CUET Exam Pattern 2026 [New Pattern & Marking Scheme]

Overview: Do you know thousands of students miss out on their dream course and university each year just because they misunderstood the CUET exam pattern or didn't go through the CUET subject mapping? Don’t be one of them. Read this before you begin your preparation.  

CUET Paper Pattern 2026 will give you insights into the sections, subjects included, duration, number of questions and exam marking scheme. 

• You can choose a maximum of 5 subjects from a total of 37 subject papers across the 3 sections.
• Depending on the number of registrations and CUET subject choices, the examination will be conducted in online mode over multiple days in 2-3 shifts.

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 – Official Snapshot (NTA)

• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Sections: Language Test + Domain Subjects + General Aptitude Test (GAT)
• Total subjects offered: 37 (13 languages, 23 domain subjects, 1 aptitude test)
• Website for updates: https://cuet.nta.nic.in

Note: Exact subject combinations depend on the course/university you apply to. Always match your CUET subjects with your target university’s requirements.

Download Free Study Materials for CUET 2026 by SuperGrads

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Highlights

CUET (UG) 2026 is conducted in CBT mode and follows a 3-section structure: Language Test, Domain Subjects, and General Aptitude Test (GAT). Candidates can choose up to 5 test papers based on their target university/course requirements. The exam is conducted in multiple shifts across multiple days, and shift-wise normalization is applied where applicable for the CUET entrance exam.

If you're preparing for CUET exam, understanding the CUET 2026 exam pattern is crucial. This exam is divided into 3 sections: Language Paper, Domain Paper, and General Aptitude Test.

The table below will provide helpful information about how NTA will design the CUET exam pattern for the 2026 question paper.

Criteria	Language Test	Domain Test	CUET General Aptitude Test
Mode	Online (Computer-Based Test)	Online (Computer-Based Test)	Online (Computer-Based Test)
Medium	Language Chosen	English/Language Chosen in Section I	English/Language Chosen in Section I
Number of test papers	13	23	1
Duration	60 minutes	60 minutes	60 minutes
Type of Questions	Objective(MCQs)	Objective(MCQs)	Objective(MCQs)
Number of Questions (to be attempted)	50 questions	50 questions	50 questions
CUET Exam Total Marks	250	250	250
Marking Scheme	Correct Answer: +5	Correct Answer: +5	Correct Answer: +5
	Incorrect Answer: -1	Incorrect Answer: -1	Incorrect Answer: -1
	Unattempted Answer: 0	Unattempted Answer: 0	Unattempted Answer: 0

To score well in the exam, go through the section-wise CUET exam analysis along with the CUET exam pattern to set your target scores is equally important. 

• Language Paper: You will be asked questions based on reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar for the language you choose from 13 Indian languages in Section 1.
• Domain Paper: NTA will test your knowledge of the subjects studied in Class XI and Class XII in the Domain-specific Test. There are 23 such subjects included in this section. Pick and choose from the list as per your stream. 
• General Test: The General Aptitude Test is a replica of the most commonly heard aptitude test, but with a simpler level than the ones you have seen or heard in IPMAT, NPAT, or JEE Main B.Arch.

Why Choose College & Course Before Knowing the CUET Exam Pattern 2026? 

The exam pattern for each university, including the CUET paper pattern, varies in terms of the subject requirements mapped for each UG program offered through CUET. This is why: 

• When choosing the languages, domain test, or GAT, you are mandated to refer to the requirements of your intended university.
• Your chosen test papers must match the requirements of your desired university from the CUET universities list 2026. 

5 Details That You Must Know About CUET Exam Pattern 2026

CUET 2026 will be conducted in 2-3 slots per day. NTA will disclose details related to the slots later. The test will be computer-based only. 

 However, as per the CUET 2026 exam pattern, the tweak is that you don’t have to appear for all languages or all domain tests to qualify for admission to your desired college.

1. You can take a maximum of 5 subjects/ exams. 
2. What combinations can you create to finalise your 5 exams? You can probably write 1-2 language paper, 2 domain papers and 1 general aptitude test, OR  1 language test, 3 domain tests and 1 general test.
3. Considering students' diversity (in streams and boards), NTA has decided to provide flexibility in choosing any subject, irrespective of class 12^th subjects. 
4. However, the total number of questions to be attempted by any candidate remains the same.
5. The CUET exam will happen for 37 subjects. 

Check: CUET Btech Colleges 2026

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Guidelines

If you are willing to appear for CUET UG, you must check the important guidelines about the examination.

• The medium of the exam will be in English, Hindi, Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. 
• According to the CUET 2026 exam pattern, you can select the language while filling out the CUET application form. You can choose a maximum of 2 languages from Section 1 together and 5 subjects overall. 
• You can apply to many Universities depending on their eligibility conditions. 

Note: CUET is conducted in multiple phases/shifts. Your exact exam date, shift timing, and centre details will be mentioned on the admit card and official notices.

Download CUET PYQs PDF with Solutions Free

CUET Exam Pattern 2026: Mode of Examination

The CUET UG 2026 exam will be held in CBT mode. The official website also describes the CUET UG exam pattern & syllabus in Hindi. 

