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Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in CUET English Language 2026

Author : Chetanya Rai

December 4, 2025

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Overview: More than 75% of the students opted for the English language in the CUET exam. However, the success rate in this subject is very low due to high competition and increasing difficulty level. Read the blog to learn the top 10 mistakes to avoid in CUET English exam to score 250 marks.

The success rate in the CUET English exam is less than 1%. To help you prepare well, the article will give you insights into:

  • Types of questions seen in the exam in the last 3 years
  • Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in CUET English
  • Preparation tips for scoring full marks in the exam

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in CUET English Language Preparation 2026

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has changed the scenario of UG admissions in India. While it presents the same level playing field for everyone, it also demands thorough preparation.

English, being an important component of the exam, often comes as a challenge for even the toppers. To help you prepare for this section easily, here are the common mistakes to avoid while preparing for CUET UG English:

1. Neglecting Reading Comprehension

  • Mistake: One of the common mistakes in CUET English section that many students make is to underestimate the importance of reading comprehension. They rush through passages, read-only on the surface, and fail to grasp the details of the text.
  • Solution: Read the text by highlighting key points, underlining unfamiliar words, and noting down questions. Solve 2-3 RCs of different types per week to identify main ideas and get underlying meanings.

2- Ignoring Grammar and Vocabulary

  • Mistake: A weak foundation in grammar and vocabulary can lead to significant errors in sentence structure, punctuation, and word usage.
  • How to avoid common mistakes in CUET English Language: Focus on the fundamentals of grammar, including parts of speech, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure from the beginning. Read in detail, use flashcards, and play word games to solve grammar and vocabulary exercises.

3- Rushing Through the Exam

  • What not to do in CUET English exam: Impatience can lead to careless mistakes, especially in a time-bound CUET English question paper.
  • Solution: Understand the exam format and allocate time for each topic accordingly. Practice solving previous year's papers and mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.

CUET Mocks

CUET Mocks

4. Poor Time Management

  • Mistake: One of the most common top 10 mistakes to avoid in CUET English exam is bad time management. It can impact your performance, especially in multiple-choice questions.
  • Solution: Divide your time wisely among different questions, ensuring you allocate sufficient time for each. Improve your reading speed to cover more content in less time. If you encounter a difficult question, move on and return to it later.

5. Lack of Practice

  • What not to do in CUET English exam: It's difficult to identify your strengths and weaknesses and improve your performance without sufficient practice and a balanced CUET study plan.
  • Solution: Analyze the question patterns through PYPs, past year trends, and difficulty level to familiarize yourself with the exam format. Learn from your mistakes and correct them to avoid repeating them in the exam.

6. Ignoring the Syllabus

  • Mistake: A clear understanding of the CUET English syllabus is important for targeted preparation. Many students ignore it, and it thus becomes one of the top 10 mistakes to avoid in CUET English exam.
  • Solution: Break down the syllabus into smaller, manageable topics. Focus on the high-weightage topics and allocate more time to them. Organize your study schedule to cover all topics systematically.

7. Rushing Through Multiple-Choice Questions

  • Mistake: In a hurry to finish the exam, many students make careless mistakes in multiple-choice questions. This is one of the common mistakes to avoid while preparing for CUET UG English.
  • CUET 2026 English exam do’s and don’ts: Before selecting an answer, thoroughly read the question and options. If you're unsure of the correct answer, use the process of elimination based on logical explanations to increase your chances of selecting the right one. Don't change your answers unnecessarily.

CUET resources

CUET resources

8. Underestimating the Importance of Revision & Daily Practice

  • Mistake: Neglecting revision & daily practice can lead to forgetting important concepts of grammar.
  • How to avoid common mistakes in CUET English LanguageRevise regularly for a better recall value. Use your short notes for a quick revision. Solve practice questions and CUET mock tests regularly.

9. Not solving enough Mock Tests with varying weightage

  • Mistake: Mock tests are essential for practice and tracking progress. However, many students do not focus on solving enough full-length English mocks with varying weightage for each topic.
  • Solution: Solve English mocks with varying weightage for RCs, vocabulary, and grammar. This means if you solve 1 mock with 35% RC and 50% vocabulary, your next mock should be with 40-50% RC and 30% Grammar. This will help you stay motivated and pass through any difficulty level in the exam and avoid one of the top 10 mistakes to avoid in CUET English exam.

10. Neglecting Test Analysis

  • Mistake: Avoiding performance analysis by subject-matter experts in mock tests and practice tests can limit your potential, as you will not know your mistakes and areas of improvement.
  • How to avoid common mistakes in CUET English Language: For this, appear for tests on online portals that provide detailed feedback on your performance. Join marathon sessions or crash courses at CUET online coaching by Supergrads and appear for offline mock tests and get them checked by experts to learn from your mistakes.

cuet exam results

cuet exam results

Key Takeaways

The article above discusses the top 10 mistakes to avoid in CUET English exam along with their solutions. To score 250/250 in the exam:

  • Understand the exam pattern and prioritize topics accordingly.
  • Solve previous year's papers, mock tests and sample papers from best books for CUET English Language preparation to gain competitive edge.
  • Practice regularly to improve your reading speed and comprehension skills.
  • Strengthen your foundation in grammar rules and expand your vocabulary using creative ways.
  • Allocate time wisely for each topic and avoid rushing to avoid any of the common mistakes in CUET English section.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are there in the CUET English exam?

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What topics are covered in the CUET 2026 English syllabus?

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How can I improve my reading speed for the comprehension section?

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Are CUET english previous years' papers a good resource for preparation?

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What are the best books to prepare for CUET English Language?

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Is it helpful to practice with past CUET exam papers?

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About the Author

Faculty
Chetanya Rai

Communications Executive (CUET)

Chetanya Rai is a Content Writer with over two years of experience, known for creativity and storytelling. Also, he loves writing personal finance content through which he helps readers understand money management, budgeting, and investing in a simple yet relatable way.... more

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