CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test, Undergraduate)
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Complete guide to passing the CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test, Undergraduate) exam on your first attempt.
Rs 1,000 for up to 3 subjects (General); Rs 4,500 at centres outside India
Not published (no pass mark)
One academic year only
India
National Testing Agency (NTA)
INR 5.45L-17L
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Complete Overview
CUET (UG), the Common University Entrance Test at undergraduate level, is the computer-based admission test run by India's National Testing Agency for undergraduate programmes at central universities and participating state, deemed and private universities. Registration for the 2026 cycle cost Rs 1,000 for General category candidates taking up to three subjects, Rs 900 for OBC-NCL and EWS candidates, Rs 800 for SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender candidates, and Rs 4,500 at centres outside India, with each additional subject charged separately. NTA offered 37 test papers in 2026, made up of 13 Indian languages, 23 domain-specific subjects and one General Aptitude Test, and a candidate may choose up to five of them regardless of the subjects taken in class 12. Every paper has the same shape: 50 multiple-choice questions, all compulsory, in 60 minutes. Marking is +5 for a correct answer, -1 for an incorrect answer and 0 for an unattempted one, so a paper is worth 250 marks and a careless guessing habit can cost real ground. The exam is delivered in Computer Based Test mode only, in 13 Indian languages, with the English version prevailing if the two versions of a question differ. Language papers test reading comprehension on factual, literary and narrative passages together with literary aptitude and vocabulary. Domain papers follow the NCERT syllabus. The General Aptitude Test covers general knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning drawn from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and statistics, and logical and analytical reasoning. Because papers run in multiple shifts, raw marks are converted to an NTA Score through the normalisation procedure published in Appendix VI of the information bulletin. There is no pass mark. NTA reports scores and each university builds its own merit list, and the bulletin states plainly that appearing in CUET (UG) confers no right to admission. For CUET (UG) 2026, NTA recorded 15,68,867 unique registered candidates and 11,64,098 who actually appeared, up from 10,71,735 in 2025, across 321 examination cities in India and abroad. The 2026 papers ran from 11 to 31 May with rescheduled sittings on 6 and 7 June, and results were declared on 23 June 2026. Eligibility is broad: there is no age limit, and anyone who has passed class 12 or an equivalent examination, or who is appearing in it that year, may sit. University-level age and subject criteria still apply on top. The NTA Score is valid for admission to that academic year only, so there is no carrying a good result forward, and the bulletin rules out re-evaluation or re-checking of results entirely.
Why Get CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test, Undergraduate) Certified?
NTA recorded 11,64,098 candidates appearing for CUET (UG) 2026 out of 15,68,867 registered, so a single mark moves you past thousands of people.
One test gives access to undergraduate programmes at all central universities plus participating state and private universities, replacing separate college-level entrance tests.
A candidate may pick up to five papers from 37 on offer, irrespective of the subjects studied in class 12, which opens streams that school choices would otherwise close.
Every paper carries 250 marks across 50 questions, so the arithmetic of gains and losses is identical in every subject you choose.
The exam runs in 13 Indian languages, so candidates from state boards are not forced to compete in English alone.
Registration cost Rs 1,000 for General candidates taking up to three subjects in 2026, far below the cost of applying to universities individually.
Delhi University's Shaheed Bhagat Singh College reported 270 or more placement offers in 2025-26 with an average CTC of INR 5.45 lakh, which is the kind of outcome a CUET seat leads to.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
60 minutes per subject paper
Questions
50 questions per subject paper, all compulsory
Passing Score
There is no pass mark. NTA converts raw marks to an NTA Score and each university sets its own cut-off and merit list.
Question Types
- Objective-type multiple choice questions with one correct option
- Reading comprehension items built on factual, literary and narrative passages in the language papers
- NCERT-based conceptual and application items in the domain papers
- Numerical ability and quantitative reasoning items in the General Aptitude Test
- Logical and analytical reasoning items in the General Aptitude Test
Delivery Method
Computer Based Test at NTA examination centres, conducted in multiple shifts
- Marking is +5 for a correct answer, -1 for an incorrect answer and 0 for an unattempted question, making each paper worth 250 marks.
- A candidate may choose up to five subjects in total, counting languages and the General Aptitude Test.
