CUET Exam Pattern 2025: Subjects-wise Exam Structure & Negative Marking

No, CUET syllabus is not based on CBSE syllabus as claimed by Education Ministry in Rajya Sabha on August 02, 2023. The CUET exam is designed to assess the general understandig of the candidate in subjects he/she has opted for. CUET UG is on of the biggest UG entrance exam carnival conducted for admission in cebtral, state, private and deemed universities.

Candidates preparing for CUET UG exam must check the detailed CUET syllabus and CUET question paper to become familiar with the important topics and type of questions asked in the exam. 

The full form of CUET (UG) is Common University Entrance Test (UG). CUET (UG) 2024 will provides a single window opportunity to students to get admission in any of the Central Universities (CUs), and other participating universities (State Universities, Autonomous Institution, Private University, deemed University) across the country, for the academic session 2024-25. CUET (UG) 2024 will provide a common platform and equal opportunities to candidates across the country, especially those from rural and other remote areas and help establish better connect with the Universities. It is a single entrance test for admission to Central Universities and other participating universities (State Universities, Autonomous Institution, Private University, deemed University) which will be admitting the candidates to their UG courses for the academic year 2024-25 based on the NTA Score secured by them in this test.

Yes, an CUET applicant can opt for one or more combinations of the following:

• Section IA and I B: Language Test
• Section II: Domain subject test
• Section III: General Test

Candidates will be able to opt up to a maximum of six subjects in order to apply to different applicable courses that require these subjects for being eligible for admissions. Candidates must ensure that they have studied these subjects in 12th grade or as prescribed by a particular University under their eligibility conditions for a particular programme.

As per the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment guidelines, PwD candidates will be provided with following facilities:

1. Scribe facility: In case the candidate has physical limitation and required a scribe for writing the exam, he/she must be certified in the format provided by CMO/Civil Surgeon/ Medical Superintendent of a Government Health Care Institution.
2. Compensatory time: PwD candidates will get extra time of one hour whether such candidates use scribe facilities or not.

CUET UG is conducted for admission to more than 260 universities across India. List of programs offered through CUET UG are:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A)
• B.A (Hons.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Bachelor of Sience (B.Sc.) (Hons.)
• Bachelor of Vocational studies
• B.Sc-M.Sc. Integrated program
• Integrated M. Optometry
• Integrated M.A
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) (Hons.)
• Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (Financial Investment Analysis) [BBA (FIA)]
• Bachelor of Business Economics (BBE)
• Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is an entrance examination conducted for admission to undergraduation programs offered by various central, state, private and deemed universities. Candidates willing to take admission to undergraduation programme in streams like Science, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Management must appear for the CUET UG exam when conducted.

The entrance examination assesses candidates at various levels: Language, domain knowledge and general aptitude. CUET UG is conducted annually in computer based mode. CUET UG scores are accepted by more than 300 universities across India. 

CUET 2025 will be held in two/three slots. The timing for the same will be released with release of CUET 2025 date sheet. Candidates will be able to know the exam centre and timing along with the release of CUET 2025 admit card. Tables below will be updated on release of the CUET 2025 date sheet:

Before selecting the test or domain subjects, candidates are advised to visit the official website of university/organaisation they wish to apply for. Candidates must check the courses offered and eligibility test that they should appear in for admission to desired course. The choice of language/domain subject and General test will depend upon the course and university. Candidates will be able to opt for one or more tests as per the requirement of the course and university fro  the following sections:

• Section IA - 13 Languages
• Section IB - 20 Languages
• Section II - 27 Domain Specific Subjects
• Section III - General Test

It is not mandatory to choose any one or more of the tests stated above. The choice of tests would depend on the course/s opted by the candidate and the University / Organization / Institution where admission is sought. 

Yes, CUET UG syllabus for section 1 is same for all sections included. NTA suggests the syllabus for all the sections. The syllabus for CUET Language section will be inclusive of following topics, but are not limited to:

• Reading comprehension (This will include three passagaes of maximum 300-350 words):
  • Factual
  • Narrative
  • Literary
• Verbal ability
• Rearranging the parts
• Choosing the correct word
• Synonyms and antonyms
• Vocabulary

To prepare for the CUET UG section- 1 Languages candidates must solve CUET sample papers and take mock tests to become familar with the type of questions that will be asked in CUET UG. There are no specific topics for reading comprehension. Candidates are advised to read the newspaper on daily basis to improve the reading speed and comrehension. 

CUET UG Language section will consist of 50 questions. Candidates will be required to attempt 40 out of 50 question in CUET UG exam. The language section will assess candidate's reading comprehension based on different types of passages. This section will also include questions from grammar. To prepare for the CUET UG language section candidates must solve previous year question papers and mock tests to become familiar with the type of questions asked in the exam. Candidates will be given duration of 45 minutes to attend this section of CUET UG. 

Candidates are advised to check the University where the desired UG course is offered and check the eligibity test to appear for admission to the university. Follow the steps below to check the eligibility test:

Follow the Steps given below:

1. Open List of University provided at the official website of NTA CUET UG
2. Select the University and Courses where candidate intend to take admission. Visit the Website (s) of the University and check the eligibility criteria for the courses in which candidate intend to take admission (required Test/Subjects for appearing in CUET (UG). This should be noted down for all University/ Universities and Courses where candidate intend to take admission.
3. Select the required Test/Subjects for appearing in CUET (UG) while filling the application form.

