Why to Take CUET: The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is one of the most important entrance exams for admission to undergraduate courses. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the exam for admission to UG courses offered by more than 240 CUET-participating institutes.
If you are someone juggling the preparation of multiple entrance exams and are confused about whether you should appear for CUET 2026 or not, this SciAstra article will help you overcome the confusion. It explains ten reasons why you should take CUET. To further assist you in decision-making, we have also listed the benefits and disadvantages (limitations) of taking the exam. So, read on!
What is CUET?
The Common University Entrance Exam (CUET) or CUET UG is a standard test that the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts for admissions to UG programmes offered by more than 240 institutes. NTA introduced the exam in 2022.
Some of the most renowned universities that participate in the CUET exam are Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Every year, more than 1,000,000 candidates appear for the exam. For admission to postgraduate courses, NTA conducts CUET PG.
The registration for the CUET 2026 is likely to start in the first week of March 2026 on the official CUET website – cuet.nta.nic.in. Check the table below to know the most important details about the exam:
| Features | Details |
| Exam Name | CUET UG, CUET Exam |
| Full Form | Common University Entrance Test |
| Exam Organizing Institute | NTA, National Testing Agency |
| Exam Level | Undergraduate Level |
| Exam Purpose | Single platform to provide admissions to the UG programmes at central, state, private and deemed universities. |
| Courses Offered | BA, BA Hons, BSc, BCom, BFA, BDes, BCA, BBA and other courses. |
| Eligibility | Class 12 appearing or passout students |
| Exam Mode | Online/Computer-Based Test |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| CUET UG Shift Details
(Subject to Change) |
|
| Registration Fee
(Subject to Change) |
|
| Type of Question | MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| CUET UG Negative Marking Scheme | +5 Marks for correct answer
-1 Marks for incorrect answer |
| Official Website | https://cuet.nta.nic.in/ |
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Ten Reasons to Take CUET
SciAstra has listed and explained ten points on why you should take CUET. These points will help you understand the importance of the exam:
- One Exam for Admission to Multiple Universities
As mentioned before, more than 240 institutes accept CUET scores. Appearing for one exam can open doors to multiple universities for candidates. However, they should note that to secure admission to a university through CUET, they must meet the university’s admission criteria for their preferred course.
Therefore, it is recommended that all candidates carefully check both the CUET eligibility criteria and the admission criteria of their chosen course before filling out the application form to ensure admission to the university of their choice.
- Fairness in the Admission Process
Before CUET, most institutes used to grant admission based on candidates’ board exam scores (merit-based admissions). In that situation, it was difficult for many students to secure admission, as the cutoffs were very high.
To address this issue, NTA introduced CUET to offer admission based on the same parameter, that is, candidates’ scores in the exam. Therefore, CUET ensures a fair admission process.
- Reduce Preparation Stress
Taking multiple entrance exams for UG admissions can be overwhelming for candidates. CUET solves this problem by allowing them to apply to multiple colleges through a single exam. As a result, it reduces preparation stress.
- Cost-Effective
Filling out forms for different entrance exams can be expensive, as candidates must pay an application fee for each exam. On the other hand, applying for CUET is cost-effective because they only need to pay a single application fee to apply for multiple courses.
Moreover, many colleges accepting CUET have relatively low fees. This makes the exam a gateway to budget-friendly colleges.
- Equal Opportunities
Candidates from all regions of India can appear for CUET to get admission to any State, Central or Private CUET participating in the country. Thus, the exam provides equal opportunities to candidates from all states in the country.
- Breaks the Language Barrier for Education
CUET is conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. This breaks the language barrier and allows speakers of 12 Indian languages, along with English, to take the test for UG admissions.
- Access to Prestigious Institutions
CUET allows candidates to apply to the most prestigious universities in India, such as DU, BHU, JNU, AMU and JMI. This means one exam can provide them access to the quality education offered by prestigious institutions in the country.
- Recognised Nationwide
More than 240 Central, Private, and State universities in India offer admission to UG programmes based on the CUET exam. Therefore, the exam is a nationally recognised admission process. Through CUET, candidates can choose to study anywhere in the country.
- Provides Flexibility in Course Choice
If candidates apply for CUET, they can select a maximum of five (5) subjects, including languages and General Aptitude. This helps them apply for multiple courses for admission.
- Beneficial for Indians, NRIs and Foreign Nationals
CUET is conducted in 285 test centres across India and 15 international test centres in Bahrain, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Germany, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, and the United States of America. Candidates from all regions of India, as well as NRIs and foreign nationals living in these mentioned countries, can conveniently take the exam.
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Why to Take CUET: Advantages
There are some advantages to taking the CUET exam. They are listed as follows:
- CUET allows students to apply to multiple universities simultaneously without having to travel across states for separate entrance exams.
- The exam provides a fair chance to students from lesser-known boards, as evaluation is based on one common standard.
- CUET results are valid for a wide range of universities, giving students flexibility in choosing both location and institution.
- By focusing on subject-specific knowledge, CUET helps students align their strengths directly with their chosen career path.
Disadvantages of Taking CUET
There are some limitations for taking CEUT. They have been mentioned below:
- Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for the exam, which makes it highly competitive.
- Students prepare for CUET alongside their board exams, which leads to additional preparation stress.
- Many candidates opt for coaching to prepare for the exam, which makes the preparation expensive.
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How to Prepare CUET
The preparation tips for each CUET subject can be different. However, there are some generic tips that can help with preparing for all CUET subjects:
- Understand the exam pattern and syllabus, and plan your preparation strategy accordingly.
- Solve previous years’ question papers.
- Take mock tests to assess the level of your preparation.
- Thoroughly read NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 books related to your chosen subjects, as questions are based on topics mentioned in these books.
Conclusion
CUET offers a unified and fair chance for undergraduate admissions across over 240 prestigious universities in India. It reduces exam stress by replacing multiple entrance tests with a single exam. The test also broadens educational access through multilingual test-taking facilities and nationwide test centres. It provides cost-effective opportunities to apply for diverse courses. These reasons make CUET an essential step toward higher education success.
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