1.1 What Courses Does CUET Cover?

CUET UG covers admissions to undergraduate programmes including:

• Arts & Humanities: BA, BA (Hons.) in History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, English Literature, Foreign Languages, Philosophy, and more
• Commerce: B.Com, B.Com (Hons.), BBA, BMS
• Science: B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Computer Science, Statistics
• Professional & Interdisciplinary: BCA, BA LLB (5-year), B.Ed., Mass Communication & Journalism, Social Work, Fine Arts

Not Covered by CUET:Engineering (B.Tech) admissions use JEE Main/Advanced. Medical (MBBS/BDS) admissions use NEET UG. Architecture uses NATA/JEE Paper 2. These are separate, independent exams.

Note:CUET UG is conducted across multiple days and shifts between May 11–31 due to the high number of candidates. Your specific exam date depends on your registered subjects and city. Check your individual admit card for exact details.

4.1 Educational Qualification

• Must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognised board, or be appearing in Class 12 in 2026.
• Minimum aggregate marks: 45% in Class 12 for General / OBC-NCL / EWS category candidates.
• Minimum aggregate marks: 40% in Class 12 for SC / ST / PwD category candidates.
• Note: Individual universities may set higher minimum percentage requirements for specific courses. Always check the target university`s eligibility criteria in addition to NTA`s general guidelines.

4.2 Age Limit

• There is NO age limit prescribed by NTA for CUET UG 2026. Any candidate meeting the educational criteria may apply.
• Specific programmes or universities may set their own age criteria — verify at the respective university`s admission portal.

4.3 Nationality

• Indian nationals are eligible.
• NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals can also apply for CUET UG 2026.

4.4 Number of Attempts

• No limit on the number of attempts. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you can appear for CUET UG any number of times.

4.5 Subject Restriction (Removed for 2026)

• From 2026, there is NO restriction on which domain subjects you can choose — you are not limited to subjects you studied in Class 12. This is a significant policy change from earlier years.

5.1 Overall Structure

CUET UG is divided into three sections. Each candidate selects a combination of subjects from these three sections based on their target university`s course requirements — up to a maximum of five subjects total.

5.2 Per-Subject Paper Structure

5.3 Marking Scheme

• +5 marks for every correct answer.
• -1 mark (negative marking) for every incorrect answer.
• 0 marks for unattempted questions.

Score Normalisation:Since CUET is conducted across multiple days and shifts, NTA applies normalisation to account for variation in difficulty across different test sessions. Your final CUET score is a normalised score, not raw marks.

5.4 Full List of 23 Domain Subjects (Section II)

Tip:Check the official CUET subject list at cuet.nta.nic.in before selecting — the final 2026 list may differ slightly from earlier years due to subject discontinuations.

6.1 Section I — Language Syllabus

6.2 Section II — Domain Subject Syllabus (Selected Examples)

6.3 Section III — General Test Syllabus

Download Official Syllabus:The official CUET UG 2026 subject-wise syllabus PDF is available at cuet.nta.nic.in/cuetug-2026-syllabus/. Download and use it as your primary preparation checklist.

7.1 How Does Admission Work After CUET?

CUET does not have centralised counselling like JEE (JoSAA) or NEET (MCC). Each participating university runs its own admission process:

• After CUET results are declared, you receive a scorecard from NTA.
• You apply separately to each university you wish to join using your CUET scorecard.
• Each university releases its own merit list or cutoff based on CUET scores in the relevant subjects.
• You verify documents and pay fees at the allotted university to confirm admission.

Action Required:Track the admission portals of every university you are interested in. Do not assume a centralised process — you must apply individually to each one, often with separate application fees and deadlines.

8.1 How CUET Cutoffs Work

Unlike NEET or JEE, there is no single centralised cutoff for CUET. Every participating university sets its own course-wise and category-wise cutoff after CUET results are declared. The cutoff is typically expressed as:

• A normalised score or percentile (as used by Delhi University)
• Raw marks across a specified combination of subjects (as used by BHU)
• A university-specific merit score calculated from your CUET scores in relevant subjects

Key Rule:Each university defines which CUET subjects are considered for each course, and how scores are combined. Always verify the specific subject combination requirement at your target university before choosing your CUET subjects.

8.2 Delhi University (DU) — Expected CUET 2026 Cutoffs

DU is the most competitive CUET destination. Admissions to all DU colleges are 100% based on CUET scores — board marks carry zero weightage.

DU Insight:DU top college cutoffs have risen 1.5–3 percentile points annually since 2022. SRCC B.Com (Hons.) moved from 99.5 percentile in 2022 to near 100 in 2025. Aiming for 98+ percentile in your relevant subjects is prudent for flagship DU courses.

