CUET English 2026 Paper Analysis: List of Questions asked from May 11 to 13; Most Important Topics
CUET English 2026 papers conducted from May 11 to 13 showed a gradual rise in difficulty level. Check the complete shift-wise analysis, important questions asked, students’ reviews, and important topics for upcoming CUET English shifts.
CUET English 2026tests held from May 11 to May 13 showed an increasing trend of difficulty levels in the shift-wise test papers with respect to paper patterns, which transitioned from Easy-Moderate to Moderate-Tough. The students felt that NTA had made an effort to ensure that vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension sections were adequately covered.
Although the May 11 test was relatively easy compared to other days, featuring reading comprehension and grammar exercises, the May 12 and May 13 tests included contextualised vocabulary, reading comprehension with inferential comprehension questions, and logical arrangement questions. In addition, many candidates noticed that time management during the May 13 tests was tough due to long reading comprehension questions and unclear answer choices.
CUET English Shift-Wise Analysis (May 11–13, 2026)
Date & Shift | Overall Difficulty |
May 11, 2026 (Shift 1 & 2) | Easy to Moderate |
May 12, 2026 (Shift 1 & 2) | Moderate |
May 13, 2026 (Shift 1 & 2) | Moderate to Tough |
Students and Experts Review
May 11, 2026
Students found that the paper was relatively simple and easy, with straightforward and scoring questions overall. Vocabulary, sentence completion, and para jumbles were easy; meanwhile, Reading Comprehension questions were factual and did not take much time. It was seen by the experts that candidates who had good grammar fundamentals and practice would have been able to answer most questions.
May 12, 2026
According to students, the paper had become slightly more analytical than on May 11. This involved questions on idioms, phrasal verbs, sentence structuring, and literary devices. It was observed by experts that the Reading Comprehension texts were story-based, hence moderating the difficulty level of the paper.
May 13, 2026
According to several candidates, the May 13 examination was challenging for some due to RC passages, complex vocabulary, and grammatical questions involving logical reasoning. Candidates indicated that time management was a problem due to complex options and inferential questions. According to the experts, the examination emphasised understanding concepts, analysis, and complex grammatical concepts such as narration and clauses.
Questions asked from Different Topics of CUET English 2026 (May 11 - 13)
1. Vocabulary (Synonyms & Antonyms)
Category | Words Asked | Correct Answer/Context |
Synonyms | Diligent | Hardworking |
Pertinent | Relevant | |
Petulant | Irritable / Childishly sulky | |
Grisly | Disgusting / Gruesome | |
Taciturn | Reserved / Silent | |
Sporadic | Occurring at irregular intervals | |
Accurate | Exact | |
Antonyms | Presumptuous | Unassuming |
Clear | Opaque / Foggy | |
Increase | Contract | |
Resonant | Cacophonous / Smothered |
2. Grammar & Sentence Structure
These questions tested the application of rules rather than just definitions.
Tenses:* "Whenever I miss him..." (Simple Present for habitual actions).
- "My dog died 5 years ago" (Simple Past for finished actions).
Sentence Completion:"Desert flowers can be invisible for years actually, but appear suddenly after heavy rain."
Narration (Indirect Speech):Transformations involving "She said that..." and reporting verbs for commands/requests.
Active/Passive Voice:Conversion of simple sentences (e.g., "The match was cancelled due to heavy rainfall").
Homophones:Identifying the correct word in context: Bear/Boar/Beer and Peak/Peek/Pique
3. Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement)
Logic-based sequences were a highlight of every shift.
Process-based:The sequential steps of the Digestion Process (Ingestion - Mouth - Stomach - Absorption).Narrative-based:A sequence involving a postman and a character named Ravi.
Descriptive-based:A sequence about Arctic Foxes and their camouflage/insulation.
Atmospheric-based:A logical flow describing a sunset: "The sun dipped behind the trees... the sky had shades of pink... the birds returned home.
4. Idioms, Phrases & One-Word Substitutions
Idioms & Phrases
- Let the cat out of the bag → Reveal a secret
- Hit the nail on the head → Say exactly the correct thing
- At once → Immediately
Phrasal Verbs
- Let up on her - Become less strict
- Nod off - Fall asleep
- Look up to - Respect
- Stand by
- Cut off
- Cut out
One-Word Substitutions
- Plutocracy - Government ruled by the rich
- Dipsomaniac - Person addicted to alcohol
- Bibliophile - Book lover
- Glutton - One who eats excessively
5. Figures of Speech (Literary Devices)
Identification questions based on specific lines:
Metonymy:"The pen is mightier than the sword."Personification:"The stars danced" / "The wind whispered through the trees."
Metaphor:"The classroom was a zoo" / "Time is a thief."
Alliteration:"She sells seashells on the seashore."
Phobias:Xenophobia (Fear of strangers/foreigners) and Gerascophobia (Fear of growing old)
6. Reading Comprehension (RC) Passages
- A factual/narrative passage about aBoy and his Grandma.
- A passage onBoondi Paintings (Cultural/Art focus).
- An informative passage onArtificial Intelligence (AI) and its modern implications.
Most Important Topics in CUET English 2026
Section | Most Important Topics |
Vocabulary | Synonyms, Antonyms, Foreign Words, One-Word Substitutions, Homophones, Contextual Vocabulary |
Grammar | Tenses, Active & Passive Voice, Direct & Indirect Speech, Question Tags, Clauses, Sentence Correction |
Reading Comprehension | Factual RCs, Inference-Based Passages, Story-Based RCs, Theme & Tone Identification |
Verbal Ability | Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Sentence Completion, Fill in the Blanks, Error Spotting |
Idioms & Phrasal Verbs | Idioms and Phrases, Phrasal Verbs, Match the Following Vocabulary Questions |
Literary Devices | Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Metonymy, Alliteration, Antithesis, Pun |
Miscellaneous Topics | Phobias, Figures of Speech, Logic-Based Flow Questions, Word Meaning in Context |
Considering the CUET English 2026 exams held from May 11 to May 13, aspirants preparing for forthcoming slots must concentrate on building their knowledge base on vocabulary, grammatical usage, reading comprehension, jumbled paragraphs, and figures of speech. According to specialists, aspirants need to consistently hone their skills in making inferences in RCs, substitution of single words, phrasal verbs, and narration problems, as these questions have been posed several times during various sessions.