What is CUET Exam? Overview, Exam Pattern, Syllabus (for 2026)

The Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates (CUET UG) is an entrance exam for students who want to do UG in college after finishing Class 12. By taking this one test, students can apply to many central, state, private, and deemed universities across India.

CUET UG is needed for admission into courses like B.A., B.Sc., and B.Com. B.Tech., BBA, and more. It includes subjects from Science, Commerce, Arts, Social Studies, Engineering, Law, and Management. Many well-known universities and colleges use CUET UG scores every year to give seats to students.

Key Highlights of CUET 2026

The important overview details about the CUET exam are presented below in a simplified format to help you understand the exam structure quickly.

Feature	Details About IPMAT
Exam Title	Common University Entrance Test
Organising Institutes	NTA
Level of Examination	Conducted at the national level
How Often It Is Held	Takes place once every year
Mode of Test	Computer-based online examination
Subjects Covered	Language, Domain Subjects, General Test
Question Format	Includes objective questions and short response problems
Scoring Method	5 marks are awarded for each correct answer, while 1 mark is deducted for every wrong response
Medium of Paper	Based on Choose Language
Total Test Duration	60 minutes for each paper
Sections in the Paper	Divided into three separate sections
Official Information Sources	https://cuet.nta.nic.in/

Who is Eligible for CUET 2026?

Students who want to study in college after Class 12 can apply for CUET 2026. This exam helps them get admission into many universities through one common test conducted by the National Testing Agency.

• Students must have passed Class 12 from a recognized board or be appearing in Class 12 in 2026.
• Students from any stream, like Science, Commerce, or Arts, can apply.
• There is no fixed age limit for appearing in CUET UG.
• Students must also check the specific course and university rules before applying.

What is the CUET Syllabus?

The CUET 2026 syllabus is divided into three parts that students must prepare for before taking the exam. The topics mainly come from what students have already studied in Classes 11 and 12.

Section IA & IB (Language)

This part includes reading passages, understanding meaning, vocabulary, and language skills in a chosen language. Candidates can choose from 13 languages, such as English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

Section II (Domain-Specific):

There are 23 subjects like Accountancy, Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, History, Geography, Fine Arts/Visual Arts (Sculpture/Painting)/Commercial Art, Sanskrit, and more. Students choose the subjects they want to take based on their course choices. The questions are based on Class 12 NCERT topics.

Section III (General Test):

This part checks general knowledge, current affairs, simple maths, reasoning, and basic thinking skills. It also includes topics like logical reasoning and numerical ability. 

CUET Exam Pattern 2026

The table below will provide helpful information about the CUET exam pattern 2026

Criteria	Language Test	Domain Test	CUET General Aptitude Test
Mode	Online (Computer-Based Test)	Online (Computer-Based Test)	Online (Computer-Based Test)
Medium	Language Chosen	English/Language Chosen in Section I	English/Language Chosen in Section I
Number of subjects to choose	13	23	1
Duration	60 minutes	60 minutes	60 minutes
Type of Questions	Objective(MCQs)	Objective(MCQs)	Objective(MCQs)
Number of Questions (to be attempted)	50 questions	50 questions	50 questions
CUET Exam Total Marks	250	250	250
Marking Scheme	Correct Answer: +5	Correct Answer: +5	Correct Answer: +5
	Incorrect Answer: -1	Incorrect Answer: -1	Incorrect Answer: -1
	Unattempted Answer: 0	Unattempted Answer: 0	Unattempted Answer: 0

How to Register for CUET 2026?

Students can register for CUET 2026 online in a few easy steps through the official website of the National Testing Agency. Following each step carefully helps in completing the form without mistakes.

• Visit the official CUET website at cuet.nta.nic.in.
• Fill the registration form by entering your basic details.
• You will receive login details via your email and mobile number.
• Use these login details to sign in and fill out the CUET application form.
• Upload scanned copies of your passport-size photo and signature in the correct format.
• Pay the application fee using the online payment options.
• Download and keep a printout of the filled form for future use.

What is the CUET Application Fee 2026

The CUET 2026 application fee depends on the student’s category and the number of subjects chosen. The payment is made online while submitting the form. Here are the details for CUET application fees- 

Category	Fee for Up to 3 Subjects (India)	Extra Subject Fee (India)	Base Fee (Outside India)	Extra Subject (Outside India)
General (UR)	₹1000	₹400	₹4500	₹1800
OBC NCL / EWS	₹900	₹375	₹4500	₹1800
SC / ST / Transgender / PwBD	₹800	₹350	₹4500	₹1800

Which University/Colleges Accept CUET Scores?

Over 250+ institutions, including Central, State, Deemed, and Private Universities across India, accept CUET scores, giving students one common path to apply for different undergraduate courses. Here are some well-known universities that use CUET for admissions:

• University of Delhi
• Banaras Hindu University
• Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Aligarh Muslim University
• Delhi Technological University
• Amity University
• Alliance University
• Galgotias University

Top Coaching Centre for CUET:

• Top CUET Coaching in India
• Top CUET Coaching in Delhi
• Top CUET Coaching in Indore