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Is Maths and Applied Maths Same in CUET? Everything You Need to Know
December 3, 2025
Overview: The question most of the CUET aspirants ask: “Is Maths and Applied Maths same in CUET? during subject selection. It is worth knowing what makes a difference between mathematics and applied mathematics. They differ in their syllabus, scope, and job opportunities. The knowledge of whether the subjects Maths and Applied Maths are considered equal in CUET gives students an opportunity to make the correct decision on what to study to qualify and pass the exam and attain a higher career position in the future.
Many students have this doubt – Is Maths and Applied Maths same in CUET or not? With CUET becoming the gateway to top universities in India, choosing the right subject has become one of the most crucial steps for every aspirant.
In this blog, we’ll break down the differences, similarities, exam patterns, and future scope of both subjects, helping you make an informed decision for your CUET journey.
Is Maths and Applied Maths Same in CUET?
The most common question among CUET aspirants is – Is Maths and Applied Maths same in CUET? The answer is no, they are not the same. Even though both fall under the mathematics domain, but CUET treats them as two distinct subjects with separate syballus, exam patterns, and university requirements.
Mathematics in CUET
- Core Mathematics is especially for those students who are from a science background and have studied maths in class 11th and 12th.
- Under core mathematics, higher level of concepts are included, such as calculus, algebra, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, and problem solving skills.
- It is best suited for those students who want to do engineering or want to pursue economics, data science, computer science, or research-oriented careers.
Check: CUET Maths Question Papers
Applied Mathematics in CUET
- It is especially designed for commerce and humanities students who did not take core mathematics but need a solid mathematical foundation.
- Focuses on practical applications like financial mathematics, statistics, probability, and logical reasoning.
- Better aligned with commerce, management, social sciences, and business-related courses.
In short, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics are different in CUET. Choosing the right one can greatly impact your college admission and future career.
Difference Between Maths and Applied Maths in CUET
Many students preparing for CUET exam often wonder, “Is Maths and Applied Maths Same in CUET?” The answer lies in their purpose and plan. Mathematics helps students look at different career options after school. The maths syllabus made for science students is often too hard or less useful for those studying commerce or humanities. That is why CBSE added applied mathematics as a new subject choice.
While Mathematics builds knowledge, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills, applied mathematics teaches useful maths and statistics that can be applied in commerce, business, and social sciences.
Let’s check the difference between mathematics and applied mathematics:
- Mathematics focuses on theories and problem-solving. It teaches students how to work with numbers, formulas, and logic. That is why it is more conceptual and less practical.
- Applied Mathematics focuses on real-life uses of maths. It assists students to know how to apply numbers and formulas in their day to day problems like money, business, and information.
- Mathematics is best for science students. It is helpful to everyone who wants to learn subjects such as physics, engineering, or computer science, where high order problem-solving skills are required.
- Applied Mathematics is best for commerce and humanities students. It serves other subject areas such as management, banking, economics, and social sciences, where maths is applied practically.
- Mathematics covers topics like calculus, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Such subjects are more theoretical and demand more extensive logical thinking.
- Applied Mathematics covers topics like statistics, finance, and business maths. It is easier to relate these to real world issues.
In simple words, Mathematics builds strong theory skills, while Applied Mathematics builds practical life skills.
Syllabus of Maths and Applied Maths in CUET
When studying for CUET, you might have had a question running in your mind: Are Maths and Applied Maths Same in CUET? Coupled with this general uncertainty, another question that most students have is what the syllabus of Maths and Applied Maths in CUET will contain.
It is very important to make yourself clear on the syllabus, as it would allow you to get a clearer idea of how the two CUET subjects differ as well as how you could better organize your preparation.
| Sections | Topic Covered |
| Section A1 (Common for Both Mathematics & Applied Mathematics) |
|
| Section B1 (Mathematics) |
|
| Section B2 (Applied Mathematics) |
|
Also Read: How to score 100 percentile in CUET Maths
Future Scope of Maths and Applied Maths after CUET
Is Maths and Applied Maths Same in CUET? This question usually comes up when they think about career opportunities after the exam. The truth is, both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics are useful, but they lead to different career paths. Let’s take a closer look at them:
Applied Mathematics Career Options
If you take applied mathematics in school (Class 11–12), you can go for courses in commerce, management, social sciences, and business. It is more about using maths in real-life problems.
Some careers after CUET with Applied Maths are:
- Accountant – Works with money and records (avg salary ₹1.2 Lakh)
- Investment Manager – Helps people grow their money (avg salary ₹2.8 Lakh)
- Market Researcher – Studies people’s choices (avg salary ₹4.2 Lakh)
- Statistician – Works with data and numbers (avg salary ₹2 Lakh)
- Teacher – Teaches maths in schools/colleges (avg salary ₹3.3 Lakh)
- Government Jobs – Banking, civil services, and more (avg salary ₹3.2 Lakh)
Mathematics Career Options
If you take Mathematics (Core), you can go for courses in science, technology, engineering, and research. It is more about theories, logic, and problem-solving.
Some careers after CUET with Maths are:
- Mathematician – Studies and creates new maths ideas (avg salary ₹8 Lakh)
- Data Scientist – Works with big data and AI (avg salary ₹4 Lakh)
- Professor/Teacher – Teaches maths at higher level (avg salary ₹2 Lakh)
- Economist – Studies money and markets (avg salary ₹2.5 Lakh)
- Software Engineer/Programmer – Works with coding (avg salary ₹2 Lakh)
- Investment Banker – Works in finance and banks (avg salary ₹3 Lakh)
- Astronomer – Studies stars and planets (avg salary ₹7 Lakh)
Also Read: CUET Maths Important Questions 2026 with Solutions PDF
Key Takeaways
To summarize, the big question “Is Maths and Applied Maths Same in CUET?” can decide your career path. They both are different in CUET syllabus, examination pattern, and career prospects. Mathematics is theory and best suited to the science students, and applied mathematics is practical and best suited for commerce and the humanities students. The choice of subject would enable you to get a higher score in CUET and contribute to your further career.
- You should be very careful while selecting core maths and applied maths because both are different subjects in CUET. So, choose a subject wisely to get admission with your preferred course.
- By selecting the preferred subject, you will make better career decisions after CUET.
- To maximize your preparation, try solving SuperGrads CUET mock tests. This will help you to practice effectively under exam-like conditions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Chetanya Rai
Communications Executive (CUET)
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