The CUET Exam Pattern 2026 is expected to be the same as 2025, and will be conducted in a CBT Mode in multiple days and shifts. The CUET Exam will include 3 Sections: Section 1 (Language Section), Section 2 (Domain Subjects), and Section 3 (General Test).

  • As per the CUET Exam Pattern, each subject will have 50 compulsory MCQ Questions, in which each correct answer will have +5 marks, and -1 mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer.
  • As per the latest update, the total number of available subjects has been reduced from 63 to 37, and you can choose any subject regardless of your class 12 stream.

In CUET UG, each subject will be of 250 marks; if you select 5 subjects, your score will be calculated out of a total of 1250 marks.

The NCERT Class 12 format will be used for the CUET Domain Subjects; you can choose from 13 languages in the language section.

CUET Exam Pattern

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Key Summary

In this Article, we have discussed the CUET Exam Pattern, including the Section-Wise Pattern, Marking Scheme & Previous-Year Papers.

  • In CUET, you can select 5 subjects; 1 language subject is mandatory along with a domain subject and a general test as per the course and university requirements.
  • In CUET, there is equal weightage in all sections with equal score contribution, as per the section-type.
  • As there are no sectional cutoffs in CUET, the exam pattern is important for post-exam counselling rules.
  • With a negative marking of -1 mark, uniformity will be applied in all sections; with 10% mistakes, your score can be reduced to 20 marks.

What is the CUET Exam Pattern 2026?

The CUET Exam Pattern will include the structure and format, the exam will be MCQ-based, a fixed time limit and a common marking scheme. The CUET Pattern will focus more on concept application and comprehension questions, rather than rote learning, especially in NCERT-Based subjects.

CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern:

Parameter Details
Exam Name Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) 2026
Conducting Body National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Mode Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Duration 60 minutes per test
Total Sections 3 (Languages, Domain Subjects, General Test)
Question Type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Questions per Test 50 questions (attempt any 40)
Marking Scheme +5 for correct, 1-1for incorrect
Maximum Marks 200 marks per test
Maximum Subject Choices 5 subjects in total
Syllabus Base Class 12 NCERT (mainly for Domain Subjects)
Exam Schedule Multiple days & shifts (May 2026 – tentative)
CUET Exam Pattern

Source: CUET Information Bulletin

You can also check this video by @collegedunia, to know about CUET 2026 Paper Structure, Marking Scheme and Syllabus.

CUET Exam Pattern: What’s New in 2026?

In the last few years, the UGC and NTA have made certain changes in the structure of the CUET UG Exam.  The Major exam pattern for CUET 2026 is similar to 2025, including some important changes like the subject options, structure, and syllabus coverage.

Major Changes in CUET 2026 Pattern

Feature CUET 2025 Now (CUET UG 2026) Change Impact
Total Subjects Offered 63 subjects (33 languages + 30 domains) 37 subjects(13 languages + 23 domains + GAT) The Certain reduction will simplify your choices.
Domain Subjects 29 23 The Focus is more on core, in-demand domains.
Language Papers 33 (Indian + Foreign) 13 Indian languages Foreign languages removed.
Max Subjects Allowed 6 5 Reduces student burden.
Exam Mode Hybrid (CBT + PBT) Full CBT only More secure & uniform delivery.
Exam Duration 45–60 mins (varied) 60 mins (fixed) Simplifies time management.
Number of Questions Optional + Varied 50 questions, all compulsory No optional questions now.
Syllabus Alignment NCERT-aligned NCERT-aligned with subject updates Added/removed topics in several subjects.

Check this video by @CUETWallah to know more about CUET 2026 Major Changes & New Syllabus Update.

Check: CUET UG Syllabus Latest Changes

Ques. Is CUET 2026 tough or easy?

Ans. The CUET Difficulty level will depend upon the subject chosen by the exam, shifts and preparation level, according to the previous year's feedback, showing moderate to great difficulty level.

