What is a Good Score in CUET 2026? Cutoffs & College-wise Marks

CUET is one of the most popular and in-demand university entrance tests. It opens the door to merit-based admissions to different UG programmes in India for more than 240 top private, state, and central universities. Hence, it is important to be aware of the CUET score 2026 as it helps in setting realistic targets, cut-offs, benchmarks, and analysing competition.   Most of the CUET candidates think – is 700 enough? Is 900 required? Let’s decode.

CUET 2026 Exam Structure & Scoring System

Candidates willing to appear for the CUET 2026 must be aware of the exam structure and scoring system. Hence, we are here discussing the CUET 2026 exam pattern that will help you strategize your time and preparation.

• Sections: Generally, there are 3 key sections, such as Language, Domain, and General Test.
• Total Subjects: There are 37 subjects in total, out of which 23 are domain subjects, 13 language subjects, and 1 aptitude test.
• Marking Criteria: +5 marks will be added for each correct answer, and 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
• Raw score vs percentile concept: Raw score shows the cumulative marks depending on your correct and incorrect answers, whereas percentile represents your particular rank in respect to all other applicants.

What is a Good Score in CUET 2026?

In an ideal scenario, each candidate would receive 1250 points if they choose five CUET UG subjects. The following ranges can be taken into consideration, even though there isn’t a single Good CUET score that applies to all universities:

	CUET Score	CUET Percentiles
Very Good Score	900 and above	98-99
Good Score	700-850	90+
Average Score	600-700	80+
Low Score	400-650	<80

What Score is needed for the top universities?

Generally speaking, the colleges and courses you select will determine your CUET score. For example, according to Shiksha, you need a CUET score of 750 or more for popular courses if you are thinking about being admitted to a prestigious university like Delhi University.

700 Marks in CUET UG 2026

In CUET UG, a score of 700 is regarded as good and represents the approximate percentile of the 90–95+ range. Applicants with a CUET score of 700 can be admitted to prominent bachelor’s degrees at prestigious universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi. Candidates must make sure they have the right combination of CUET subjects for the program they want to attend.

400 Marks in CUET UG 2026

In CUET UG, a score of 400 is typically regarded as ordinary. Admission to potentially less competitive UG courses is available with a CUET score of 400. Candidates are unlikely to be accepted into prestigious institutions such as Delhi University. A minimum mark of 650 in CUET UG is required for admission to highly sought-after programs, including B.Com (Hons.), B.A. (Hons.), Economics, and B.Sc.

CUET Good Score for DU

The table below shows the DU CUET excellent grade in top UG courses for CUET candidates hoping to get into Delhi University using CUET:

DU CUET UG Courses	DU CUET Good Score
B.Sc (Hons) Mathematics	685+
B.Sc (Hons) Chemistry	537+
B.Com (Hons)	901+
B.A (Hons) English	847+
B.A (Hons) Economics	887+

CUET Good Score for BHU

The table below, which shows the BHU CUET good score for top UG courses based on the 2025 cutoff patterns, can be used by applicants for admission to Banaras Hindu University:

BHU CUET UG Courses	BHU CUET Good Score
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematics with Chemistry	475+
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Financial Markets Management	545+
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)	548+
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics with English	321+

CUET Good Score for AU

To find the AU CUET excellent score for the UG courses available through the CUET, see the table below:

AU CUET UG Courses	AU CUET Good Score
B.Com	457+
Integrated BBA & MBA	508
B.Sc. Maths	450+
B.Sc. Bio	519.28+
BA LLB	555+
BA	463

Factors That Define a “Good Score”

Candidates seeking admission to the top CUET central institutions and other participating colleges should be aware that a candidate’s CUET score is influenced by numerous factors. The CUET 2026 scores are influenced by several elements.

• Exam Difficulty Level: Since challenging papers may have a low CUET cut-off, it has a significant influence on students’ CUET scores.
• Subject Mapping: An applicant’s CUET scores are greatly influenced by the UG subjects they choose.
• Program and Target University: For demanding undergraduate courses, top colleges may demand a high CUET score.
• Course Popularity: Because more learners apply to popular courses, they typically have high cut-off requirements.
• Competition: The cut-off marks might be significantly impacted by the number of applicants and their overall performance.
• Reservation Criteria by Category: The cut-off scores for the reserved and unreserved categories may vary by university.

How to Calculate Your CUET Score

The raw score, normalized score, and percentile are the three components of CUET scoring that readers frequently confuse. Here, we’ll explain how NTA normalizes scores across test sessions, demonstrate how percentiles are created, and provide a simple, step-by-step technique for calculating your raw marks.

Now, to properly prepare, if you intend to take the CUET exam, you might want to know how to calculate your score. Your raw score is determined by checking the final CUET answer key, taking into account both right and wrong answers, and using the NTA-mandated grading system.

By following the instructions in the article, you may rapidly ascertain your CUET percentage and an estimate of your CUET rank after you know your raw score.

Raw score – formula & example

The formula for the raw score is (number of correct answers × 5) − (number of incorrect answers × 1). The official marking rule for this is -1 for each incorrect response and +5 for each correct response.

For instance, your raw score would be (100 × 5) − (10 × 1) = 500 − 10 = 490 if you scored 100 questions correctly and 10 badly.

Percentile –

A straightforward formula is used by NTA to determine a candidate’s percentile: percentile = 100 x (number of applicants with raw score equal to or less than that of the applicant) ÷ (total number of applicants in that session).

For instance, your percentile would be 100 × (9,000 ÷ 10,000) = 90 if 9,000 candidates out of 10,000 scored the same as you or lower.

Conclusion

If you are serious about the upcoming CUET 2026, then you must be well-aware of the exam pattern, marking criteria, and other details, such as factors affecting your CUET score, etc. Hence, we have discussed all the essential points for your reference. In case you do not find what you were looking for, then simply write to us. Also, you can refer to our blog section, where you can find other CUET useful blogs.