- The question paper appears in both English and the medium you selected, and the English version prevails if the two differ.
- The medium chosen on the application form cannot be changed later, and you must attempt the paper in the medium you registered for.
- PwBD candidates receive compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of examination.
- If a question is dropped or has no correct option, all candidates who appeared receive five marks whether or not they attempted it.
How scoring works
Score scale
Raw marks out of 250 per paper, converted to an NTA Score for multi-shift papers under the normalisation procedure in Appendix VI of the information bulletin
Score needed to pass
None set by NTA. Each central, state or participating university publishes its own cut-off and merit list after results.
Roughly what that means raw
40 correct and 10 wrong on a paper gives 200 minus 10, which is 190 out of 250. The same 40 correct with the other 10 left blank gives 200, so ten blind guesses cost ten marks.
When results arrive
For CUET (UG) 2026, results were declared on 23 June 2026 after papers held from 11 to 31 May and on 6 and 7 June. Provisional answer keys and recorded responses are displayed for two to three days each before the result.
How the scale is built
Each correct answer earns five marks, each incorrect answer costs one mark and each unattempted question scores zero, giving a maximum of 250 marks per 50-question paper. Where a question has more than one correct option, five marks go to everyone who marked any correct option. Where a question is dropped or has no correct option, all candidates who appeared receive five marks whether or not they attempted it.
- No score card is posted to candidates. Scorecards are downloaded from cuet.nta.nic.in.
- There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of results, and no grievance about answer keys is entertained after the result is declared.
- Answer key challenges cost Rs 200 per question and are non-refundable.
- NTA records for a cycle are preserved for 90 days from the date the result is declared.
- The NTA Score is valid for admission to that academic year only.
Pacing and time budget
50 questions in 60 minutes gives you 72 seconds per question at an even pace across the 60-minute paper per question.
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| 15 min | 13 questions, one quarter of the paper |
| 30 min | 25 questions, the halfway mark |
| 45 min | 38 questions, three quarters of the paper |
| 55 min | All 50 questions seen, with 5 minutes left for flagged items only |
- Every CUET (UG) paper has the same shape, so one pacing plan works across all five of your subjects.
- Language papers break this evenness in practice, because several questions attach to one passage. Budget 6 minutes per passage set rather than 72 seconds per question.
- Negative marking changes the endgame. In the last five minutes, answer only flagged questions where you can eliminate at least two options, and leave the rest blank.
- PwBD candidates receive 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour, which makes the paper 80 minutes and moves each checkpoint out by a third.
- All calculation must be done on the rough sheet provided at the centre, which you must label with your name and application number and hand back at the end.
Where the marks are
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude Test | 250 marks | The most widely accepted single paper across CUET programmes, and the only one with no class 12 syllabus behind it. Its published content spans general knowledge, current affairs, mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning and logical reasoning, so it rewards steady daily work over a single subject sprint. Candidates who leave it until the last month lose marks they could have banked cheaply. |
| Domain subject NCERT class 12 core chapters | 250 marks per domain paper | The bulletin states domain syllabuses follow NCERT, which makes the class 12 text the exact boundary of what is asked. Working every in-text and end-of-chapter question in a single NCERT book usually moves a domain score further than any supplementary book, because the paper is written against that source rather than against a wider syllabus. |
| Language paper reading comprehension | 250 marks | The bulletin names reading comprehension on factual, literary and narrative passages as the core of every language paper, alongside literary aptitude and vocabulary. Since passages carry several questions each, one misread passage costs four or five items at once, which makes comprehension speed the highest-leverage skill in the paper. |
| Negative marking discipline | 1 mark lost per wrong answer | At -1 per error and 0 for a blank, ten blind guesses cost ten marks against leaving them empty. Over five papers that is a 50-mark swing decided entirely by habit rather than by knowledge. Practising the decision to leave a question blank is worth as much preparation time as a weak chapter. |
| Shift normalisation and the NTA Score | Applies to every multi-shift paper | Raw marks are converted to an NTA Score under the Appendix VI procedure, so your reported score depends on the shift you sat as well as on your answers. Understanding this stops candidates from comparing raw marks with friends in other shifts and from drawing wrong conclusions about their chances. |
| Subject selection against university eligibility | Decides whether any of your marks count | The bulletin instructs candidates to select subjects based on the eligibility criteria of the programme they want, and states that NTA plays no part in merit lists. A 240 out of 250 in a paper your university does not accept for that programme contributes nothing. This is the one decision made before study begins that can waste all of it. |
| Current affairs of the preceding year | Named directly in the General Aptitude Test syllabus | Current affairs is one of the six content areas NTA lists for the General Aptitude Test, and it is the only one that cannot be crammed from a fixed text. Thirty minutes a day with a single newspaper across a twelve-week preparation builds recognition that a last-month compilation cannot replace. |
The numbers
15,68,867
Unique candidates registered for CUET (UG) 2026
Source: National Testing Agency CUET (UG) 2026 result statistics released on 23 June 2026
11,64,098, up from 10,71,735 in 2025
Candidates who appeared for CUET (UG) 2026
Source: National Testing Agency CUET (UG) 2026 result statistics released on 23 June 2026
321 in India and abroad
Examination cities used for CUET (UG) 2026
Source: National Testing Agency CUET (UG) 2026 result statistics released on 23 June 2026
37, comprising 13 Indian languages, 23 domain subjects and 1 General Aptitude Test
Test papers offered
Source: CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, Appendix II
Rs 1,000, with Rs 400 for each additional subject
Application fee, General category, up to three subjects
Source: CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, Important Information and Dates at a Glance
Rs 200 per question, non-refundable
Answer key challenge fee
Source: CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, Chapter 11
The CUET (UG) 2026 NTA Score is valid for admission to the 2026-27 academic year only
Score validity
Source: CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, clause 12.2(iii)
90 days from the date the result is declared
Record retention after the result
Source: CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, clause 13.2, Weeding Out Rules
30 days from declaration of the result, with disputes falling under the jurisdiction of Delhi and New Delhi only
Grievance window after the result
Source: CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, clause 13.3, Legal Jurisdiction
If you fail
Wait before retaking
One year. CUET (UG) is conducted once per admission cycle, so the next opportunity is the following year's examination. There is no re-sit within a cycle apart from rescheduled sittings NTA arranges for affected candidates, as it did on 6 and 7 June 2026.
Attempt limit
None published by NTA. The information bulletin sets no age limit and no cap on the number of cycles a candidate may attempt, though individual universities may impose their own age or attempt criteria for admission.
Retake fee
The full application fee again in the next cycle: Rs 1,000 for General category candidates taking up to three subjects in 2026, Rs 900 for OBC-NCL and EWS, Rs 800 for SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender, and Rs 4,500 at centres outside India.
The NTA Score is valid for admission to that academic year only, so a score cannot be carried into a later cycle. There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of results, and the only route to contest an item is the paid answer key challenge at Rs 200 per question during the display window. Records for a cycle are preserved for 90 days after the result is declared.
Exam Domains & Topics
Thirteen language papers are on offer: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The bulletin describes the content as language tested through reading comprehension on factual, literary and narrative passages, together with literary aptitude and vocabulary. Each paper carries 50 questions in 60 minutes like every other paper.
Key Topics to Master:
- Reading comprehension on factual passages
- Reading comprehension on literary passages
- Reading comprehension on narrative passages
- Literary aptitude and recognition of figures of speech
- Vocabulary in context, synonyms and antonyms
- Grammar and usage as tested through passage-based items
Subject code 501, the single aptitude paper in the CUET (UG) catalogue and the one most widely required across programmes. The bulletin lists its content as general knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning through simple application of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and statistics, and logical and analytical reasoning. It is the only paper with no class 12 syllabus behind it.
Key Topics to Master:
- General knowledge and static awareness
- Current affairs of the preceding year
- General mental ability and series-based reasoning
- Numerical ability including percentages, ratios and averages
- Quantitative reasoning from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and statistics
- Logical and analytical reasoning including syllogisms and arrangements
The science group inside the 23 domain-specific papers covers Physics (322), Chemistry (306), Biology and its variants including Biological Science, Biotechnology and Biochemistry (304), Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (319), Computer Science and Information Practices (308), Environmental Science (307), Agriculture (302) and Home Science (315). All follow the NCERT syllabus for class 12.
