CUET UG EXAM 2026

The CUET (Common University Entrance Test) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to undergraduate programmes in central universities and several participating state, deemed, and private universities across India. It aims to provide a better assessment of students compared to class 12 final scores which have ambiguity because of multiple boards of varied difficulty.

Educational Qualification

• Class 12 / Equivalent Examination: Candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognized board.
• Appearing Candidates: Candidates appearing in their Class 12 examination in 2026 are also eligible to apply, provided they complete all requirements within the timeline prescribed by the concerned university.

Minimum Marks Required in Class 12

• General Category: Typically minimum 50% aggregate marks in Class 12.
• SC/ST/OBC/PwD Categories: Typically minimum 45% aggregate marks.
• Professional Courses (e.g., B.Tech): Some universities may require 45% for General category and 40% for reserved categories.
• Participating Universities: Individual universities may prescribe specific minimum marks for admission.

Age Limit

• No Upper Age Limit: There is no age bar set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). However, individual universities may impose an age cap, if applicable.

Subject Mapping

• Subject Requirement: Candidates must choose CUET subjects based on the subjects they studied in Class 12, as required by the respective university or programme.

The CUET UG examination is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format with objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) only.

• Mode of Examination: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) only
• Number of Sections: Three
• Duration per Subject: 60 minutes
• Questions per Subject: 50

Section-Wise Exam Pattern (CUET UG 2026)

• Note: For Section II (Domain Subjects), questions are strictly based on the NCERT textbooks.

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer: +5 marks
• Incorrect Answer: –1 mark (Negative marking applies)
• Unanswered / Marked for Review: No penalty
• Dropped Question: +5 marks awarded to all candidates who attempted the question

Key Rules for 2026

• Subject Limit: Candidates can select at max 5 subjects.
• Discontinued Subjects: Some subjects have been discontinued in the CUET exam; for such cases, admission to related programmes is based on general test scores.
• Medium of Examination: Available in 13, including English, Hindi, and regional languages.
• Total Marks per Subject: 250 marks (5 marks).

CUET UG Selection Process: Step-by-Step Admission Procedure

Step 1: University-Specific Registration
After obtaining a CUET score, candidates must apply to individual participating cuniversities based on their preference.

Step 2: Merit List & Seat Allotment
Participating universities release seat allocation lists in multiple rounds.

• Seat Offer: If the candidate’s CUET score meets the cut-off for a selected preference, a seat is provisionally allotted.
• Acceptance Window: Candidates must accept the allotted seat within the specified timeframe (generally 2–3 days).
• Non-Acceptance: Failure to accept within the deadline results in cancellation of the allotted seat.