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    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Paper Analysis Shift 1: Memory Based Question & Difficulty Level

    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Paper Analysis Shift 1: Memory Based Question & Difficulty Level

    Anapally RajeshUpdated on 18 May 2026, 03:35 PM IST

    The NTA has concluded the CUET May 18 exam 2026 shift 1 at 12 PM. Students can check the subject-wise detailed CUET 2026 May 18 shift 1 analysis given below. NTA is conducting the CUET UG 2026 exam on May 18 in two shifts, covering subjects such as English, Hindi, Mathematics, and General Aptitude Test. Candidates can review the detailed exam analysis for both Shift 1 and Shift 2, including the overall and section-wise difficulty levels of the exam.
    Latest Updates - CUET UG 2026 May 18 Question Paper Analysis Download Link

    Live | Jun 10, 2026 | 1:45 AM IST

    This Story also Contains

    1. CUET UG May 15 – Biology Paper Analysis (Shift 2)
    2. CUET UG May 15 – Political Science Paper Analysis (Shift 2)
    3. CUET UG May 15 – English Paper Analysis (Shift 2)
    4. CUET UG May 15 – Accountancy Paper Analysis (Shift 2)
    5. CUET UG May 15 – GAT Paper Analysis (Shift 2)
    6. CUET UG May 15 – English Paper Analysis (Shift 1)
    7. CUET 2026 Question Papers PDF
    8. CUET UG May 15 – Economics Paper Analysis (Shift 1)
    9. CUET UG May 15 – Mathematics Paper Analysis (Shift 1)
    10. CUET UG May 15 – Physics Paper Analysis (Shift 1)
    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Paper Analysis Shift 1: Memory Based Question & Difficulty Level
    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Paper Analysis

    The May 18 CUET UG exam analysis also highlights important topics, subject-wise paper reviews, and more. The exam analysis along with the feedback from the students who appeared for the CUET UG exam will be updated in this article. Refer to the tables below for further details on the CUET exam analysis for the May 18 exam.

    Also read,

    CUET Biology Analysis 2026 - May 18 Shift 1

    • Overall paper was slightly lengthy

    • Some questions were repeated from PYQs and previous shifts

    • More questions from Biodiversity were asked in this shift

    • Questions from Ecology were asked

    • In-situ and Ex-situ Conservation questions asked

    • Questions from Biodiversity and Conservation

    • Questions from Organisms and Population

    • Questions from Reproduction in Flowering Plants

    • Diagram-based questions were asked

    • Question on Pollen Grain asked

    • Questions from Genetics

    • Question on Rediscovery of Mendel

    • Question on Hardy-Weinberg Principle asked p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1

    • Sequence-based question on Human Evolution asked

    • Sequence-based questions had higher weightage

    • Statement-based questions were asked

    • Match the Following questions were asked

    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Analysis - Mathematics Paper (Shift 1)

    • Overall paper level: Easy to Moderate
    • Paper was lengthy
    • Around 35 questions considered a good attempt
    • 2 questions from Relations and Functions (R&F)
    • Straightforward questions from Inverse Trigonometric Functions (ITF)
    • Questions from Matrices and Determinants
    • Formula-based questions from Matrices
    • Questions on Symmetric Matrices
    • Equality of Matrices question asked
    • Questions from Continuity and Derivatives
    • Questions from Integration
    • Questions from Application of Integrals
    • Fewer questions from Vectors and 3D Geometry
    • Question on Direction Ratio asked
    • Questions from Linear Programming Problem (LPP)
    • Questions from Probability
    • Bayes Theorem question asked

    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Analysis - GAT Paper (Shift 1)

    SectionDifficulty Level
    General Aptitude Test (GAT)Easy to Moderate
    ReasoningEasy
    Quantitative AptitudeModerate
    GK & Current AffairsModerate
    History & PolityModerate


    Quantitative Aptitude

    • Around 5–6 questions were asked from Quant.
    • Questions were basic and arithmetic-0riented
    • SI & CI concepts were reportedly included.
    • The calculation level remained manageable and not lengthy.

    Important Quant Topics

    • Simple Interest & Compound Interest
    • Basic arithmetic
    • Percentage-based aptitude concepts

    Reasoning Analysis

    • Approximately 15–17 questions came from Reasoning.
    • Reasoning was considered one of the easiest and most scoring sections.
    • Most questions were asked direct and less time-consuming.

