How Many Marks Do We Need to Crack a CUET?

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has emerged to be one of the most significant entrance tests in India among students who would want to take undergraduate courses in central universities and most other reputed institutions. As the number of students who compete annually reaches lakhs, the most frequently asked question is: How many marks do we need to crack CUET?

The response to the question is not as simple as providing one number since CUET scoring and admission requirements are different in different universities and even among different courses. Nevertheless, the knowledge of the scoring patterns, normalization, cut-off scores, and safe scores can provide students with a more accurate idea. This blog will dwell deeper into CUET marks requirements and shed some light to CUET 2026 aspirants.

Understanding CUET Scoring Pattern

It is necessary to know the CUET scoring system before going into the specific marks that one needs. CUET is administered in different slots and shifts and raw score of every student is standardized to eliminate the disparities in the level of difficulty. The test consists of multiple-choice questions, in which a correct answer should earn +5 marks and a wrong answer should earn -1 mark.

The overall marks will be determined by the quantity of subjects selected by the student. Because CUET gives flexibility in the choice of domains, the maximum marks may vary according to the candidate.

How Many Marks are Considered Good in CUET?

In most cases, a score of 700 out of 800 is regarded as a very good one to be admitted to the best university such as the Delhi University, the Banaras Hindu University or the Jawaharlal Nehru University. But in the case of other universities, even a score of 500-650 would be enough to get a good seat.

The exact requirement depends on:

• The course you are applying for (BA, BSc, BCom, etc.)

• The university and its popularity

• The previous year’s cut-off trends

• Reservation categories and seat availability

CUET Marks vs Percentile

CUET admission is based on percentile scores rather than raw marks. Percentile scores are calculated after normalization and give an idea of where you stand among lakhs of candidates.

This table helps students set realistic targets while preparing.

Previous Year CUET Cut-Off Trends

To understand how many marks are enough to crack CUET, looking at past year cut-offs is essential.

From this, it is clear that the marks required to crack CUET vary significantly. Students aiming for DU or BHU should target the higher range, while others may secure admission with comparatively lower scores.

How Many Marks are Safe for CUET 2026?

In the case of CUET 2026, in consideration of the increasing competition, the aspirants are expected to strive to achieve:

• 700+ to get admission to the North Campus colleges of Delhi University, BHU and other leading institutions.

• 600-650 in good courses in reputed central universities.

• 500-600 points in the middle-level colleges and courses.

• 450-500 marks on backup universities or lower competitive courses.

Those students who study with the correct strategy, practice the CUET question bank 2026 and revise with the CUET mock test books will have a greater chance of scoring higher.

Normalization and Its Impact

Normalization is one of the most confusing aspects of CUET scoring. The level of difficulty varies among students since the exam is done in various periods. To be fair, raw marks are put through statistical formulae to normalize them, and percentiles are developed.

This implies that you might get a raw score of 620 but the normalized score could be a little higher or a little lower based on the slot you were appearing in. Therefore, during preparation, maximize raw marks since normalization will take care of others.

Importance of Strategy in Scoring High

Mark in CUET is not just based on knowledge alone but also on speed, precision and the nature of the exam. Aspirants should:

• Read NCERTs to get a clear concept.

• Complete various practice papers of the CUET UG books.

• Revise with a CUET question bank 2026 every so often to monitor.

• Practice test using CUET mock test books in order to practice the exam conditions.

A middle way can be used to increase scores and reduce negative marking.

How many marks are required for Delhi University through CUET?

Delhi University is one of the most sought-after CUET universities, and its cut-offs are usually the highest. To get admission in top DU colleges like SRCC, Hindu College, or Miranda House, students should aim for 720+ marks. For other DU colleges, 650–700 marks can still fetch you a good seat depending on the course.

Can I get admission with 400 marks in CUET?

Admission with 400 marks in CUET is possible, but opportunities will be limited to regional universities or less competitive courses. If you belong to a reserved category, you may have slightly better chances. However, for general category students targeting top institutions, 400 marks are not usually sufficient.

Read More: Does CUET Release Sample Paper?

CUET Marks Distribution Example

To understand scoring better, let’s look at a sample marks distribution for CUET.

This distribution shows that aiming for high accuracy in each subject can help reach the 700+ mark range comfortably.

Why Marks Vary Across Universities?

Every CUET university has its admission requirements. As an example, Delhi University stresses on subject combinations and weightage whereas BHU could consider normalized percentiles. This renders the requirement of the exact marks to be different in every institution.

Aspirants are therefore not expected to target a particular number, but to ensure that they score as much as possible on all the subjects of their choice. This can be attained by practicing with CUET UG books and testing performance with CUET mock test books.

Practice Comprehensively with Oswaal360 Online Courses for CUET Exam

Practice Now with Free Oswaal360 Online Mock Test Papers for CUET Exam

Final Thoughts

Getting into CUET is not about getting a certain fixed number such as 600 or 700, but is about getting a percentage that would put you above the majority of the crowd. Although 700+ is certainly a great score in the best universities, students must pay attention to the regular practice and aim as much as possible to be as accurate.

All that is needed is regular revision using a CUET question bank 2026, solving papers in the CUET UG books, and simulating the actual exam conditions with the help of CUET mock test books.

Finally, the required number of marks is determined by your dream university and course. Therefore, rather than worrying about the cut-off, practice, precision, and performance in exams. Through the appropriate strategy, you will not only be able to crack CUET but be able to get entry to the college of your choice.