MHT CET

2018
TOPPERS
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

CONTENTS
Foreword3
Introduction to MHT CET 4
Application Process 5
Exam Pattern 6
Abhang Aditya Subhash (Rank 1) says,
“My mantras are Motivation, Inspiration, Determination” 7
Ameya Dileep Zarkar (Rank 2) says, “Quality matters more than quantity” 10
Priyesh Vakharia (Rank 4) says, “Have a goal and work towards it” 13

2
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

FOREWORD
MHT CET is a state level entrance examination conducted by the Directorate of
Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra. Candidates who qualify in the
exam – which is conducted offline, are eligible for admission to various degree cours-
es in the fields of engineering and pharmacy, in the institutions of Maharashtra. The
exam is attempted by more than 4 lakh students every year, so competition is tough.
This e-book will help students understand the admission processes and exam pat-
tern of the CET, which would result in better preparation and confidence. Interviews
with the toppers have also been included for added benefit of future candidates. By
going through the tips and tricks shared by the toppers and putting them into prac-
tice, one can definitely ace the examination.

3
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

INTRODUCTION TO MHT CET

MHT CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) is conducted by DTE. 85% of the seats
in the state engineering colleges are filled through MHT CET, while 15% seats in private
unaided colleges/ institutions of Maharashtra state are filled based on All India Quota basis
for which candidates have to appear in JEE Main.

As per exam authorities, the difficulty level for the exam is same as that of JEE Main exam.
The mode of exam is offline wherein candidates have to attempt two papers- Paper 1 for
Mathematics (50 questions) and Paper 2 for Physics and Chemistry (50+50 questions).
Questions are objective type and each paper comprises of 100 marks. Every correct answer
carries 2 marks in Paper 1 and 1 mark in Paper 2; no marks will be deducted for incorrect
answers. The duration of each paper is 1 hour 30 minutes. Paper 1 can be attempted in Eng-
lish only while Paper 2 can be attempted in English, Hindi or Marathi.

4
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

APPLICATION PROCESS
DTE Maharashtra releases the application forms around January in online mode.

Steps to fill the the application form:

●● Visit the official website and click ‘Apply Online’.
●● First time users must provide their personal, contact, education, bank details to register.
●● The generated password must be kept confidential and remembered for future use.
●● Candidates must provide credible details while filling the application form.
●● Upload scanned photograph (size: 15-50 KB) and signature (size: 5-20KB).
●● Make payment via Credit Card/Debit Card (RuPay/Visa/MasterCard/Maestro), IMPS, Internet
Banking, Cash Cards/Mobile Wallets.
●● Print out the fee receipt.
●● Submit the application form and take printout of acknowledgement page.

The application fee details are given below:

Category Amount
Application Fee for General Category Rs. 800 + Payment Gateway Charges
Application Fee for Reserved Category Rs. 600 + Payment Gateway Charges

5
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

EXAM PATTERN
The 11th standard syllabus carries 20% weightage while 12th standard syllabus carries the
remaining 80% weightage. Hence, the number of questions asked from 11th is 10 and 12th
is 40. The difficulty level, as per official notification, is supposed to be similar to that of JEE
Main.

The details regarding the total number of questions, mode of examination, marking scheme,
time limit, etc. are provided below for the benefit of the candidates.

Approximate number
of MCQs based on Marks per Total Duration in
Paper Subject class XI & XII Syllabus question Marks Minutes
XI XII

Paper 1 Mathematics 10 40 2 100 90

Paper 2 Physics 10 40
1 100 90
Chemistry 10 40

Biology
Paper 3 10 40 1 100 90
(Botany)

Biology
10 40
(Zoology)

6
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

ABHANG ADITYA SUBHASH (RANK I)

SAYS “MY MANTRAS ARE MOTIVATION,
INSPIRATION, DETERMINATION”
Careers360: Congratulations on your success! What was your reaction upon knowing
your rank?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: I have scored a total of 195 marks in the exam. When I checked
my score, I was not sure that I will top the chart. However, when my parents, relatives started
congratulating me, I felt so proud. It was one of the brightest mornings for me.

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself. The board and school you studied in?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: I hail from Ahmednagar. I have studied from Maharashtra
board. In 10+2, I scored 92.92 percent. I went to New Art Commerce and Science College,
Ahmednagar.

Careers360: Did you also appear in JEE Main? What was your score and rank in JEE
Main?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: Yes, I appeared for JEE Main 2018 in offline mode. I have scored
154 marks in the exam. Apart from JEE Main, I have also appeared for JEE Advanced 2018.
I am just hoping that I get a better score in JEE Advanced.

