Students who are appearing in the Class 12 Board exam this year will soon progress to choose their professional education. With the aim of getting admission to a reputed university, more than 10 lakh students appear for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) every year, as the national-level entrance exam is the gateway for admission to various undergraduate (UG) programs in more than 280 government and private universities across India.
For the unversed, CUET is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The entrance exam has been curated to include more than 37 subjects (13 languages + 23 domain-specific subjects + 1 General Aptitude Test). In this article, Hitbullseye aims to answer all the possible questions that every student planning to appear for CUET 2027 may have. Please note that this article contains all Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CUET, including the exam pattern, subject weightage, sectional details, admission fees, application process, and more, to help you gain clarity.
CUET Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About CUET
- What is CUET, and when did it start?
A: The Common University Entrance Test, commonly known as CUET, is a national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate programs in more than 280 participating universities in India, including 49 Central Universities. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), CUET was introduced under the National Education Policy 2020 to provide the education system with a single, uniform platform and eliminate ambiguity and unfair competition.
The Common University Entrance Test was first conducted in the year 2022 for the academic session 2022-23. The entrance test syllabus and pattern are such that the performance of test-takers across different Boards can be assessed on a common scale. The first entrance exam was held for more than 14.9 lakh candidates in six phases between July 15 and 30, 2022.
- Which universities accept CUET UG?
A: More than 280 universities and institutes accept the CUET score for their UG program across various domains. Every year, the list is subject to change; therefore, an official list is published on the official CUET portal. As for the 2026 cycle, the participating institutions fall into five categories, which are as follows:
- Central universities, which consist of 45-50 institutions, including the University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Hyderabad, University of Allahabad, Visva-Bharati, and others.
- State universities are around 40 in number, including Delhi Technological University, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and various other state universities that open their doors every year.
- Deemed universities, further, are roughly 25 to 35 institutions like Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Jamia Hamdard, GITAM across its campuses, and the SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
- Private universities are the maximum number, with a minimum stretching to over 100 institutes, including the Amity University franchise and Lovely Professional University, among various others
- Other government and miscellaneous institutions, which are fewer in number but still prominently respected. For example, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, the Footwear Design and Development Institute, and the Government College for Women.
- Can I choose subjects I did not study in Class 12?
A: Yes, technically, you can choose any subject irrespective of your Class 12 background; however, it is important to ensure that the eligibility criteria of your target university target university is aligned with you not having studied that subject in 10+2. A mismatch in this regard could result in forfeiting admission due to prior requirements.
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CUET Important Dates
- When is CUET UG 2027 expected to be held?
A: Noticing the past trends and timelines, CUET is generally expected to be held around May. The exam is conducted for a window of multiple days and slots. As of last year, NTA stated that the entrance exam lasted 19 days, 35 shifts, and 321 cities, including 15 outside India.
- When do registrations typically start for CUET?
A: Though the official notification has not been released for the year 2027 yet, the CUET application form is generally released in the first week of January, and the registrations are open until the end of February.
- What was the last date to apply and pay the fee for CUET?
A: The official dates have not been released yet; however, after noticing the past trends, the CUET registrations are typically scheduled to close by the end of February.
- When is the city intimation slip released?
A: According to the CUET 2026 trends, the city intimation slip was released around April 29. It shows the allotted exam city, subject-wise date, and slot timings. However, it is important to note that this document is not the official admit card required to be presented on the exam day.
- When is the admit card released?
A: Since the 2027 dates have not yet been released, there is no official and accurate date available as of now. However, according to past trends, the admit card is typically released in the first week of May. The admit card is your ID proof required to gain entry at the examination centre. Since CUET exam is held over multiple days and slots, candidates will receive the admit cards four to five days ahead of the exam, to be downloaded from the official website.
- When is the answer key released and the result declared?
A: As observed over the past years, the answer key is released in the first week of June and is followed by a short window to tally and challenge the questions. The final answer key is released by the end of June, and the result is declared shortly after. Hence, it can be said that the CUET answer keys are declared within three to four weeks of conducting the exam, and the objection submission window is open for three to four days. The result is computed based on the final answer keys.
