For undergraduate (UG) and graduate (PG) admission to participating national, state, and private institutions in India, the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is a standardized entrance test. The goal of CUET, which is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is to give students from different educational backgrounds similar chances and a single admissions platform across universities.
Candidates have equal chances of being admitted to the institutions and courses they want to take thanks to the CUET test. Based on student merit, CUET results assist applicants in being admitted to prestigious colleges. Candidates can demonstrate their proficiency in a certain field and topic by taking this UG admission test.
A simplified test format, more participating universities, and even AI-based proctoring for online examinations are some of the anticipated changes for CUET 2026. In particular, there may be a reduction in the number of topics to 37 (13 languages, 23 domain subjects, and 1 general exam), with each applicant being permitted to take no more than five subjects. Each topic will probably have a 60-minute test with 50 required multiple-choice questions.
What is CUET?
With the goal of standardizing the undergraduate admissions procedure for central universities in India, CUET is a well recognized national level entrance test that gives students a single application platform to apply to several schools. About 47 Central, 41 State, 30 Deemed, 154 Private, and 10 other government institutions are expected to take the 2026 test.
Numerous undergraduate subjects in the Arts, Science, and Commerce disciplines are included in the CUET UG test. These include specialist subjects like economics, computer science, and psychology as well as well-known programs like BA (different disciplines), BSc (various specializations), and B.Com. Additionally, for students who choose not to take language or domain-specific courses, CUET offers a General Test.
CUET 2026: Key Highlights
For key elements or highlights of the CUET 2026 test, see the table below.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Common University Entrance Test (CUET) |
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Purpose of the exam | Admissions to Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) |
| Exam frequency | Once a year |
| Mode of examination | Computer-Based Test |
| Eligibility | Minimum score in 12th class examination |
| Application window | First week of March 2026 |
| Registration Official Website | cuet.nta.nic.in examinationservices.nic.in nta.ac.in |
| Contact details | cuet-ug@nta.ac.in |
CUET 2026 Exam Structure – Section Wise
The general format of CUET 2026, including the amount of questions in each part and the time allotted, is shown in the table below.
| CUET 2026 Exam Structure | |||
| Section | Total Questions | Exam Duration | Question Type |
| Section I (Language) | 50 | 60 Minutes | Language proficiency will be assessed by reading comprehension using a variety of passage types, including literary, factual, and narrative ones. |
| Section II (Domain Subject) | 50 | MCQ based questions similar to NCERT Class 12 syllabus only | |
| Section III (GAT) | 50 | MCQ based questions from GK, Basic mathematics concept, general mental ability, current affairs, reasoning, etc. | |
CUET Exam Pattern 2026: Section-wise Details
To learn the specific CUET 2026 test pattern, see below:
| Section 1 – Languages | English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, Punjabi, Urdu |
| Section 2 – Domain-Specific Subjects | Accountancy/Book Keeping, Anthropology, Agriculture, Business Studies, Biology, Computer Science/Informatics Practices, History, Chemistry, Economics/Business Economics, Home Science, Mathematics, Mass Media/Mass Communication, Geography/Geology, Fine Arts/Visual Arts (Sculpture/Painting)/Commercial Arts, Environmental Science, Physical Education/NCC/Yoga, Physics, Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Performing Arts, Sanskrit |
| Section 3 – General Aptitude Test | Applicable for UG courses including Vocational, Open Eligibility, Cross Stream, and discontinued subjects. Candidates may select this optional section based on the requirements of the CUET-participating university. |
CUET 2026 Marking Scheme
Five points are awarded for each right response, one mark is deducted for each wrong response, and no points are awarded for questions that are left unanswered or not tried under the CUET (Common University Entrance Test) 2026 scoring scheme. All candidates who marked any of the right alternatives will earn five marks if more than one option is accurate. All candidates who answered the question correctly would receive five marks. All candidates who attempted a question will earn five marks if it is dropped or determined to be wrong.
- Correct Answer: +5 marks
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
- Unanswered/Marked for Review: 0 marks
- Multiple Correct Options: +5 marks to those who marked any correct option
Note: Check the official notification regularly for latest updates!
A computer-based test (CBT) will be used to administer the CUET UG 2026 exam. Three portions will comprise the exam: the General Test, Domain-specific topics, and Language. Candidates may select up to ten subjects from the list of alternatives. Each paper lasts for sixty minutes.
