candidate preferences.

Since merit ranking depends primarily on percentile, obtaining the highest possible percentile is extremely important.

Marks vs Percentile: What Matters for CAP?

Many students focus on marks, but CAP counselling primarily uses percentile scores, not raw marks.

This is because:

• Different shifts may have different difficulty levels.
• Normalization ensures fairness.
• Percentile allows comparison across all sessions and shifts.

The CET Cell prepares results through a normalization process and releases percentile scores instead of raw marks.

Therefore:

CAP → Percentile → Rank → College Allotment

Raw marks are not directly used for admission decisions.

What Is Normalization?

Normalization is a statistical process used when an exam is conducted across multiple shifts and sessions.

Suppose:

• Session 1 was more difficult.
• Session 2 was comparatively easier.

Without normalization, Session 2 candidates might receive an unfair advantage.

To solve this issue, the CET Cell converts scores into percentiles using a normalization formula. This ensures fairness across all shifts and sessions.

Example of Score Improvement

Consider the following example:

Student A

CAP will use 98.10 percentile.

Student B

CAP will use 99.05 percentile.

This clearly shows that only the best performance matters.

Does Session 2 Have Any Advantage?

No.

The CET Cell does not provide any special preference to Session 2 candidates.

Whether the percentile comes from:

• Session 1
• Session 2

the treatment during CAP remains exactly the same.

A 99 percentile from Session 1 and a 99 percentile from Session 2 are treated equally during merit preparation.

Should You Skip Session 2 If Session 1 Went Well?

This depends on your target.

Consider skipping Session 2 if:

• You already scored above your target percentile.
• You are confident about getting your desired branch and college.
• You want to focus entirely on JEE Advanced or Board examinations.

Consider appearing in Session 2 if:

• You scored below expectations.
• You made avoidable mistakes.
• You want a safer percentile.
• You are targeting top colleges.

Since there is no penalty, many experts recommend appearing in both attempts.

Impact on Top Colleges

Top Maharashtra engineering colleges usually require very high percentiles.

Examples include:

• College of Engineering Pune
• Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute
• Walchand College of Engineering
• Pune Institute of Computer Technology

For highly demanded branches such as:

• Computer Engineering
• Information Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science

students often need 98–99.5+ percentile ranges.

In such situations, even a small percentile improvement between Session 1 and Session 2 can make a major difference in admission outcomes.

Expected Percentile vs Rank

Based on recent trends:

Actual ranks may vary depending on the number of candidates and overall performance.

Visit Our Official Portal : CLICK HERE

Common Myths About Session 1 and Session 2

Myth 1: Session 2 Score Always Gets Preference

False.

Only the better percentile is considered.

Myth 2: Session 1 Candidates Get Lower Rank

False.

Rank depends on percentile and merit list preparation.

Myth 3: Appearing Twice Reduces Rank

False.

There is no negative impact from taking both attempts.

Myth 4: Raw Marks Are Added Together

False.

CAP does not combine Session 1 and Session 2 marks.

Only the best valid performance is considered.

CAP Counselling Process After Results

After results are declared:

1. CAP registration
2. Document verification
3. Provisional merit list
4. Final merit list
5. Option form filling
6. CAP Round 1 allotment
7. CAP Round 2 allotment
8. CAP Round 3 allotment
9. Institute reporting and admission confirmation

Seat allocation is based on merit rank, category, preferences, and seat availability.

What Should Students Do?

If You Have Not Appeared Yet

• Register for both attempts if possible.
• Treat Session 1 as a serious examination.
• Use Session 1 analysis to improve for Session 2.

If Session 1 Is Already Over

• Analyze mistakes carefully.
• Focus on weak chapters.
• Attempt more mock tests.
• Use Session 2 as a score-improvement opportunity.

If You Already Have a High Percentile

• Compare your percentile with previous cutoff trends.
• Decide whether another attempt is necessary.

Read More Helpful Guides :

What Is a Good Percentile in MHT CET 2026? College-Wise Cutoff Guide

JEE Main and JEE Advanced College Predictor 2026: IIT, NIT , IIIT

Final Verdict

For MHT CET 2026 CAP admissions, the better percentile obtained between Session 1 and Session 2 will be used for merit list preparation and counselling. Students who appear in both sessions are not penalized. The lower score is effectively ignored, while the higher score improves admission chances.

This means there is generally no disadvantage in appearing for both attempts. If your Session 2 performance is better, CAP will use Session 2. If Session 1 is better, CAP will use Session 1. The admission process ultimately considers your strongest performance, helping you maximize your chances of securing admission to your preferred engineering college and branch in Maharashtra.