CUET exam pattern 2026 is available on the official website of CUET. The pattern includes exam format, total marks and marking scheme. The CUET UG 2026 will be held in CBT mode in multiple shifts. As per the CUET exam pattern, the question paper follows the MCQ format without any sectional time limit. There will be 50 questions to be attempted in 60 minutes.
The question paper will be in English and the language which students opt for during registration. CUET offers 23 domain subjects, 13 language subjects and a general test. The language subjects include Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Urdu, Assamese, and Punjabi.
CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights
Have a quick look at the CUET exam pattern provided below.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Question format | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| CUET UG sections | Section 1 – LanguageSection 2 – Domain SubjectSection 3 – General Aptitude Test |
| Total number of Questions | 50 across all subjects |
| Negative marking | Yes |
| Marking Scheme | +5 for each correct answer-1 for each incorrect answer |
| Medium of CUET exam | 13 languages – English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu |
| Number of domain subjects | 23 |
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Section-Wise Structure
CUET exam pattern follows a specific structure that is applicable to all three sections. Check the following table to understand the section-wise structure of the question paper.
| Section | Number of Questions | Question Types | Exam Duration |
| Section I- Language | 50 Questions | Candidates language skill is tested through Reading Comprehension based on different passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative. | 60 minutes for each |
| Section II- Domain Specific | 50 Questions | MCQs based on the NCERT Class 12 syllabus only | |
| Section III- General Test | 50 Questions | Tests students’ general Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration/s tat taught till Grade 8), Logical and Analytical Reasoning |
Checkout important resources for CUET Exam here:
| CUET Exam: All details | CUET Exam Registration |
| CUET Admit Card | CUET Marks vs Percentile |
| CUET Application Form | CUET Syllabus |
| CUET Exam Day Guidelines | CUET Universities List |
CUET Exam Pattern: Subjects and Language Mapping Guidelines
CUET offers 13 language subjects. Students, based on their interest, can choose any one language subject. As per the NTA rules, the language mapping guidelines are as follows
| Language | Examination Centre |
| English | All examination centres |
| English and Hindi | All examination centres |
| English and Urdu | All Examination Centres in India |
| English and Assamese | Examination centres in Assam |
| English and Bengali | Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| English and Gujarati | Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| English and Kannada | Examination Centres in Karnataka |
| English and Marathi | Examination Centres in Maharashtra |
| English and Telugu | Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| English and Malayalam | Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| English and Tamil | Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| English and Odia | Examination Centres in Odisha |
| English and Punjabi | Examination Centres in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi/New Delhi (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Meerut, Noida/Greater Noida) |
Explore the CUET Eligibility Criteria over here!
CUET Exam Pattern 2026: Important Points to Remember
Candidates must adhere to the pattern provided by the conducting authority. Students are allowed to choose up to 5 subjects for the CUET 2026. Some of the key points to consider while selecting subjects for the CUET exam are as follows:
- It is mandatory to choose at least one subject from the language sections. With this, you can choose 3 domain subjects and a general aptitude from section III.
- In case you want to choose 2 language-based subjects, then you need to choose 2 from the domain section and a general aptitude from section III.
Checkout the CUET Application fees!
CUET Marking Scheme 2026
The CUET marking criteria are definite. The marking scheme as per the NTA pattern is provided below.
- The CUET total marks are 250.
- The total duration allotted to answer 50 MCQ questions is 60 minutes.
- Each correct answer carries 5 marks.
- 1 mark is deducted for a wrong answer. No marks will be awarded or deducted for unattempted questions.
Important resources for CUET Exam:
CUET Total Marks Per Subject
CUET total marks per subject are 250. But candidates must appear in all subjects they applied for to maximise their score. The following mentions what the total marks would be based on the number of subjects students choose and the expected passing marks for each.
CUET total marks for 3 subjects: For 3 subjects, the total marks would be 750. The passing marks for 750 are expected to be between 600 and 700 for most courses in top colleges.
CUET total marks for 4 subjects: If candidates opt for 4 subjects, then the total marks will be 1000. The good score for such marks is 900+ marks in CUET. The expected passing marks or the cut-off score can be around 850+ for DU, BHU, Jamia, JNU and other top affiliated colleges of DU.
CUET total marks for 5 subjects: The CUET total marks for 5 subjects are 1250. As per the previous cut-off analysis, you can expect the cut-off to be around 1100+ for top-ranked colleges.
