MAH M Arch CET Exam Pattern 2027: 50 Questions, 100 Marks, 5 Sections and Marking Scheme

MAH M Arch CET was a 60-minute computer-based test with 50 questions for 100 marks, conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Government of Maharashtra, for admission to Master of Architecture programmes in the state. The exam was officially discontinued from the 2025-26 academic year onwards — Maharashtra M.Arch admissions are now based on PGETA (Post Graduate Entrance Test in Architecture), conducted by the Council of Architecture, New Delhi. This page provides the complete historical exam pattern for reference.

• MAH M Arch CET was a 60-minute computer-based test with 50 MCQ questions for 100 marks — all sections carried equal weightage.
• The exam had 5 sections: Building Technology, Architecture History and Humanities, Environment, Settlement Design and Planning, and Current Architecture Practice.
• Each section carried 10 questions worth 20 marks; all questions were MCQs with 4 answer options each.
• Each correct answer earned +2 marks; there was no negative marking for wrong or unattempted answers.
• The exam was conducted in English only as a computer-based test at designated centres — there was no sectional time limit.
• MAH M Arch CET was discontinued from 2025-26 onwards — Maharashtra now uses PGETA (Council of Architecture, New Delhi) for M.Arch admissions.
• The last official cycle was conducted in 2024 for 2024-25 admissions; no 2025, 2026, or 2027 cycle is scheduled.

MAH M Arch CET Exam Pattern: Overview

MAH M Arch CET was a computer-based test lasting 60 minutes with 50 multiple choice questions for 100 marks. The exam was divided into 5 equal sections, each contributing 10 questions and 20 marks. The State Common Entrance Test Cell officially discontinued this exam from the 2025-26 academic year — students seeking M.Arch admission in Maharashtra from 2025 onwards must appear for PGETA conducted by the Council of Architecture.

MAH M Arch CET has been discontinued after the 2024-25 cycle. No new cycle is scheduled for 2025-26 or beyond.

MAH M Arch CET Exam Pattern: Important Dates

MAH M Arch CET was last conducted in the 2024-25 cycle. The table below lists the historical event schedule for the 2024 cycle — the last time this exam was held. No dates exist for any future cycle as the exam has been discontinued by the CET Cell, Maharashtra. Students targeting Maharashtra M.Arch admissions should track PGETA dates at pgeta.in.

Source: State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra (cetcell.mahacet.org)

MAH M Arch CET: Detailed Exam Pattern

The MAH M Arch CET paper had 5 sections with equal distribution — 10 questions and 20 marks per section. All questions were MCQs with 4 choices each. There was no sectional time limit or sectional cutoff — students could attempt sections in any order within the shared 60-minute window. The exam used a standard CBT interface with question flagging and review functionality.

MAH M Arch CET had 50 questions for 100 marks in a 60-minute computer-based test with no negative marking.

Note: There was no sectional time limit in MAH M Arch CET. The 60 minutes was a single shared window across all 5 sections. Students could navigate freely between questions and sections before final submission.

MAH M Arch CET Marking Scheme

The MAH M Arch CET marking scheme was straightforward — +2 marks for every correct answer and zero for wrong or unattempted answers. The absence of negative marking meant students could attempt all 50 questions without any risk of losing marks. The same marking rule applied uniformly across all 5 sections.

There was no negative marking in MAH M Arch CET — students could attempt all 50 questions without any penalty for wrong answers.

Note: The +2 marking applied uniformly across all 5 sections — Building Technology, Architecture History, Environment, Settlement Design and Planning, and Current Architecture Practice. No section used differential or partial marking.

MAH M Arch CET Subject-Wise Exam Pattern

MAH M Arch CET tested students across 5 subject areas with equal weightage — 10 questions and 20 marks each. The subjects covered core architecture domains, spanning technology, history, environmental design, urban planning, and contemporary professional practice.

