NCET 2026 exam pattern will be mentioned in the official information brochure for the upcoming session. The NCET 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled to be held in the fourth week of April 2026 in online (CBT) mode.
As per the previous year’s trends, the NCET exam pattern will test candidates on the prescribed NCET syllabus through Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) from Languages, Domain Subjects, General Aptitude, and Teaching Aptitude sections. Test-takers will be given 180 minutes (three hours) to complete the exam, and a negative marking scheme will apply for incorrect answers.
A total of 181 MCQs will be asked across all four sections, out of which candidates will be required to answer 160 questions, making some questions optional.
There will be 38 languages, from which a candidate needs to choose two, and 26 domain-specific subjects, out of which candidates can select up to three optional subjects.
Read this SciAstra exam page to get complete insights on the NCET 2026 exam pattern, including the type of questions, number of sections, total marks, and negative marking scheme.
Table of Contents
NCET 2026 Exam Pattern Overview
Candidates can check out the overview of the NCET 2026 exam pattern from here:
Particulars | Details |
Exam Name | National Common Entrance Test (NCET) 2026 |
Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Purpose of Exam | Admission to 4-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programmes (ITEP) such as B.A. B.Ed., B.Sc. B.Ed., and B.Com. B.Ed. |
Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Test (CBT) – Online Mode |
Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
Total Duration | 180 Minutes (3 Hours) |
Total Sections | Four Sections – Language, Domain-Specific Subjects, General Test, and Teaching Aptitude |
Total Number of Questions | 181 Questions (out of which 160 are to be attempted) |
Medium of Exam | 13 Languages (including English, Hindi, and regional languages) |
Shift Timing | Two Shifts – Morning (9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon) and Afternoon (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM) |
Level of Questions | Based on Class 12th syllabus |
Exam Frequency | Once a year |
NCET Exam Sections and Question Distribution 2025
Candidates can check out the NCET 2026 section-wise exam pattern and distribution from here:
Section | Subjects / Tests | Questions to be Attempted | Compulsory / Optional |
Section 1 – Languages | There are 38 different languages available in this section. Candidates must choose any two languages (Language 1 and Language 2).
| 20 questions per language paper (Total 40) | Optional (Choose any 2 languages) |
Section 2 – Domain-Specific Subjects | A total of 26 Domain-Specific Subjects are offered under this section. Candidates may choose any three subjects as per the eligibility and requirements of the respective University/Institution.
| 25 questions per subject (Total 75) | Optional (Choose any 3 subjects) |
Section 3 – General Test | This is a mandatory section for all candidates.
| 25 questions | Compulsory |
Section 4 – Teaching Aptitude | This is also a mandatory section.
| 20 questions | Compulsory |
Candidates need to select the language option for the Question Paper while filling up the Application Form, and it must be noted that once the choice is fixed, it cannot be changed at a later stage. The correctness of the questions in all the question papers, the English version will be taken as the final.
NCET Exam Pattern: Section-wise
All questions in the NCET 2026 exam will be Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The detailed paper pattern is as follows:
Test Paper | Total Questions | Questions to be Attempted | To be Chosen From |
Language 1 | 23 | 20 | To be chosen from Section 1 (38 languages) |
Language 2 | 23 | 20 | Other than Language 1 in Section 1 |
Teaching Aptitude | 23 | 20 | Compulsory |
General Test | 28 | 25 | Compulsory |
Domain-Specific Subject 1 | 28 | 25 | To be chosen from Section 2 (26 Domain-Specific Subjects) |
Domain-Specific Subject 2 | 28 | 25 | Other than Domain-Specific Subject 1 from Section 2 |
Domain-Specific Subject 3 | 28 | 25 | Other than Domain-Specific Subjects 1 and 2 from Section 2 |
Total Questions | 181 | 160 |
NCET 2026 Negative Marking Scheme
It is important for the candidates to know that there will be NCET 2026 negative marking scheme for the examination. Therefore, candidates are advised to attempt only those questions they are sure of.
The NCET 2026 final score will be calculated based on the total number of correct and incorrect answers after applying the marking scheme. Check out the negative marking scheme form here:
Response Type | Marks Awarded | Marks Deducted | Remarks |
Correct Answer | +4 Marks | — | Full marks awarded for each correct response |
Incorrect Answer | — | -1 Mark | One mark will be deducted for every wrong response |
Unanswered / Blank | 0 | 0 | No marks will be awarded or deducted |
Marked for Review (if not answered) | 0 | 0 | Not evaluated unless the answer is selected |
Multiple Responses | — | -1 Mark | Considered incorrect; negative marking applies |
NCET Syllabus 2026
NTA will release the NCTE 2026 syllabus in the fourth week of February 2026. Test takers preparing for the exam need to thoroughly emphasise on the topic mentioned in the NCET syllabus 2026. Since the academic session 2026-2027 syllabus is yet to be released by the exam officials, aspirants can check out the previous year NCET syllabus from below:
NCET Syllabus | |
Subject | Syllabus PDF |
Languages | |
All Languages | |
Teaching Aptitude | |
Teaching Aptitude | |
General Aptitude Test | |
General Aptitude Test | |
Domain Subjects | |
Accountancy | |
Agriculture | |
Anthropology | |
Biology | |
Business Studies | |
Chemistry | |
Environmental Studies | |
Computer Science/ Information Practices | |
Economics | |
Engineering Graphics | |
Entrepreneurship | |
Fine Arts | |
Geography | |
History | |
Home Science | |
Knowledge Tradition Practices in India | |
Legal Studies | |
Mass media | |
Mathematics | |
Performing Arts | |
Physical Education | |
Physics | |
Political Science | |
Psychology | |
Sanskrit | |
Sociology | |