MET Answer Key 2026, Download Link and Score Steps

MET 2026 answer key works a little differently from most entrance exams, since Manipal Academy of Higher Education runs the test on a computer and shows each candidate a score right after they submit it. Candidates who sat the MET Phase 2 exam on May 23 and May 24, 2026 still got a provisional key and a short window to raise an objection this cycle. This page covers the release dates, the download steps, the negative marking rule, and why the final rank uses more than just this score.

MET Answer Key 2026 Highlights

The table below lists the main dates and numbers for this cycle.

Why MET Does Not Always Have a Separate Answer Key

MET is a computer based test, and the computer marks it right away.

• As soon as a candidate submits the exam, the system shows a score on screen. There is no wait for a separate key in most years.
• Because of this, MAHE has skipped publishing an official answer key in several past cycles.
• For Phase 2 of the 2026 cycle, MAHE did publish a provisional key and open a short objection window, so this year is an exception rather than the rule.
• Since the process can change from one phase to the next, always check the official website for the current phase instead of assuming last year's pattern will repeat. This applies separately to Phase 1, Phase 2, and any later phase MAHE announces for the year.

MET 2026 Subject Wise Question Count

MET has 60 questions in total, split across four subjects.

MCQ stands for Multiple Choice Question, where a candidate picks one option. NAT stands for Numerical Answer Type, where a candidate types in a number instead of choosing from a list.

MET 2026 Negative Marking Rule

MET does deduct marks for a wrong answer, but only for one type of question.

A wrong MCQ answer costs 1 mark. A wrong NAT answer costs nothing at all. This difference is easy to miss, so it helps to keep the two question types separate when working out a score.

MET 2026 Answer Key Release Timeline

The full process for Phase 2 ran across a few weeks, in clear stages.

Phase 1 worked differently. Candidates got their result within two days of that exam, closer to the usual instant scoring pattern for MET.

How to Download MET 2026 Answer Key

Getting the key does not need a login. Checking a personal score report does.

• Go to manipal.edu and find the Answer Key link on the homepage.
• Download the provisional key PDF. No login is needed for this step.
• To see the personal score report, click Candidate Login and enter the user ID and password.
• Open the score report and check it against the answer key.

MET 2026 Objection Process

The window to raise an objection stayed open for a short time only.

• Log in to the candidate portal on manipal.edu.
• Open the Objection Form and pick the question to challenge.
• Add proof or a reference to support the claim.
• Pay Rs 100 for that question and submit before the deadline.

MET 2026 Score Calculation Steps

Since MCQs and NATs are scored differently, it helps to count them apart.

• Count the number of correct MCQ and NAT answers together, then multiply by 4.
• Count only the incorrect MCQ answers, then multiply by 1.
• Subtract the second number from the first to get the final score.
• Do not subtract anything for a wrong NAT answer or for any unanswered question.

For example, 45 correct answers and 10 wrong MCQ answers give 180 marks for the correct ones, minus 10 for the wrong MCQs, for a total of 170 out of 240.

Why the MET 2026 Answer Key Score Is Not the Final Rank

MAHE does not use the MET score alone to decide a candidate's rank.

• The final rank is worked out using a 50:50 split between the MET score and the candidate's Class 12 board marks.
• Two candidates with the same MET score can still end up with different ranks if their board marks are different.
• Since the answer key only covers the MET half of this formula, it cannot show a candidate their final rank by itself.

MET 2026 Important Points

A few extra facts are worth knowing alongside everything above.

• The final answer key, not the provisional one, is used to prepare the result.
• A candidate can sit MET more than once in the same year by paying an extra fee for each additional attempt.
• MAHE usually takes the higher score when a candidate has attempted more than one phase, though this should be checked against the official rule for the current cycle.
• There is no revaluation of the score report itself, only an objection against the answer key.
• Candidates book their own exam date and time slot in advance through the Online Test Booking System, on a first come, first served basis.
• A slot, once booked, cannot be changed afterward, so candidates need to choose carefully at the time of booking.
• MET is held at test centres across roughly 25 states in India, along with a centre in Dubai for candidates based there.
• The application fee is Rs 2,000 for general candidates and Rs 2,500 for NRI, OCI, and PIO candidates.
• Candidates can pick up to three exam cities in order of preference at the time of registration.

Previous Year MET Answer Key Trend

Looking at recent cycles shows how much the process has varied from year to year.

This spread shows why it is hard to predict in advance whether a given MET phase will get a published key. Each phase and each year can go a different way.

Which Institutes Accept the MET 2026 Score

Three institutes under the Manipal group take admissions using this one score.

Each institute and branch sets its own cutoff, so the same MET score can lead to a different outcome depending on which campus a candidate applies to.

What Comes After MET 2026 Answer Key

Once the merit list is ready, the process moves into counselling.

• Qualifying candidates register for counselling directly through the MAHE admission portal.
• Counselling covers choosing a campus and course, document checks, and seat allotment across more than one round.
• Some programmes outside engineering may also need a group discussion or an interview before a seat is confirmed.

MET Answer Key 2026 FAQs

Ques: Does MET always release an official answer key?

Ques: Is a wrong NAT answer marked the same way as a wrong MCQ answer?

Ques: Is there a cost to download the MET 2026 answer key?

Ques: If I attempt both Phase 1 and Phase 2, which score counts?

Ques: Does a good MET score guarantee a good final rank?