Section 1: Building Technology

Building Technology tested knowledge of construction methods, structural systems, building materials, and technical aspects of architectural design. Questions covered both theory and applied building science.

Section 2: Architecture History and Humanities

This section assessed understanding of architectural history across periods and geographies, architectural theory, and related humanities. Both Indian and world architecture were covered.

Section 3: Environment

The Environment section covered sustainability, climate-responsive design, environmental systems, and the ecological dimensions of architecture and urban design.

Section 4: Settlement, Design and Planning

This section tested knowledge of urban planning, housing, settlement patterns, design principles, and the built environment at neighbourhood and city scales.

Section 5: Current Architecture Practice

Current Architecture Practice tested awareness of contemporary architectural projects, professional practice norms, COA regulations, and current trends in Indian and global architecture.

MAH M Arch CET Question Types

MAH M Arch CET used only Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) throughout. There were no descriptive, drawing, portfolio, or numerical integer-type questions. Every question had exactly 4 answer options with a single correct answer.

The exam used a standard CBT interface. Students could flag questions for review, navigate between questions and sections freely, and change answers before final submission. The interface displayed a question palette showing attempted, unattempted, and flagged questions.

MAH M Arch CET Exam Pattern: Changes Over the Years

The MAH M Arch CET pattern remained largely consistent throughout its active years — the same 5-section, 50-question, 100-mark CBT format with no negative marking. The most significant development was in 2024-25, the final cycle, when the CET Cell issued a circular discontinuing the exam from 2025-26 onwards. Maharashtra institutions now accept PGETA scores instead.

Key change from 2024-25 onwards: The State CET Cell issued a circular dated November 25, 2024, officially stating that MAH M Arch CET would not be conducted from 2025-26. Maharashtra institutions now accept PGETA scores for M.Arch admissions — a shift from a state-level to a national-level entrance test. PGETA has 100 questions in 120 minutes, compared to MAH M Arch CET’s 50 questions in 60 minutes.

Source: CET Cell, Government of Maharashtra (cetcell.mahacet.org)

How to Prepare Based on MAH M Arch CET Exam Pattern

Since MAH M Arch CET is discontinued, students seeking M.Arch admission in Maharashtra must now prepare for PGETA (Post Graduate Entrance Test in Architecture). The preparation tips below are based on the MAH M Arch CET pattern — the subject areas overlap significantly with PGETA, making this guidance applicable to both historical reference and current exam preparation.

1. Cover all 5 subject areas with equal attention — MAH M Arch CET gave equal weightage to all sections. Weak performance in any one section meant losing 20 marks. Build balanced preparation across Building Technology, History, Environment, Planning, and Current Practice.
2. Practice timed MCQ sets regularly — With 50 questions in 60 minutes, you had roughly 72 seconds per question. Regular timed practice using past question sets builds the pace needed to attempt all questions within the window.
3. Attempt every question — no penalty for wrong answers — Since there was no negative marking, leaving questions unattempted was a strategic mistake. Always attempt every question; an informed guess carries zero downside.
4. Stay updated with contemporary architecture and professional norms — The Current Architecture Practice section tested awareness of recent projects, COA regulations, and professional standards. Reading architectural journals and following COA notifications directly supported this section.
5. Organise architectural history by period and geography — Architecture History covered Indian and world architecture across multiple periods. Structuring revision chronologically or by geographic tradition improves recall under timed conditions.
6. Connect environmental theory to real building examples — The Environment section tested applied knowledge of passive design, climate-responsive strategies, and sustainability. Linking concepts like thermal mass or daylighting to known case studies improves both recall and application.
7. For current Maharashtra M.Arch admissions, prepare for PGETA — PGETA has 100 questions in 120 minutes across four sections: Architecture and Design (64 questions), Building Sciences (14 questions), Professional Electives (6 questions), and Professional Ability (16 questions). Check the latest PGETA pattern and schedule at pgeta.in.