Careers360: Why do you want to study engineering? When did you decide to study
engineering? Any favorite branch or college?

7
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

Abhang Aditya Subhash: I am looking to get admission in College of Engineering, Pune

(CoEP) in Computer Science branch. I always wanted to study engineering. My father is an
engineer and therefore I want to continue the legacy.

Careers360: When did you start your MHT CET preparation? Tell us something
about your preparation strategy and daily routine?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: I started my preparation last year around October. My complete
focus was on MHT CET. I used to take coaching from three institutes for each subject-
Ghonse Maths Academy for Mathematics, Kandake Chemistry Academy for Chemistry and
Pol Physics classes for Physics. Every day I used to study for 6 to 7 hours after the coaching
classes were over. One benefit of taking coaching was that I learnt the trick of managing my
time during the examination. I practiced lots and lots of sample papers and mock test. In
addition, the last month before the exam was fully dedicated to solving sample papers and
taking mock tests such that we honed our time management skills and wrote the exam well.

Careers360: Was there a difference in preparation strategy in last months of MHT

CET considering the board exams also were during this period? How did you manage
preparation for both?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: As such, there was no difference is preparation strategy. However,
the trickiest part of the entrance exam is time management. You have to solve 50 questions
in 45 minutes. So, you need to practice a lot. And for me practicing lot of sample papers and
mock test was a challenge while preparing for the boards. I think this was the only reason
why I scored fewer marks in JEE Main. I know I could have scored better in JEE Main, but
managing time was a real challenge for me.

Careers360: Are there any special books that you feel have helped with your prepara-
tion? Are the school text books adequate?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: I have mainly referred to books that were prescribed by my coach-
ing professors. Apart from that I also used notes given by my coaching institutes as well as
text books of class XII (Maharashtra board). Solving sample/last year papers also helped
me a lot in my preparation.

Careers360: Did you face any problem during the examination? Which subject was
the easiest and which was the toughest? The most difficult thing to manage during the
exam?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: As such I didn’t face any problem. The only thing which was quite
challenging was managing time. Physics and Mathematics was easy; however, Chemistry was
quite lengthy.

8
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

Careers360: This year also three questions were found to be wrong and full marks
were awarded to all students. Did you attempt these questions? Should only those
students who have attempted the questions get the marks or all should?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: Yes, 2 questions in Mathematics were declared incorrect. How-
ever, out of these 2, one was completely wrong for which awarding marks to all candidates
was correct. But the other question was correct. It was the answer key that was wrong. So, I
think awarding marks for this question to all the candidates was wrong.

Careers360: What do you think are the key factors behind your success?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: My mother is the sole factor behind my success. Her continuous
backing and motivation helped me crack the exam in flying colours. My father was equally
supportive in spite of his busy schedule.
Careers360: How did you unwind yourself during the preparation? What are your
hobbies? How often could you pursue them?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: My father always says, ‘A change is as good as rest’. So, whenever
I used to feel bored or sleepy, I use to rotate the subjects I needed to study. If I was solving
mathematical problems, I switched to Physics or Chemistry. My mother always comes to my
rescue in difficult times. Just talking to her makes me feel fresh and energetic.

Careers360: Who is your ideal or biggest inspiration in life and why?

Abhang Aditya Subhash: Tukaram Mundhe, a famous IAS officer in Maharashtra is my
inspiration. This 43-year-old leader is serving as the chairman and managing director of
Pune Municipal Transport Corporation Limited.

Careers360: You know you are an inspiration to thousands of students across the
country. Do you have any message for future aspirants?
Abhang Aditya Subhash: Dedication and hard work is the only success mantra that can
allow you to reach your dreams. During the examination, don’t panic, keep your mind cool
and focus on your goal. If you have done your work then nothing can come between you and
your success.

9
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

AMEYA DILEEP ZARKAR (RANK 2)

“QUALITY MATTERS MORE THAN QUAN-
TITY”
Careers360: Congratulations for excelling in MHT CET! How did you react after
knowing your rank?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: I didn’t know what to do, whom to tell, because at that moment it
was not clear I stood second in MHT CET 2018. It was only after I confirmed with two to
three sources that I was sure that I have secured the second rank. I was surprised and at the
same time felt very happy.

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself. Where did you do your schooling?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: My college was Chate Coaching Classes. It was Sant Tukaram Jun-
ior College, Pune, which is owned by Chate Classes.

