CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Section-wise Paper Pattern, Exam Duration, & Marking Scheme

CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026 includes detailed CUET paper pattern, CUET sections, section-wise subject list, number of sections, total number of questions, exam duration, CUET marking scheme, and full marks. These details will help students grasp the CUET exam pattern and devise a suitable strategy for CUET preparation.

The NTA conducts the CUET UG exam in an online CBT mode. It will have three sections and a total of 37 papers. The test will solely comprise multiple-choice-based questions. There will be 50 compulsory questions in each paper, carrying 5 marks each. There will be a deduction of 1 mark for each incorrect answer. Overall, the CUET full marks for each paper will be 250. CUET exam pattern outlines that a student can choose a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 subjects in CUET; the overall full marks in CUET for a student can vary from 750 - 1250.

According to the latest updates and previous years’ trends, the CUET exam will tentatively be held from the second week of May onwards. Students must follow this page till the end to get a brief insight into the revised CUET 2026 exam pattern, CUET marking scheme, and an overview of the CUET 2026 syllabus.

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Latest CUET Exam Pattern

In collaboration with UGC, NTA announced significant changes in the CUET exam pattern in 2025. The pattern is expected to remain the same and not undergo any further changes in 2026. According to the latest CUET exam pattern, the following are the brief highlights.

Latest CUET Exam Pattern: Highlights

  • CUET 2026 will be conducted solely online in a CBT mode
  • There will be three sections, and a total of 37 subjects
  • There will be 50 compulsory questions for all the papers in CUET 2026
  • The exam duration will be the same for all 37 papers, i.e. 60 minutes
  • The medium of the question papers will be in 13 languages (Including English & Hindi).
  • Correct answers will be awarded five marks; a deduction of one mark for wrong answers
  • Students can choose five subjects from all three sections, including one language

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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 a part of the CUET (UG) 2026. A brief overview of the CUET exam pattern and the CUET marking scheme for 2026 has been provided below.

CUET Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

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 scribe (whether such a candidate uses the facility of scribe or not): 20 minutes for each hour of examination will be extended as per 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 and CUET marking scheme, 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.

Download the CUET Previous Year's Question Papers for all subjects from CUET 2022, 2023, and 2024 - absolutely FREE!

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CUET Mock Test

CUET 2026 Exam Pattern - Section-wise

The CUET exam pattern provides detailed information regarding the number and types of questions asked in the exam, paper-wise exam duration, CUET marking scheme, etc. Students must understand the latest pattern to align their CUET preparation accordingly.

The Latest CUET UG Exam Pattern 2026

Sections

Subjects/ Tests

No. of Questions

To be Marked

Duration

Section I

13 Languages

50

All questions are compulsory

60 minutes for each language

Section II

23 Domain subjects

50

All questions are compulsory

60 minutes for each subject

Section III

General Aptitude Test

50

All questions are compulsory

60 minutes

Note:

  • A candidate can choose a maximum of 5 subjects from all three sections combined.
  • The combination should include at least one language.
  • CUET UG 2026 will be conducted solely online in CBT mode.

CUET Exam Pattern - Subject List

According to the latest CUET exam pattern, all three sections combined will have 37 papers. The details of the same have been tabulated below. Students must thoroughly review the CUET 2026 exam pattern - subject list, to identify the papers for which they want to appear in CUET.

CUET Exam Pattern Subject List - Section I

There are a total of 13 languages in section I, including English & Hindi. The brief list includes the following subjects.

English

Hindi

Assamese

Bengali

Gujarati

Kannada

Malayalam

Marathi

Odia

Punjabi

Tamil

Telugu

Urdu

CUET 2026 Exam Pattern Subject List - Section II

There are a total of 23 subjects in section II (domain subjects). Previously, 29, 6 subjects were removed in 2025. The final list of 23 domain subjects from section II is as follows:

Accountancy/Bookkeeping

Agriculture

Anthropology

Biology

Business Studies

Chemistry

Environmental Studies

Computer Science

Economics

Fine Arts/Visual Arts/ Commercial Art

Geography/ Geology

History

Home Science

Knowledge Tradition-Practices India

Mass Media/Mass Communication

Mathematics / Applied Mathematics

Performing Arts

Physical Education/NCC/ Yoga

Physics

Political Science

Psychology

Sanskrit

Sociology

   

CUET UG Exam Pattern Subject List - Section III

Section III of CUET UG comprises a single paper. The paper is called the GAT or General Aptitude Test.

