CUET Exam Pattern
CUET Exam Pattern 2026 — Overview
The CUET UG 2026 Exam Pattern has been officially confirmed by the National Testing Agency. CUET 2026 will be conducted entirely in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across multiple shifts from May 11 to May 31, 2026. Each subject paper lasts 60 minutes and contains 50 compulsory MCQ questions with no optional questions — a key change from earlier years.
This standardised pattern applies uniformly across all Language, Domain, and General Test papers, ensuring fairness for students from different boards and backgrounds.
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern — Quick Reference Table
|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
CUET (UG) 2026 |
|
Conducted By |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
|
Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) only |
|
Exam Dates |
May 11 – May 31, 2026 |
|
Total Sections |
3 (Languages, Domain Subjects, General Test) |
|
Questions per Paper |
50 (all compulsory) |
|
Duration per Paper |
60 minutes |
|
PwBD Compensatory Time |
+20 minutes per hour |
|
Correct Answer |
+5 marks |
|
Incorrect Answer |
-1 mark |
|
Unattempted |
0 marks |
|
Maximum Subjects Allowed |
Up to 5 subjects (per NTA guidelines) |
|
Language of Question Paper |
English + language opted by the candidate |
|
Question Type |
Objective MCQs |
CUET 2026 Exam Pattern — Section-Wise Structure
Section IA & IB — Language Test
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Languages Available |
13 languages (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, English, Hindi, Urdu) |
|
Questions |
50 MCQs |
|
Duration |
60 minutes |
|
Type |
Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar |
|
Purpose |
Required for university-specific language eligibility |
Section II — Domain-Specific Subjects
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Total Domain Subjects |
23 |
|
Questions |
50 MCQs (all compulsory) |
|
Duration |
60 minutes per subject |
|
Syllabus |
Based on NCERT Class 12 only |
|
Choice Flexibility |
Students can choose any subject, even if not studied in Class 12 |
Section III — General Test
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Questions |
50 MCQs |
|
Duration |
60 minutes |
|
Topics |
General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Mental Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical Reasoning |
|
Applicable For |
All candidates, especially those whose domain subject has been discontinued |
CUET 2026 Marking Scheme — Detailed Breakdown
|
Answer Type |
Marks |
|
Correct Answer |
+5 |
|
Incorrect Answer |
-1 |
|
Unattempted Question |
0 |
|
Dropped Question (by NTA) |
Full marks (+5) to all who attempted |
|
All Options Correct (NTA) |
Full marks (+5) to all who attempted |
Important: There are no optional questions in CUET 2026. All 50 questions in each paper must be attempted. Candidates should be mindful of negative marking — skipping a question gives 0, but a wrong attempt deducts 1 mark.
CUET 2026 — Subject Selection Rules
|
Rule |
Details |
|
Maximum subjects |
Up to 5 subjects total (languages + domain + general test) |
|
Subject restriction |
None — any subject can be chosen regardless of Class 12 background |
|
Additional subjects |
Can be added by paying an extra fee per subject |
|
University requirements |
Subject selection must align with each university's specific course requirements |
CUET 2026 Exam Shifts & Timing
CUET 2026 is conducted in two shifts each day from May 11 to May 31, 2026:
|
Shift |
Timing (Approximate) |
|
Shift 1 (Morning) |
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (per subject slot) |
|
Shift 2 (Afternoon) |
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (per subject slot) |
Exact subject-wise timings are available on the City Intimation Slip released by NTA. The CUET Admit Card 2026 will carry the specific exam date, shift, and reporting time for each candidate.
What's New in CUET 2026 Exam Pattern
|
Change |
Old Pattern |
New Pattern (2026) |
|
Exam Mode |
Hybrid (Pen & Paper + CBT) |
CBT only |
|
Optional Questions |
Available in some papers |
No optional questions |
|
Subject Count |
63 subjects |
37 subjects (13 lang + 23 domain + GT) |
|
Discontinued Subjects |
Available |
6 subjects removed; replaced by General Test |
|
Subject Choice |
Limited to Class 12 subjects |
Any subject allowed |
|
Duration |
Varied |
Fixed 60 minutes per paper |
CUET 2026 Score Calculation
Each subject paper carries a maximum of 250 marks (50 questions × 5 marks each). NTA releases a subject-wise scorecard after the exam. Scores are used by individual universities to determine merit lists and admission cutoffs.
|
Subject |
Total Questions |
Maximum Marks |
|
Language Paper |
50 |
250 |
|
Domain Subject |
50 |
250 |
|
General Test |
50 |
250 |
CUET 2026 vs CUET 2025 — Pattern Comparison
|
Feature |
CUET 2025 |
CUET 2026 |
|
Mode |
Hybrid |
CBT only |
|
Subjects |
27 domain subjects |
23 domain subjects |
|
Questions |
50 (some optional) |
50 (all compulsory) |
|
Duration |
45–60 min (varied) |
60 min (fixed) |
|
Subject Restriction |
Based on Class 12 subjects |
No restriction |
Other Recommended Books | Study Materials
|
CUET Books | For 2026 Exam |
|
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CUET Mock Test Sample Papers | For 2026 Exam |
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CUET Previous Year Question Paper | For 2026 Exam |
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CUET Question Banks | For 2026 Exam |
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CUET Syllabus | For 2026 Exam |
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CUET Notes | For 2026 Exam |
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Free CUET Specimen Sample Books for Teachers |
Practice Comprehensively with Oswaal360 Online Courses for CUET 2026 Exams
Practice Now with Free Oswaal360 Online Mock Test Papers for CUET 2026 Exams
Are You a Teacher? Apply for FREE CUET Specimen Books For Teachers from our end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each paper has 50 compulsory MCQ questions with no optional choices.
+5 for each correct answer, -1 for each wrong answer, and 0 for unattempted questions.
Entirely in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode only — no pen-and-paper mode in 2026.
Each paper is 60 minutes. PwBD candidates get an additional 20 minutes per hour of compensatory time.
Up to 5 subjects, which can include language, domain, and the general test.