CUET UG section 1 is divided into two parts. 13 languages will be included in Section 1- part A and 20 languages will be included in section 1- part B. Check below to know the languages in each part:

Languages in part A: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu

Languages in part B: Arabic, Bodo, Chinese, Dogri, French, German, Italian, Janpanese, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Nepali, Persian, Russian, Santhali, Sindhi, Spanish, Tibetan, Sanskrit.

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is conducted Assamese, Bengali,  English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi,  Punjabi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu languages. Candidates must note that the selection of medium will be restricted to state/UTs. Refer the table below to know the mediums restricte to respective state/UTs:

As per the CUET exam pattern, the subjects are divided into three sections as:

Section IA and IB- Languages 

Section II- Domain Subject

Section III- General Test

Candidates will get 45 minutes for each subject. However, in subjects like Accountancy, Economics, Physics, Computer Science / Informatics Practices, Chemistry and Mathematics / Applied Mathematics and General Test, the duration of the exam will be 60 minutes. Candidates can choose any 10 subjects while filling the CUET application form. However, they must check the eligibility criteria of the university and programme they wish to apply for.

No, the CUET 2025 syllabus does not include the chapters or topics from Class 11 syllabus. The exam, which is conducted for multiple subjects and languages, has to be prepared by completing the Class 12 syllabus only. NTA has also released the subject-wise syllabus of the CUET UG 2025 exam, which will be held in third week of May in hybrod mode. However, students may refer to the Class 11 syllabus for better conceptual clarity and to make the base of the domain subjects stronger. But as far as the actual syllabus is concerned, it will only be based on Class 12 CBSE or NCERT syllabus.

Since the CUET syllabus is in line with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus, it can be safely assumed that the NCERT books are enough to cover the syllabus of the exam. Candidates must note that, CUET exam tests students' understanding of the concepts and ability to apply them in various situations.

Therefore, to prepare well and get a good score, it is advised that students refer to other study materials and books designed for national level competitive entrance exams. The CUET UG syllabus is in tune with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus. The chapters and topics are similar to Class 12 syllabus. Unlike other UG entrance exams, CUET UG syllabus does not include Class 11 syllabus.

The first step for any subject preparation is to comprehensively understand the syllabus. Hence, take a print out of the syllabuses for get and English from the official CUET website. For get: Make a realistic plan/timetable and try to stick to it. Divide your preparation in phases. In the 1st phase, prepare your entire syllabus, schedule your mock practice in the 2nd phase and keep revision + mock practice in the 3rd phase. Start your preparation by focusing on a subject that you find challenging. Keep the Current Affairs preparation parallel to Quants/LR. Solve Previous Year Papers. For English Establish a daily newspaper reading habit. Mark out words unknown to you and search out their meanings, synonym-antonyms. Practice a lot of Reading Comprehension. And lastly, appear for mocks.

The CUET questions are objective and carries multiple choices (MCQs). Each question will have four answer options. Candidates will have to choose the correct answer option and click on it with the help of mouse. Since CUET UG 2025 exam will be conducted in a CBT mode, test-takers will be able to mark only one answer option. In case it is the correct option, they will get full marks and in case of wrong answer, negative marking scheme will be applied. Hence, candidates must ensure the accuracy of the answer before selecting the answer. Before the final submission, they can change the answer option in case they realise that they have entered a wrong answer option earlier.

The syllabus for CUET UG domain subjects will be based on class 12th to reduce the stress of preparing for both the exams. To prepare for CUET UG and Board examination, here are few important tips:

• Start early preparation for CUET UG and board exams. This will give you enough time to cover the syllabus, practice the questions, and get familiar with the exam pattern.
• Create a study plan: Once you are familiar with the syllabus for both exams, create a study plan that will help you cover all the topics in a systematic manner. Make sure to allocate enough time for each subject and topic.
• Focus on the subjects that you are struggling with. Consider taking a few practice CUET UG tests to see where you stand.
• Manage your time effectively. Practice answering questions under timed conditions so that you can get used to the pressure of the exam.
• Use the right resources. There are many resources available to help you prepare for the CUET UG and board exams. These include NCERT textbooks, practice questions, and mock tests. Use the resources that work best for you and that will help you improve your knowledge and skills.
  

Practicing with CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test) question papers from previous years offers several valuable benefits exam preparation:

1. Familiarity with Exam Pattern: CUET question papers from past years provide insight into the format, structure, and types of questions that commonly appear in the exam.

2. Understanding Question Types: By solving previous year's CUET question papers, candidates can identify recurring question types and patterns.

3. Assessment of Preparedness: Practicing with CUET question papers helps candidates assess their strengths and weaknesses.

4. Time Management: CUET is a time-bound exam with strict time limits. Solving CUET question papers within the allotted time helps candidates develop effective time management strategies.

5. Improvement in Speed and Accuracy: Regularly solving CUET question papers enhances problem-solving skills, speed, and accuracy. 

6. Reduced Stress: The more candidates practice, the more confident and relaxed one feels on the actual exam day, reducing test anxiety and improving your overall performance.

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) sample papers are released by the conducting body, National Testing Agency (NTA). To download the CUET sample papers and previous year question papers candidates can get the direct link on this website. To download the CUET question papers candidates must refer the steps mentioned below:

Step 1- Visit the link provided- CUET Question Paper

Step 2- Scroll down the page and look for the subject to download the question paper for

Step 3- Click on the tab download

Step 4- Create the login credentials for new registrations

Step 5- Link to download the CUET question paper will be sent on the registered email ID

Step 6- Click on the link provided and save the PDF.