Careers360: What is score in MHT CET and state rank and category rank?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: My score is 191 out of 200. Subject-wise scores are 92/100 in
Mathematics, 50/50 in Chemistry and 49/50 in Physics. My state rank is 2. In 10+2 exam, I
scored 95.38%. I scored 182 in JEE Main 2018 and that too without any IIT coaching. My
JEE Main rank is around 9000. I gave only three exams – JEE Main 2018, MHT CET 2018
and board exams.

10
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

Careers360: When did you begin your MHT CET preparation?

Ameya Dileep Zarkar: I started my preparation at the end of class 11. When we were start-
ing our preparation, we came to know that questions carrying around 40% weightage will
also be asked from 11th standard. A lot of us panicked a bit, thinking we have to go through
the 11th syllabus once again, along with the 12th syllabus. But luckily, the 11th syllabus is not
so difficult especially if your concepts are clear. Also, there were only a few selected chapters
of 11th that was in MHT CET syllabus, which made my job easier.

Careers360: How did you prepare? What changes did you bring in your daily routine?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: Because of classes and other things, I had very little time to prepare
at home. So, I stressed on quality over quantity. I made it a point to read the entire text books,
word-for-word, because no questions are asked outside the textbooks in MHT CET exam. I
also worked hard to understand the concepts. If I had difficulty understanding a concept, my
teachers were always there to help me. They always had convincing answers to my questions,
and if I was not doing well, kept pushing and encouraging me. In fact, the moral support I
received from my teachers was a great asset during the exam as I was able to have a stable
mind.

Careers360: Was there a difference in your preparation during the last few months of
MHT CET due to the board exams? How did you manage preparing for both?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: After board exams, we had around two months or so to prepare for
MHT CET. So, I could easily concentrate on my board exams in the days leading up to the
exam. Once the board exams were over, I plunged into my MHT CET preparation. Interest-
ingly, I managed to do most of the preparation in the class itself. So, I was able to accom-
modate both the exams without much difficulty.

Careers360: Did you take coaching? How did it help in your preparation?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: I took coaching at Chat Coaching Classes. It was helpful in that it
helped me polish what I had learnt. Then there were also many shortcuts that I learnt and
found to be very useful in the exam. Personally, I feel coaching classes helped me remember
key points more clearly.

11
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

Careers360: How was your preparation aided by mock tests and sample papers?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: I took lots of tests, as it helped me judge where I stood with regard to
my preparation, and identify areas that needed to be plugged. Mock tests also tell you where
you are going wrong, so course correction becomes easier. I have not counted, but probably
I have given more than 50 tests. Time management skills also get enhanced through mock
tests. For example, initially I was fighting to complete the paper in the allotted time, but
through continuous mock tests my speed and time management skills improved, and by the
end of my preparation I could complete the test with 15 or so minutes still left in the clock.
When I took a test, I always set the timer to keep track of how quickly I was able to solve the
problems. I also solved dozens of sample and previous years’ question papers.

Careers360: Are there any special books that you would like to mention for MHT CET
preparation? Are the school text books enough?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: I practiced study material provided by the coaching institute as well
as text books. One advantage of reading coaching material was they contained lots of short
cuts for solving problems. Meanwhile text books are good for concept-building and all-round
knowledge. I followed subject-wise books and practice papers by Nikita Publications Latur
and Pradnya. The short-cuts given in these books, apart from those included in the coaching
material, were very handy.

Careers360: How does the MHT CET exam differ JEE Main?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: From the start, I wanted to do well in MHT CET, and JEE Main
was just a prop, simply to assess my preparation. So, after board exams were over, I barely
spent more than a couple of days for JEE preparation, and instead worked on MHT CET.
The most important thing in CET is time management, as unlike JEE Main, questions aren’t
too concept-oriented or difficult. The extensive mock tests that I took also helped me sail
through. Moreover, while there is negative marking in JEE Main, there is no such thing in
MHT CET. So, candidates can attempt as many questions they can without fear of being
penalized. Difficulty wise, JEE Main is much more difficult than MHT CET.

Careers360: Did you face any problem during the exam? Which subject was the easiest
and which was the toughest?
Ameya Dileep Zarkar: No, I didn’t face any problems. Chemistry was very easy, as was
Physics. Mathematics was may be a little difficult.

12
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

PRIYESH VAKHARIA (RANK 4) SAYS “HAVE

A GOAL AND WORK TOWARDS IT”
Careers360: Congratulations for your terrific performance in MHT CET! What was
your reaction upon knowing your rank?
Priyesh Vakharia: I had expected the marks but I was pleasantly surprised at knowing my
MHT CET 2018 result and that I shared the fourth rank overall. It was amazing. The second
rank in Maharashtra for total marks is shared by four students including me but officially my
rank is fourth as per the merit list.

