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Updated By Ankita Jha on 27 Jan, 2026 17:11
CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026 offers applicants choices of up to 5 subjects from 37 options. CUET UG 2026 Exam will be conducted in CBT mode including 50 MCQs per paper, 60 mins each. Check latest details here!
Predict your Percentile based on your CUET performance
Predict RankCUET Exam Pattern must be known to the students who are willing to appear for CUET Exam 2026. CUET Exam pattern 2026 consists of exams for three sections namely language test, domain- specific subject exams and General Tests. Students appearing for CUET UG 2026 must check the details of exam patterns like total number of sections, mode of examination, exam duration, negative marking and format of question paper. Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate (CUET UG) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
CUET Exam Pattern is the same for all the subjects and each subject has 50 questions for 5 marks each. All the questions are objective types and are asked in MCQ format. The medium of instruction is English apart from 12 language selection and it is conducted in computer based test mode. Students are awarded with 5 marks for every correct answer and one marks get deducted for every incorrect option. Students can select up to 5 subjects as per the new exam pattern. CUET UG Exam 2026 has been scheduled to be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026 for admission to different courses offered under CUET UG 2026.
Also Read:Advantages and Disadvantages of taking CUET 2026 Exam
Students must go through the changes that have been incorporated in the CUET Exam Pattern 2026 as mentioned below:
Total Subjects & Selection
This reduction has been done by the NTA to simplify options and align testing with core academic domains.
This uniform duration helps students to manage their time effectively and avoid variations which were observed in earlier patterns.
Students must check the marking scheme and they should not attempt questions where they have doubts as there is negative marking also.
As mentioned earlier, CUET Exam is conducted for three main sections which is mentioned below:
This year NTA has made some changes in CUET UG 2026 exam pattern. We have given a table below to understand CUET 2026 exam pattern easily for students:
Parameters | CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026 |
|---|---|
Total number of subjects | 61 (33 languages, 23 domain-specific, and 1 General Test) |
Choice of Domain Subjects | Maximum 5 |
Medium of the test | 13 languages (Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu) |
Mode of the exam | Computer Based Test |
Total Questions | 50 questions for all the test papers |
Time duration | 60 minutes |
Pattern of questions | MCQs |
CUET exam pattern 2026 for UG is divided into four sections. Each section has a set of questions based on the domain selected by the candidates. Detailed information on CUET 2026 exam pattern in different sections is provided below.
CUET exam pattern 2026 for UG includes the Domain-specific subjects and languages. Check about the domain-specific CUET UG 2026 exam pattern below:
This section is compulsory for all candidates as per CUET UG exam pattern 2026. Candidates can choose their preferred language from a list of 13 Indian languages in Section 1A and 20 languages in Section 1B (a mix of regional Indian languages and foreign languages).
This section is also compulsory for all candidates as per CUET 2026 exam pattern. Candidates can choose five subjects from a list of 23 subjects. All the questions will be compulsory. The list of Domain Papers as per CUET exam pattern 2026 is as follows:
This section is compulsory for all candidates as per CUET 2026 exam pattern. The General Test covers topics in general knowledge, quantitative reasoning, logical reasoning, and analytical skills.
This section is optional as per CUET exam pattern 2026. Candidates can choose one subject from a list of 6 subjects. 40 questions are to be attempted out of 50 in each subject. The list of Additional Subjects is as follows:
Here are some tips for choosing Domain Papers:
Candidates who want to know the CUET 2026 exam structure must check the table below:
Sections | Subjects/ Tests | No. of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
Section IA | 13 Languages | 50 | 60 minutes |
Section IB | 20 Languages | ||
Section II | 23 Domain-specific Subjects | 50 | |
Section III | General Test | 50 |
CUET 2026 marking scheme hasn’t undergone much update. We have listed soem of the important details regarding mark division, section-wise mark distribution, and scheme of marking to be followed by NTA when evaluating students.
Check out the marking scheme for CUET UG exam pattern 2026 that is mentioned below:
Section | Correct Answer | Wrong Answer | Unanswered Question |
|---|---|---|---|
Section -IA | 5 Marks | -1 Mark | Zero Marks |
Section -IIA | 5 Marks | -1 Mark | Zero Marks |
Section -III | 5 Marks | -1 Mark | Zero Marks |
Section -IV | 5 Marks | -1 Mark | Zero Marks |
Want to know more about CUET
It is anticipated that NTA will not make any changes to the CUET 2026 syllabus. Students are advised to follow the NCERT syllabus for classes 11 and 12.
The following foreign languages have been dropped from Section 1B as per the revised CUET 2026 exam pattern:
For BSc Zoology, you need to choose two domain subjects from the CUET 2026 subject list. Biology should be compulsory but you can choose between physics and chemistry as per your preference.
The National Testing Agency will soon release a detailed notification containing the updated CUET 2026 exam pattern.
The exam has a total score of 800. To understand what factors contribute to a good CUET result, you must first understand the exam's average and highest scores. A CUET score of 400-550 is considered satisfactory.
The importance of these marks varies according to the university and course to which you are applying. Some universities use Class 12 results to make final admission decisions, focusing on a comprehensive assessment of a student's academic journey. However, for many others, the CUET scores continue to be the primary focus.
Candidates who score 700 or higher on the CUET exam are considered to have achieved the highest possible score. Candidates with this score will be eligible for admission to universities such as Banaras Hindu University, the University of Delhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru University, among others. A score of 650 or higher is considered good in the CUET exam.
Yes, there is a negative marking in CUET 2026 for wrong answers. According to the CUET 2026 examination pattern, one mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
There are 3 sections in CUET UG 2026. They are Section IA – 13 Languages, Section IB – 20 Languages, Section II – 27 Domain-specific subjects, Section III – General Test
A candidate can select any 10 subjects from all three sections.
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