Common University Entrance Test (CUET)—a central-government-mandated entrance exam in India—designed to streamline admissions across multiple universities:

What is CUET?

Full Form: Common University Entrance Test (previously known as CUCET) .
Conducted By: The National Testing Agency (NTA)—an independent, autonomous body under the Ministry of Education—responsible for conducting transparent and standardized assessments .
Purpose: A unified, single-window entrance exam for admission to a range of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs across Central Universities and participating state, deemed, and private institutions .

CUET UG (Undergraduate) – Highlights for 2026

Application Timeline:
- Submission window: 1 March to 22 March 2026, with fee payment till 23 March .
- Correction window: 24–26 March 2026 .
Exam Dates: Conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode between 13 May and 3 June 2026 .
Languages Offered: Available in 13 Indian languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and others .
Subjects:
- Candidates can select up to five subjects, including language(s) and a General Aptitude Test .
- Fee: Varies by category—
  - General: ₹1,000 for up to 3 subjects; ₹400 for each additional
  - OBC-NCL / EWS: ₹900; ₹375 for each extra
  - SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender: ₹800; ₹350 for each extra .
Candidates: Over 13.5 lakh candidates registered for CUET UG 2026 .
Question Format:
- Entirely objective (MCQs).
- Sections:
  - Language Test (13 languages)
  - Domain-specific subjects based on Class 12 NCERT syllabus
  - General Test: Includes logical reasoning, basic math, current affairs, general knowledge .
Exam Difficulty & Student Feedback:
- Overall: Moderate to difficult
- Chemistry: Conceptual & numerical; challenging
- Biology: Easier, though around 30% faced time management issues
- General Aptitude & English: Mostly manageable, with some length-related challenges .
- Experts emphasize NCERT as the foundation, with strategic study, correct subject choices, and time management being crucial .
Controversy – Accountancy Re-Test:
- NTA conducted a re-examination for the Accountancy paper due to inclusion of syllabus content outside the prescribed material (specifically Unit V). Students could choose to retake, but the policy—where the original score is voided—sparked criticism for fairness and stress implications .
Exam Centers Expansion:
- In Meghalaya, three new CUET-UG centers in Shillong were added to ease candidate travel burdens—resulting in most taking the test within the state rather than traveling to Guwahati .
Ministry Oversight:
- The Education Ministry has increased scrutiny over NTA, citing issues like delays, logistical problems, and exam misconduct—for example, in CUET and NEET-UG—calling for reforms in testing administration .
Opportunities for Low Scorers:
- Even students with relatively lower CUET scores can obtain admission to quality government universities, provided they select suitable institutions and courses. A recent listing highlights 10 such universities that offer promising options on lower scores .

CUET PG (Postgraduate) – Key Details for 2026

Application Period:
- Submission: 2 January to 1 February 2026
- Fee payment: Till 2 February
- Correction window: 3–5 February 2026 .
Exam Dates: Held via CBT between 13 March and 31 March 2026 .
Question Papers: Available in English and Hindi (bilingual), except for some subjects with specific language rules .
Scope:
- Covers 157 subjects, offered across 312 cities, including 27 cities abroad .
- Exam is a single-window opportunity for admissions to UG/PG programs in Central and other participating universities .

Summary Table at a Glance

Exam Type	Conducting Body	Application Dates	Exam Dates	Format	Focus Areas
CUET UG	NTA	1–22 Mar 2026	13 May – 3 Jun 2026	CBT (MCQ)	Language, Domain Subjects (NCERT Class 12), General Aptitude
CUET PG	NTA	2 Jan – 1 Feb 2026	13 – 31 Mar 2026	CBT (Bilingual)	Multiple PG subjects, wide city coverage, single platform

👍 contents of the CUET (Common University Entrance Test).

📘 CUET Exam Contents

The CUET exam is divided into three main sections, covering languages, subject knowledge, and general ability.

Section 1: Language Test

Two parts:
- Section IA: 13 Languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu).
- Section IB: 20 Additional Languages (e.g., French, German, Arabic, Sanskrit, etc.).
Question Types:
- Reading Comprehension (factual, literary, narrative, vocabulary-based).
- Rearranging sentences.
- Grammar & Usage.

Section 2: Domain-Specific Subjects

Based on Class 12 NCERT syllabus.
Candidates can choose subjects depending on the requirements of the university/program they apply for.

Some Key Subjects:

Science Stream: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics.
Commerce Stream: Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics.
Humanities/Arts: History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy.
Vocational/Applied Subjects: Agriculture, Computer Science, Physical Education, etc.

Section 3: General Test

Tests overall aptitude and awareness.
Useful for admissions to interdisciplinary or general courses.

Exam Format at a Glance

Section	Content	No. of Questions (Attempt Required)	Time
Section IA	Languages (13 options)	40/50	45 mins per language
Section IB	Additional Languages (20 options)	40/50	45 mins
Section II	Domain-Specific Subjects (27 options)	40/50	45 mins per subject
Section III	General Test	50/60	60 mins

✅ In summary:

Languages → English + Indian/foreign languages.
Domain Subjects → Based on NCERT Class 12 subjects.
General Test → Aptitude, GK, reasoning, math.

✅ Detailed exam structure of CUET (UG) for you, including questions, time, type, scoring, and passing rules.

📊 CUET UG Exam Pattern (2026 onwards)

1. Types of Questions

All questions are objective MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions).
Each question has 4 options (only 1 correct).
Based on NCERT Class 12 syllabus for domain subjects.

2. Number of Questions & Time Allowed

Section	Content	Total Qs	To Attempt	Time
Section IA	Languages (13 options)	50	40	45 mins per language
Section IB	Additional Languages (20 options)	50	40	45 mins
Section II	Domain Subjects (27 options)	50	40	45 mins per subject
Section III	General Test (GK, Reasoning, Math, Current Affairs)	60	50	60 mins

👉 Students can choose a combination of subjects (max. 6 papers including languages).

3. Scoring System

Correct Answer: +5 marks
Wrong Answer: -1 mark (negative marking applies)
Unanswered: 0 marks

🔹 Total marks vary depending on the number of subjects chosen (since each subject has 200 marks = 40 × 5).

4. Score Normalization

Since CUET is conducted in multiple shifts, raw marks are converted into a normalized score (percentile).
Universities use percentile ranks to prepare merit lists.

5. Grades / Results

NTA doesn’t award traditional "grades" like A, B, C.
Instead, results show:
- Percentile Score (0–100) for each subject.
- All India Rank (AIR) for the candidate.
Universities then decide cut-offs for admission.

6. Passing Requirements

No fixed “pass marks” in CUET (NTA just provides raw scores & percentile).
Admission depends on:
1. University cut-off/merit list for the chosen course.
2. Candidate’s CUET score + eligibility criteria (e.g., minimum 50% in Class 12 for many universities).

⚠️ Example:

Delhi University may demand 650+ marks (or 95+ percentile) for B.Com (Hons).
A smaller Central University may admit with 400 marks (70 percentile) in the same stream.

✅ In short:

MCQs, 50 Qs per paper, attempt 40.
+5 for correct, -1 for wrong.
No “pass/fail” system → admission depends on percentile rank and university cut-off.

If you're planning for CUET, let me know whether you'd like help with eligibility criteria, subject-wise exam patterns, preparation strategies, or upcoming CUET 2026 timelines—and I’d be happy to assist!

Call or Text on 9773464206

Best wishes 🍀 from Prof Mahaley Head Gmsisuccess Goregaon West Mumbai.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

CUET 2026 Complete Details