Key Topics to Master:
- Physics: mechanics, electrostatics, current electricity, optics and modern physics
- Chemistry: physical, organic and inorganic chemistry as set out in NCERT class 12
- Biology: genetics, evolution, biotechnology, ecology and human physiology
- Mathematics and Applied Mathematics: calculus, algebra, vectors, probability
- Computer Science: data structures, database concepts and Python programming basics
- Environmental Science, Agriculture and Home Science as separate NCERT-based papers
Three papers in the domain list serve commerce applicants: Accountancy and Book Keeping (301), Business Studies (305) and Economics or Business Economics (309). These feed the BCom Honours, BA Economics and management programmes that draw the heaviest competition at Delhi University and other central universities, so scores here are read against very high cut-offs.
Key Topics to Master:
- Accountancy: partnership accounts, company accounts and financial statement analysis
- Accountancy: accounting ratios and cash flow statements
- Business Studies: principles of management, business environment and marketing
- Business Studies: financial management, consumer protection and entrepreneurship
- Economics: national income, money and banking, government budget and balance of payments
- Economics: Indian economic development and statistics for economics
The largest cluster in the domain list, covering History (314), Political Science (323), Geography and Geology (313), Sociology (326), Psychology (324), Anthropology (303), Sanskrit (325) and Knowledge Tradition and Practices in India (316). The bulletin notes that Sanskrit sits in the domain category and will not be translated into any other medium.
Key Topics to Master:
- History: themes in Indian history and the making of the modern world
- Political Science: Indian constitution, politics since independence and international relations
- Geography: physical geography, human geography and map-based questions
- Sociology: social institutions, change and development in Indian society
- Psychology: variations in psychological attributes, self and personality, therapeutic approaches
- Anthropology, Sanskrit and Knowledge Tradition and Practices in India as separate papers
Papers for programmes outside the conventional science, commerce and humanities tracks: Fine Arts, Visual Arts and Commercial Arts (312), Performing Arts covering dance, drama and music (320), Physical Education including yoga and sports (321) and Mass Media and Mass Communication (318). Each still runs to the same 50 questions in 60 minutes and the same 250-mark ceiling as a Physics or Accountancy paper.
Key Topics to Master:
- Fine Arts: history of Indian art, art appreciation and visual composition
- Performing Arts: theory and history of Indian dance, drama and music forms
- Physical Education: sports training, biomechanics, psychology and yoga
- Mass Media: communication theory, journalism practice and media law
- Terminology and vocabulary specific to each discipline
- NCERT and board-level texts where a class 12 syllabus exists for the subject
Not a syllabus area but a scoring mechanism worth studying. Each correct answer earns five marks, each incorrect answer costs one, and an unattempted question costs nothing. For multi-shift papers, raw marks are converted to an NTA Score using the procedure set out in Appendix VI of the information bulletin, which is why two candidates with the same raw marks in different shifts can be reported differently.
Key Topics to Master:
- Plus five for a correct answer, minus one for an incorrect answer, zero for unattempted
- Expected value arithmetic on a blind guess versus an educated guess
- Normalisation of raw marks across shifts into an NTA Score
- Handling of questions with more than one correct option
- Handling of dropped questions, where all appeared candidates receive five marks
- How universities build merit lists from NTA Scores
Recommended Study Plan
- 1List every programme you want and note the exact CUET papers each one requires
- 2Choose your five subjects from that mapping, not from personal preference
- 3Decide your question-paper medium, because it cannot be changed after application
- 4Download the CUET (UG) information bulletin and the syllabus for each chosen paper
- 5Set up your NTA account and check your Aadhaar photograph and details are current
- 1Read the class 12 NCERT text for your strongest domain subject end to end
- 2Make a one-page map of every chapter with its key definitions and formulas
- 3Work every in-text and end-of-chapter NCERT question
- 4Convert each chapter into 20 recall questions you can self-test on
- 5Take one 50-question timed paper on this subject and record raw marks after negative marking
- 1Repeat the full NCERT pass for your second domain subject
- 2Note where the two subjects overlap so revision can be shared
- 3Work all NCERT exercises and mark the ones you got wrong for a second pass