CUET 2026 Exam Slots and Timing Details
The CUET 2026 subject-wise schedule will be released in April, tentatively. The NTA will also declare the number of slots in which exams will be held, along with the reporting time in the admit card. The tentative dates are mentioned below
| Shift | Reporting Time (Tentative) | Exam Time (Tentative) |
| Slot1 | 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
| Slot 2 | 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM |
Checkout CUET Colleges in India:
CUET Syllabus 2026 Overview
NTA has released the CUET syllabus for 23 domain subjects, 13 language subjects and the general aptitude test on its official website of CUET. Subject-wise CUET pattern and syllabus, along with question paper PDFs, are provided below.
| CUET Domain Subjects | Subject-wise CUET Syllabus 2026 | Question Paper (To be Updated) |
| History | CUET History Syllabus | Check Here |
| Political Science | CUET Political Science Syllabus | Check Here |
| Psychology | CUET Psychology Syllabus | Check Here |
| Home Science | CUET Home Science Syllabus | Check Here |
| Mass Media/Mass Communication | CUET Mass Media/Mass Communication Syllabus | Check Here |
| Sociology | CUET Sociology Syllabus | Check Here |
| Sanskrit | CUET Sanskrit Syllabus | Check Here |
| Physical Education | CUET Physical Education Syllabus | Check Here |
| Knowledge Tradition- Practices in India | CUET Knowledge Tradition- Practices in India Syllabus | Check Here |
| Performing Arts | CUET Performing Arts Syllabus | Check Here |
| Environmental Science | CUET Environmental Science Syllabus | Check Here |
| Computer Science | CUET Computer Science Syllabus | Check Here |
| Economics | CUET Economics Syllabus | Check Here |
| Mathematics | CUET Mathematics Syllabus | Check Here |
| Accountancy | CUET Accountancy Syllabus | Check Here |
| Agriculture | CUET Agriculture Syllabus | Check Here |
| Anthropology | CUET Anthropology Syllabus | Check Here |
| Biology | CUET Biology Syllabus | Check Here |
| Business Studies | CUET Business Studies Syllabus | Check Here |
| Chemistry | CUET Chemistry Syllabus | Check Here |
| Physics | CUET Physics Syllabus | Check Here |
| General Aptitude Test | CUET General Aptitude Test Syllabus | Check Here |
Explore CUET coaching centers across different cities:
CUET 2026 Preparation Tips
CUET 2026 preparation requires a structured strategy to ace the exam with flying colours. Your raw score should be at least 235+ in each subject to secure a seat in a top university. Here are a few preparation strategies we have listed below that you may use in your preparation journey.
- The CUET syllabus is designed based on the 12th standard NCERTs. Check the syllabus and pattern before you directly jump to prepare randomly.
- Initially, study basics from the NCERTs, followed by standard books from legit authors who meticulously cover the CUET syllabus.
- Make a timetable where you will include what to study and give a deadline to cover the specific topic, so that you cover everything on time.
- Your study routine must include a slot for regular revision, mock tests and practice sessions.
- Always analyse your mock and aim at scoring 240+ in the mock to improve speed and accuracy.
Find the latest CUET subject-wise syllabus below:
| CUET Geography Syllabus | CUET Economics Syllabus |
| CUET Commerce Syllabus | CUET Humanities Syllabus |
| CUET Science Syllabus |
FAQs on CUET Exam Pattern 2026
NTA has laid out the CUET exam pattern. According to the pattern, the total mark is 250 for each subject. The exam will be held in CBT mode for 60 minutes. Each subject will have 50 questions, and each question carries 5 marks.
CUET is a highly competitive exam. Students can easily qualify the exam, but they need to prepare strategically. Consistency in revision, regular or weekly mock tests, and sectional tests will help them understand the pattern, difficulty level and improve time management skills.
700 out of 1000 is a good score; however, you should try to score 850+ marks in CUET. With this score, you have a high chance of getting admission into premier colleges like DU.
The CUET total marks per subject are 250. There will be 50 questions, and each carries 5 marks. 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. As per the NTA pattern, there is no deduction for unattempted questions.
The CUET pattern for science subjects is the same like other subjects. Each science subject is worth 250 marks. The question paper contains 50 questions, which students must answer within 60 minutes.
Yes, the CUET syllabus is entirely designed based on the NCERT curriculum. For the preparation, candidates are recommended to refer to the NCERT books thoroughly. As per the past years’ question papers, most questions come from the NCERT curriculum. However, students are advised to study from other standard books as well for in-depth study.
The CUET passing score is determined by the participating colleges. The passing score varies from course to course in all colleges. The passing score is released as the cutoff marks after NTA declares the results. The expected CUET 2026 passing score can be between 700 and 800 in top universities like DU, BHU, JNU, JMI, etc.
You can prepare for the CUET without coaching, but to score 99 percentile, you need guidance from expert mentors. In the CUET exam, more than 10+ lakh students take the exam, and to help you be in the top position, coaching will help you strategise your study, provide study material, mock series and practice sessions. This helps in improving speed and accuracy.
Checkout important resources for CUET Exam here: