CUET Full Form and Exam Guide: Date, Syllabus, Eligibility, Pattern, and Colleges

The CUET exam serves as a single gateway to gain admission to over 230 leading universities across India. This comprehensive guide covers the details of the CUET exam, eligibility criteria, exam dates, and preparation tips to help aspiring students on the journey to success.

CUET Full Form Explained

CUET Full Form stands for Common University Entrance Test. It is a crucial exam conducted to gain admission to the country’s top UG and PG programmes. The CUET full form in education highlights its role as a standardised gateway streamlining university admissions across the country.

What is CUET Exam?

The Common University Entrance Test or CUET is a national-level exam primarily introduced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in 2022, for UG programmes. It provides entry to various central, state, and private universities of the country.

The CUET provides a standardised platform for students from across the nation to compete for seats in top institutions of the country. The CUET entrance exam promotes equity, focusing on aptitude over board marks alone. It also enables access to prestigious universities for all qualified candidates.

CUET Exam Key Details

1. Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA).
2. Mode & Duration: Computer-Based Test; 60 min test per subject (UG), 90 mins per paper (PG).
3. Marking Scheme: 5 marks for every correct answer, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
4. No. of participating institutions: Over 300 institutions (UG), over 185 (PG).
5. Programmes covered (UG): B.A., B.Sc., B.Com. BBA, BCA, B.Tech, B.Voc, and BFA.
6. Programmes covered (PG): MA, MSc, MCom, MTech, MFA, MBA, and LLM.
7. Exam Sections: Languages (Section IA), Domain Subjects (Section II), General Test (Section III).

CUET Eligibility Criteria Details

1. CUET eligibility criteria for UG require candidates to have passed Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream.
2. While there is no set percentage required by the NTA, participating universities often require a minimum of 50% in Class 12. The percentage may vary according to the course type and institute.
3. CUET eligibility criteria for PG require candidates to have completed a bachelor’s degree in the respective stream from a recognised board.
4. There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in the CUET (UG or PG) exam. There is also no limit to the number of attempts made in the exam.

CUET 2026 Exam Date and Schedule

The tentative CUET exam date 2026 is scheduled from May 11 - May 31, 2026. The exam is conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) mode. CUET 2026 exam date for PG courses is scheduled for March 2026.

Key 2026 CUET Exam Dates (Tentative)

1. CUET 2026 Exam Date: 11 - 31 May, 2026
2. Application Open from: 3 January, 2026
3. Last Date for Registration: 30 January, 2026 (11:50 PM)
4. Correction in the online application form: 02 - 04 February, 2026
5. Subject-wise Dates: To be released in the second week of April 2026
6. Admit Card availability: Available 3-4 days before the exam

CUET Exam Syllabus 2026 Breakdown

The CUET 2026 syllabus is divided into three sections:

1. Section IA (Languages): Tests language proficiency through reading comprehension (factual/literary), vocabulary, grammar, and literary aptitude. 13 Language options are provided in the exam.  
2. Section II (Domain Subjects): Includes 23 specific subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, History, Accountancy, and Mathematics, focusing on core Class 12 concepts.
3. Section III (General Aptitude Test): Tests the general knowledge/current affairs, quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning and verbal ability.

CUET exam syllabus demands an NCERT focus in its preparation.

List of CUET Languages and Domain Subjects

CUET Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

The CUET exam pattern is an objective (MCQs) type. The exam is computer-based, lasting 45-60 minutes per paper. Candidates have the option to choose 5 subjects total. The CUET exam marking scheme allots +5 for correct, -1 for wrong, and 0 for unattempted answers.

CUET Participating Institution Details

Below are the details of the type of university and the number of participating institutions for the year 2026.

1. Over 230 central, state, and private institutions are participating in CUET UG 2026.
2. Premier central universities include University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and University of Hyderabad.
3. State universities include Baba Ghulam Shah University, Bhattdev University, Cluster University of Jammu, and Delhi Technological University.

The official website details the full list of participating institutions in the central, state, and private categories.

