AUAT Exam Pattern 2026: 100 Questions, 100 Marks, Marking Scheme and Paper Structure

AUAT (Aliah University Admission Test) 2026 is an offline, pen-and-paper test conducted by Aliah University, Kolkata for admissions to undergraduate, postgraduate, B.Ed, and B.Sc Nursing programmes. The exam spans 120 minutes, carries 100 marks, and covers two parts — general awareness and programme-specific subject knowledge. The PG, B.Ed, and B.Sc Nursing sittings are scheduled for June 2026; results are expected in August 2026.

• AUAT 2026 is a 120-minute pen-and-paper test carrying 100 marks for all programmes.
• The paper has two parts: Part A covers General Knowledge, General English, and Islamic History/Culture (20 questions, 20 marks), and Part B covers core subject-specific topics (80 questions, 80 marks).
• Every correct MCQ answer earns +1 mark; every wrong MCQ answer deducts 0.25 marks.
• Select Arts programmes (B.A/M.A in English, Arabic, Bengali, and M.A Journalism) include 2 descriptive questions worth 14–16 marks with no negative marking.
• The exam runs in two sittings — UG programmes in May 2026 (concluded) and PG, B.Ed, B.Sc Nursing in June 2026.
• Part B carries the highest weightage — 80 questions for 80 marks in all MCQ-only programmes.
• The question paper is available in Bengali and English; you may answer in either language.

AUAT Exam Pattern 2026: Overview

AUAT 2026 follows an offline, OMR-based format for every programme it covers — UG, PG, B.Ed, and B.Sc Nursing alike. The exam is bilingual (Bengali and English) and runs for 120 minutes. A uniform 100-question, 100-mark structure applies to Science, Technology, Management, Law, Education, and Nursing programmes. Select Arts programmes differ slightly by including two descriptive questions in place of some MCQs, while keeping the total at 100 marks.

AUAT 2026 is a 120-minute offline test for 100 marks, conducted in two sittings — UG in May and PG/B.Ed/B.Sc Nursing in June 2026.

Source: Aliah University — AUAT 2026 Official Page

AUAT Exam Pattern 2026: Important Dates

AUAT 2026 runs in two exam windows. The UG sitting concluded in late May 2026 and is now over. If you are appearing for PG, B.Ed, or B.Sc Nursing, your exam is in June 2026 — check your admit card for the exact date and centre. Results for all sittings are expected in August 2026, followed by counselling and seat allotment.

Note: Verify the exact PG/B.Ed/B.Sc Nursing exam date from your admit card or the official website at aliah.ac.in.

AUAT 2026: Detailed Exam Pattern

The AUAT 2026 paper splits into Part A (general awareness, common to all) and Part B (programme-specific subject knowledge). For Science, Technology, Management, Law, Education, and Nursing programmes, both parts are entirely MCQ-based. Arts and Humanities programmes follow a hybrid structure — Part B includes 2 descriptive questions in place of some MCQs, keeping the total at 100 marks across all formats.

Pattern for Science, Technology, Management, Law, Education & Nursing Programmes

This pattern applies to B.Tech, BCA, BBA+MBA, M.Tech, MCA, M.Sc, MBA, LL.M, B.Ed, and B.Sc Nursing.

Pattern for B.A / M.A in Arabic or Bengali & M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication

Pattern for B.A / M.A in English

Note: Students must attempt both descriptive questions in Part B — they are compulsory, not optional.

AUAT Marking Scheme 2026

AUAT 2026 applies negative marking of -0.25 for every wrong MCQ answer. Unattempted questions carry zero marks — they do not reduce your score. Descriptive questions (Arts programmes only) carry positive marks only; writing a partial answer is always better than leaving it blank.

Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to every wrong MCQ answer — avoid random guessing, especially in Part B where 80 marks are at stake.

Marking multiple bubbles for a single MCQ on the OMR sheet counts as a wrong answer, attracting the -0.25 deduction. There is no partial credit for MCQ questions.