    Important Reasoning Topics Asked

    • Mirror Image
    • Logical arrangement
    • Analytical reasoning
    • Order-based concepts
    • Standard Deviation

    GK + Current Affairs Analysis

    • Around 25–28 questions reportedly came from GK + Current Affairs combined.
    • This became the highest-weightage section of the paper.
    • Static GK was strongly connected with recent current affairs topics.

    Major Topics Asked

    • Paris Olympics 2024
    • Iran-related current affairs
    • Rivers and their origin states
    • Kharif crops
    • Bharat Ratna awards
    • Important national and international events
    • Current affairs from 2023 - 2025

    History & Polity Questions

    History and polity formed an important subsection inside GK.

    History Questions

    • Around 2–3 questions were asked from History.
    • Battle chronology/order-based questions appeared.
    • Event sequencing and historical arrangement were important.

    CUET UG 2026 May 18 Analysis - English Paper (Shift 1)

    • Overall paper level: Moderate
    • Vocabulary had a very high weightage
    • Reading Comprehension was mostly easy
    • Idioms: eke out, hobson's choice, at sixes and sevens, fabian policy, white elephant.
    • Vocab: Cortege, Corpulent, emaciated, Adroit, brevity, verbose.
    • Spelling: grieving .
    • One question each on active/passive voice and reported speech.
    • 2 questions on figurative language.
    • Prepositions were important
    • 2 questions from Subject-Verb Agreement
    • 1 question from Active-Passive Voice
    • 1 question from Reported Speech
    • Questions on correct word placement in sentences
    • Match the Following questions were elimination based
    • 2 questions from Figures of Speech
    • Figure of Speech topics included Enjambment
    • Idioms section was tricky

    CUET UG Previous Day Analysis – History Paper Analysis (Shift 2)

    • Harappan Civilization: ~5 questions on culture, sites, urban planning, and artifacts

    • Buddhist History: 2 questions on teachings and expansion

    • Buddhist & Sanskrit Texts: 2-3 questions on important texts and literature

    • Mughal Empire: Questions on administrative systems and notable rulers

    • Zamindari System: Focus on its significance during Mughal and colonial periods

    • Comprehension Passages: Two passages—Non-Cooperation Movement and 17th-century Indian history

    • Bhakti Movement: 2 questions on key saints, philosophies, and social impact

    • Miscellaneous: Brief factual questions on historical figures like Marichi and Mahasamtha

    CUET UG May 15 – Biology Paper Analysis (Shift 2)

    • Reproduction & Fertilization: Fruit formation without fertilization; fertilization rate calculations

    • Genetics: 2-3 questions on Mendelian inheritance and gene disorders

    • Genetic Disorders: 2 questions on human genetic diseases and inheritance patterns

    • Species-Area Curve: Biodiversity and species-area relationship

    • Cuckoo's Parasitism: Situational question on brood parasitism

    • Human Reproduction: Sperm pathway and menstrual hormonal sequence (FSH, LH, Estrogen, Progesterone)

    • Enzyme Functions: Various enzymes including DNA ligase

    • Contraceptive Methods: IUCDs and female contraceptives

    • Match the Columns: 5 questions on enzymes, hormones, organs, diseases, ecological terms

    • Comprehension Passages: Two passages—biodiversity conservation and diseases/medicines

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    CUET UG May 15 – Political Science Paper Analysis (Shift 2)

    • Cartoon-based Questions: 5 questions worth 25 marks

    • Attempt Rate: Most students answered all 50 questions; 2-3 were tricky

    • Question Sources: Mostly from NCERT boxes, maps, and related material

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    CUET UG May 15 – English Paper Analysis (Shift 2)

    • Passage-based Questions: 4 passages with 4 questions each (more than usual)

    • Difficulty: Easy passages but higher quantity

    • Sentence Rearrangement: 6-8 questions

    • Vocabulary Focus: Heavy emphasis on vocabulary preparation

    • Phrasal Verbs: Asked in "Match the following" format

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    CUET UG May 15 – Accountancy Paper Analysis (Shift 2)

    • Syllabus Coverage: Questions from syllabus with different wording/language patterns

