CUET UG 2026 — Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation
CUET UG, conducted by the NTA, is the single entrance test for undergraduate admission to 90+ central, state and private universities including Delhi Unive…
TL;DR: CUET UG, conducted by the NTA, is the single entrance test for undergraduate admission to 90+ central, state and private universities including Delhi…
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate)): CUET UG, conducted by the NTA, is the single entrance test for undergraduate admission to 90+ central, state and private universities including Delhi University, JNU, BHU and Allahabad University. Candidates choose a combination of tests — a language, domain subjects and/or the General Test — with each subject tested separately (around 50 questions per subject). It is curriculum-level (Class 11–12 NCERT), not advanced competitive-exam material — which makes it very winnable for board-focused students. The number of subjects allowed and per-subject timing are revised by NTA each cycle.
CUET UG Exam Pattern
| Total questions | 50 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Marking scheme | +5 for correct, −1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted (per subject) |
Sections
- Language tests (multiple language options)
- Domain subjects (many options) — around 50 questions each
- General Test (aptitude, GK, reasoning, basic maths)
- You pick a combination including at least one language; the number of subjects allowed and per-subject timing are set by NTA each year — verify at cuet.nta.nic.in
Subjects Covered in CUET UG
Language (English/Hindi/regional) · Domain subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, Accountancy, Economics, History, etc.) · General Aptitude · General Knowledge · Current Affairs
How to Prepare for CUET UG
- Choose your 5 subjects strategically — match them to the exact requirements of the universities and courses you want, since merit is usually built from domain-subject scores.
- Study domain subjects straight from NCERT Class 11–12 textbooks; CUET tests board-level understanding, so students who know their NCERT well already have a big head start.
- Practise each subject as a separate timed 50-question mock — the 60-minutes-per-subject limit rewards accuracy and calm pacing over rushing.
CUET UG — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose subjects from different streams for CUET?
Yes. CUET allows flexible subject combinations regardless of your school stream, as long as the university and course you apply to accept that combination. Always check the university's eligibility before finalising subjects.
Is CUET based on the CBSE syllabus?
CUET domain subjects are based on the NCERT Class 12 syllabus, which CBSE and most state boards follow closely. You do not need coaching-level advanced material — strong board preparation covers most of it.
How is the CUET merit list prepared?
Universities primarily use your domain-subject scores (normalised across sessions), sometimes with weightage to language or general aptitude. Each university sets its own cutoffs and combination rules.
📌 Exam patterns and dates can change — always verify the latest details on the official website before applying.
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