The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to release the provisional answer key of CUET UG 2026 in the second week of June 2026. Once live, you will be able to download the subject-wise CUET 2026 answer key from the official website cuet.nta.nic.in by logging in with your application number and date of birth.
Source: CUET UG 2026 Official Public Notice - NTA
- The CUET 2026 provisional answer key is expected to release in the second week of June 2026, along with the recorded responses and question papers.
- Students will get a window of 2 to 3 days to challenge any answer they believe is incorrect on the CUET 2026 answer key portal.
- A non-refundable fee of INR 200/- per question applies for raising objections; the fee is refunded only for challenges accepted by the subject experts.
- The CUET final answer key 2026 is expected by the last week of June 2026, followed by the result declaration in early July 2026.
You can use the final CUET answer key 2026 to calculate your expected raw marks, estimate your NTA score, and gauge your eligibility for participating universities.
In 2025, over 13.5 lakh students appeared for CUET UG, and more than 4.8 lakh of them downloaded the provisional answer key within the first 24 hours of release.
CUET 2026 Provisional Answer Key (Soon)
The provisional CUET UG answer key is the first version of the official key released by NTA. It contains the correct responses to all questions across language papers, domain subjects, and the General Test. You can match your responses against this key to estimate your raw score before the final result.
| CUET 2026 Subject-Wise Provisional Answer Keys | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - English (Language) | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - General Test | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Physics | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Chemistry | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Mathematics | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Biology | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Business Studies | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Accountancy | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Economics | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - History | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Political Science | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Geography | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Hindi (Language) | To be released |
| CUET 2026 Answer Key - Other Domain Subjects | To be released |
CUET 2026 Unofficial Answer Key
Several coaching institutes prepare unofficial CUET answer keys within hours of each shift. These are useful for an early estimate but are not authoritative. Always cross-check with the official NTA answer key once released.
| CUET 2026 Unofficial Answer Key by Aakash BYJU’S, Allen, Career Launcher, and Vidyamandir | To be released after each shift |
CUET Answer Key 2026 - Important Dates
The table below lists the key CUET 2026 answer-key cycle milestones. The provisional key is the next-to-happen event; the exam itself has just concluded.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CUET Provisional Answer Key 2026 | Second Week of June 2026 (Expected) |
| CUET Answer Key 2026 Challenge Window | Within 2-3 days of provisional key release (Expected) |
| CUET Final Answer Key 2026 | Last Week of June 2026 (Tentative) |
| CUET Result 2026 | First Week of July 2026 (Tentative) |
| CUET UG 2026 Exam | May 13 - June 3, 2026 (Over) |
CUET 2025 Answer Key with Solutions PDF
While the CUET 2026 answer key is awaited, you can refer to the CUET 2025 final answer key for question pattern, difficulty trends, and solution approach. The 2025 keys cover all major domain subjects and the General Test.
| CUET 2025 Subject | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - English | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - General Test | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Physics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Chemistry | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Mathematics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Biology | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Business Studies | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Accountancy | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Economics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - History | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Final Answer Key - Political Science | Download PDF |
How to Download the CUET Answer Key 2026?
Once NTA activates the link, you can access the CUET 2026 answer key by logging in to the official portal with your application credentials. The answer key download is free; only the objection-challenge step requires a fee.
Here are the complete guided steps to download the CUET 2026 answer key:
- Visit the official CUET website at cuet.nta.nic.in.
- On the home page, click the "Display of Question Paper, Recorded Responses and Answer Keys - CUET UG 2026" link.
- Enter your application number, date of birth, and security pin to log in.
- The portal will display your question paper, recorded responses, and the official answer key shift-wise.
- Download the question paper PDF and answer key PDF for each subject you appeared in.
- Save the files locally for cross-verification and any later objection challenge.
Ques. Do I need to pay any fee to download the CUET 2026 answer key?
Ans. No, downloading the CUET 2026 provisional or final answer key is completely free. You only pay if you choose to challenge any answer — that costs INR 200 per question, non-refundable.
Details Mentioned on CUET Answer Key 2026
The CUET 2026 answer key PDF will list the correct response options against each question. Along with the answer key, NTA simultaneously releases the question paper and your recorded responses for cross-verification. The following details will appear on the CUET 2026 answer key:
- Question paper code / shift code
- Subject name and paper code (e.g., 101 for English, 301 for General Test, 304 for Physics)
- Question ID (a unique numeric identifier assigned by NTA)
- Correct option ID corresponding to each question
- Total number of questions in the paper
- Marking scheme reference (+5 / -1)
- Notice number and date of publication
Note that the CUET answer key PDF itself does not show your responses — those appear on the separate recorded response sheet released simultaneously.
How to Challenge the CUET Answer Key 2026?
If you believe any answer in the provisional CUET 2026 answer key is incorrect, you can raise an objection within the challenge window. NTA reviews each objection through a panel of subject experts, and only confirmed corrections are reflected in the final answer key.
