CUET at a glance
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate programmes at central universities and many other participating universities. It is a computer-based test, and unlike CAT or XAT it is made of separate papers that each candidate selects, based on the courses and universities they are applying to. Each university specifies which papers it requires for each programme, so planning starts with the course list, not with the exam.
| Detail | CUET (UG) as published in recent notices |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Section I: Languages | Choose up to two languages from the languages offered |
| Section II: Domain-specific subjects | Choose up to five from the domain subjects offered |
| Section III: General Test | Optional, required by some courses and universities |
| Questions per paper | 50 questions of which 40 are to be attempted in language and domain papers; 60 questions of which 50 are to be attempted in the General Test |
| Marking | +5 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer, no marks for unattempted |
| Duration | Reported as 60 minutes per paper in recent summaries; earlier years used 45 minutes for language and domain papers. Confirm in the NTA bulletin |
The pattern has changed between years: the number of subjects allowed, the optional questions and the durations have all been revised. The table is a summary of published information. Read the NTA information bulletin for the year you apply.
Why CUET is different from other entrance exams
First, you build your own exam. A candidate for a BA in Economics may take English, Economics, Mathematics, a language and the General Test; a candidate for a BSc may take different domain papers. Second, each paper is short and separate, so the skill is switching between subjects at pace across several sittings. Third, the syllabus for domain subjects follows the class 12 syllabus, so preparation is closer to board-style content mastery than to aptitude testing. Fourth, the optional-question format (attempt 40 of 50) rewards choosing the questions you know and letting go of the rest, and it makes the negative marking matter.
The three sections and what each tests
| Section | What it tests | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Section I: Language | Reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary in the chosen language | CUET Language |
| Section II: Domain subjects | Class 12-level knowledge of the chosen subjects | CUET Domain Subjects |
| Section III: General Test | General knowledge, current affairs, reasoning, numerical ability | CUET General Test |
The role of mock tests in CUET preparation
Mock tests do four things for CUET candidates. They rehearse the computer-based format, including choosing which questions to attempt. They help you balance several papers, because a candidate with four or five papers has to prepare each without letting one take over. They teach the attempt decision under a −1 penalty against a +5 reward, where the break-even accuracy is about 17%, which makes educated attempts valuable. And they give data on weak chapters in domain subjects. See how to use mock tests for CUET.
Free and paid mock tests
A free test is a good way to sample the question format for each paper. A paid series is worth considering when you want chapter-wise tests for a domain subject, full-length paper practice for each selected subject and detailed explanations. Try a free CUET mock test first, and judge a paid series by whether it covers your subjects, because a series strong in one subject is of little use for another.
A preparation timeline
| Phase | Focus | Mocks |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Fix your subject list from your target courses; revise class 12 syllabus chapter by chapter | Chapter-wise tests |
| Middle | Complete the syllabus; start timed practice in each paper; begin the General Test routine | One paper per subject every two weeks |
| Final 4 to 6 weeks | Full-length papers for every subject in the exam format; revise weak chapters | Two to three papers a week, mixed subjects |
| Last week | Light revision, formulas and facts, rest | No new topics |
Common mistakes
- Choosing subjects before checking what the target courses require.
- Giving all the time to one favourite subject.
- Attempting all 50 questions when only 40 count, and losing marks on the uncertain ones.
- Skipping the General Test even though a target course needs it.
- Relying on rank from mocks instead of chapter-wise error analysis.
Explore CUET preparation
Start with the CUET exam pattern guide, plan with the mock test strategy and read how to use mock tests for CUET. See also the full mock test directory. Tests below are published by institutes and educators on TestMint and are independent of the NTA.
Disclaimer: this page summarises published information. TestMint is not affiliated with the NTA. Always rely on the official CUET (UG) information bulletin for the pattern, subjects, dates, fees and eligibility.