- 4Build a formula or definition sheet you will revise every week from here on
- 5Take one 50-question timed paper and compare against week 2's result
- 1Read one factual, one literary and one narrative passage daily in your chosen medium
- 2Practise identifying main idea, tone and inference within a 6-minute limit per passage
- 3Build a vocabulary list of 200 words from the passages you read
- 4Study literary aptitude terms: figures of speech, genre, narrative voice
- 5Take one 50-question timed language paper and log time spent per passage
- 1Drill percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, profit and loss and time and work
- 2Cover mensuration formulas for the standard plane and solid figures
- 3Work basic statistics: mean, median, mode and simple data interpretation
- 4Practise 30 numerical items a day at 60 seconds each without a calculator
- 5Log your accuracy separately from your speed so you can see which is the problem
- 1Drill series, coding and decoding, blood relations, seating arrangements and syllogisms
- 2Build a current affairs habit of 30 minutes a day from a single reliable newspaper
- 3Cover static general knowledge: Indian polity, geography, history and awards
- 4Work 40 reasoning items daily under time
- 5Take a full 50-question General Aptitude Test paper and score it with negative marking applied
- 1Complete the NCERT pass for your remaining domain subjects
- 2Revise week 2 and week 3 subjects using only your one-page chapter maps
- 3Redo every question you got wrong in weeks 2 to 6
- 4Take timed papers in your two newest subjects
- 5Rank all five papers by current score so you know where the marks are hiding
- 1Work previous year CUET (UG) papers for each of your five subjects
- 2Sit each one in a single 60-minute block on a computer screen, not on paper
- 3Score with +5, -1 and 0 applied exactly
- 4Record how many wrong answers came from guessing versus from genuine gaps
- 5Rebuild your revision list from the errors these papers expose
- 1Calculate your personal break-even: at -1 per error, a blind guess among four options loses value
- 2Practise marking a question for review rather than answering it on impulse
- 3Run 60-minute papers with a hard checkpoint every 15 minutes
- 4Practise the last five minutes as a decision window on flagged questions only
- 5Keep a log of every guess and whether it paid, over at least 200 items
- 1Give 70 percent of study time to the two papers with the lowest scores
- 2Re-read the NCERT chapters those papers keep punishing you on
- 3Rebuild your formula and definition sheets from memory, then check them
- 4Take a fresh timed paper in each weak subject and compare the change
- 5Leave your strongest subject on maintenance revision only
- 1Sit all five 60-minute papers across two days in the way your admit card schedules them
- 2Practise on a computer with mouse-only navigation and no scratch work beyond one rough sheet
- 3Score everything and write a one-page error post-mortem per paper
- 4Check the admit card, city allotment and reporting time details on the NTA website
- 5Assemble your document pack: admit card printout, photograph, original photo ID
- 1Revise only your own notes, formula sheets and error logs
- 2Do one short timed set per paper daily to keep pace, not to learn new content
- 3Do a dry run to the examination centre address on your admit card
- 4Check footwear and clothing against the dress code: no shoes, low-heeled sandals or slippers only
- 5Sleep on a normal schedule and stop new material three days before the first paper
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Best Study Resources
CUET (UG) Information Bulletin
Official regulations documentThe National Testing Agency's own bulletin, the single authority on fees, the 37-paper list with subject codes, marking scheme, dress code, barred items, scribe rules and the normalisation procedure in Appendix VI. Every number worth trusting about CUET (UG) comes from here rather than from a coaching website.
Free
CUET (UG) official syllabus pages
Official syllabusNTA publishes a separate syllabus for each of the 37 papers on the CUET portal. Download the one for every subject you have chosen and treat it as the boundary of what you study, especially for the General Aptitude Test, which has no NCERT text behind it.
Free
NCERT class 12 textbooks
Prescribed textbooksThe bulletin states that domain subject syllabuses follow NCERT. That makes the class 12 NCERT text the primary source for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology and Psychology papers.
Free as PDFs, roughly Rs 60-150 per printed book
NTA question paper and recorded response display
Official post-exam materialBefore results, NTA displays the question papers you attempted and your recorded responses on the CUET portal for two to three days. The bulletin advises downloading and keeping a hard copy, because it will not be provided later. Answer key challenges cost Rs 200 per question and are non-refundable.
