CUET (Common University Entrance Test) is an exam held by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to help students get into different undergraduate, postgraduate, and research courses in Central Universities and other colleges across India. It is a single exam that allows students to apply to many universities at once, making the admission process easier and more organized.
he CUET UG 2026 exam is expected to be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026, as planned by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The exam will be conducted in computer-based (CBT) mode for admission to undergraduate courses across India.
Registration is likely to start around February 2026, and all official updates will be available on the NTA website. The exam will include language papers, domain subjects based on the NCERT syllabus, and a general test covering GK, mental ability, and numerical ability, depending on the university requirements.
CUET 2026 Important Dates Overview
| Event | Tentative Date |
| CUET UG 2026 Notification Release | January 2026 |
| Start of Online Registration | February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | March 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | March–April 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | May 2026 |
| CUET UG 2026 Exam Dates | May 11 to May 31, 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | June 2026 |
| Result Declaration | June–July 2026 |
| Counselling & Admission Process | July–August 2026 |
CUET UG 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | CUET |
| Full Form | Common University Entrance Test |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Courses Offered | UG and PG programs in central, state, private, and deemed universities |
| Exam Fees | INR 750 (General) |
| INR 700 (OBC-NCL, EWS) | |
| INR 650 (SC, ST, PwD, Transgender) | |
| INR 3,750 (International Centres) | |
| Exam Duration | Slot I: 9 AM - 11 AM |
| Slot II: 12:30 PM - 2 PM | |
| Slot III: 4 PM - 5:30 PM | |
| Marking Scheme | +5 for each correct answer |
| -1 for each incorrect answer | |
| Medium of Examination | 13 languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu |
| Official Websites | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| Contact Details | Phone: 011-69227700, 011-40759000 |
| Email: | cuet-ug@nta.ac.in |
CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern
CUET UG 2026 is conducted in computer-based (CBT) mode and has three sections: Language Test, Domain Subjects, and General Aptitude Test (GAT).
Students can choose up to 5 test papers based on the course and university they are applying to. The exam is held in multiple shifts over several days, and normalization of scores is done to ensure fairness between different shifts.
If you are preparing for the CUET exam, it is important to understand the CUET 2026 exam pattern. The exam is divided into three sections: Language Paper, Domain Paper, and General Aptitude Test.
The table below explains how the NTA designs the CUET UG 2026 question paper.
| 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 test papers | 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 |
CUET 2026 Exam Syllabus
The CUET UG 2026 syllabus is divided into three main sections:
- Language Papers
- Domain Subjects
- General Aptitude Test (GAT)
1. Language Papers (Section I)
This section tests your language skills. The syllabus includes:
- Reading Comprehension (factual, literary, and narrative passages)
- Grammar and Vocabulary
- Verbal Ability
Languages offered include:
English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Urdu, Assamese.
2. Domain Subjects (Section II)
Domain subjects are based mainly on the Class 12 NCERT syllabus. Students choose subjects according to the course and university they are applying for.
Popular domain subjects include:
- Accountancy
- Biology
- Business Studies
- Chemistry
- Computer Science / Informatics Practices
- Economics / Business Economics
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics / Applied Mathematics
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Environmental Science
- Agriculture
- Home Science
- Mass Media / Journalism
- Physical Education
- Fine Arts / Visual Arts
- Sanskrit
3. General Aptitude Test (GAT) – Section III
This section checks general awareness and thinking skills. Topics include:
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
- Numerical Ability
- Logical and Analytical Reasoning
- General Mental Ability
- Basic Science and Environmental Awareness
CUET 2026 Exam Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be aware of the eligibility criteria for CUET 2026 before applying for the exam. The following are the different categories that are required to be qualified to fill out the application form for the exam or to appear for the CUET 2026 exam.
Education Qualification
- The applicant must have completed the 10+2 intermediate exam from the recognized board for the undergraduate program. Applicants need to provide a passing certificate for the intermediate exam to appear in the exam.
- The applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from any accredited university to qualify for the CUET PG exam.
Nationality
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen, as only Indian citizens are allowed to appear for the CUET 2026 Exam.
- Because the CUET is an entrance exam for UG programs at Central Universities established by an Act of Parliament, each Central University must adhere to the Government of India's intake and seat reservation criteria.
Documents Required for CUET 2026 Exam
To complete the CUET 2026 application form, the following information and supporting documentation must be prepared.
- Personal Details
- Qualifying Exam Details
- Educational Details
- Correspondence Address
- Course and University Preference List
- Exam Centre
- Photograph, Signature, and Declaration
CUET 2026 Exam Application Fees
The application form fee can only be submitted online. Applicants can pay the application fee using a Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI payment gateway.
| No of Subjects | General (UR) | OBC-NCL/ EWS | ST/ SC/ PWBD /Third gender | Centers outside India |
| Up to 3 subjects | Rs. 750/- | Rs. 700/- | Rs. 650/- | Rs. 3750/- |
| Up to 7 subjects | Rs. 1500/- | Rs. 1400/- | Rs. 1300/- | Rs. 7500/- |
| Up to 10 subjects | Rs. 1750/- | Rs. 1650/- | Rs. 1550/- | Rs. 11000/- |
The application form fee can only be submitted online. Applicants can pay the application fee using a Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI payment gateway.