Here are the steps to challenge the CUET 2026 answer key:
- Log in to cuet.nta.nic.in using your application number and password.
- Click the "Challenge Answer Key" link on the dashboard.
- Select the Question ID you want to challenge from the displayed list.
- Tick the correct option ID you believe should replace the published key.
- Upload supporting documents (textbook scans, NCERT references, etc.) in PDF format if available.
- Pay a non-refundable fee of INR 200/- per question challenged through net banking, UPI, or debit/credit card.
- Submit the challenge and download the confirmation receipt for your records.
The challenge fee is refunded only if the subject expert panel accepts your objection. NTA does not provide individual replies — the verdict on each challenge is reflected through changes in the final answer key.
Ques. Will I be informed individually if my CUET answer key challenge is accepted?
Ans. No, NTA does not send individual responses to each challenger. You will know whether your objection was accepted by comparing the provisional and final CUET 2026 answer keys — if the correct option for the challenged question is changed in the final key, your objection was accepted and your fee will be refunded.
CUET Answer Key 2026 Vs Response Sheet
NTA releases both the CUET answer key and the candidate response sheet simultaneously, but they serve different purposes. Together, they let you calculate your raw score.
Key Differences Between CUET 2026 Answer Key and Response Sheet
- Answer Key contains the correct option as marked by NTA against each question ID. It does NOT show the answer you marked.
- Response Sheet (also called Recorded Responses) contains the option you actually marked against each question ID during the exam. It does NOT show whether your answer was correct.
- The answer key is common to all students who appeared in a particular shift; the response sheet is personal and unique to each candidate.
- The answer key may be changed during the final release based on accepted objections; the response sheet is locked and cannot be challenged because it is an exact record of what you marked.
- To calculate your score, you have to match each Question ID across the two documents — if the option in your response sheet matches the answer key, you get +5; if it differs, you get -1; if the option is blank in your response sheet, the question is treated as unattempted (0 marks).
How to Calculate Your Score Using the CUET Answer Key 2026
You will need both the CUET 2026 answer key PDF and your recorded response sheet to estimate your raw score. Match each Question ID across both documents and apply the marking scheme below.
- Open the answer key PDF and the response sheet side by side.
- For each Question ID, compare your marked option against the correct option in the answer key.
- Add +5 marks for each correct answer, and subtract 1 mark for each incorrect answer.
- For every question not attempted, the marks are zero.
- Calculate the overall raw score using the formula: Raw Score = (Correct × 5) - (Incorrect × 1).
Note: Only the official CUET Result 2026 will contain the final NTA Score (after percentile normalization across shifts); the rest are raw-score estimations.
Example of CUET Score Calculation:
Assume you appeared for a CUET domain paper with 50 questions and the following response distribution:
| Parameter | Value (Example) |
|---|---|
| Total Questions in Paper | 50 |
| Total Questions Attempted | 45 |
| Number of Correct Answers | 38 |
| Number of Incorrect Answers | 7 |
| Unanswered Questions | 5 (not counted in score) |
| Score from Correct Answers | 38 × (+5) = +190 |
| Negative Marks (Incorrect) | 7 × (-1) = -7 |
| Total CUET Raw Score | 190 - 7 = 183 / 250 |
Ques. What is the CUET 2026 marking scheme?
Ans. CUET 2026 follows a +5 / -1 marking scheme. You will be awarded 5 marks for every correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect attempt. Unanswered questions carry no marks. Each subject paper (language, domain, General Test) is scored separately and then normalized into an NTA percentile score.
CUET 2026 Marking Scheme
| Subject Type | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Marks Per Correct Answer | Negative Marking for Incorrect Answers | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language (Section IA & IB) | 50 | 40 | +5 | -1 | 200 |
| Domain Subject (Section II) | 50 | 40 | +5 | -1 | 200 |
| General Test (Section III) | 60 | 50 | +5 | -1 | 250 |
CUET Marks vs Rank 2026
Because CUET is normalized using NTA percentile scores across shifts, your raw marks do not directly map to a rank. However, based on CUET 2024 and 2025 result trends, the table below gives an indicative correlation between raw marks (out of 200 per subject) and the expected NTA percentile, which most universities use for shortlisting.
| Raw Marks (out of 200) | Expected NTA Percentile | Indicative Score Band |
|---|---|---|
| 195 - 200 | 99.99+ | Top 100 in subject |
| 185 - 194 | 99.9 - 99.99 | Top 1,000 |
| 175 - 184 | 99.5 - 99.9 | Top 5,000 |
| 160 - 174 | 99 - 99.5 | Top 12,000 |
| 145 - 159 | 97 - 99 | Top 35,000 |
| 130 - 144 | 93 - 97 | Top 90,000 |
| 115 - 129 | 87 - 93 | Top 1.7 lakh |
| 100 - 114 | 78 - 87 | Top 3 lakh |
| 85 - 99 | 65 - 78 | Top 4.7 lakh |
| 70 - 84 | 50 - 65 | Top 6.5 lakh |
| 55 - 69 | 35 - 50 | Mid band |
| 40 - 54 | 20 - 35 | Lower mid band |
| Below 40 | Below 20 | Bottom band |
Note: The above mapping is indicative and based on past-year trends; actual percentile cut-offs depend on the difficulty of your specific shift and the normalization formula NTA applies.