  • The Language subjects are expected to be easy to moderate, whereas the domain subjects like Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Accountancy include difficult questions.
  • The difficulty level will vary according to different slots and shifts; some shifts can be easier, and some can be challenging.
  • The Analytical/application-based and case-based questions are more frequently asked.

Ques. How are 1250 marks divided in CUET?

Ans. The CUET Exam is of 1250 marks, in which each subject will carry 250 marks, and the candidates can choose between 5 subjects

Section Marks per Test No. of Tests Allowed Maximum Marks
Language Test 250 1 250
Domain Subjects 250 Up to 2–3 750
General Test 250 1 (if applicable) 250
Total — Max 5 tests 1250

CUET 2026: Subject-Wise Exam Pattern

The CUET UG Exam Pattern will differ as per the academic stream, as the universities set different combinations of subjects for science, commerce and arts programs.

The Core structure, like Language, Domain subjects and General test,s remains the same, but the weightage, relevance of subject and importance of scores will differ as per different streams according to the requirements of the course.

CUET Exam Pattern

CUET Exam Pattern for Science Students

  • Around 70% of the questions are directly related to Class 12 NCERT, which makes preparation from the textbook highly effective.
  • The Modern Physics & Calculus carry the highest score for each question, because of a similar question format.
  • The Increase of numerical questions, with selective attempts are more beneficial than the full attempts.
  • In Physics and Mathematics, time management is important, as the calculation-based section gets more time for each question.
Subject High-Weight Topics Weightage (%) Question Type
Physics Current Electricity, Magnetism, EMI, Modern Physics 35–40% Numerical + Conceptual
Optics & Wave Optics 20–25% Conceptual
Electrostatics 15–20% Numerical
Chemistry Electrochemistry, Kinetics, Coordination Compounds 30–35% NCERT-based
Organic Chemistry (Biomolecules, Polymers) 25–30% Theory-driven
Physical Chemistry 20–25% Numerical
Mathematics Calculus 35–40% Problem-solving
Vectors & 3D Geometry 20–25% Application-based
Algebra & Probability 20–25% Conceptual

CUET Exam Pattern for Commerce Students

  • The Accountancy and Economics together carry 60% of weightage, especially in B.Com and Economics Programs.
  • The CUET Accountancy will focus more on concept clarity rather than lengthy calculations by reducing the burden of calculations.
  • The Business Studies has high scores because of theory and case study questions.
Subject High-Weight Topics Weightage (%) Question Type
Accountancy Partnership, Company Accounts 45–50% Numerical + Conceptual
Financial Statements Analysis 25–30% Analytical
Economics National Income, Money & Banking 30–35% Conceptual
Macroeconomics (Policy, Inflation) 25–30% Analytical
Business Studies Principles of Management 30–35% Case-based
Marketing & HRM 25–30% Theory-based
Mathematics Calculus 30–35% Application-based
Linear Programming, Probability 20–25% Conceptual

CUET Exam Pattern for Arts Students

  • The Language subject contributes around 35 to 40% in the admission weightage, majorly in the humanities courses.
  • The Reading speed and comprehension will directly affect the accuracy because of longer-statement based questions.
  • The General test is used for liberal arts and multidisciplinary programs, not proper humanities.
Subject High-Weight Topics Weightage (%) Question Nature
History Modern India, Nationalism 40–45% Interpretation- based
World History 20–25% Conceptual
Political Science Indian Constitution 35–40% Assertion-Reason
International Relations 20–25% Conceptual
Geography Human Geography 30–35% Conceptual
Environment & Resources 20–25% Application-based
Sociology Indian Society, Social Change 35–40% NCERT-centric

CUET Exam Pattern for Language & General Test

  • In CUET, the reading comprehension carries the highest-weightage.
  • The General Test score will be decided for BBA, Integrated and Interdisciplinary courses.
  • The Current Affairs questions will focus on the last 8 to 12 months, not only on G.K.
Section Topic Areas Weightage (%) Difficulty
Language Reading Comprehension 60–65% Easy–Moderate
Vocabulary & Grammar 35–40% Easy
General Test GK & Current Affairs 35–40% Moderate
Logical & Mental Ability 30–35% Moderate
Basic Mathematics 25–30% Easy

Check: Solve CUET Previous-Year Mock Tests

Ques. How many questions are asked in each CUET subject paper?

