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How Many Subjects are Compulsory in CUET 2026? Check Guide

Nidhi Priya

Nidhi Priya

26 Jun 2026
cuet compulsory subjects

There is no fixed number of subjects required for CUET 2026. However, as per the official CUET 2026 notification, candidates are allowed to choose up to 5 subjects from the list of 37 subjects provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA). There are 3 sections: the Language section, which includes 13 subjects, 23 CUET Domain subjects and the General Aptitude Test.  

Candidates, while selecting the subjects, must check the CUET course mapping criteria of the universities they are applying to. Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria specified by the universities. CUET UG 2026 is scheduled to be held from May 11 to May 31, 2026. 

Table Of Contents

  • CLAT PG: All About CLAT Postgraduate Exam for LLM

How Many Subjects are Required for CUET 2026?

CUET subject selection policy has been streamlined to provide flexibility to students taking the exam. The subject requirements are as follows.

  • Students have the option to select 5 subjects from the list of 37 subjects offered by the NTA.
  • Candidates can also select 3 or 4 subjects from the Language section, Domain and General Aptitude Test.
  • Students cannot choose a certain number of subjects alone from one section; it should be a combination of subjects from all the sections.

Join our Online CUET Coaching to boost your preparation significantly!

CUET Subject Structure 2026 (Section-Wise Breakdown)

A section-wise breakdown of CUET subjects is provided below. Check the section-wise list and go through the subject combination and the eligibility criteria of the university you are interested in.

Section 1 – Languages (List of CUET Languages)

Among the list of 13 Language subjects, you can choose at least one language you are interested in. Check the language subject offered below.

CUET UG Language Subjects
English Marathi
Hindi Odia
Assamese  Punjabi
Bengali Tamil 
Gujarati Telugu
Kannada Urdu
Malyalam -

Section 2 – Domain Subjects (Complete List)

From the domain subject list, you can choose 2 to 3 subjects as per the guidelines or the subject combination released by the university. Check the complete list of domain subjects provided below.

CUET UG Domain Subjects CUET Syllabus
1. Accountancy/ Book Keeping CUET Accountancy Syllabus
2. Agriculture CUET Agriculture Syllabus  
3. Anthropology CUET Anthropology Syllabus  
4. Biology CUET Biology Syllabus
5. Business Studies CUET Business Studies Syllabus  
6. Chemistry CUET Chemistry Syllabus  
7. Computer Science/ Informatics Practices CUET Computer Science Syllabus  
8. Economics/ Business Economics CUET Economics Syllabus  
9. Fine Arts/ Visual Arts (Sculpture/ Painting)/Commercial Arts CUET Fine Arts Syllabus  
10. Geography/Geology CUET Geography Syllabus  
11. Home Science CUET Home Science Syllabus  
12. History CUET History Syllabus  
13. Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India CUET Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India Syllabus
14. Environmental Science CUET Environmental Science Syllabus  
15. Mathematics CUET Mathematics Syllabus  
16. Physical Education/ NCC /Yoga CUET Physical Education Syllabus  
17. Physics CUET Physics Syllabus  
18. Political Science CUET Political Science Syllabus  
19. Psychology CUET Psychology Syllabus  
20. Sociology CUET Sociology Syllabus  
21. Mass Media/ Mass Communication CUET Mass Media/ Mass Communication Syllabus  
22. Performing Arts CUET Performing Arts Syllabus  
23. Sanskrit CUET Sanskrit Syllabus

Section 3 – General Test (Aptitude & Reasoning)

The General Aptitude Test is not mandatory. However, some universities includes General Aptitude Test in their course combination for certain courses. The General Aptitude Test (GAT) includes the following sections, which students must cover for the exam.

  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • Logical Reasoning
  • GK and Current Affairs
  • Environment Literacy and General Science

Checkout important resources for CUET Exam here:

CUET Application Form CUET Universities List
CUET Exam Day Guidelines CUET Registration
CUET Marks vs Percentile CUET Application Fees
CUET Exam Centers CUET Passing Marks

How to Choose the Right Subjects for CUET 2026

Choosing the right subjects is crucial as your admission to the course is based on the marks scored in those subjects. Some key tips to select the right CUET subject are as follows:

  • To maximise your score, you can choose 5 subjects. You can select 1 language subject, 3 domain subjects and a General Aptitude Test.
  • If you want to choose stream-specific subjects, then the suggested combination can be 1 language and 3 domain subjects, or you can choose based on your interest and university-specific conditions.

Checkout important resources for CUET Exam here:

CUET Passing Marks CUET Eligibility Criteria
CUET Exam Pattern CUET DU Cut Off
CUET Cut Off CUET Course List
CUET Preparation 2026 CUET Result 2026

Stream-Wise Subject Selection for CUET (Science, Commerce, Arts)

CUET Subject Mapping for Science

It is recommended that students choosing the science subjects should select the subject they have studied in 12th class. You may refer to the following course-wise subject combination provided below.

Course / Subject Recommended Subject Combination
B.Sc. (Pass) Home Science Combination I: 1 Language + 3 Subjects from List B
Combination II: 2 Languages + 2 Subjects from List B
Combination III: 1 Language + 1 Subject from List B + General Test
Biological Science / Botany / Zoology / Microbiology Physics + Chemistry + Biology / Biological Studies / Biotechnology / Biochemistry
Physics / Chemistry / Polymer Science Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics / Applied Mathematics
Geology Combination I: Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics
Combination II: Physics + Chemistry + Geography/Geology
Combination III: Physics + Chemistry + Biology/Biotechnology
Statistics Combination I: 1 Language + Mathematics + 2 Subjects from List B
Combination II: 2 Languages + Mathematics + 1 Subject from List B

CUET Subject Combination for Commerce

Students willing to pursue their graduation from the commerce stream can check the recommended subject combination provided below.

