At more than 400 locations in India and overseas, the NTA will administer the CUET (UG) in thirteen different languages. The availability of other exam languages will vary by state, but Hindi and English will be available at all centres.
How to Ace CUET 2026: To gain a brief understanding of the essential (tentative) details of CUET 2026, read this article. This article covers every important detail, including the latest exam pattern, the best strategies, YouTube channels, and mistakes to avoid. To begin preparing for CUET 2026, students can also download the CUET sample paper and previous years’ question papers.
Table of Contents
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Overview
NTA conducts the CUET for UG admissions to all the participating universities across India. 217 universities (including 47 central universities – DU, JNU, Hyderabad University, Allahabad University, and many more) will be part of the CUET (UG) in 2026. A brief overview of the CUET exam pattern for 2026 has been provided below.
CUET Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Online (CBT mode) only |
| Number of Sections | 3 Sections [Language (section I), Domain-Specific subjects (section II), and General Aptitude Test (section III)] |
| Exam Slots | Two slots [Morning (9 am to 12 pm) & Afternoon (3 to 6 pm)] |
| Marking Scheme | +5 – for the correct answer
-1 for the wrong answer 0 for unattempted question |
| Number of Questions | There will be 50 compulsory questions for each paper across sections |
| Exam Language | The exam will be conducted in 13 languages (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, English, Hindi and Urdu) |
Concerned candidates must take note of the following:
- Compensatory time for PwBD Candidates eligible for a scribe (whether such a candidate uses the facility of a scribe or not): 20 minutes for each hour of examination will be extended as per the Govt policy.
- Such extra time will be extended test-wise and not in the aggregate duration of the slot.
Once students are well-versed with the CUET 2026 exam pattern, they must thoroughly check the CUET syllabus. Students must know the detailed syllabus of the subjects they aspire to appear for in CUET UG. This would enable them to prepare comprehensively for the test and boost their CUET scores
How to Prepare for CUET: A Comprehensive Guide
To secure high scores and gain admission to their preferred colleges, students must meticulously strategise their CUET preparation. A thorough, step-by-step guide to effective CUET 2026 preparation is provided below:
An All-Inclusive CUET Preparation Plan
To ensure you pass the CUET UG exam without experiencing any sleepless nights, adhere to these comprehensive guidelines for effective preparation.
Understanding the Curriculum for CUET
There are some differences between the CUET (UG) syllabus and the corresponding Boards, despite their similarities. To ensure you don’t miss anything, make sure you comprehend the CUET syllabus. Students must familiarise themselves with the syllabus and obtain the necessary study materials before they begin to prepare for the CUET exam.
Selecting a subject is the most crucial aspect of CUET 2026 preparation. Subjects must be shortlisted by the student according to their chosen university and courses. This will enable students to focus more on their CUET preparation.
Make a suitable timetable.
By developing an appropriate CUET study plan, students can preserve consistency and create a routine. When making the schedule, consider the CUET timeline to determine the time available each day. This will further improve students’ readiness for the CUET 2026.
A Brief Study Plan for CUET
For CUET, a comprehensive study plan is necessary. It ought to take into account going over and revising the syllabus. Make notes and underline important sections as you review the CUET 2026 syllabus. By allowing them to quickly review the important sections before the test, this will help the students prepare better for the CUET UG.
Examine the CUET question papers.
It is advised that students who are unclear about how to thoroughly prepare for CUET review the CUET question paper from the prior year. This is a crucial step in preparing for the CUET. Working through the previous year’s papers would provide a more profound understanding of the exam structure and important topics that form the basis of most of the exam’s questions.
Take a Look at the CUET Practice tests.
The best method for candidates to track their progress and assess their strengths and weaknesses is to take CUET mock exams. Writing practice exams can help candidates prepare for CUET 2026 in several ways, from understanding the paper format to learning time management strategies.
Best YouTube Channels for CUET Prep
With its extensive subject coverage, CUET, one of India’s most rapidly expanding competitive exams, can be intimidating. While resources like books, mock exams, and in-person coaching are essential, the abundance of free CUET preparation videos on YouTube is like finding a treasure trove of knowledge.
The problem? The sheer number of videos available makes it easy to become distracted by irrelevant fare. You can save a ton of time, get your questions answered, and stay motivated with the correct channel.
Students must know how to make strategic use of YouTube – not to replace, but to augment, their formal study. In this blog, we’ll go over some of the best practices for making the most of our CUET YouTube videos.
What You’ll Find on Career Launcher’s CUET YouTube Playlist
- Complete Syllabus Coverage
- English, General Test, and Domain-specific subjects are explained topic-wise.
- Short revision videos for last-minute prep.
- Exam Strategy Sessions
- Tips on how to attempt different sections.
- Time management and question selection strategies.
- Daily Practice Questions
- MCQs, reasoning puzzles, and comprehension sets with live solving.
- Current Affairs Updates
- Concise, relevant updates designed specifically for CUET GK and the General Test.
How to Use Career Launcher’s YouTube for CUET Prep
- Follow the playlist in order; build concepts step by step.
- Take Notes While watching; treat each video like a live class.
- Practice after watching; apply concepts immediately to lock them in.
- Revise weekly by revisiting tricky topics through short recap videos.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in CUET 2026
Because the CUET test impacts college admissions in India, it’s more important than ever to plan. A lot of the time, English and GAT are challenging, and they’re a big part of a student’s test score.
- Not paying attention to how well you understand what you read
Problem: Skimming the text and missing important details.
Recommended Practice: To better understand what you’re reading, underline words you don’t know, highlight important points, and try 2–3 different RCs every week.
- Not Learning Grammar and Vocabulary
Problem: It’s hard to make sentences and choose the right words if you don’t have good basic skills.
Recommended Practice: Read more, make flashcards, and practise a lot to get better at grammar (like tenses, SVA, and parts of speech) and vocabulary.
- Not giving enough time to practise mocks.
Problem: When you’re impatient, you make mistakes that don’t need to happen. You often skim through accurate practice and so miss out on scoring well in your GAT paper.
Recommended Practice: Learn how the test is set up, give each section a certain amount of time, and take practice tests to get better at timing and accuracy.
- Not Following the Course Outline
Problem: Studying without knowing what’s on the official syllabus.
Recommended Practice: Make a study plan, break the syllabus into parts, and focus on the most important parts.
- Quickly answering questions with multiple choices
Problem: You messed up because you didn’t pay enough attention to your options.
Recommended Practice: Read each choice carefully, use the process of elimination, and only change your answers if you have a good reason to do so.
- Not Looking at Test Results
Problem: You won’t be able to figure out what you did wrong if you don’t look over your practice tests.
Recommended Practice: Use platforms that let you see your tests in detail and go over each practice test to see what you did well and what you could do better.
Conclusion
Achieving a high score on the CUET UG requires more than just studying; it also requires effective preparation. Additionally, taking practice exams and following a scheduled study, either CUET online coaching or just doing self-study, is the best way to prepare. To avoid any surprises on test day, they assist you in identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and level of preparation.
Whether it’s for Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, or another prestigious central university, regular practice of mock exams will increase your accuracy, boost your confidence, and prepare you for any exam.
Thus, start early, stay on course, and keep in mind that each practice exam you take brings you one step closer to realising your goal of becoming a CUET UG.
All the best
Team CL-CUET!
