What is CUET Exam? Complete Guide, Eligibility, Pattern & Admission Process

What is CUET Exam? Complete Guide, Eligibility, Pattern & Admission Process

Anurag ReddyUpdated on 27 Nov 2025, 02:18 PM IST

The Common University Entrance Test is a national level examination held by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to offer admissions for undergraduate programmes at various central, state, private and deemed to be private universities across India. The CUET exam is held once a year to around 13 lakh students in over 250 cities across India and 15 cities outside of India.

This Story also Contains

  1. What is CUET exam?
  2. Who Is Eligible for the CUET Exam?
  3. When will CUET Exam Registration Begin?
  4. What is the application fee for CUET Exam?
  5. What is the structure of CUET Exam?
  6. Top CUET Participating Universities
What is CUET Exam? Complete Guide, Eligibility, Pattern & Admission Process
What is the CUET Exam

The CUET 2026 exam will be held from May to June in multiple shifts across India. The NTA will conduct the CUET exam in online (CBT) mode. Candidates qualified in the CUET exam will be eligible for the admission process at the participating universities. The CUET participating universities will release the list of selected candidates in the form of a merit list.

What is CUET exam?

The CUET exam is a common gateway for admissions into some of the top central universities like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, University of Allahabad, and more. The NTA conducts the CUET exam in multiple choice questions (MCQs) format. Students are required to appear for the CUET 2026 to qualify for the admission process of their desired programmes. Candidates can take the CUET exam in any of their desired language given below:

MIT World Peace University B.COM Admissions 2026

#51-100 in Innovation Category by NIRF | Highest CTC: 11.75 LPA | UGC Approved | 100,000+ Alumni Globally

MIT World Peace University BCA Admissions 2026

Highest CTC- 51.36 LPA | UGC Approved | 100% placement Assistance | 1600+ Recruiters | 75+ Granted Patents

  • English

  • Hindi

  • Marathi

  • Tamil

  • Telugu

  • Odia

  • Punjabi

  • Malayalam

  • Bengali

  • Gujarati

  • Assamese

  • Kannada

  • Urdu

CUET UG 2026: MCQs Questions and Answers PDF
Prepare smarter for CUET UG 2026 with our comprehensive MCQs Questions & Answers PDF. Cover all important topics, boost accuracy, and ace your exam with ease!
Download Now

Who Is Eligible for the CUET Exam?

Students appearing for the CUET exam must complete Class 12 from any recognised institution, according to the CUET eligibility criteria. Candidates are advised to go through the eligibility requirements before submitting the CUET UG application form. The eligibility requirements will be available on the official websites of each candidate's chosen university.

  • Candidates with minimum of 50% for

MIT World Peace University BBA Admissions 2026

Merit Based Scholarships worth 50 Crores | 80% Median Placement | Highest CTC 11.17 LPA

KL University B.Com Admissions 2026

A++ Grade by NAAC | Recognized as Category-1 University by UGC | 100% Placement, 75 LPA Highest CTC, 487 Recruiters

When will CUET Exam Registration Begin?

NTA will release the CUET application form in March 2026 on its official website. Candidates can visit the official website - cuet.samarth.ac.in to check the application form. Candidates need to first register on the portal by providing the details asked, and then complete the procedure by submitting the application fee and required documents.

How to Register for CUET Exam?

The step-by-step guide on how to fill CUET application form is given here:

Step 1 - Visit the official website - cuet.nta.nic.in.

Step 2 - Fill up the CUET registration 2026 by entering the details.

Step 3 - Candidates will receive the login credentials on their registered email address and mobile number.

Step 4 - Now, the candidates can use the login details provided by NTA and fill the application form of CUET.

Step 5 - Upload the required documents such as a scanned image of NTA passport-sized photograph and signature in the prescribed format.

Step 6 - Pay the application fee in online mode.

Step 7 - Take the printouts of the duly filled application form for future reference.

What is the application fee for CUET Exam?

Students who have submitted the application form are required to pay the CUET 2026 application fees to register succesfully. The CUET application fee can be paid through debit card, UPI, Pay TM services, credit card or net banking. The CUET 2026 application process could be completed only after the successful submission of application fees.

CUET Application Fees 2026

Number of subjects opted

For centres in India


For centres outside in India

General (UR)

OBC NCL/ EWS

SC/ ST/ Transgender/ PwBD

Up to 3 subjects

1000/-

900/-

800/-

4500/-

For each additional subject

400/-

375/-

350/-

1800/-


What is the structure of CUET Exam?

