CUET Full Form, Common University Entrance Test, Why CUET Is Important?
Shrivastav 26 Sept, 2025
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CUET Full Form is Common University Entrance Test which is conducted by NTA for admission into various central, state, private, and deemed universities. Candidates can get admission to various UG, and PG courses through this exam. CUET UG 2026 exam will be conducted tentatively from the second week of May to last week of May 2026 across various exam centers. CUET was first conducted in 2010 by the Central University of Rajasthan. Candidates can check more details about CUET exam in this article.
What is CUET?
What is Cuet ? : Common University Entrance Test is a centralized national-level entrance test introduced by the National Education Policy and Ministry of Education. CUET aims to streamline the undergraduate admission process for central and various other universities in the country, including state, deemed, and private universities.
This year, a total of 420 colleges and CUET participating universities are going to participate in CUET 2026 exam. Some well-known universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University, and Jamia Millia Islamia participate in CUET exam.
Students aspiring to take the CUET in 2026 should stay informed about the announcements made by the NTA. The registration and application forms for CUET UG 2026 are expected to be released in the first or second week of February 2026. Students must keep track of these updates and promptly fill out the CUET application form once it is available.
Why CUET Exam is Important?
CUET exam provides equal opportunity to each student, ends subjective bias, clarity of rank, end to cutoff wrestling. Until 2022, every central university had its own mechanism to give admission to their UG courses. MoE along with UGC in order to unify this process introduced CUET Exam. CUET full form is Common University Entrance Test .
CUET Full Form Overview
Candidates who want to know the full form of CUET exam can check the overview below
| CUET Full Form overview | |
| CUET full form | Common University Entrance Test |
| What is CUET? | Common entrance test for UG admission |
| CUET Exam conducting body | NTA (National Testing Agency) |
| CUET Exam mode | Computer-based (MCQ mode) |
| CUET Exam Schedule | Second week of May to last week of May 2025 |
What Is The Objective Of Conducting CUET Exam?
The main objective of CUET exam is given below. NTA conducts CUET exam to provide admission to UG, PG, and some other courses.
- NTA conducts CUET as an efficient, clear, and international standardized test to determine student’s competency for admission.
- To study and improve educational and testing systems by identifying areas of improvement and taking effective measures to address them.
- To develop and share information about education and professional development standards through research and dissemination.
Major Changes in CUET UG Exam
UGC has announced significant changes to CUET UG 2026, aimed to enhance the exam's efficiency and standardizing the admissions process. Here are the key updates:- Mode of Examination: CUET UG 2026 will be conducted exclusively as a Computer-Based Test (CBT), moving away from the hybrid format used previously.
- Reduction in Subjects: The total number of subjects offered has been reduced from 63 to 37. This includes 13 language subjects and 23 domain-specific subjects.
- Subject Selection: Candidates can now choose up to five subjects, down from six. Importantly, they can select subjects not studied in Class 12, allowing for greater flexibility in their choices.
- Uniform Exam Duration: The duration of the exam has been standardized to 60 minutes for all subjects, ensuring consistency across the board.
- Question Format: All questions will now be compulsory, with candidates required to attempt all questions presented in the exam.
- Scoring System: The scoring system remains at +5 marks for correct answers and -1 mark for incorrect answers, with no penalty for unanswered questions.
- General Aptitude Test (GAT): Admissions for subjects that have been dropped will rely on scores from the General Aptitude Test.
CUET Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates who wish to appear for CUET exam must meet the eligibility criteria. CUET Eligibility Criteria is updated below. Candidates can check the eligibility criteria before applying for the exam. Educational Qualifications
- General Category: Candidates must have scored at least 50% marks in their Class 12 board examination.
- SC/ST Candidates: A minimum of 45% marks is required.
Age Limit There is no upper age limit for candidates applying for CUET UG 2025. Students of any age can apply as long as they meet the educational qualifications. Nationality Candidates must be:
- Indian citizens, or
- Subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, or
- Tibetan refugees who settled in India before January 1, 1962, or
- Individuals from certain countries (e.g., Pakistan, Sri Lanka) who have permanently migrated to India.
Number of Attempts Candidates can attempt the CUET exam multiple times as long as they fulfill the eligibility criteria.
CUET Exam Pattern 2026
CUET Exam Pattern has been revised by UGC this year. Now, candidates have to answer all the questions asked in the exam. A total of 50 questions will be asked from each section i.e., section I, section II, and section III.