    • Difficulty: Some tricky and confusing questions

    • Computerised Accounting: 3 questions included

    CUET UG May 15 – GAT Paper Analysis (Shift 2)

    • QA Section: Tough and time-consuming with formula-based questions (e.g., Mensuration)

    • General Knowledge: Questions on books & authors, vitamins & proteins, and awards

    • Overall Difficulty: Moderate to tough

    CUET UG May 15 – English Paper Analysis (Shift 1)

    Overall Difficulty

    • Easy to Moderate overall

    • Lengthy in nature but not conceptually very tough

    • More manageable compared to May 14 Shift 1

    • Time was a mild concern due to passage length and vocabulary density

    Reading Comprehension

    • Two passages appeared in the paper

    • Both were direct and answerable with careful reading

    • Topics:

      • One passage on Cricket history

      • One passage on an emotional narrative (grandmother & granddaughter)

    • Questions were fact-based rather than heavily inference-based

    • Passages were lengthy but mostly straightforward

    Vocabulary

    • Vocabulary level was slightly higher than previous years

    • Around 4 to 5 vocabulary-based questions appeared

    • Format included direct questions and Match the Following

    • Words specifically tested:

      • Innocuous

      • Aplomb

      • Transient

      • Opulent

      • Obtrusive

      • Umbrage

      • Stoic

      • Vindictive

      • Asperse

    • 1 to 2 Synonym questions

    • 2 Antonym questions

    • Rewarded students who built vocabulary beyond basic word lists

    One Word Substitution

    • 1 question appeared

    • Topic tested: A group or number of ships

    Phrasal Verbs

    • Multiple phrasal verbs appeared

    • Format included Match the Following

    • Specific phrasal verbs tested:

      • Tear Him Apart

      • Turn Him Down

      • Catch On

    Idioms & Phrases

    • 2 idioms directly tested:

      • Child's Play

      • Stitch in Time Saves Nine

    • Pink Slip and Chip on One's Shoulder also reported by some students

    Grammar

    • Considered the most unpredictable section of the paper

    • Areas covered:

      • Active-Passive Voice (Voice Change)

      • Reported Speech (Narration rules)

      • Subject-Verb Agreement — singular verb usage tested

      • Error Detection — 1 to 2 questions

      • Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles — 3 to 4 questions, reported as easy

      • Spelling Correction — 2 questions

      • Prepositions — 1 to 2 questions

    Poetic Devices

    • 1 question on Personification

    • Example tested: "Wind Whispered"

    Student Feedback

    • Vocabulary was higher than expected but manageable

    • RC passages were long but direct — careful readers scored well

    • Grammar section was scoring for well-prepared students

    • Para jumbles and rearrangement were easy

    • Phrasal verbs and idioms appeared more frequently than expected

    • Mock test practice was considered essential for time management

    Good Attempts

    • 38 to 42 questions considered a strong performance

    CUET UG May 15 – Economics Paper Analysis (Shift 1)

    Overall Difficulty

    • Easy to Moderate overall

    • One of the most NCERT-friendly papers of the shift

    • IED chronology questions were slightly tricky

    • Microeconomics and Macroeconomics were straightforward and direct

    Indian Economic Development (IED)

    • Dominated by chronology and order-based questions

    • Tested years, institutions, and events directly from NCERT textbook lines

    • Key topics tested:

      • FCI (Food Corporation of India)

      • UNCED — chronological order question

      • NABARD — establishment year directly asked

    • Confusion reported among students who hadn't memorised specific years

    Macroeconomics

    • Strong NCERT focus with direct conceptual questions

    • Key topics covered:

      • Balance of Payments (BOP) — carried heavy weightage, NCERT line-based

      • CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) — banking concept tested

      • National Income — definitions and concepts

    • BOP was the most prominent topic of this section

    Microeconomics

    • Balanced and manageable

    • Key topics covered:

