CUET UG 2026 exam pattern is released by the NTA, the exam officials, every year in the information brochure upon the release of the application process. The CUET 2026 exam pattern depicts the number of sections, types of questions, exam duration, and the number of shifts in which the exam will be conducted by the exam authority.
As per the previous year’s CUET UG exam pattern, the exam will be conducted in online/CBT mode for 2 to 3 hours, depending upon the subject selection by the test takers. CUET UG 2026 will be divided into three sections: Languages, Domain, and General Aptitude Test. Each section will consist of 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
The questions will be asked from the specified CUET UG syllabus 2026. The medium for the CUET UG question paper will be either English or one of the 12 regional languages chosen by the candidates.
Check out the detailed CUET UG exam pattern 2026, negative marking scheme, number of questions, and other details on this SciAstra exam page.
Table of Contents
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern- Highlights
Before starting the CUET UG 2026 preparation, candidates must know the exam pattern details, types of questions asked in the examination, marking scheme and other details from the below highlights section:
Particulars | Details |
Exam Name | Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) |
Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test – CBT) |
Medium of Exam | 13 Languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu) |
Type of Questions | Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions – MCQs) |
Sections in Exam | • Section IA & IB – Languages • Section II – Domain Subjects • Section III – General Test |
Number of Domain Subjects | 23 Subjects |
Total subjects. | 37 (13 Indian languages + 23 domain-specific subjects + 01 General Aptitude Test) |
Total Subjects to Choose | Maximum 5 Subjects (combination of Languages, Domain, and General Test) |
Marking Scheme | +5 Marks for Correct Answer -1 Mark for Incorrect Answer 0 for Unattempted |
Total Marks | Varies depending on subjects chosen (Each subject carries 200 marks) |
CUET Exam Pattern 2026
Check out the section wise CUET exam pattern 2026 from here:
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 Specific Subjects | 50 Questions | 60 minutes | MCQs based on Class 12 NCERT syllabus. Input text may be provided for certain questions. |
Section III – General Test | 50 Questions | 60 minutes | MCQs based on: • General Knowledge & Current Affairs • General Mental Ability • Numerical Ability • Quantitative Reasoning (basic concepts of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration taught up to Grade 8) • Logical & Analytical Reasoning |
CUET UG 2026 Marking Scheme
Before answering the questions asked in the examination hall, the candidate must know the marking scheme of the examination. Check out the CUET UG negative marking scheme from here:
- For every right answer marked by the candidate in the exam, +5 marks will be awarded to the candidate.
- For every incorrect answer marked by the candidates in the examination, -1 mark will be deducted from the candidate.
- If the candidate has not answered any question or marked it as the “Unanswered/ Marked for Review”, no marks will be deducted.
- If more than one correct answer is found by the exam officials in the question paper, +5 marks will be awarded for the candidates who have marked any of the options of the particular question.
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Section Wise Details
Check out the division of sections in CUET Exam Pattern 2026 like languages/Subject/General Aptitude Test from here:
Section I – Languages | Section II – Domain-Specific Subjects | Section III – General Aptitude Test |
• Tamil • Telugu • Kannada • Malayalam • Marathi • Gujarati • Odia • Bengali • Assamese • Punjabi • English • Hindi • Urdu | • Accountancy/Book Keeping • Agriculture • Anthropology • Biology • Business Studies • Chemistry • Computer Science / Informatics Practices • Economics / Business Economics • Fine Arts / Visual Arts (Sculpture / Painting) / Commercial Arts • Geography / Geology • Home Science • History • Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India • Environmental Science • Mathematics • Physical Education / NCC / Yoga • Physics • Political Science • Psychology • Sociology • Mass Media / Mass Communication • Performing Arts • Sanskrit | • Optional section • Can be chosen for discontinued subjects, Vocational / Open Eligibility / Cross Stream courses • Includes questions on General Aptitude as per university requirements |
CUET UG Section II Syllabus (Domain Subjects)
NTA, the examination conducting body offers 23 domain-specific subjects. The candidate will be able to choose up to five subjects including languages and General Aptitude Test. The CUET UG domain-specific subjects syllabus is as follows:
Subject | Syllabus PDF |
Accountancy | |
Agriculture | |
Anthropology | |
Biology | |
Business Studies | |
Chemistry | |
Computer Science/Informatics Practices | |
Economics | |
Fine Arts/Visual Arts | |
Geography | |
Geology | |
History | |
Home Science | |
Knowledge Tradition & Practices of India | |
Environmental Science | |
Mathematics | |
Physical Education/NCC/Yoga | |
Physics | |
Psychology | |
Sociology | |
Mass Media | |
Performing Arts | |
Sanskrit |
