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MHT-CET vs Maharashtra HSC: What the Data Reveals About Board and Entrance Exams
A recent analysis shared by Maheshwer Peri, citing research by Careers360, has brought renewed attention to the relationship between school board examinations and college entrance tests.
The analysis compares the performance of Maharashtra students in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board examination and the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET), which assess students on broadly similar PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) content.
The comparison raises an important question for policymakers and educators: How effectively do board examinations and entrance tests measure a student's academic performance and preparedness for higher education?
According to the data cited in the post, the results from 2026 show a notable difference between performance in the two examinations. Among 35 students who achieved a perfect 100 percentile in MHT-CET, the average HSC PCM score was reported to be 71.21%. Only one of these students had scored above 90% in the board examination, while several were in the 70-80% and 80-90% ranges. Two students reportedly had HSC PCM scores between 40% and 50%.
The comparison in the opposite direction produced a different picture. Among 42 students who scored above 99% in HSC PCM, their average MHT-CET percentile was reported to be 94.89. This suggests that students performing exceptionally well in the board examination also tended to perform strongly in the entrance test, although the relationship was not perfectly consistent.
The figures cited for 2025 show a similar pattern. According to the analysis, the MHT-CET topper with a 100 percentile had scored 51.67% in HSC PCM, while the second-ranked candidate had reportedly scored around 51%. The fifth-ranked MHT-CET candidate had an HSC PCM score of 55.67%.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra HSC examination recorded three students with 100% scores and 24 students with scores above 99% in PCM. These 24 students reportedly achieved an average MHT-CET score of 94.73 percentile. The subject-level comparison also showed differences. For example, students who achieved 100 percentile in MHT-CET Mathematics reportedly had an average HSC Mathematics score of about 74%, while those achieving 100 percentile in Physics averaged around 79% in HSC Physics.
These figures do not necessarily establish that one examination is universally better than the other. Board examinations and entrance tests are designed for different purposes. Board exams generally assess sustained academic learning across a prescribed curriculum, while entrance examinations are designed to differentiate among a large pool of candidates within a limited time and often place greater emphasis on speed, objective problem-solving and competitive performance.
At the same time, the reported data highlights the need to examine how different assessment systems measure knowledge, conceptual understanding and preparedness. Differences between board marks and entrance-test performance can arise from several factors, including examination format, time pressure, preparation strategies, coaching, question patterns and evaluation methods.
The discussion is therefore less about declaring a winner between board examinations and entrance tests and more about understanding what each assessment measures. As India continues to debate changes in school education, higher-education admissions and entrance examinations, comparative evidence such as this could help policymakers develop a more balanced and reliable assessment framework.
The findings cited in the analysis add to the ongoing discussion around assessment methods in school and higher education. While board examinations and entrance tests serve different purposes, comparative data can help educators and policymakers better understand their strengths, limitations and areas for improvement. A balanced approach that considers multiple measures of student performance could contribute to a more comprehensive assessment framework in the future.
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