8.3 Banaras Hindu University (BHU) — Expected CUET 2026 Cutoffs

BHU expresses cutoffs in raw marks across a 3–4 subject combination. Cutoffs have increased 50–65 marks since 2022 as competition intensified.

8.4 JNU — Expected CUET 2026 Cutoffs

JNU has a unique merit calculation — for most programmes, Section I (Language) marks are excluded and only domain subject scores form the merit list.

8.5 Other Key Central Universities

Bottom Line: If DU top colleges are your target, aim for 98–100 percentile in your relevant subjects. For BHU popular courses, target 580+ raw marks. For JNU, 210+ in domain subjects is a strong benchmark. These are general estimates — always check previous year official cutoffs at the specific university`s admission portal.

10.1 NCERT Is Your Primary Resource

CUET domain subjects are directly based on NCERT Class 12 textbooks. Unlike competitive exams like JEE or NEET that go beyond NCERT, CUET tests what is in the textbook — definitions, diagrams, factual questions, and application of NCERT concepts. Start here and build outward.

10.2 Focus Heavily on Domain Subjects

Domain subjects carry 250 marks each and are the primary differentiator in merit lists. Languages and the General Test are important, but most cutoffs are driven by domain subject performance. Identify your 2–3 domain subjects early and prepare them deeply.

10.3 The General Test Is More Scorable Than You Think

The General Test has no fixed syllabus from one textbook. It covers GK, current affairs, logical reasoning, and basic numeracy. This is an advantage — with structured practice on mock tests and daily current affairs reading (2–3 months), most students can score 200+ out of 250. Do not neglect this section.

10.4 Attempt All 50 Questions Strategically

There are no optional questions in 2026. All 50 questions in each paper are compulsory. With -1 marking for wrong answers and +5 for correct ones, one correct answer offsets five wrong ones. Attempt all — skip only when you have genuinely no idea, not out of general caution.

10.5 Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers

CUET has been running since 2022 — three full years of previous year papers are available on the NTA official website. Solve all of them. Understanding question style, difficulty level, and the type of NCERT content tested is essential for scoring above 220 in domain subjects.

10.6 Time Management — 60 Minutes, 50 Questions

Each CUET paper gives you 60 minutes for 50 questions — 72 seconds per question. The questions are not as conceptually deep as JEE or NEET, but accuracy under time pressure matters. Practice timed tests to build the habit of reading options carefully and moving on without dwelling.

10.7 Recommended Resources

Does CUET replace board exams?

No. CUET replaces board marks as the admission criterion for central universities — it does not replace the board examination itself. You still need to appear in and pass your Class 12 board exams. Board marks only determine minimum eligibility (45% for General); they are not used in merit calculation at most CUET-participating universities.

Can I apply to multiple universities with one CUET score?

Yes. Your CUET score is valid across all 260+ participating universities. However, CUET does not have centralised counselling — you must apply separately to each university through their individual admission portals after your CUET scorecard is released.

Is CUET mandatory for DU admissions?

Yes. Since 2022, all admissions to Delhi University (DU) undergraduate programmes are based entirely on CUET scores. Board marks carry no weightage in DU merit lists.

Can I choose domain subjects I did not study in Class 12?

Yes, from 2026 onward. NTA has removed the subject restriction entirely. You can now choose any domain subject in CUET regardless of what you studied in Class 12. However, note that you will still need to check if the target university accepts that subject combination for your desired course.

How many subjects should I select in CUET?

Select subjects based on your target university`s requirements for your desired course. Check the subject combinations each university mandates for specific programmes and select accordingly. You can select up to 5 subjects total. Selecting more than your universities require adds exam burden without benefit.

Is there normalisation in CUET scores?

Yes. Since CUET is conducted across multiple sessions with different question sets, NTA applies a statistical normalisation process to ensure fairness. Your final CUET scorecard shows a normalised score, not raw marks. This is what universities use for admission.

When are CUET results declared?

Based on previous year trends, CUET UG results are expected in June–July 2026, typically 3–5 weeks after the exam window closes. Individual universities then begin their admission processes after results are declared.

Do private universities accept CUET scores?

Yes, but selectively. Around 85+ private universities participate in CUET. However, many private universities also have their own entrance exams or consider CUET scores for specific programmes only. Check each private university`s official admission policy before relying solely on CUET.

Is CUET PG different from CUET UG?

Yes. CUET PG is a separate examination for admission to postgraduate (Master`s degree) programmes at central and other universities. It is conducted by NTA separately, usually earlier in the year (March). This guide covers CUET UG only. If you are targeting PG admissions, refer to the official CUET PG notification at exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/.