Ans. In CUET, each subject will follow a proper structure, which ensures equality in streams and subjects.

CUET Question-Paper Structure

Parameter Details
Total Questions 50 MCQs
Questions to Attempt 40
Duration 60 minutes
Marks per Correct Answer +5
Negative Marking –1

Ques. Can candidates choose CUET subjects not studied in Class 12?

Ans. The CUET will allow flexibility in exam level, with university-level eligibility and different exam choices. With a strategic subject-based decision, without any technical one.

CUET Subject Eligibility

Aspect Status
CUET Application Level Flexible subject selection
University Admission Level Class 12 subject alignment required (mostly)
Domain Subjects Usually must match Class 12
General Test Can be chosen by any stream

Ques. Does the subject-wise difficulty level vary across streams?

Ans. Yes, the CUET Exam Pattern and Marking scheme are the same, but the question type will differ as per the stream type.

CUET Stream-Wise Difficulty Comparison

Stream Difficulty Level Reason
Science Moderate to Tough Numerical depth, multi-step problems
Commerce Moderate Conceptual + application-based questions
Arts/Humanities Easy to Moderate Theory-heavy, NCERT-driven

CUET Exam Difficulty Level: Is the Exam Easy, Moderate, or Tough?

The CUET UG Difficulty level is generally of an easy to moderate level, especially if compared to main exams like JEE Main and NEET.

As CUET is NCERT and MCQ-Based, the difficulty will depend on the section selected (Language, Domain, or General Test) and your academic background.

As per the Reddit user, the physics is easier compared to board level, English is difficult as it demands strong vocabulary, and all the others are the same as board level.

CUET Reddit

Source: Reddit

CUET UG Difficulty Level: Section-Wise Comparison

  • Around 70 to 75% questions are direct and NCERT-Based, and will be easy for candidates having strong NCERT Fundamentals.
  • The Difficulty level will increase because of -1 negative marking for each question, in which accuracy will matter more than the number of attempts.
  • The Domain-based subjects will decide your proper cutoffs, mainly in science and commerce courses.
  • The Language subjects are majorly high-scoring, but with lengthy passes, time management will be important.
Section Difficulty Level Why This Level Who Finds It Easier
Languages (IA & IB) Easy–Moderate RC-based, vocabulary-focused, predictable pattern Students with good reading habits
Domain Subjects Moderate Direct NCERT questions with application Class 12 board-prepared students
General Test Moderate Reasoning + GK + basic Maths mix Aptitude-oriented students

Check: Preparation tips to crack CUET UG

Ques. Which CUET section is considered the most scoring?

Ans. In CUET, the language section is considered the most scoring because of similar question types and less conceptual variance in different shifts.

Scoring Potential by CUET Section

Section Scoring Potential Reason
Languages High Direct RC, vocabulary, grammar
Domain Subjects Moderate–High NCERT-based but concept-driven
General Test Moderate Mixed GK, reasoning, math

Ques. Is the General Test more difficult than the domain subjects?

Ans. For some of the candidates, the General Test is considered the most difficult one because it is not limited to a fixed syllabus of NCERT, unlike other domain subjects.

Difficulty Comparison: General Test vs Domain Subjects

Factor General Test Domain Subjects
Syllabus Boundary Broad NCERT-defined
Question Nature Mixed aptitude + GK Subject-specific
Predictability Low High
Preparation Time Longer Shorter

CUET Syllabus 2026

The CUET Syllabus 2026 will test the students as per the basic concepts, comprehension aligned as per the NCERT Class 12 Format. The CUET Syllabus is divided into 3 sections: languages, domain subjects and the general test.