Download the Previous Year CUET Answer Key With Question Paper
Previous year CUET answer keys and question papers are a strong revision tool. They help you understand the question pattern, gauge difficulty, and identify high-weight topics across language, domain, and General Test sections.
CUET 2025 Answer Key With Question Paper
| CUET 2025 Paper | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CUET 2025 Question Paper & Answer Key - English | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Question Paper & Answer Key - General Test | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Question Paper & Answer Key - Physics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Question Paper & Answer Key - Mathematics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Question Paper & Answer Key - Chemistry | Download PDF |
| CUET 2025 Question Paper & Answer Key - Biology | Download PDF |
CUET 2024 Answer Key With Question Paper
| CUET 2024 Paper | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CUET 2024 Question Paper & Answer Key - English | Download PDF |
| CUET 2024 Question Paper & Answer Key - General Test | Download PDF |
| CUET 2024 Question Paper & Answer Key - Physics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2024 Question Paper & Answer Key - Mathematics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2024 Question Paper & Answer Key - Chemistry | Download PDF |
| CUET 2024 Question Paper & Answer Key - Business Studies | Download PDF |
CUET 2023 Answer Key With Question Paper
| CUET 2023 Paper | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| CUET 2023 Question Paper & Answer Key - English | Download PDF |
| CUET 2023 Question Paper & Answer Key - General Test | Download PDF |
| CUET 2023 Question Paper & Answer Key - Physics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2023 Question Paper & Answer Key - Mathematics | Download PDF |
| CUET 2023 Question Paper & Answer Key - Economics | Download PDF |
Colleges Accepting CUET 2026
CUET 2026 scores are accepted by central, state, deemed, and many private universities for undergraduate admissions across humanities, science, commerce, and inter-disciplinary streams. The list below covers the most sought-after participating institutes:
| Category | Participating Institutes |
|---|---|
| Central Universities | University of Delhi (DU) - Hindu College, Hansraj College, SRCC, Miranda House, LSR, Kirori Mal |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | |
| Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) | |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | |
| University of Allahabad, University of Hyderabad, Pondicherry University | |
| State Universities | Tezpur University, Gauhati University |
| Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow | |
| Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad | |
| Deemed-to-be Universities | Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) |
| Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) | |
| The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI School of Advanced Studies) | |
| Private Universities | Christ University, Bengaluru |
| Symbiosis International University (selected programs) | |
| Mahindra University, Hyderabad | |
| Bennett University, Shiv Nadar University, Ashoka University (selected courses) |
CUET Answer Key 2026 FAQs
Ques. How to see the official CUET 2026 answer key?
Ans. You can view the official CUET 2026 answer key by following these steps:
- Go to cuet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the "Display of Question Paper, Recorded Responses and Answer Keys - CUET UG 2026" link.
- Log in using your application number, date of birth, and security pin.
- The portal will display the answer key PDF subject-wise; download each one and save for future reference.
Ques. When will NTA release the CUET 2026 provisional answer key?
Ans. NTA is expected to release the CUET UG 2026 provisional answer key in the second week of June 2026. The exact date will be announced through a public notice on the official website. The provisional key is released along with the candidate response sheet and question paper.
Ques. How much does it cost to challenge a CUET 2026 answer key question?
Ans. The challenge fee is INR 200/- per question, non-refundable unless the objection is accepted by NTA’s subject expert panel. You can pay using net banking, UPI, or debit/credit card. If your challenge is accepted, the fee is refunded to your original payment method and the change reflects in the final answer key.
Ques. Can I calculate my exact CUET 2026 score from the answer key?
Ans. You can calculate your raw score precisely using the answer key (correct answers × +5) - (incorrect answers × 1). However, your final NTA Score may differ because NTA applies a percentile-based normalization across all shifts of the same subject. Use your raw score as a strong estimate, not as the final declared score.
Ques. What is the difference between the CUET answer key and the response sheet?
Ans. The CUET answer key lists the correct option marked by NTA against each Question ID, while the response sheet shows the options you actually marked during the exam. You have to compare both, Question ID by Question ID, to estimate your raw score. The answer key is common to a shift; the response sheet is unique to you.
Ques. When will the final CUET 2026 answer key be released?
Ans. The final CUET 2026 answer key is expected by the last week of June 2026. It is released after NTA reviews all the challenges raised against the provisional key. The final answer key is used to compute the official CUET 2026 result, which is expected in the first week of July 2026.








Comments