Free to view, Rs 200 per question to challenge
NTA sample and mock tests
Free practice platformThe information bulletin points candidates to www.nta.ac.in, where a sample or mock test is made available for hands-on practice with the Computer Based Test interface. Rehearse the flag-for-review control and mouse navigation there, because CUET (UG) runs in CBT mode only and screen habits are worth minutes across a 50-question paper. The separate National Test Abhyas app covers JEE Main and NEET, not CUET, so do not substitute it.
Free
Previous year CUET (UG) question papers
Past papersPapers from earlier cycles show how NTA converts an NCERT chapter into a 50-question set and how heavily the General Aptitude Test leans on current affairs. Work them under a 60-minute clock with +5 and -1 applied, because scoring them without negative marking gives a false reading.
Free
University-specific admission bulletins
Institutional documentationThe bulletin states that NTA has no role in preparing merit lists and that admission criteria belong to each university. Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Jamia Millia Islamia and the rest publish their own subject mapping and cut-off rules, which decide which CUET papers actually count for you.
Free
A daily national newspaper
Current affairs sourceThe General Aptitude Test syllabus names current affairs directly. Thirty minutes a day with one newspaper across the preparation period beats any last-month compilation, because the paper tests recognition of events rather than recall of a list.
Roughly Rs 200-400 a month
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Choosing subjects by interest instead of by university eligibility
The bulletin tells candidates to select subjects based on the eligibility criteria of the programme they want. Map every target programme to the exact CUET papers it accepts before you fill the form, because a strong score in a paper your university does not count is worth nothing.
Guessing freely because there are four options
Marking is +5 for correct and -1 for incorrect. Work out your own break-even before the exam and practise leaving genuinely unknown questions blank, since an unattempted question costs zero. Log 200 practice guesses and see whether your guessing actually earns.
Studying from coaching material instead of NCERT
The bulletin states that domain subject syllabuses follow NCERT. Read the class 12 NCERT text first, work every in-text and end-of-chapter question, and only then add outside practice. Coaching books add breadth the paper does not test and cost weeks you do not have.
Picking a question paper medium casually
The medium is locked at application. The bulletin says the option cannot be changed later and that you must attempt the paper in the medium you registered for. Choose the language you actually read technical content in, and remember the English version prevails if the two versions differ.
Submitting more than one application form
The bulletin states that multiple application forms from one candidate will not be accepted and will lead to cancellation of the result. If something is wrong on your form, use the official correction window rather than starting again, and never create a second account.
Treating the General Aptitude Test as a soft option
It has the widest syllabus of any single paper: general knowledge, current affairs, mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning across arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and statistics, and logical reasoning. Start current affairs reading in week one rather than in the final month.
Practising on paper rather than on screen
CUET (UG) runs in Computer Based Test mode only. Rehearse on a computer with mouse navigation, the flag-for-review control and a single rough sheet, because the interface changes your pacing. NTA's own mock platform reproduces the real controls.
Turning up in shoes
The dress code permits slippers and low-heeled sandals and does not permit shoes. Heavy clothes with long sleeves are also not permitted. Candidates in customary or cultural dress are asked to report at least two hours before the last reporting time so frisking can be completed.
Assuming you can appeal a result
The bulletin rules out re-evaluation and re-checking of results outright, and says no grievance about answer keys will be entertained after the result is declared. Your only window is the paid answer key challenge at Rs 200 per question during the two or three days it is open.
Planning to reuse the score next year
The bulletin states the NTA Score for a cycle is valid for admission to that academic year only. A strong result does not carry forward, so treat a gap year as a full re-preparation rather than as a year of holding a score.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Carry a printed admit card on A4 paper with the self-declaration filled in, one passport-size photograph matching your application, and an original valid photo ID.
- 2
Accepted photo IDs are the school identity card, PAN card, passport, Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar with photograph, class 12 board admit card with photograph, or a bank passbook with photograph.
- 3
Carry a simple transparent ballpoint pen. Nothing else in the stationery category is permitted inside the hall.
- 4
Wear slippers or low-heeled sandals. Shoes are barred, and so are heavy clothes with long sleeves.
- 5
Leave watches, wallets, belts, caps, goggles, handbags, ornaments and any metallic item behind, because no storage is provided at the centre.
- 6
If you wear articles or objects of faith, report at least two hours before the last reporting time so frisking can be completed without a rush.