Direct link to Check CUET Subject-Wise Syllabus (OUT)
  • CUET Language Subject: Focuses on passage understanding and language mechanics; most of the questions are based on comprehension.
  • CUET Domain Subjects: These are directly mapped as per the Class 12 NCERT Syllabus, as per the application and reasoning.
  • CUET General Test Syllabus: It combines GK/Current Affairs, Reasoning, and Quant basics. This will be less textbook-based and more aptitude-based.

CUET Exam Total Marks

The CUET UG will follow similar and balanced questions for each subject and carry 250 marks for each subject.

  • The Candidates will have to answer 50 compulsory MCQs per subject,+5 marks will be carried for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect answer.
  • The Candidates can select a total of 5 subjects, which makes the total marks 1250/
Subject/Section No. of Questions Marks per Question Total Marks
Language Test (Section IA/IB) 50 5 250
Domain Subject (Each Subject in Section II) 50 5 250
General Test (Section III) 50 5 250

Ques. What is a good score in CUET?

Ans. A “Good Score” in CUET will differ according to the university and course type.

  • The Top Central Universities like DU, BHU and JNU want a score above 650/800 and are considered good scores.
  • For top DU Colleges, candidates should aim for more than 700 marks.
  • For Central/state universities, candidates should aim for around 600 to 650 marks.
  • For Private universities, a score of 500+ is required.
Score Range (out of 800) Percentile Range Admission Chances
700–800 95–100%ile Highly competitive courses (DU B.A. Hons, St. Stephens, Miranda House, JNU, BHU Science)
600–699 85–94%ile Good chances in mid to top programs across DU, BHU, AMU, JMI
500–599 70–84%ile Acceptable for state/private universities, non-honours courses
Below 500 <70%ile Limited to private or less competitive colleges

Ques. How many marks are in CUET for DU?

Ans. The DU offers admission by CUET, which requires a maximum of 800 marks. The CUET Weightage will depend upon the program, B.Com, BA, or B.Sc may require specific subject combinations.

DU Program CUET Subjects Required Max Marks Considered Good Score for Admission
B.Com / B.Com (Hons.) Language + Mathematics + Accountancy + General Test 800 700+
B.A. (Hons.) English / Arts Language (English mandatory) + 2 domain subjects + GT 800 680+
B.Sc (Hons.) Physics / Chemistry / Math Physics + Chemistry + Math + Language 800 720+
B.A. (Prog.) / Generic Courses Language + 2 domain subjects (flexible) 600–800 600+

CUET Exam Pattern: Mode & Medium of the Exam

The CUET UG Exam ensures accessibility for candidates across India and will be conducted in a CBT Mode with different language options.

  • The CUET UG Exam will be an Objective-Type exam including MCQs.
  • As the exam will be conducted across India, it will be held in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
  • For each correct answer, candidates will be given +5 marks, and -1 mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer.

Check: CUET Preparation Tips

Ques. Which subjects to choose in CUET?

Ans. The CUET Subject choice depends on the course and the university's requirements. Candidates should follow their selections with the Class 12 subjects and the eligibility of their preferred college.

Course Type Recommended CUET Subjects
B.Sc (PCM) Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English
B.Com Accounts, Business Studies, Economics, English
BA (Humanities) History, Political Science, English, General Test
BBA/Management English, Business Studies/Economics, General Test
Law (BA LLB) English, Legal Studies, General Test

Ques. Can I choose three subjects in the CUET exam?

Ans. Yes, candidates can choose a minimum of three subjects in CUET, but this may vary according to the university's admission criteria.