CUET Application Process

To register for the CUET 2026 exam;

1. Visit the official CUET exam website.
2. Carefully review the given information bulletin and enter the new registration.
3. Enter personal details such as name, DOB, email, and mobile number to generate an application number.
4. Use the application number and password to access the full application form.
5. Candidates then have to select up to 5 subjects from the available domains, languages and general test.
6. Next, upload necessary documents like a scanned photo, signature, and category certificates.
7. Pay the required registration fee online through UPI/net banking/ credit/debit card.
8. Finally, submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.

How to Prepare for CUET 2026 Effectively

The CUET exam preparation typically requires 3 to 6 months of consistent study. To perform well in the CUET exams, students can initially focus on concept building of domain subjects for a month. Reading passages, short notes, and grammar daily can prepare for the other sections. They can next focus on practising MCQs, mock tests, focus on weak topics and more. The last stage of preparation must include full-length mock tests and revision of notes.

Here are some general tips for candidates seeking guidance on how to prepare for the CUET exam:

1. Review and understand the syllabus and pattern of the exam thoroughly before beginning.
2. Analyse the past 5 years' question papers to find out trends and patterns.
3. Focus on high-weightage topics in languages, domains and general sections.
4. Revise formulas or theorems daily to improve speed during exams.
5. Read newspapers daily to boost comprehension speed.
6. Take at least 2-3 mock tests every week to review errors and be prepared for the exam.

Best Books and Resources for CUET Exam

Books for Languages

1. Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi
2. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
3. Wren & Martin’s High School English Grammar
4. Oswaal CUET English Language

Domain Subject Books

1. NCERT Class 11 & 12
2. Arihant Question Banks
3. MTG Objective NCERT (Diagrams/MCQs)
4. Oswaal Domain Books (PYQs + mocks) 

Books for General Test

1. Oswaal CUET General Test Book
2. Disha Experts' Rapid General Knowledge
3. Arihant General Test Guide
4. Manorama Yearbook

Conclusion

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) simplifies access to India's top universities through a standardised, merit-based process. This guide covers everything from the full form, key details, exam dates, syllabus, eligibility, exam pattern, and preparation tips. Students can visit the official website to register and make effective preparations for the exams. This will help land in the top institutions of the country.

Explore top UG, PG programmes at JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) for 2026 admissions.

FAQs

Q1. What is the full form of CUET?

A1. CUET full form stands for Common University Entrance Test, conducted by NTA for UG admissions to central and participating universities.

Q2. Which courses come under CUET?

A2. CUET covers UG programmes like BA, B.Sc, B.Com, B.Tech, BBA, and BCA. PG programmes include MA, M.Sc, MTech, MFA, MBA, and LLB.

Q3. Who is eligible for the CUET exam?

A3. Any student who has passed or is appearing for Class 12 from a recognised board is eligible for the CUET exam. While the National Testing Agency (NTA) does not set a minimum percentage, participating universities often require a minimum of 50% in Class 12. For PG courses, candidates have to complete a bachelor’s degree in the respective stream from a recognised board.

Q4. How do I prepare for CUET?

A4. To prepare effectively for CUET, students can start with the NCERT Class 12 textbooks for domain subjects. Then practice 100 MCQs daily using standard textbooks. Taking 2-3 weekly mock tests can help build speed for the 60-minute papers.

Q5. What are the total marks of CUET?

A5. Candidates can select up to 5 subjects (including languages, domain subjects, and the General Test), each subject making 250 marks. The maximum possible total marks are 1250 (250 marks × 5 subjects). Hence, the total marks depend on how many subjects a candidate has chosen.

Q6. Is B.Tech available in CUET?

A6. Yes, several central and state universities offer B.Tech through the CUET exam. Students will need to select Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as domain subjects during registration.

Q7. Is CUET government or private?

A7. CUET is a government exam conducted by NTA under the Ministry of Education for admissions to both government (central/state) and private universities.

Q8. How many attempts are there in CUET?

A8. Students get one attempt per academic year (May-June exam cycle), but there's no limit to the number of attempts. Many students retake the CUET to improve their scores for better success.