CUET Passing Marks 2026: Know minimum qualifying marks

Overview: Since each CUET participating university has its own cutoff scores and other restrictions, there is no definite number of passing marks in CUET 2026. Keep reading for additional information on CUET passing marks 2026 to set your target scores. 

Achieving the minimum passing marks in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is important to secure admission into prestigious colleges and universities. 

• The CUET passing marks for 2026 (cut off) will be released after the declaration of the CUET result.
• The passing marks in the exam will vary depending on the programme and university you opt for.

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CUET Passing Marks for 2026: Important Factors

Contrary to several conventional tests that have a set passing score, the CUET exam does not have a standard passing score that applies to all courses, disciplines, and colleges. Several different courses and programs are offered for the CUET exam, each with a different set of CUET passing scores and other prerequisites. 

The passing marks in CUET entrance exam can vary based on several factors, which are given as follows - 

Aspects	Description
Number of Applicants	The number of applicants and their collective yearly performance can also affect the CUET exam passing marks. Higher passing marks could result from more intense competition.
Category and Reservation	Due to reservation guidelines and seat distribution percentages, the CUET passing marks 2026 may also differ depending on the candidate's category (General, SC, ST, OBC, etc.).
Level of Difficulty	The exam's difficulty level may impact the passing score for a particular CUET exam phase. If the paper is more difficult, the CUET exam pass marks may be slightly lower than in previous years.
Course and Program	The degrees of competition in various programs may vary. Due to a shortage of seats or higher demand, some programs may require a higher mark for admission through CUET.
Minimum Required Score	CUET applicants are often rated according to their exam performance rather than having a set passing score. Universities and other organisations publish merit lists that list the names of applicants who achieved scores higher than the cutoff, often known as the "minimum required score," which is established by these institutions.

CUET UG 2026 Total Marks

The total marks for CUET depend on the number of subject choices you make and are allowed by the NTA. According to the application PDF, the maximum number of subjects that you can choose is 5 out of 37 papers. 

The total marks based on subject choices keeping in mind that each subject is for 250 marks are: 

Subject Choice	CUET Total Marks
5	1250
4	1000
3	750

How much are the CUET Passing Marks?

As mentioned above, there are no specified passing marks in CUET. However, based on previous year trends and CUET exam analysis, here's the approximate classification of passing marks in the exam:

• The normalisation process has been discontinued, so only raw scores will be calculated.  
• The CUET passing marks 2026 depend on the university's seat intake, the number of applications, course requirements etc. 

Category	Description (Based on min. 4 subjects)
Very Good Score	A score of 950 and above out of 1000 is an excellent score for admission to top-rated universities.
Good Score	Good scores in CUET 2026 may range between 850- 950+
Average Score	The average score in CUET ranges between 600 and 750.
Low Scores	Low scores in CUET range between 300- 400.
Poor Score	Any score below 300 is considered a poor score.

Calculate your percentile using the formula below: 

Formula to calculate percentile = (No. of candidates who scored equal to or lower than your raw score) * 100 / Total number of test takers 

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What are the CUET passing marks for 2026? 

• The minimal passing marks for the CUET test 2026 are anticipated to be between 300 and 400 out of the CUET total marks.
• CUET passing marks 2026 for the general category and OBC are expected to be in this range (400-450).
• The passing marks in each subject are not fixed and vary based on the course, category, difficulty level, and other factors considered during counselling.
• Preparing well and setting your targets to achieve a good score is important for securing admission to your desired program through CUET.  

What is the safe score for CUET? 

A safe score in CUET may be somewhere between 550-650 for admission to good universities. However, based on previous year trends, it is good to target a score above 750-800 to study at top colleges. You may ask why. The answer is that universities like DU have a very high CUET cut-off, as listed below:

College	Top Course	Cutoff
Hindu College	BA (Hons) Political Science	797.8
LSR	BA (Hons) Psychology	795
Miranda House	BA (Hons) Political Science	787
SRCC	B.Com (Hons)	782

Check: CUET Admission Process 2026

Key Takeaways

CUET (Common University Entrance Test) has no standard passing score applicable to all courses and colleges. The CUET passing marks 2026 vary based on several factors. 

• Varied Passing Criteria: The passing criteria depend on factors such as the course and program, category and reservation, level of difficulty, and the minimum required score set by CUET universities.
• Course-Specific Competition: Different programs may have varying passing marks due to differences in competition levels. Some programs may require higher scores due to limited seats or high demand. 
• Category-Based Variations: Due to reservation guidelines and seat distribution percentages, CUET passing marks 2026 can differ based on the candidate's category (General, SC, ST, OBC, etc.).