Note: Admission to all the dropped language courses and domain subjects will be based entirely on the student's General Aptitude Test (GAT) performance in CUET 2025.

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CUET UG Exam Pattern - Medium of Questions

The CUET 2026 exam pattern allows students to attempt the test in 13 languages. English & Hindi are two languages that the candidates can choose from in any state of India. The other 11 regional languages are primarily available in the states where the population mainly speaks it. Below is a detailed list of the CUET exam pattern - medium of the exam (language option).

CUET exam pattern - Medium of questions

Sl. No.

Language

Exam centers

1

English

All Examination Centres 

2

English and Hindi

All Examination Centres

3

English and Assamese

Examination Centres in Assam

4

English and Bengali

Examination Centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

5

English and Gujarati

Examination Centres in Gujarat, Daman & Diu,

Dadra & Nagar Haveli

6

English and Kannada

Examination Centres in Karnataka

7

English and Malayalam

Examination Centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep

8

English and Marathi

Examination Centres in Maharashtra

9

English and Odia

Examination centres in Odisha

10

English and Punjabi

Examination Centres in Punjab, Chandigarh, and

Delhi/New Delhi (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad,

Gurugram, Meerut, Noida/Greater Noida)

11

English and Tamil

Examination Centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry,

and Andaman & Nicobar Islands

12

English and Telugu

Examination Centres in Andhra Pradesh and

Telangana

13

English and Urdu

All Examination Centres in India

Candidates are requested to pay attention to this list. The language option for the question papers should be opted for correctly while filling out the application form, as students might not get a chance to change it at a later stage. Please note that the English version will be considered final for any discrepancies in the question paper in any language.


CUET 2026 Exam Pattern - Marking Scheme

The CUET exam pattern also includes detailed guidelines regarding the CUET marking scheme. It contains details for mark distribution per correct, incorrect, and unattempted questions in the CUET paper. According to the latest information, there will be no change in the CUET marking scheme for the upcoming exam in 2026. The following is the brief CUET marking scheme for 2026.

CUET 2026 marking scheme

Type

Marks

Right answer

+5

Wrong answer

-1

Unattempted question

0 (No negative marking)

Note:-

  • The English version will be upheld and considered for any discrepancies in the question paper.
  • If there are any wrong questions, all the students who have attempted it will be awarded the full marks.

Download the CUET Previous Year's Question Papers for all subjects from CUET 2022, 2023, and 2024 - absolutely FREE!

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Suggested Readings


CUET Exam Syllabus

To ramp up CUET 2026 preparation, candidates should thoroughly check the CUET syllabus and grasp the CUET exam pattern. We have already thoroughly covered the CUET exam pattern. Below is a brief overview of the CUET 2026 syllabus for all three sections.

CUET 2026 Syllabus: Overview

Particular

Overview

Syllabus

Language (section IA & IB) - Language is to be tested through reading comprehension (based on different types of passages), grammar, literary aptitude, vocabulary, etc.

Domain Subject (section II) - Complete NCERT Class 12 Syllabus for respective subjects.

General Aptitude Test (section III) - General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts, arithmetic/algebra, geometry/mensuration/statistics), Logical and Analytical Reasoning, etc.

Check the detailed CUET syllabus for all the subjects across three sections.

This briefly overviews the CUET UG exam pattern 2026 and the CUET Marking Scheme. Students must ramp up their preparation with a comprehensive coaching program. This would enable them to score maximum marks in the test and secure admission to their dream colleges.


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