CUET UG 2027
Common University Entrance Test (Undergraduate), conducted by the National Testing Agency
CUET UG is the NTA test for undergraduate admission to central universities and many other participating universities. For engineering aspirants it matters mostly for B.Sc and other science degrees, because IIT, NIT and IIIT B.Tech seats come through JEE Main and JoSAA, not CUET.
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education, Government of India
- Mode
- Computer Based Test (CBT) at exam centres, in multiple shifts
- Frequency
- Once a year (May-June)
- Duration
- 60 minutes per test paper; up to 5 papers per candidate
CUET UG 2027 Exam Pattern
Updated on 18 October 2026 · Compiled from official National Testing Agency notices
Pattern as given in the CUET UG 2026 Information Bulletin. Check the 2027 bulletin for any change.
Pattern at a glance
| Feature | Details (2026) |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test |
| Papers offered | 37: 13 languages, 23 domain subjects, 1 General Aptitude Test |
| Papers a candidate can take | Maximum 5, any combination |
| Questions per paper | 50, all compulsory |
| Duration per paper | 60 minutes |
| Marking | +5 correct, -1 incorrect, 0 unattempted |
| Maximum marks per paper | 250 |
| Shifts | Multiple shifts depending on candidates and subject choices |
What each paper tests
- Languages: reading comprehension on factual, literary and narrative passages, literary aptitude and vocabulary.
- Domain subjects: based on the NCERT syllabus of the subject.
- General Aptitude Test: general knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, statistics) and logical and analytical reasoning.
Compulsory 50 questions and scoring
Earlier cycles allowed candidates to attempt 40 out of 50 questions in some papers. The 2026 bulletin says all 50 questions are compulsory, so older coaching material describing a choice of 40 is outdated.
Because shifts differ in difficulty, NTA normalises scores using the equi-percentile method described in an appendix of the bulletin. Percentiles are first calculated for each shift and are then mapped to a common marks scale, separately for each subject.
Negative marking
Each wrong answer costs 1 mark, so a blind guess has a negative expected value when you cannot eliminate any option. Since all questions must be attempted in 2026, aim to eliminate options before choosing.