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself. Which board and school have you
studied in?
Priyesh Vakharia: I had studied under the IGCSE board in Vibgyor High (Goregaon-
West). I scored a total of 191 in MHT CET 2018.

Careers360: Did you also appear in JEE Main? What is your score and rank in JEE
Main?
Priyesh Vakharia: Yes, I appeared in JEE Main 2018 exams also. I scored 154 with an AIR
of around 16000.

13
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

Careers360: Why do you want to study engineering? When did you decide on this? Any
particular branch and college you have in mind?
Priyesh Vakharia: Engineering appeals to me as an intriguing and vast stream. I have always
been more interested in computer stream. But there was no fixed decision when I started my
11th. On consultations with my elder cousins and friends I slowly got drawn to ‘computer science’
branch. I would prefer to apply to VJTI.

Careers360: When did you start preparing for MHT CET? What was your preparation
strategy and daily routine?
Priyesh Vakharia: There is no exact date which I can share with you as it was an ongoing process.
When I started class 11th, my main goal was to prepare for MHT CET but in addition I liked prac-
ticing problems at a slightly higher level. There was no exact strategy or routine; I only followed
my intuition. I knew my capacity to study in a particular day and accordingly I would plan the
day. To keep my strength and not fall sick, I took proper care of my health by eating lot of fruits
and home cooked food every day. I also feel this habit kept me light and fresh.
Careers360: Was there any difficulty in preparation in the last months of MHT CET
considering that the board exams also were during this period? How did you tackle both?
Priyesh Vakharia: These two years I understood the concepts of the syllabus. I took the oppor-
tunity of the 2-month long preparation for board exam to revise my concepts and all the formulae
as the syllabus is same for both but only the paper pattern is different. As soon as the board exams
ended I started preparations for JEE Main. During this preparation, I tried to get used to the
MCQ pattern as time and speed are crucial factors in these objective exams while it is not the
case for the boards. I solved only problems from different books and mock tests. To prepare for
the entrance exam I also took coaching from Mindsetter’s private tuitions.

Careers360: Mock tests and sample papers- Do you think practicing these help? If yes,
how?
Priyesh Vakharia: I practiced mock tests and sample papers quite extensively. Practicing the
previous year papers may help but one should not solely be dependent on them. Since this year
the level of the exam was slightly raised from the previous one, last year papers were not much
help in gauging the difficulty level. That doesn’t mean it is of no use. We do get an overall idea of
the exam paper.

Careers360: Are there any special books for MHT CET that you would suggest to future
candidates? Are school text books adequate for getting a good score?
Priyesh Vakharia: The textbooks only explain the concepts. They don’t contain objective ques-
tions so I had to practice objective questions from other reference books.

14
 MHT CET 2018 TOPPERS

Careers360: How was the MHT CET exam different from JEE Main? Did you give
JEE Main in offline mode or online?
Priyesh Vakharia: MHT CET exam focuses on speed and time management while JEE
Main focuses on pure application of concepts. I gave it in offline mode.

Careers360: Which subject was the easiest and which was the toughest in MHT CET?
Which factor was the hardest to manage during the exam?
Priyesh Vakharia: Time was a crucial factor. I could solve Maths paper in the given time
which was ample. Physics and chemistry were easy but managing the time was tough. Physics
was all the trickier given the time crunch.

Careers360: What do you think are the key reasons behind your success?
Priyesh Vakharia: A lot had to come together to make this happen. I can’t attribute the
credit of my success to any one factor. First credit would go to my support system - my par-
ents, especially my mom and my grandparents, my fellow students and professors. A lot of
credit can be given to the competitive atmosphere in my peer group. This actually spurred
me to work harder and perform better.

Careers360: How did you de-stress yourself during the preparation? Do you have any
hobbies?
Priyesh Vakharia: I used to start my studies early in the morning and continue till evening
with short breaks. I would de-stress by going for a swim in the evening. Music was also an
excellent de-stressor. I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. One month before the exam, I
would swim or play a good game of badminton or squash every day to relieve the stress.

Careers360: Who has inspired you in life and why?

Priyesh Vakharia: My biggest inspirations are my elder cousins who have completed
their under graduation in India. They are now studying abroad pursuing their Masters with
scholarships.

Careers360: You know you have inspired thousands of students across the country.
Do you have any pearls of wisdom for future aspirants on tackling MHT CET exam?
Priyesh Vakharia: Have a goal and work towards it. Regular studies are a must with inten-
sive hard work in the last two months. Ensure to participate in some outdoor activity to de-
stress. However, it all boils down to keeping calm while writing the paper and avoiding silly
mistakes in the process.

15