CUET UG Syllabus, Pattern and Subject Choice

CUET UG syllabus structure and marking scheme

A correct answer earns 5 marks, a wrong answer loses 1 mark, and an unanswered question gets zero, so each test is out of 250. Recent cycles also let candidates pick a domain subject even if they did not study it in class 12, though the university you apply to may still demand certain subjects.

CUET UG English syllabus and other languages

Language tests are the same in structure for English, Hindi and the regional languages offered.

• Reading comprehension on three kinds of passages: factual, literary and narrative
• Literary aptitude
• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, word meanings and usage
• Grammar items within the passages, such as correct sentences and rearrangement

English is the one language most universities ask for, so treat it as a fixed subject. Read one editorial and one short story passage a day and answer five questions on each.

Domain subjects

Questions in a domain test are drawn from that subject's class 12 NCERT book. The list in the latest cycle had 23 subjects:

• Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or Informatics Practices, Environmental Science, Agriculture
• Commerce: Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies
• Humanities: History, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Home Science, Physical Education, Mass Media and Mass Communication, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Sanskrit, Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India

Detailed pages: physics, chemistry, biology, maths and commerce subjects.

General Aptitude Test

The General Aptitude Test is needed for some courses, mainly in management, vocational and certain general programmes. It covers:

• Current events and general awareness
• Mental ability questions
• Quantitative reasoning and numerical skills (simple arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and statistics at a school level)
• Logical and analytical reasoning
• Basic science and environment awareness, which the newest official list adds

The CUET GAT syllabus page goes topic by topic with practice tips.

CUET exam syllabus for science students

Science students usually take English, then Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for physics, maths or engineering-type BSc programmes. Keep the fifth slot for Computer Science or the General Aptitude Test if the courses you want accept it.

CUET syllabus for PCB students: for BSc life sciences, zoology, botany and similar courses, the usual four are English plus Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Many universities ask for any three of these sciences, so check the course page. Biology carries heavy NCERT content from genetics, ecology and human physiology, so plan it first.

CUET exam syllabus for commerce students

For BCom and BCom honours, the common set is English, Accountancy, Business Studies and Economics, with Mathematics or Applied Mathematics as the fifth. Some economics honours courses require Mathematics, so do not drop it without checking. The CUET syllabus for commerce students is entirely from class 12 NCERT books, which means your board preparation already covers most of it.

How to prepare in the board year

• From July to January, study the class 12 NCERT books thoroughly; they are the CUET domain syllabus.
• From February, add one timed 50 question set a day, rotating subjects.
• After the board exams, spend four to six weeks on full mock tests and on the language test.
• Because of negative marking, skip a question when you cannot eliminate at least two options.

Past papers help you judge pace; see CUET UG previous papers. To see what scores admissions have needed, read the CUET UG cut off page.

Official syllabus files and university rules

NTA posts the information bulletin and the subject-wise syllabus files on cuet.nta.nic.in. Each university also posts its course-wise subject requirements on its own admission portal.