      • Elasticity of Demand — price-demand relationship and calculations

      • Profit Maximization — long-run equilibrium concept

      • Market Equilibrium — demand-supply intersection

    Numerical Questions

    • Easy and formula-based

    • Primarily from Elasticity calculations

    • No unexpectedly complex numericals reported

    Match the Following

    • Appeared in Economics similar to English

    • Tested institutional knowledge and chronological sequences

    Student Feedback

    • Paper was directly lifted from NCERT — line-by-line reading paid off

    • Chronology questions were the trickiest part

    • BOP had surprisingly heavy coverage

    • Numericals were straightforward and quick to solve

    • PYQs (Previous Year Questions) proved highly useful for revision

    • Students strongly recommended line-by-line NCERT reading for Economics

    Good Attempts

    • 42 to 46 questions considered a strong performance

    CUET UG May 15 – Mathematics Paper Analysis (Shift 1)

    Overall Difficulty

    • Moderate to Difficult — the toughest paper of the shift

    • Formula-driven and calculation-heavy throughout

    • Not conceptually impossible, but very time-consuming

    • Time management was the single biggest challenge

    Probability

    • One of the highest-weightage topics

    • Questions from:

      • Conditional Probability

      • Bayes Theorem — direct formula application

    • Mostly straightforward for students who had practised formulas

    Matrices & Determinants

    • Carried good weightage

    • Questions based on:

      • Properties of Matrices

      • Determinant concepts

    • Properties-based rather than purely calculation-based

    Relations & Functions

    • Conceptual questions appeared

    • Topics tested:

      • Reflexive, Symmetric, and Transitive relations

      • Function properties

    Integration

    • Among the most time-consuming topics in the paper

    • Lengthy numericals with multi-step calculations

    • Required strong formula command and practice

    3D Geometry

    • Notable weightage

    • Key concept tested: Shortest Distance between lines

    • Required formula application and spatial understanding

    Vectors

    • Questions on:

      • Magnitude of vectors

      • Angle between vectors

      • Vector sum concepts

    Linear Programming Problem (LPP)

    • Limited questions appeared

    • Not a major focus area in this shift

    Student Feedback

    • Paper was heavily calculation-based — speed was crucial

    • Integration questions consumed the most time

    • Probability had direct and formula-friendly questions

    • Matrices were scoring for well-prepared students

    • PYQs helped significantly in recognising question patterns

    • Students who skipped lengthy questions and returned later managed time better

    Good Attempts

    • 30 to 36 questions considered a strong performance

    CUET UG May 15 – Physics Paper Analysis (Shift 1)

    Overall Difficulty

    • Moderate overall — the most manageable paper of the shift

    • Heavily formula-based with direct conceptual questions

    • Less difficult compared to Mathematics

    • Rewarded students who had thoroughly revised formulas

    Current Electricity

    • Formula-based numericals appeared

    • Key concept: Wheatstone Bridge — circuit formula tested

    • Direct application questions, no major surprises

    Modern Physics

    • Direct theory-based questions

    • Considered a scoring section

    • Shortest Wavelength (Spectral Series) was specifically tested

    Focus on uses and applications of EM waves

    • Conceptual rather than numerical

    Units & Dimensions

    • Noticeable weightage in this shift

    • Unit conversion questions appeared

    • Straightforward for students who had revised SI units

    Electrostatics

    • Questions on Potential Energy of a system of charges

    • Conceptual and formula-application based

    Magnetism

    • Lorentz Force — direction-based concept tested

    • Required understanding of vector directions

    Optics

    • Limited questions appeared

    • Conceptual in nature

    Student Feedback

    • Formula memorisation was the most important preparation strategy

    • Questions were direct — no unnecessary twists

    • Units & Dimensions had more weightage than expected

    • Modern Physics was an easy scoring area

    • Time pressure was moderate — less stressful than Mathematics

    • Students with strong formula sheets and revision notes had a clear advantage

    Good Attempts

    • 38 to 44 questions considered a strong performance

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    Questions related to CUET UG

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    Hello Divyam,

    Download CUET UG PCM memory-based papers from the link below and apply filters to access Physics, Chemistry, and Math resources.

    https://www.careers360.com/download/cuet-ebooks-and-sample-papers

    Hi,

    The total marks of CUET UG for each subject is 250 marks. You can check the CUET OBC cut off marks of previous year by clicking on the link below.

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    You can prepare for the CUET exam by going through the study material given below.

    Hi,

    National Forensic Science University has cancelled the NFAT exam from academic year 2026-27. You can go to the official website to check if CUET is mandatory and the eligibility of your desired programme.