CUET Exam Pattern & Syllabus
- What is the CUET UG 2026 exam pattern?
A: The CUET is a computer-based test that aims to test an individual’s knowledge speed, accuracy, and time management skills through Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The entrance exam is designed so that an aspirant can select a maximum of five suitable subjects from 37 subjects (13 languages + 23 domain-specific subjects + 1 General Aptitude Test) to form a combination. Each chosen subject will have a duration of 60 minutes and will consist of 50 questions.
- What are the 13 language subjects in which CUET is conducted?
A: The candidate will have the opportunity to select from one of the 13 available languages, which are English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
- What is the CUET marking scheme?
A: The official CUET marking scheme states that the student will be awarded five marks for each correct answer. However, if the answer is incorrect, the student will lose one mark. The scoring remains unaffected, meaning a zero is marked for every unattempted answer.
- What are the maximum CUET marks for all five subjects, and how is it calculated?
A: One CUET subject consists of 50 questions, each worth 5 marks, amounting to a total of 250 marks per subject. A candidate can select up to five subjects, which makes the total maximum marks possible at 1,250 marks.
- What happens if a question is incorrect?
A: According to the official statement, CUET states that if a question has no correct option or the question was wrong or dropped, candidates who attempted the question will be automatically awarded five marks.
- What if more than one option is correct?
A: According to the official statement, NTA states that if more than one option of a CUET question is correct, candidates who have marked either of the correct options will be given a full 5 marks. On the other hand, if all the options are correct, all the candidates who have attempted the question will be awarded full 5 marks.
- Is a domain subject’s syllabus the same as Class 12 boards?
A: A domain subject’s syllabus is not exactly the same as Class 12 boards; however, the difficulty level is still benchmarked at the Class 12 boards. The candidate is advised to be well-read on the Class 12 syllabus or NCERT textbooks to gain knowledge and build concepts, following which practicing mock tests and previous year papers, followed by analysis is crucial.
- What is the difficulty level of a domain paper?
A: NTA has officially stated that the difficulty level of each domain subject will be set at a uniform standard, meaning each domain subject’s difficulty will be benchmarked at the NCERT Class 12 level. According to the experts and candidates appearing for the exam in previous years, the overall difficulty level of the exam ranged from easy to moderate.
- What does the language paper aim to test?
A: All language papers, which are 13 in total, are aimed at testing the candidate’s comprehension skills along with reasoning and time management. The Reading Comprehensions presented could be factual, narrative, or literary, with a focus on testing an individual's vocabulary, grammar, and verbal ability.
- What does the General Aptitude Test Section aim to test?
A: The General Aptitude Test, with the subject code 501, is aimed at testing the candidate’s general knowledge and current affairs, general mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning based on basic mathematical concepts, and logical and analytical reasoning.
- From where can I download the official CUET syllabus?
A: In order to gain access and download the subject-wise PDFs for languages, domain subjects, and the General Aptitude Test, it is advised that you visit the official CUET website, cuet.nta.nic.in.
- Is the CUET 2027 syllabus expected to change?
A: There is no official confirmation of the CUET 2027 syllabus change as of now. If in the future, syllabus changes, the National Testing Agency will officially publish a statement mentioning the same along with other necessary details.
CUET Registeration & Application Process
- For CUET, who all can apply under the reservation category?
A: CUET considers students with certain social, economic, and physical minorities. Scheduled Castes (SC) are granted a 15% seat reservation, similarly 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST) and 27% for the Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL). Additionally, students are also granted a 5% relaxation for those belonging to reservation categories.
- Do reserved category candidates receive a different CUET paper?
A: No, an individual will be required to attempt the same paper regardless of their reservation category.
- Can I change my subject combination after paying the registration fee?
A: According to last year’s news and trends, students were allowed a short span of window to change their subject combinations; however, this does not guarantee that the same leverage will be granted in 2027 and onwards.
- What documents are required for CUET registration and the application process?
A: The candidate will be required to submit the following documents in order to apply and register for the CUET process:
- An active mobile number and email ID for official updates, OTPs and other communication.