- 7
Write your name and application number at the top of every rough sheet, and hand all of them to the invigilator at the end. Swapping rough sheets is treated as unfair means.
- 8
Do not carry food or water, opened or packed, into the examination centre.
- 9
Attempt the paper in exactly the medium you registered for, and read the English version if a translated question looks ambiguous.
- 10
Use the last five minutes on flagged questions only, and leave anything you would answer by pure guesswork blank, because a wrong answer costs one mark and a blank costs nothing.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Analyst or associate role after a Delhi University honours degree
Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, a University of Delhi constituent college, reports an average CTC of INR 5.45 lakh and a median of INR 6 lakh across more than 270 placement offers in 2025-26. This is the typical first-job outcome from a competitive CUET seat in commerce or economics.
INR 5.45 lakh average CTC
Consulting or analytics role at a top campus recruiter
The same college reports INR 17 lakh as its highest package in 2025-26, with Bain Capability Network, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte and Grant Thornton among key recruiters. These offers go to a small number of students in each cohort rather than to the median graduate.
INR 17 lakh, the highest package in 2025-26
Quantitative or financial services role at the top of the distribution
Shaheed Bhagat Singh College records INR 23 lakh from the D. E. Shaw Group as its highest package in 2024-25, against INR 22.5 lakh in 2023-24 and INR 12.65 lakh in 2022-23. The tail of the distribution moves year to year and should not be read as a typical outcome.
INR 23 lakh, the highest offer in 2024-25
Pre-placement internship while still studying
The college reports more than 445 internships secured in 2025-26, with an average stipend of INR 15,000 a month and a highest stipend of INR 40,000. Internships are often the route into a full-time offer, which makes the first two years of a degree matter as much as the final one.
INR 15,000 per month average stipend
Central government officer entry after graduation
A bachelor's degree is the eligibility floor for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and for Group B central government posts. The Comptroller and Auditor General's published 7th Central Pay Commission scales put the minimum pay at Level 10 at Rs 56,100 a month before allowances.
Rs 56,100 basic per month at Pay Level 10
Prerequisites & Requirements
- No age limit for appearing in CUET (UG), as stated in the information bulletin.
- Passed class 12 or an equivalent examination, or appearing in it in the year of the test.
- A qualifying examination from a recognised central or state board, including CBSE and CISCE.
- Any additional age or subject criteria imposed by the university you are applying to, which the bulletin says apply on top of NTA eligibility.
- An online application at cuet.nta.nic.in with a live photograph, a scanned passport-size photograph between 10 kb and 200 kb, and a signature file between 10 kb and 50 kb.
- Online payment of the examination fee by net banking, credit card, debit card or UPI, with processing charges and GST added by the payment gateway.
- For PwD and PwBD candidates, a UDID card or disability certificate uploaded as a PDF between 50 kb and 300 kb.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on a CUET (UG) paper and how long is it?
Each subject paper has 50 multiple-choice questions and runs for 60 minutes. All questions are compulsory. A candidate may sit up to five papers in total, counting languages and the General Aptitude Test, so the number of papers rather than the length of any one paper decides your total testing time.
How is CUET (UG) marked?
A correct answer earns five marks, an incorrect answer costs one mark, and an unattempted question scores zero. Each paper therefore carries a maximum of 250 marks. If a question is found to have more than one correct option, everyone who marked any correct option receives five marks. If a question is dropped, all candidates who appeared receive five marks.
What is the passing score for CUET (UG)?
There is no passing score. NTA reports an NTA Score and each university builds its own merit list and cut-offs. The information bulletin states that merely appearing in CUET (UG) confers no right to admission, and that NTA has no role in preparing merit lists.
How much does CUET (UG) cost?
For the 2026 cycle, General category candidates paid Rs 1,000 for up to three subjects and Rs 400 for each additional subject. OBC-NCL and EWS candidates paid Rs 900 and Rs 375. SC, ST, PwD, PwBD and third gender candidates paid Rs 800 and Rs 350. Payment gateway processing charges and GST are added on top.
Is the fee different for candidates outside India?
Yes. Candidates choosing centres outside India paid Rs 4,500 for up to three subjects in 2026 and Rs 1,800 for each additional subject, against Rs 1,000 and Rs 400 for General category candidates testing in India. The examination is conducted both in India and abroad.