Candidates preparing for the entrance test of CUET are advised to check the CUET 2026 exam pattern before starting their preparation. The CUET exam will be held in three sections - I, II and III. Each section will consist of 50 questions. Students must attempt all the 50 questions in 60 minutes. According to the CUET exam pattern, the exam will be conducted online in a computer-based test format.

CUET Exam Pattern 2026

CUET sectionsNumber of subjectsNumber of questionsTo be attemptedExam duration
Section IA13 languages505060 minutes for each language
Section II23 domain-specific subjects505060 minutes for each language
Section IIIGeneral Aptitude Test505060 minutes

Top CUET Participating Universities

Universities

State

Websites

Banaras Hindu University

Uttar Pradesh

bhu.ac.in

University of Hyderabad

Telangana

uohyd.ac.in

Jamia Millia Islamia

New Delhi

jmi.ac.in

Mahatma Gandhi Central University

Bihar

mgcub.ac.in

Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

Uttarakhand

hnbgu.ac.in

University of Delhi

New Delhi

du.ac.in

University of Allahabad

Uttar Pradesh

allduniv.ac.in

Jawaharlal Nehru University

New Delhi

jnu.ac.in

Central University of Karnataka

Karnataka

cuk.ac.in

Central University of Rajasthan

Rajasthan

curaj.ac.in

Central University of Jharkhand

Jharkhand

cuj.ac.in

Central University of Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir

cujammu.ac.in

Central University of Haryana

Haryana

cuh.ac.in

Central University of South Bihar

Bihar

cusb.ac.in

Assam University, Silchar

Assam

aus.ac.in

Central University of Gujarat

Gujarat

cug.ac.in

Central University of Kerala

Kerala

cukerala.ac.in

Central University of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

cuap.ac.in

Central University of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

cutn.ac.in

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the use of the CUET exam?
A:

Common University Entrance Test is a gateway in offering admissions to various undergraduate programmes at several central, state, private and deemed universities across India.

Q: Which is the best college under CUET?
A:

The CUET offers admissions to various top central universities of India including Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, University of Allahabad and more.

Q: Who is eligible for the CUET exam?
A:

Students who have completed their Class 12 with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks from any recognised institution are eligible to apply for the CUET exam.

Articles
|
Certifications By Top Providers
Study from Still Life
Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Online Course of Indian Constitution
Via NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
Advanced Constitutional Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Biochemistry of Biomolecules
Via St Xavier's College, Kolkata
Appreciating Hindustani Music
Via Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Swayam
 690 courses
Edx
 613 courses
Udemy
 505 courses
Futurelearn
 346 courses
Coursera
 313 courses
NPTEL
 303 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, Post Code EH8 9YL
University College London, London
Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
Lancaster University, Lancaster
Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YW
Indiana University, Bloomington
107 S. Indiana Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405-7000
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to CUET UG

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CUET UG ?

Hi! CUET UG 2025 will be conducted in May–June 2025 in computer-based mode across multiple shifts. Registration is open from March 1–22, 2025, with corrections allowed from March 24–26. It is for students completing Class 12 or equivalent, and eligibility may vary by university. The exam has Language, Domain-Specific Subjects, and General Test sections. Admit cards will be released in May, and results are expected in June 2025, followed by university counseling.
https://university.careers360.com/exams/cuet-ug
https://university.careers360.com/exams/cuet-ug/articles

HELLO,

Yes, you can give CUET exam 2026 if you want to take admission in second year of BA program. The Entrance Test (CUET) is for admission to undergraduate courses. However , the eligibility for the CUET UG exam will be based on your class 12th qualifications.

You will need to keep in mind like if you get admission to the new institution based on your CUET score then don't forget to cancel your enrollment number or admission at your current college.

Hope this Helps!

Hello,

Delhi University (DU) offers various engineering courses under its Department of Technology.

Admission to these courses is primarily based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main scores. However, some courses may also consider CUET (Common University Entrance Test) scores for admission.

The exact number of seats filled through CUET scores can vary each year and are not publicly disclosed.

Hope it helps !

Admissions for CUET aren't solely based on 2 Non-Med Percentage along with JEE Mains percentile. The eligibility criteria for CUET require students to have scored at least 50% marks in their Class 12th exam for general candidates and 45% for reserved categories.


Additionally, CUET has its own exam pattern, which includes multiple-choice questions divided into three sections:

- Section 1: Language proficiency(English/Hindi/regional languages)

- Section 2: Domain-specific subjects

- Section 3: General Aptitude


It's also important to note that while JEE Mains is a separate entrance exam, some universities may consider both CUET and JEE Mains scores for admission to certain programs. However, the specific admission criteria may vary depending on the university and course.


To confirm the admission criteria for your desired course, I recommend checking the official websites of the participating universities or contacting them directly.