- A recent passport-size photograph in JPG or JPEG format, usually between 10 KB and 200 KB. The face should be clearly visible against a plain light background, with no sunglasses or mask.
- A scanned signature in JPG or JPEG format, usually between 4 KB and 50 KB. Sign in black or blue ink on white paper.
- A valid photo identity proof. Aadhaar is preferred and most widely used. Other accepted options include passport, PAN card, voter ID, or driving licence.
- Class 10 certificate or marksheet, mainly for name and date of birth verification.
- Class 12 details. If you have already passed, the marksheet is needed. If you are appearing, school and board details are entered.
- Category certificate, if you are claiming reservation under SC, ST, OBC-NCL, or EWS. The certificate should be in the prescribed format and issued by a competent authority.
- PwBD or UDID certificate, if applicable.
- What payment modes can I use to pay my registration fee for CUET?
A: The applicant can utilize Debit card, Credit card, Net banking, UPI or Wallet (available through some payment gateways) to successfully pay the CUET application fees and complete their registration process.
- What are the CUET registration fees?
A: CUET’s registration fees is dependent on the subjects an individual chooses. The following table helps detail the numbers accordingly:
|
Category
|
Fee for up to 3 subjects
|
Fee for each additional subject
|
|
General (UR)
|
₹1,000
|
₹400
|
|
OBC-NCL / EWS
|
₹900
|
₹375
|
|
SC / ST / PwBD / Third Gender
|
₹800
|
₹350
|
|
Centres outside India
|
₹4,500
|
₹1,800
|
CUET Exam Day Checklist & Preparation Tips
- How will I get to know my CUET slot?
A: The National Testing Agency allots each candidate’s examination slot, which is first revealed in the city intimation slip, where your exam centre, date, and timings are mentioned. Then the slots are finally confirmed when the admit cards are released.
- When should I typically start preparing for CUET?
A: There is no official date for when you should typically start preparing for CUET. The timeline is explicitly unique to your Class 12 Board preparation. However, to recommend a timeline, it is advised that you start six to eight months before the official exam date.
- What documents should I carry on the day of CUET exam?
A: The following list mentions the documents required on the CUET exam day:
- Printed CUET admit card on A4 paper
- Self-declaration / undertaking form (if required on the admit card)
- Original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, e-Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, driving licence, school/college ID, or bank passbook with photo)
- One or two passport-size photographs
- Original PwD / PwBD certificate (if applicable)
- What items are allowed on the day of the CUET exam?
A: The candidate will be allowed to carry a transparent water bottle and a ballpoint pen, and if any requirements as approved for medical cases.
- What items are allowed on the day of the CUET exam?
A: The candidate will not be allowed to carry a smartphone, smartwatch/fitness band, calculator, notes, geometry box, or any paper, wallet, bag, or metallic jewellery.
CUET Results, Admission & Counselling Process
- Is there a common CUET counselling process?
A: No, the role of the National Testing Agency is limited to conducting the exam and declaration of the result. There is no common counselling or admission process. Candidates will have to apply for the participating universities and take part in the admission or counselling process.
- Does a CUET score admit you to Delhi University by itself?
A: No, just a CUET score is not enough to get you admission into Delhi University. In order to gain admission into any Delhi University UG course, you will be required to register for the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal, fill the preference list, and pay the university fees separately. Both the processes are important simultaneously; failure to complete one may result in a lost opportunity.
- Can my CUET score be used in more than one university?
A: Yes, your CUET score can be used at more than one university; however, you must register for each university within the deadline. It is important to remember that one application or simply applying and clearing CUET will not make you eligible for multiple universities.
- Is choosing the General Aptitude Test compulsory?
A: No, it is not compulsory to select the General Aptitude Test (GAT) as one of your subjects when selecting your five CUET subjects. Whether or not you will be required to select the mentioned subject will depend on your target course and/or university’s requirements.
- Is the scorecard sent to the university automatically?
A: No, the scorecard is not automatically sent to the university. Test-takers have to download the scorecard and use it to apply to each of the participating institutes’ counselling process forms, as well as during the document verification process.
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