The CUET exam syllabus has three parts: 13 language papers, 23 domain subjects such as Physics, Accountancy or History, and one General Aptitude Test. You pick up to five of these 37 papers based on the course you want. CUET UG, the Common University Entrance Test, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate courses in all central universities and many state, deemed and private universities. Each paper has 50 compulsory questions in 60 minutes on computer. This guide covers who can apply, the pattern, what each part of the syllabus contains, how universities use the score and how to prepare.
Everything below follows the latest CUET UG information bulletin and syllabus on the official website. Dates and fees change, so check the current bulletin before you apply.
What is CUET exam: CUET exam kya hota hai
CUET full form is Common University Entrance Test. Before CUET, central universities admitted students mostly on class 12 marks, and cut-offs of 95% and above were common. Now one test score is used across many universities. So when a student asks "CUET exam for what", the answer is: for admission to BA, BCom, BSc, BBA, BVoc and integrated courses at central universities and many others that accept the score.
CUET does not give you a seat by itself. After the result, you apply to each university, which makes its own merit list using your CUET marks and its own course eligibility rules.
There is also a CUET PG exam for master's admission after graduation. It is a separate exam with its own bulletin. This page is about CUET UG.
CUET exam kon de sakta hai: eligibility
| Point | Rule in the latest bulletin |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Class 12 or equivalent passed, or appearing this year |
| Age limit | No age limit for CUET; universities may set their own |
| Stream | Any stream can apply |
| Subjects you choose | Can be different from your class 12 subjects, but must match what your target course needs |
| Course eligibility | Set by each university (minimum 12th marks, required subjects) |
So any student who has passed or is writing class 12 can sit for CUET. The real filter is the university's rule for the course. A BSc Physics seat, for example, may need Physics and Maths in class 12 as well as the right CUET papers.
CUET exam pattern and total marks
All papers follow the same pattern. Here is the CUET UG exam pattern from the latest bulletin.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer based test only |
| Questions per paper | 50, all compulsory (no choice) |
| Time per paper | 60 minutes |
| Marking | Plus 5 for a correct answer, minus 1 for a wrong one, zero if left blank |
| Marks per paper | 250 (50 questions x 5 marks) |
| Maximum papers | 5, counting languages and the General Aptitude Test |
| Medium | 13 languages, chosen in the form and fixed after that |
The total marks of CUET exam depend on how many papers you take: 250 for each paper, so 1,250 if you take all five. Most universities look at the papers that matter for the course, not your overall total. That is why picking the right papers is more important than taking five.
CUET exam syllabus: languages, domain subjects and General Test
1. Languages (13)
English, Hindi and 11 other Indian languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Language papers test reading comprehension (factual, literary and narrative passages), vocabulary and literary aptitude. Many courses ask for one language paper, usually English.
2. Domain subjects (23)
These follow the NCERT syllabus for each subject. Examples include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Computer Science and Physical Education. The full subject list and chapter wise syllabus PDFs are on the official site. Always read the syllabus PDF of each subject you choose, since NTA lists exactly which chapters are included.
3. General Aptitude Test (1)
The General Test covers general knowledge and current affairs, general mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning (simple arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and statistics), logical and analytical reasoning, and general science and environment literacy. Courses like BBA, BMS and some vocational degrees often ask for it.
CUET syllabus for science students
Science students usually take English plus their main subjects. A typical CUET entrance exam syllabus plan by goal:
| Target course | Papers commonly needed |
|---|---|
| BSc Physics or Maths | English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| BSc Life Sciences, Zoology, Botany | English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| BSc Computer Science, BCA | English, Mathematics, Computer Science or General Test (varies) |
| BCom (Hons) | English, Accountancy, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics |
| BA (Hons) programmes | English plus subject papers or General Test (varies) |
These are common patterns, not rules. Every university publishes the exact paper combination for each course in its admission bulletin. Check the target university first, then fill your CUET form.
CUET colleges list and courses
The bulletin lists all central universities taking part, and the official portal also shows state, deemed, private and other institutions that accept CUET scores. The list changes every cycle, so treat the official portal as final. Popular central universities include Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, the University of Hyderabad and the central universities in most states.
Common CUET courses (UG) are BA, BA (Hons), BCom, BCom (Hons), BSc, BSc (Hons), BBA, BMS and BVoc, plus some integrated programmes listed by individual universities. ICAR also fills its all India quota seats in agriculture degrees through a CUET based route. Our guides on courses after 12th arts, courses after 12th commerce, BSc courses, BA course and agriculture courses explain what each degree leads to.
Is CUET exam tough and how to prepare
CUET is easier than JEE or NEET in difficulty, because questions stay close to the NCERT books. It is tough on speed and accuracy, since 50 questions in 60 minutes means just over a minute per question, and a wrong answer costs you a mark. Competition for top colleges is high, so small mistakes decide the merit list.
- Choose papers early: decide your target universities and courses by class 12 mid year, then pick papers to match.
- Do NCERT thoroughly: for domain papers, NCERT class 12 textbooks are the core. Board study and CUET study overlap a lot.
- Read daily for English: one editorial or long article a day improves reading speed for the language paper.
- General Test practice: 20 minutes of reasoning and arithmetic daily, plus a monthly current affairs revision.
- Mock tests on computer: practise 60 minute timed tests, as screen reading is slower than paper for many students.
Most students manage with three to six months of focused preparation alongside boards. If you are also aiming for engineering or medical seats, CUET is a good backup to JEE Main or NEET UG.
Official website, CUET exam form and fees
Apply only on the official CUET UG website, cuet.nta.nic.in. Students often search exams.nta.ac.in/cuet-ug or exam.nta.ac.in cuet ug, but the form, admit card and score card are on the CUET site and the main NTA site. In the latest bulletin, the CUET exam fees for centres in India were ₹1,000 for General (₹400 per extra paper), ₹900 for OBC (NCL) and EWS (₹375 per extra paper), and ₹800 for SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender candidates (₹350 per extra paper), for up to three papers, with bank charges and GST extra. Check the latest bulletin for current fees. For all other options, see entrance exams after 12th and courses after 12th.
Questions students ask
CUET exam for what courses?
CUET UG is for admission to undergraduate courses like BA, BCom, BSc, BBA and BVoc at all central universities and many state, deemed and private universities. Each university uses the score with its own course rules to make merit lists.
What is the CUET exam syllabus?
It has 13 language papers, 23 domain subjects that follow the NCERT syllabus, and one General Aptitude Test. You choose up to five papers based on your target course. Subject wise syllabus PDFs are on the official CUET website.
What are the total marks of CUET exam?
Each paper has 50 questions with 5 marks each, so 250 marks per paper. If you take five papers, the maximum is 1,250. A wrong answer costs 1 mark.
CUET exam kon de sakta hai?
Any student who has passed class 12 or is appearing this year can apply, from any stream. CUET has no age limit. But each university sets its own eligibility for each course, so check that before choosing papers.
Can I take a CUET subject that I did not study in class 12?
Yes, the bulletin allows you to choose papers irrespective of your class 12 subjects. But the university may still require that subject in class 12 for the course, so read the course eligibility first.
Is CUET exam tough?
The questions stay close to NCERT, so it is not as hard as JEE or NEET. The challenge is speed, with 50 questions in 60 minutes and negative marking, and high competition for top central universities.
Sources and official websites
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources. Rules change with each notification, so always read the latest one before you apply.
- NTA: Information Bulletin CUET (UG) (latest)
- NTA: CUET (UG) General Test syllabus
- CUET (UG) syllabus page
- CUET UG official website: information bulletin
- NTA: CUET (UG) frequently asked questions
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.