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CUET Exam Pattern 2025 |
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| Section | Number of Questions | Duration | Question Types |
| Section IA- Language | 50 Questions | 60 minutes for all subjects | Language to be tested through Reading Comprehension based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative, (Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary) |
| Section II- Domain Specific | 50 Questions |
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| Section III- General Test | 50 Questions |
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CUET Syllabus
Candidates who wish to participate in CUET exam can download the subject-wise syllabus from the below table
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CUET Syllabus 2025 For Section II |
|
| Subjects | Syllabus |
| Accountancy | Click here |
| Agriculture | Click here |
| Anthropology | Click here |
| Art Education Sculpture | Click here |
| Biology | Click here |
| Business Studies | Click here |
| Chemistry | Click here |
| Computer Science | Click here |
| Economics/Business Economics | Click here |
| Engineering Graphics | Click here |
| Entrepreneurship | Click here |
| Environmental Studies | Click here |
| Geography | Click here |
| History | Click here |
| Home Science | Click here |
| Knowledge Tradition – Practices India | Click here |
| Legal Studies | Click here |
| Mass Media/ Mass Communication | Click here |
| Mathematics | Click here |
| Performing Arts | Click here |
| Physical Education | Click here |
| Physics | Click here |
| Political Science | Click here |
| Psychology | Click here |
| Sanskrit | Click here |
| Sociology | Click here |
| Teaching Aptitude | Click here |
Participating Universities In CUET 2026
CUET exam offers admission to 53 central universities, 37 state universities, 130 private universities, and 3 other universities. Candidates can check the list of participating central and state colleges below.
| CUET College List - Central Universities | CUET College List - State Universities |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University |
| Assam University | Barkatullah University |
| Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University | Bhattadev University |
| Banaras Hindu University | Binod Bihari Mahto Koyalanchal University, Dhanbad |
| Central Sanskrit University | Cluster University Of Jammu |
| Central Tribal University Of Andhra Pradesh | Cluster University Of Srinagar |
| Central University Of Andhra Pradesh | Cotton University |
| Central University Of Gujarat | Delhi Skill And Entrepreneurship University |
| Central University Of Haryana | Delhi Technological University |
| Central University Of Himachal Pradesh | Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya |
| Central University Of Jammu | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University |
| Central University Of Jharkhand | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School Of Economics University |
| Central University Of Karnataka | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi |
| Central University Of Kashmir | Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University |
| Central University Of Kerala | Govt. College For Women, Parade Ground, Jammu |
| Central University Of Odisha | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University |
| Central University Of Rajasthan | Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur |
| Central University Of South Bihar | Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University For Women |
| Central University Of Tamil Nadu | Islamia College Of Science And Commerce |
| Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya | Islamic University Of Science And Technology, Kashmir |
| Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya | Jamshedpur Women's University |
| Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University | Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University |
| Indira Gandhi National Tribal University | Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Kolhan University |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | Madan Mohan Malaviya University Of Technology |
| Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya | Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University |
| Mahatma Gandhi Central University | Netaji Subhas University Of Technology |
| Manipur University | Nilamber Pitamber University |
| Maulana Azad National Urdu University | Opjs University Churu, Rajasthan |
| Mizoram University | Ranchi University |
| Nagaland University | Sardar Patel University Of Police Security And Criminal Justice |
| National Sanskrit University | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University |
| North-Eastern Hill University | Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka |
| Pondicherry University | University Of Jammu |
| Rajiv Gandhi University | University Of Kashmir |
| Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University | Vikram University |
| Sikkim University | Vinoba Bhave University |
| Tezpur University | -- |
| The English And Foreign Languages University | |
| Tripura University | |
| University Of Allahabad | |
| University Of Delhi | |
| University Of Hyderabad | |
| Visva-Bharati University |
How To Prepare For CUET Exam 2026?
How To Prepare For CUET Exam?: Preparing for the CUET exam can be different for everyone, so there isn't one right answer. However, there are some general tips that can help you get ready for the exam. First, it's important to understand how the exam is structured. You can find sample papers and CUET previous year question papers online to get an idea of what the questions will be like.
Next, make sure you review the topics that will be covered in the exam. Understand the concepts and practice applying them to different situations. If you're having trouble with any particular topic, don't hesitate to ask a tutor or your teacher for help. Lastly, on the day of the exam, make sure you get enough sleep and have a healthy breakfast. This will help you stay focused and do your best.
As more than 195 universities (Central/State/Private and others) are participating in CUET (PG) 2025, and over 250 universities (Central/State/Private and others) across the country are participating in CUET (UG) 2025, it is crucial for you to gear up your preparation for the upcoming exams. Kick start your CUET UG 2025 and CUE UG 2025 preparation under the guidance of PW experts having years experience in UG and PG test preparation.
CUET Full Form : FAQs
Q1. What is the CUET full form?
Q2. What is the purpose of the CUET score?
Q3. What happens after passing the CUET exam?
Q4. Who has been given the responsibility of conducting the Central University Entrance Test (CUET) for Undergraduate (UG) or Postgraduate (PG) programs for 2025?
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