English records the highest number of candidates in the CUET exam. More than 800,000 students appeared in CUET 2025. Therefore, it is one of the most important subjects for aspirants of CUET 2026. Considering this, SciAstra has provided the detailed CUET 2026 English syllabus in this article.
The syllabus provided here is based on the previous year’s CUET session. NTA will release the CUET English syllabus 2026 in the first week of March 2026 (tentative), along with the CUET 2025 notification at cuet.nta.nic.in.
The exam authority will conduct the CUET 2026 exam in May/June 2026 in online Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across more than 300 test centres in India and abroad. The exam will consist of three sections: Section I (Language), Section II (Domain Subject), and Section III (General Aptitude Test). Read on to explore the complete CUET English syllabus.
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CUET 2026 Exam Pattern
Candidates who are going to appear for CUET 2026 must know the pattern of the exam, as the question paper will be based on it. Check out the CUET 2026 pattern details below:
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration | Question Types |
| Section IA – Language | 50 Questions | 60 minutes (for each chosen language) | Reading Comprehension based on different types of passages – Factual, Literary, and Narrative. Includes testing of Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary. |
| Section II – Domain Subjects | 50 Questions | 60 minutes | MCQs based on the Class 12 NCERT syllabus. Input text may be provided for certain questions. |
| Section III – General Test | 50 Questions | 60 minutes | MCQs based on:
|
| Subject Mapping for BA in English | Section I: English
Section II: Any three domain subjects Section III: General Aptitude Test |
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CUET 2026 English Syllabus: Detailed Topics
The CUET subject code for English is 101. The CUET English syllabus consists of two types of topics: 1. Reading Comprehension and 2. Verbal Ability. Check out the subtopics (covered areas) that come under the two topics.
- Reading Comprehension
This section includes three passages of 150-300 words each. There will be 4 questions based on each paragraph. The natures of these paragraphs have been described briefly below:
| 1. Factual Passages |
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| 2. Narrative Passages |
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| 3. Literary Passages |
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- Verbal Ability
Verbal Ability tests Grammar, logical sequencing, vocabulary knowledge, and contextual understanding of English usage. The main areas covered by it are the following:
| Topic | Area Covered |
| Match The Following | Vocabulary-based or context-based matching, such as matching words with meanings, phrases with uses, or authors with works. |
| Choosing The Correct Word | Fill-in-the-blank style questions testing grammar, vocabulary, and contextual usage of words. |
| Synonyms And Antonyms | Vocabulary enhancement through word meaning, opposites, and identifying contextually appropriate alternatives. |
CUET English Previous Year Question Paper PDF
The previous years’ question papers can greatly aid candidates in their exam preparation by helping them identify important topics from the exam perspective. The PYQ for the CUET 2025 English exam is provided below:
| CUET English Question Paper PDFs | |
| CUET English Question Paper 2025 | Click Here |
CUET 2026 English Syllabus PDF
NTA will issue the official PDF for the CUET syllabus 2026 for English in the first week of March 2026 (tentative) at cuet.nta.nic.in. Candidates will be able to download the PDF from the table below:
| CUET English Syllabus 2026 (PDF) | To be released |
CUET 2026 Preparation Tips for English
To prepare for the CUET 2026 English exam, candidates should use the preparation tips specific to the subject. The following preparation tips can help them achieve the objective:
- Go through the official CUET UG English syllabus to understand the important topics for the exam.
- Practice reading comprehension every day to enhance speed and accuracy.
- Enhance vocabulary by acquiring new words with synonyms and antonyms.
- Learn and practise basic grammar rules like tenses, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation.
- Practice solving previous years’ question papers to know the most important topics.
- Practice taking mock tests within a time limit to enhance time management and accuracy.
- Read passages of literature carefully to determine tone, theme, and point of view.
- Regularly solve questions related to error detection and sentence correction exercises.
- Practice rearranging sentences and “match the following” type questions.
- Regularly study English for a minimum of 30–45 minutes daily.
Conclusion
Every year, English receives the highest number of registrations among all CUET subjects. Candidates preparing for admission to a BA in English at institutes accepting CUET 2026 must align their preparation with the CUET 2026 English syllabus. The syllabus covers two main areas: (1) Reading Comprehension and (2) Verbal Ability. To score well in the exam, candidates should also practise previous years’ question papers and take mock tests.
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