How many subjects can I choose?
Up to five, counting languages, domain subjects and the General Aptitude Test together. NTA offered 37 papers in 2026: 13 Indian languages, 23 domain-specific subjects and one General Aptitude Test. You may choose any of them irrespective of the subjects you took in class 12, subject to your target university's eligibility rules.
In which languages is the paper available?
Thirteen Indian languages: Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The paper appears in both English and your chosen medium, and the English version prevails if the two differ. Sanskrit as a domain subject is not translated into any other medium.
Can I change my question paper medium later?
No. The bulletin says the language option must be exercised carefully while filling the online application form and cannot be changed at a later stage. You must attempt the paper in the same medium you selected at registration.
Is CUET (UG) conducted online at home?
No. CUET (UG) is conducted in Computer Based Test mode at NTA examination centres only, in multiple shifts, with compulsory frisking on entry using metal detectors. There is no remote or home-proctored option. The 2026 cycle used 321 examination cities in India and abroad.
What do I need to carry on exam day?
A printed admit card on A4 paper with the self-declaration completed, one passport-size photograph identical to the one on your application, an original and non-expired photo ID, a simple transparent ballpoint pen, and a PwD or PwBD certificate if you are claiming a relaxation. Candidates without these documents are not allowed to sit.
Which photo IDs are accepted?
Any one of the school identity card, PAN card, passport, Aadhaar card with photograph, e-Aadhaar with photograph, class 12 board admit card with photograph, or bank passbook with photograph. It must be original, valid and non-expired. NTA advises updating Aadhaar details and photograph in advance for verification at the centre.
What am I allowed to take into the hall?
Almost nothing. A transparent ballpoint pen and your documents. Textual material, pencil boxes, calculators, log tables, scales, erasers, pen drives, mobile phones, earphones, smartwatches, health bands, wallets, goggles, handbags, belts, caps, ornaments, metallic items, cameras and any food or water are all barred. No storage is arranged at the centre.
Are accommodations available for candidates with disabilities?
Yes. PwBD candidates receive compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of examination. Candidates with a certified limitation in writing may use a scribe, either their own or one provided by NTA on request, and are entitled to meet a provided scribe two days before the exam. A UDID card or disability certificate must be uploaded with the application.
How is the score calculated across shifts?
For multi-shift papers, raw marks are converted to an NTA Score using the normalisation procedure published in Appendix VI of the information bulletin. This is why two candidates with identical raw marks in different shifts can receive different reported scores. Scorecards are downloaded from cuet.nta.nic.in and are not posted.
When are results declared?
Timing varies by cycle. For CUET (UG) 2026, papers ran from 11 to 31 May with rescheduled sittings on 6 and 7 June, and results were declared on 23 June 2026. Before the result, NTA displays provisional answer keys and your recorded responses for two to three days each.
Can I challenge an answer key?
Yes, during the display window only, at a non-refundable Rs 200 per question challenged. Challenges must be filed through the official key challenge link with justification or evidence, and NTA will not respond to candidates individually. The result is compiled on the final answer key after subject experts review the challenges.
Can I get my paper re-evaluated if I disagree with the result?
No. The bulletin states there shall be no re-evaluation or re-checking of the result and that no correspondence on the matter will be entertained. Any grievance arising from the result must be raised within 30 days of declaration, and disputes fall under the jurisdiction of Delhi and New Delhi only.
What happens if I do badly?
There is no fail grade, only a score too low for the cut-offs at the universities you want. Since the NTA Score is valid for that academic year only, a candidate who misses out reapplies in the next cycle and sits the exam again. There is no age limit and no cap on the number of cycles you may attempt.
How long is a CUET (UG) score valid?
One academic year. The bulletin states that the CUET (UG) 2026 NTA Score is valid for admission to the 2026-27 academic year only. Scores do not carry forward to a later admission cycle, so a gap year means preparing for and sitting the exam again.
How does CUET (UG) compare with CUET (PG) and with JEE or NEET?
CUET (UG) is for undergraduate admission and CUET (PG) is the separate postgraduate test with its own bulletin and schedule. JEE and NEET are single-discipline tests for engineering and medical courses with fixed subject combinations, while CUET (UG) lets a candidate assemble up to five papers from 37 across languages, domains and aptitude.
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