AUAT Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

Part A is common to all programmes and tests General Knowledge, General English, and Islamic History/Culture. Part B is programme-specific and tests core subject knowledge. The tables below show the distribution for each major programme group — your subject focus in Part B depends entirely on what you are applying for.

B.Tech (Engineering) and BCA

B.Sc Nursing

B.Ed

M.Tech / MCA / M.Sc (PG Science & Technology Programmes)

MBA and BBA+MBA (Management Programmes)

Arts Programmes — B.A / M.A (English, Arabic, Bengali) and M.A Journalism & Mass Communication

Note: The descriptive mark split differs by programme — B.A/M.A English carries 8 marks per descriptive question (16 total); B.A/M.A Arabic, Bengali, and M.A Journalism carry 7 marks per question (14 total).

AUAT Question Types 2026

AUAT 2026 primarily uses MCQs with a single correct answer across all four options. For select Arts and Humanities programmes, short descriptive questions appear in Part B. Knowing the format for your specific programme prevents surprises on exam day.

MCQs make up over 85% of the AUAT 2026 paper even in Arts programmes — strong MCQ strategy matters across all programme types.

• All MCQs follow a single-correct-answer format — there are no multiple-correct or assertion-reason type questions.
• Mark OMR bubbles with a black or blue ballpoint pen — do not use pencil or gel pen.
• Arts students write their descriptive answers in a separate answer booklet provided during the exam.
• Shading more than one bubble for a single MCQ is treated as a wrong answer and attracts the -0.25 deduction.
• There is no calculator or any digital tool provided — the exam is fully offline.

AUAT Exam Pattern: Changes in 2026 vs Previous Year

AUAT 2026 introduced a significant structural change for UG programmes. The UG paper now has 100 questions in 120 minutes — up from 50 questions in 90 minutes in 2025. The marks per question dropped from 2 to 1 to keep the total at 100 marks. This brings UG and PG patterns to a uniform structure for the first time. PG and Arts programme patterns remain unchanged from 2025.

The AUAT exam pattern changed in 2026: UG programmes now have 100 questions in 120 minutes at 1 mark each — plan your speed and negative-marking strategy around this higher question count.

How to Prepare Based on AUAT Exam Pattern

The AUAT 2026 pattern gives you a clear road map — Part B carries 80% of the marks, the negative marking is mild at -0.25, and the time per question works out to 72 seconds. Use the structure of the exam to guide your preparation, not just the syllabus.

1. Put 70% of your time into Part B. With 80 questions for 80 marks in most programmes, Part B is the largest single lever in the exam. Focus on Class XI–XII textbooks for UG programmes and UG-level subject material for PG programmes.
2. Do not underestimate Part A. The 20-question Part A covers General Knowledge, English, and Islamic History/Culture — topics that are predictable and straightforward if you prepare them. This section can be the difference between merit and near-merit.
3. Apply the 72-second rule in practice tests. With 100 questions in 120 minutes, you have 1 minute 12 seconds per question on average. Run timed mocks to build this pace before your exam date.
4. Control guessing using the -0.25 rule. If you can eliminate two of the four options, attempting the question gives a positive expected return. If you cannot eliminate any, skip it — an unanswered question scores zero, not negative.
5. Arts students: treat descriptive questions as guaranteed marks. The two descriptive questions carry 14–16 marks with no negative marking. Study the typical question types from previous years and practise structured, concise written answers.
6. Focus Islamic History/Culture for Part A. This sub-topic in Part A is unique to AUAT and not covered in most general GK books. Spend dedicated time on basic Islamic history, major dynasties, and contributions — this gives you an edge other general GK preparation misses.
7. Solve AUAT previous years’ papers. The question distribution across Part A and Part B topics has been consistent. Previous papers show you which sub-topics in Part B appear repeatedly and how descriptive questions have been framed historically.