Option No. of Subjects Allowed Remarks
Minimum 3 Allowed but limited for certain courses
Common 4–5 Most popular combinations
Maximum 6–9 Depends on the course & NTA rules

Ques. Which is the best college under CUET?

Ans. The CUET provides admission into 250+ universities, including central, state, deemed and private colleges. Among them, DU, BHU and JNU are among the top choices.

College CUET Acceptance Popular Courses
Delhi University (DU) Yes BA, B.Com, B.Sc, Economics Hons
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Yes BA, B.Sc, B.Com, Law
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Yes BA (Hons), MA (via CUET PG)
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Yes BA, B.Sc, Law
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Yes BA, B.Com, Mass Communication

CUET Previous Year Question Papers

CUET Question Paper Download Links
CUET Question Paper 2025 Check Here
CUET Question Paper 2024 Check Here
CUET Question Paper 2023 Check Here
CUET Question Paper 2022 Check Here
CUET Question Paper 2021 Check Here

Check: CUET Previous year papers

FAQs for CUET UG Exam Pattern

Ques. How many exams are there in the CUET exam?

Ans. CUET UG Exam is a single-national level exam, but it is divided into different sections and subject-wise papers according to the candidate's preference.

CUET UG consists of three sections:

  • Section IA & IB: Language Papers (13 + 20 languages)
  • Section II: Domain-Specific Subjects (27 subjects available)
  • Section III: General Test (optional, but crucial for many courses)

Ques. What are the total marks of the CUET UG Exam?

Ans. The CUET UG Total marks depend upon the number of subjects chosen by the candidates.

  • Each subject paper- 250 marks.
  • Students can attempt up to 6 subjects - maximum 1200 marks.
Subjects Chosen Maximum Marks
3 Subjects 750
4 Subjects 1000
5 Subjects 1250

Ques. Do we have to attempt 40 questions in CUET?

Ans. No, the CUET UG includes 50 MCQ Questions in each section.

  • All the questions are compulsory.
  • The Internal choices are expected to be there in the exam to reduce candidates' stress levels.

Ques. Who is eligible for CUET 2026 for UG?

Ans. The CUET UG Eligibility is primarily based on the Class 12 qualification.

  • Students should have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board.
  • Minimum aggregate marks: 45% (General), 40% (SC/ST), 35% (PwD).
  • Age limit: No upper age limit; candidates should satisfy university-specific age rules.
  • Specific domain eligibility depends on the program applied (e.g., Maths required for B.Sc. Mathematics).

Ques. How many subjects are compulsory in CUET for DU?

Ans. The DU Admission by CUET Follow a subject-based requirement depending upon the course candidates have selected.

Candidates should select the subjects strategically, as in DU best of 3/4 subjects from the domain subjects along with language is required for merit calculation.

Course Type Compulsory Subjects in CUET Additional Notes
B.A. (Hons.) Humanities & Social Sciences 1 Language + 3 Domain Subjects Best 4 considered for merit
B.Sc. (Hons.) Science Courses Physics + Chemistry + 1 Domain Subject (e.g., Math/Biology) Language may also be considered
B.Com (Hons.) / B.A. (Hons.) Economics 1 Language + Accountancy/Mathematics + 2 Domain Subjects Mathematics often compulsory
B.A. Program (General) 1 Language + Any 2 Domain Subjects Flexibility in choice

Ques. How many marks are required for CUET for BHU?

Ans. The BHU will admit the candidates according to the CUET UG Scores, which will vary according to the course selected and the category of the candidates.

A score of 500-700 marks is considered competitive for the general category candidates.

Course Expected Safe Score (CUET Marks) Category-wise Variation
B.A. (Hons.) Arts 480 – 600 Relaxation for OBC/SC/ST
B.Sc. (Hons.) Science 550 – 650 Slightly lower for reserved categories
B.Com (Hons.) 500 – 620 Higher demand due to popularity
B.A. LL.B (5-year) 600 – 700 Competitive program