• This exam will be conducted on multiple days, depending on the date allocated to you in your CUET Admit Card. 
• The exam will be online (Computer-based) for all the subjects. 
• All the subjects will be conducted in multiple shifts, and the normalization process will be applied.

Sections	Subject Papers
Language Tests	English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Domain Tests	Accountancy/Book-keeping, Business Studies, Agriculture, Physics, Chemistry 6. Mathematics/Applied Mathematics, Biology/Biological Science/Biochemistry/ Biotechnology, Performing Arts (Dance, Drama, Music), Fine Arts/Visual Arts/Commercial Arts, Geography/Geology, History, Home Science, Mass Media/Mass Communication, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Sanskrit, Environmental Science, Knowledge Tradition- Practices in India, Physical Education (Yoga, Sports), Anthropology, Economics, Computer Science/Information Practices.
GAT	General Aptitude Test

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CUET Exam Pattern 2026 for Language Test (Section 1)

The language test assesses your proficiency/ skills in the language you opted for, and the question paper will be available to you in the medium you opted for. 

From the CUET exam pattern, there are 13 languages in Section 1 to choose from.

• Your proficiency will be tested through Reading Comprehension based on different types of passages (Factual, Literary and Narrative), Grammar and Vocabulary with MCQ-Based Questions. 
• The Question Paper of the Language Test will not be bilingual. 
• According to the CUET 2026 exam pattern, for whichever language paper you choose, you have to attempt 50 questions given in the paper.
• The duration of each language paper is 60 minutes, meaning if you choose to appear for 2 language papers, then the maximum duration of the exam shall be 120 minutes. 

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 for Domain Test (Section II)

There are 23 domain subjects to choose from; however, you can appear for 3-4 domain subjects in the exam. The CUET syllabus for each subject is different. 

The number of domain subjects varies depending on your choice of test papers from section 1 & 3. These subjects will have questions based on the CUET UG exam pattern and syllabus given by NTA in MCQ format. 

• To choose your domain subjects, you must be well aware of the CUET courses and the university to which you are applying.
• In total, 50 Questions are to be attempted with no internal choice.
• The exam duration for all the domain subjects would be 60 minutes. 

Attempt Free CUET Mock Test Now!

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 for General Aptitude Test (Section III)

CUET General Aptitude Test is an optional exam, depending on the university and course requirements that you choose. 

Questions based on General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration /statistics taught till Grade 8), Logical and Analytical Reasoning and General Science & Environment Literacy are asked in this section.

• According to the CUET exam pattern, 50 of the displayed questions must be answered for this section.
• The total duration to attempt the questions in this section will be 60 minutes.
• The questions will be in MCQ format in the language chosen in Section I.
• The total mark that you can score in this section is 250.

For How Many Marks is CUET Conducted?

To clarify, the total marks for this exam will vary depending on the number of language papers & domain subjects given. So, it will be different for every student. However, if you opt for all 5 subjects, including the general test, CUET total marks for 5 subjects would be 1250. 

Assuming you appear for all 5 tests, here’s the CUET exam pattern and structure. 

The CUET total marks will be calculated as follows: 

Section	Questions to be Attempted	Marks for Correct Answer	Total Marks
Language Paper (13 Indian languages)	50 (All compulsory)	5	250
Domain Subjects	50 (All compulsory)	5	250
General Test	50 (All compulsory)	5	250

Check: CUET Cut Off Trends 

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CUET 2026 Marking Scheme

The CUET Exam Pattern follows a dedicated marking scheme as released by the NTA. The CUET Marking Scheme is as follows:

For multiple choice questions, choose one option corresponding to the correct or most appropriate answer.

However, if any problem or discrepancy is found after the process of challenges of the key verification, it shall be addressed in the following manner: 

• Correct answer or the most appropriate answer: Five marks (+5).
• Any incorrect option marked will be given minus one mark (-1).
• Unanswered/Marked for Review will be given no mark (0).
• If more than one option is found to be correct, then Five marks (+5) will be awarded to only those who have marked any of the correct options.
• If all options are correct, then Five marks (+5) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question.
• If none of the options is found correct, a question is found to be wrong, or a question is dropped, all candidates who have attempted the dropped question will be given five marks(+5).

Know best CUET DU subject combinations 2026 HERE!

CUET Exam Pattern 2026: Shift Details

• The morning shift is expected to start at 10 am on exam day.
• The conclusion time for the exam will depend on the subjects you choose and will be mentioned on the admit card.
• The afternoon shift is expected to start by 12pm based on what happened in 2025. 
• You will have to appear for your chosen paper, whether language, CUET domain subjects or GAT, in the shift mentioned on your admit card.

Key Takeaways

No matter the course or the university, the success in the CUET exam lies in thoroughly starting your preparation along with your boards to reduce the burden of preparing for CUET. Understanding the CUET exam pattern is important for effective preparation.

• The exam will be conducted in online mode. The mode for each subject is the same for 2026. 
• The medium of the exam will be 13 languages. 
• You can only choose up to 5 subjects across all 3 sections. It is recommended that you include the English language and General tests. 
• To recall and revise all topics and solve questions, attempt the CUET Mock Test Series to track your progress regularly.