Course / Subject Recommended Subject Combination
B.Com (Program) Combination I: 1 Language + 3 Subjects from List B
Combination II: 1 Language + 1 Subject from List B + General Test
B.Com (Hons) Combination I: 1 Language + Mathematics + 2 Subjects from List B
Combination II: 1 Language + Accountancy + 2 Subjects from List B

CUET Subject Combination for Humanities 

For Arts students, it is suggested that they select at least 1 language subject with 2 to 3 domain subjects from list B. Course-wise subject combinations are given below. 


Course / Subject

Recommended Subject Combination
B.A. (Program)  Combination I: 1 Language + 3 Subjects from List B
Combination II: 2 Languages + 2 Subjects from List B
Combination III: 1 Language + 1 Subject from List B + General Test
B.A. Economics (Hons) 1 Language + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics + 2 Subjects from List B
Psychology / History / Sociology / Pol Science / Geography / Philosphy Combination I: 1 Language + 3 Subjects from List B
Combination II: 2 Languages + 2 Subjects from List B
English / Hindi (Hons) Combination I: English/Hindi + 3 Subjects from List B
Combination II: English/Hindi + 1 Language + 2 Subjects from List B

Find Must-Have CUET Study Materials in One Place

CUET Mock Test CUET Syllabus
CUET Study Material CUET Question Paper
CUET Merit List CUET Good Score

Is It Mandatory to Choose All Sections in CUET?

No, it is not mandatory to select subjects from all three sections, which are 13 Language subjects, 23 Domain subjects and 1 General Test. In accordance with the NTA rules, students have the flexibility to choose the subject from any section they want. They can select up to 5 subjects for the CUET UG 2026. But candidates should check the subject combination and eligibility of the course before applying for it.

Grab the Ultimate CUET Study Kit in One Click

CUET UG Answer Key CUET Exam Analysis
CUET Phase 1 & Phase 2 CUET Total Marks
CUET Counselling 2026 CUET Previous year question paper
CUET Compulsory Subjects  

How Many Subjects are Necessary to Get Admission in Top Universities?

The maximum number of courses you choose will decide your score in CUET. If you aim to attend top-tier universities, it is suggested to choose subjects from all three sections. This will give you enough opportunity to apply to any university you want for the counselling. 

CUET Subject Selection Tips for 2026

Some important tips to consider before you choose the subject areas are as follows:

  • Choose the subjects you have already studied in 12th standard.
  • You can choose 1 language subject based on your interest and subject choice in 12th standard.
  • You can choose the General Aptitude Test if you are interested in subjects BBA, BMS or Journalism.

Explore CUET coaching centers across different cities:

CUET Coaching in Jaipur CUET Coaching in Gwalior
CUET Coaching in Bhopal CUET Coaching in Lucknow

Find the latest CUET subject-wise syllabus below:

CUET Science Syllabus CUET General Test Syllabus
CUET Commerce Syllabus CUET Humanities Syllabus

Checkout CUET Colleges in India:

CUET Colleges in Rajasthan CUET Colleges in Jaipur
CUET Colleges in West Bengal CUET Colleges in Maharashtra
CUET Colleges in Bangalore CUET Colleges in Lucknow
CUET Colleges in Hyderabad CUET Colleges in Karnataka
CUET Colleges in Indore CUET Colleges in Pune
CUET Colleges in Punjab CUET Colleges in Mumbai
CUET Colleges in Bihar CUET Colleges in Chennai
CUET Colleges in Telangana CUET Colleges in Gujarat
BTech CUET Colleges in Rajasthan  

FAQs On CUET Compulsory Subjects

Yes, students can select 3 subjects in CUET. However, they must choose from at least 1 language subject among the 13 Language subjects, one from the Domain subject and a General Test.

Domain subject is the compulsory subject in CUET 2026. Candidates need to select at least 1 domain subject from the 23 subjects provided by the NTA.

No, choosing 5 subjects in CUET is not mandatory. NTA has allowed students to choose a maximum of 5 subjects from the Language section, Domain subjects and General Aptitude Test.

For DU, you can choose at least 3 domain subjects along with a language subject. Select the subject you had in your class 12 as it gives an edge in preparation and a chance of selection during the merit list.

Yes, you can opt for 4 subjects in the CUET exam. If you choose 4 subjects, the total marks would be 1000, and your score and percentile will be determined based on the marks obtained in the 4 subjects.

To prepare for CUET in 7 days is not possible. 7 days before the exam, you can focus on revision of the topics you have covered. You can take online quizzes, mock and practice sessions to revise the high-weightage topics.

Yes, CUET UG 2026 is completely based on the Multiple Choice Question format. According to the CUET pattern, the question paper contains 50 MCQs based on the domain subject opted for by the students.

Yes, the CUET syllabus is based on NCERTs pattern, which is crucial for foundational learning. While NCERT is good for basic concepts of the topics, students are recommended to solve PYQs, practice questions, and take as many mock tests as possible before the exam to achieve the required target.

NCERT is good for conceptual clarity for the CUET exam. The syllabus is designed based on the NCERT, and the questions are mainly concept-based and application-based. With the NCERTs, you have other standard books to deal with analytical and application-based questions.

No, PYQ is not enough to qualify the CUET exam. Though PYQs can help you to understand the pattern, difficulty level and what types of questions are asked in the exam. Along with the PYQs, you need reference books, revision, and mock series with rigorous preparation to score in the 99+ percentile.
Nidhi Priya

Nidhi Priya

Nidhi Priya has over 6 years of experience in EdTech content and SEO. She specializes in content strategy, organic growth, and mentoring editorial teams, with previous experience at iQuanta, CollegeDekho, and Careers360.

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