The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is a standardised test in India conducted by the National Testing Agency at various levels for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Universities and other participating institutes. It is also the way to some Deemed universities across India.

History

CUCET was first conducted to admission for seven central universities for 1,500 seats in 41 undergraduate, postgraduate and integrated courses from 2010. The application form was filled up through CUCET-2010 which held on 19 and 20 June 2010 in about 30 examination centers spread across the country. From its inception in 2010 till 2020, the CUCET was conducted by the Central University of Rajasthan for 12 Central Universities. The National Testing Agency took over the conduct of these exams in 2021. In 2024, as a part of National Education Policy 2020, CUET is introduced as revamped version of CUCET making it compulsory for all 45 central universities and other universities to adopt it.

Exam pattern and structure

All question papers are MCQ-based organized into different parts.

For UG Programmes

Starting 2024, the CUET exam pattern has three sections, which are Section IA – 13 Languages, Section IB – 20 Languages, Section II – 27 Domain-Specific Subjects, and Section III – General Test.

The CUET-UG consists of the Language Test, Domain-Specific papers, and the General Test. Candidates can opt for a combination of at most 2 languages and 6 domain-specific subjects or 3 languages and 5 domain-specific tests. CUET entrance test 2024 will now be conducted in two slots. The duration of the first slot is 45 to 195 minutes, and the duration of the second slot is 45 to 225 minutes. CUET-UG 2023 was conducted in 3 slots of 3 hours each.

The marking scheme includes 5 marks for each correct answer, and 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong response.

Subjects, Pattern of CUET - UG
Section 1A - 13 languagesSection 2 - 27 Domain-specific SubjectsSection 3 - General Aptitude Test
SubjectsEnglish Telugu Tamil Kannada Malayalam Marathi Bhojpuri Bengali Assamese Punjabi Hindi UrduSTEM: Agriculture Sciences Biology/Biological Studies/Biotechnology/Biochemistry Chemistry Computer Science/Informatics Practices/Information Technology Environmental Studies/sciences Mathematics / Applied Mathematics Physics Commerce/Business: Accountancy/Book Keeping Business Studies Economics/Business Economics Humanities and Social Sciences: Anthropology Geography/Geology History Home Science Knowledge Tradition-Practices India Mass Media, Journalism & Communication Political Science Psychology Sanskrit Sociology Arts, Sports & Others: Fine Arts/Visual Arts Art Education & Sculpture /Painting & Commercial Art Performing Arts Teaching Aptitude Physical Education/National Cadet Corps (NCC)/YogaGeneral Aptitude Test
SyllabusReading Comprehension based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative - Tested on understanding of a passage and its central theme, meanings of words used therein, etc. Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary - Tested on Questions on synonyms & antonyms Grammar from all topics - Tested on correcting grammatically incorrect sentences, filling blanks in sentences with appropriate words, Rearranging the parts, etc. Verbal Ability Vocabulary, WritingsBased On Latest Syllabus Prescribed As Per NCERT.General Knowledge & Current Affairs General Mental Ability Numerical Ability Aptitude Quantitative Reasoning (application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic, algebra geometry, mensuration, statistics & Probability) Logical & Analytical Reasoning
Pattern & Duration50 MCQs to be answered in 50 Minutes (per subject)50 MCQs to be answered in 60 Minutes (per subject)50 MCQs to be answered in 60 minutes as per 2025 circular

For PG Programmes

CUET PG will have 72 more test papers for various courses. The complete mapping of test paper code versus course and university is provided by NTA in the information brochure.

CUET PG Subjects
Languages & LinguisticsSciences & MathematicsEngineering & TechnologyEducationArtsCommerce & ManagementHumanities & Social SciencesIndology, Religion & PhilosophyOthers
Linguistics: Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Linguistics and Language Technology, Linguistics & Tribal Languages, Computational Linguistics (LAQP04) English, Comparative Literature, English & Cultural Studies, English, Modern European etc. (LAQP01) Hindi, Hindi translation, Hindi and Comparative Literature, Hindi and Modern Indian Languages etc. (LAQP02) Indian Languages: Assamese (LAQP06) Bhutia (LAQP08) Bengali (LAQP07) Gujarati (LAQP13) Hindi (LAQP02) Kannada (LAQP16) Kashmiri (LAQP17) Khasi (LAQP18) Kokborok (LAQP19) Lepcha (LAQP21) Malayalam (LAQP23) Manipuri (LAQP24) Marathi (LAQP25) Nepali (LAQP26) Odia (LAQP27) Pali (LAQP28) Punjabi (LAQP33) Sanskrit (LAQP03) Santali (LAQP40) Tamil (LAQP35) Telugu (LAQP36) Urdu (LAQP37) Foreign Languages: Arabic (LAQP05) Chinese (LAQP09) French (LAQP10) German (LAQP12) Italian (LAQP41) Japanese (LAQP15) Korean (LAQP20) Persian (LAQP30) Russian (LAQP34) Spanish (LAQP31)Agricultural Science etc. (SCQP01) Agro-forestry etc. (SCQP02) Animal Science & Poultry (SCQP30) Applied Microbiology & Microbiology etc. (SCQP03) Architecture etc. (SCQP04) Biochemistry (SCQP05) Bioinformatics (SCQP06) Botany (SCQP07) Chemistry etc. (SCQP08) Computer Applications and Information Technology etc. (SCQP09) Environmental Sciences etc. (SCQP11) Food Science and Technology etc. (SCQP12) Forensic Science (SCQP13) Geology, Earth Sciences etc. (SCQP14) Geophysics (SCQP15) Horticulture etc. (SCQP16) Life Science etc. (SCQP17) Material Science and Technology etc. (SCQP18) Mathematics etc. (SCQP19) Medical Laboratory Technology etc. (SCQP20) MPT/MRT etc. (SCQP21) Nanoscience etc. (SCQP22) Pharmacy etc. (SCQP23) Physics etc. (SCQP24) Plant Biotechnology etc. (SCQP25) Soil Science - Soil & Water Conservation etc. (SCQP26) Statistics etc. (SCQP27) Zoology etc. (SCQP28) Atmospheric Science (SCQP29) Public Health (COQP19)Architecture etc. (SCQP04) Chemical Thermal & Polymer Engineering (MTQP01) Civil, Structural & Transport Engineering (MTQP02) Dairy Technology (MTQP03) Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security & Computer Science (MTQP04) Electrical, Power and Energy Engineering (MTQP10) Electronics, Communication and Information Engineering (MTQP05) Food Engineering and Technology (MTQP06) Mechanical Engineering (MTQP07) Nanoelectronics & Material Sciences (MTQP09) Nano Science & Nano Technology etc. (MTQP08) Textile Engineering (MTQP12) Water Engineering and Management etc. (MTQP11)B.Ed. (COQP03) B.Ed. Humanities and Social Sciences (COQP04) B.Ed. Languages (COQP05) B.Ed. Mathematics (COQP07) B.Ed. Science (COQP06) M.A. Education (COQP16) M.Ed. (COQP15)Applied Arts (HUQP03) Art and Aesthetics (HUQP04) Fine Arts etc. (HUQP07) Dance (HUQP05) Music - