The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the exam pattern for the upcoming CUET (UG) 2026 examination. Candidates must go through the CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern to know about the marking scheme, exam duration and relevant subjects. It is often found that students keep on asking about the CUET UG 2026 exam pattern and various questions related to it on the social media platforms where they do not get accurate answers to their question. That is why it is recommended that they should read this post completely and download the official syllabus pdf from the links provided in this post as these are sources directly from the official website of NTA. So, instead of relying on verbal suggestions of friends/guides here and there, it will be best if you read official information given here in this post. And after reading the complete post, if you still have any query left, comment it below we will respond as soon as possible.
Key Takeaways: CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern
1. Reduced Subject Limit: Candidates can now choose a maximum of 05 subjects (Languages + Domain + General Test), unlike previous years.
2. Exam Duration: Each test paper will last for 60 minutes.
3. No Optional Questions: All 50 questions in the test paper are compulsory.
4. Syllabus Base: Domain subjects are strictly based on the Class 12 NCERT Syllabus.
5. Negative Marking: Be careful—there is a -1 mark penalty for every incorrect answer.
6. Total Marks: The maximum score achievable is 1250 Marks (5 subjects × 250 marks each).
7. Mode: The exam is conducted entirely in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern
The exam pattern for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) (UG) - 2026, as outlined in the provided Information Bulletin, is detailed below:
1. Mode of Exam
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) only
2. Medium of Exam
- Available in 13 Indian languages:
English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu - Language must be selected during application and cannot be changed later
3. Subjects Offered
- Total: 37 Subjects
- 13 Language subjects
- 23 Domain-specific subjects
- 1 General Test
4. Subject Selection
- Candidates can choose up to 5 subjects (including languages & General Test)
- Choice should match eligibility criteria of the university/program
Exam Details
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions per Subject | 50 (All compulsory) |
| Question Type | MCQs (Objective-type) |
| Duration | 60 minutes per subject |
| Total Papers Allowed | Max 5 subjects |
| Marking Scheme | +5 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted |
| PwBD Candidates | +20 minutes per hour as compensatory time |
Question Paper Pattern
- Languages:
Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Literary Aptitude - Domain Subjects:
Based on NCERT Class 12 syllabus - General Test:
General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Mental & Numerical Ability, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, etc.
Did You Know?
Scale of Exam: NTA prepares between 325 to 350 unique question papers for CUET UG.
Total Papers: Including all shifts and subjects, the total number of question papers exceeds 1000.
Attendance: Typically, the attendance for CUET UG stays around 60%.
Total Marks in CUET UG 2026
To determine the total marks for the CUET (UG) - 2026 exam, let’s break it down based on the exam pattern provided in the Information Bulletin:
- Number of Subjects: Candidates can choose up to a maximum of 5 subjects (including languages and the General Aptitude Test).
- Questions per Subject: Each subject test paper consists of 50 questions.
- Marking Scheme:
- Correct Answer: +5 marks
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (negative marking)
- Unanswered Questions: 0 marks
Calculation of Total Marks:
- For each subject, the maximum marks (if all answers are correct) = 50 questions × 5 marks = 250 marks.
- Since candidates can take up to 5 subjects, the total maximum marks = 5 subjects × 250 marks per subject = 1250 marks.
Notes:
- Candidates may choose fewer than 5 subjects, in which case the total marks would be proportionally lower (e.g., 3 subjects = 3 × 250 = 750 marks).
Thus, the total maximum marks for the CUET (UG) - 2026 exam is 1250 marks if a candidate opts for all 5 subjects.
Sample Subject Combination
Each university may have unique subject requirements for History Honors. Some might mandate specific domain subjects or tie your CUET choices to your Class 12 subjects. Here’s a sample subject combination for a student looking to pursue History Honors:
- Section I: English (or Hindi)
- Section II: History (mandatory) + Political Science (optional) + Sociology (optional)
- Section III: General Aptitude Test (optional)
I’m a commerce student without Maths. Can I still do BA Economics (Hons) at DU?
Unfortunately, no. DU specifically requires Maths or Applied Maths in Class 12 for BA Economics (Hons) and BSc Statistics (Hons). Without Maths in your board marksheet, you won’t be eligible, no matter your CUET score.
Can I give Class 12 from CBSE and only Maths from NIOS to become eligible for Eco Hons or Stats Hons?
No, you can’t. Universities accept only one valid Class 12 marksheet from a single board (CBSE/ICSE/NIOS/state boards). If you mix boards, your application will be rejected. If you want Maths through NIOS, you’ll need to appear for all five subjects through NIOS.
I’m a dropper preparing for CUET + other exams (like IPMAT/NEET backup). How do I manage?
Overlap your prep smartly. For example:
Logical reasoning/Quant for IPMAT ≈ CUET GT.
NCERT Physics/Chemistry = CUET domains + NEET basics.
Don’t overburden yourself; prioritize based on your strongest chance of success.
How do I prepare for the English section? Should I use Wren & Martin?
Nope! CUET English isn’t like board grammar exams. It’s more about reading comprehension, vocabulary, and application-based grammar. Instead of old-school grammar books, practice CUET-specific guides and mock tests.
CUET UG 2026 Syllabus: Subject Wise PDF Download
Candidates preparing for the CUET UG Exam 2026 should properly look at the subject-wise syllabus. This helps one to get an idea of the topics that are relevant to the examination and also helps in eliminating topics that are not needed to study for the exam. Covering these helps one to be abreast with the latest updated topics.
| Section | CUET Syllabus 2026 |
| Section I: Language | Reading Comprehension - based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative, Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary |
| Section II: Domain Subject | The syllabus is primarily based on the NCERT Class 12 curriculum for domain subjects, ensuring familiarity for students. However, some questions can be asked from Class 11 syllabus. So, it is better to check the official CUET UG syllabus for exact topics. |
| Section III: General Aptitude Test | General knowledge, Current affairs General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning (Simple Application of basic maths concepts: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, statistics) Logical and analytical reasoning General Science and Environment Literacy |
CUET UG 2026 Syllabus PDF Download
The National Testing Agency has released the CUET UG 2026 Syllabus PDF Link for all the subjects relevant to the examination. Candidates preparing for the CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026 must adhere to the official syllabus to excel in the exam with high marks. Go through the table below to get the download links for the CUET Syllabus PDFs.
CUET UG 2026 Syllabus PDF Download Links
Language Papers:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| English | Download PDF |
| Hindi | Download PDF |
| Assamese | Download PDF |
| Bengali | Download PDF |
| Gujarati | Download PDF |
| Kannada | Download PDF |
| Malayalam | Download PDF |
| Marathi | Download PDF |
| Odia | Download PDF |
| Punjabi | Download PDF |
| Tamil | Download PDF |
| Telugu | Download PDF |
| Urdu | Download PDF |
Commerce & Business:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| Accountancy / Book-Keeping | Download PDF |
| Business Studies | Download PDF |
| Economics / Business Economics | Download PDF |
Science & Mathematics:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry | Download PDF |
| Chemistry | Download PDF |
| Physics | Download PDF |
| Mathematics / Applied Mathematics | Download PDF |
| Environmental Science | Download PDF |
Humanities & Social Sciences:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| History | Download PDF |
| Political Science | Download PDF |
| Psychology | Download PDF |
| Sociology | Download PDF |
| Home Science | Download PDF |
| Anthropology | Download PDF |
| Knowledge Tradition - Practices in India | Download PDF |
Arts & Media:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| Fine Arts / Visual Arts / Commercial Arts | Download PDF |
| Mass Media / Mass Communication | Download PDF |
| Performing Arts (Dance, Drama, Music) | Download PDF |
Technology & Computer Science:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| Computer Science / Informatics Practices | Download PDF |
Physical Education & Yoga:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| Physical Education (Yoga, Sports) | Download PDF |
General Test:
| Subject | Syllabus Link |
|---|---|
| General Aptitude Test | Download PDF |
Note: All syllabus PDFs are sourced from the official CUET website.
Do I have to compulsorily take the General Test (GT)?
Not for all universities. Some (like BHU, SSCBS, BMS/BFIA, etc.) mandatorily require GT, but for many DU courses (like BA Hons Psychology, English, History) GT is not necessary.
👉 Rule of thumb: Always check course-specific eligibility before deciding.
Why do some cutoffs show out of 800 marks and some out of 600/1000? I’m confused!
This depends on how many subjects a course/university counts.
Science/technical courses → best of 3 subjects (out of 600).
Commerce/Arts (like BCom, BA Hons) → best of 4 subjects (out of 800).
Some even go up to 1000 marks if they consider 5 subjects.
I’m from a state board, not NCERT. Will I be at a disadvantage?
Since CUET syllabus is NCERT-based, CBSE students might find it a bit smoother. But don’t panic—you can still prepare by practicing NCERT-based CUET guides and mock tests. Plus, some state boards have reservation/weightage in their own universities.
Which is better: Physical Education or Fine Arts as a CUET subject?
It doesn’t matter which subject you pick, as long as:
It’s allowed for your target course, and
You can score high marks in it.
👉 CUET is about strategy. Pick the subject where you can maximize your percentile.
CUET UG Books 2026
To excel in the CUET UG 2026, selecting the right study materials is crucial. Recommended books should cover the CUET UG exam pattern 2026, including language proficiency, domain subjects, and general tests. The following table can be checked to know about the books relevant to CUET UG Syllabus 2026.
| Subjects | CUET UG Books |
| Mock Tests/Sample Papers | Oswaal NTA CUET UG Mock Test Sample Question Papers |
| Domain Subject Textbooks | NCERT Books |
| General Aptitude Practice | Past Year Papers of General Aptitude Tests |
| Science Domain Books | S. Aggarwal Books |
| Commerce Domain Books | S. Grewal Books |
| Domain Subject Practice | NCERT Exemplar |
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