CUET 2026 Mode of Examination
For undergraduate admissions in 2026, the CUET will be administered by computer-based testing (CBT) mode. This implies that the test will be given at certain testing locations using computers and online.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- Online/CBT
- Normalization Process
- No Paper-Based Option
- Key Sections
- Application
- Subject Choices
CUET 2026 Syllabus Overview
The CUET UG syllabus is posted on the official website of NTA. While the CUET syllabus 2026 is solely a Class 12 curriculum, the other two entrance examinations, JEE Main and NEET, assess applicants’ understanding of both Class 11 and Class 12 chapters and themes. The 2026 CUET UG syllabus differs depending on the subject. Candidates must have obtained the subject-specific CUET UG syllabus PDFs before beginning their preparation. Each subject has a different number of units, chapters, and subjects. Candidates must thus prepare in accordance with the subjects they have chosen.
Key Strategies for CUET 2026 Preparation:
Focus on comprehending the curriculum, making a study schedule, and practicing often in order to be well-prepared for CUET 2026. Give equal weight to conceptual knowledge and test-taking techniques, such as time management and practice exams.
- Learn the Syllabus and Exam format: Become acquainted with the CUET exam format and syllabus. Determine your study time allocation based on your skills and shortcomings in various topics.
- Make a Study Plan: Establish a methodical study schedule that covers CUET-specific material as well as board test preparation. To cover all of your courses and practice frequently, efficiently manage your time.
- Set priorities & Conceptual Clarity: Put your attention on establishing a solid basis in each subject’s fundamental ideas. Use NCERT textbooks as your main study guide for the CUET and board examinations.
- Practice Frequently: Work through a variety of practice questions, such as those from past years’ papers and practice exams. Examine your performance on practice exams to find areas that need work.
- Time management: To make sure you can finish the test in the allocated amount of time, practice time management strategies. Prioritize your queries and don’t spend too much time on the more challenging ones.
- Stay Updated: Keep up with current affairs, especially as it pertains to the CUET test and its structure.
Conclusion
The CUET 2026 exam is a great opportunity for students who want to get into top universities across India. With one common test, you can apply to multiple universities and courses, making the whole admission process simpler and fairer. All you need to do is understand the exam pattern, choose your subjects wisely, follow the syllabus, and practice regularly. Whether you’re aiming for a career in Science, Arts, Commerce, or any other field, CUET gives you a clear path to achieve your dreams. Start your preparation early, stay focused, and give your best shot – success will surely follow!
FAQs about CUET 2026 Exam Pattern
The National Testing Agency generally announces the CUET application, exam pattern, syllabus, etc. CUET syllabus includes generally three categories – Languages, Domain Subject, and General Test. The CUET language part evaluates candidates based on their vocabulary, literary ability, and reading comprehension (narrative, literary, and factual). The second domain subject portion of the CUET curriculum evaluates the candidate’s in-depth understanding of the subject they have chosen. General knowledge, current events, general mental capacity, quantitative reasoning, and logical and analytical thinking are all covered in the third component of the CUET, which is the general exam.
Hopefully, the CUET UG 2026 syllabus will be similar to NCERT syllabus. Therefore, it is reasonable to presume that the NCERT books cover the exam’s syllabus. Candidates are required to be updated with evaluation method. Therefore, it is recommended that students consult various study resources and books created for competitive entrance tests at the national level in order to adequately prepare and receive a high result. The Class 12 Board exam syllabus and the CUET UG syllabus align. The themes and chapters are comparable to those in the Class 12 syllabus. The Class 11 syllabus is not included in the CUET UG syllabus, in contrast to other UG admission tests.
Depending on the degree and university you are applying to, you can link CUET Economics with a variety of related disciplines. The following are typical subject pairings with economics:
Mathematics
Business Studies
Accountancy
Political Science
History/Geography
Check particular university criteria for exact course combinations.
No, the chapters and subjects from the Class 11 curriculum are not included in the CUET 2026 syllabus. The only way to prepare for the test, which covers a variety of courses and languages, is to finish the Class 12 syllabus. The subject-by-subject syllabus for the CUET UG 2026 test, which will be administered in CBT style in May or June, has already been made public by NTA.
To strengthen the foundation of the domain topics and improve conceptual clarity, students might consult the Class 11 curriculum. However, the real syllabus would only be based on the CBSE or NCERT syllabus for Class 12.
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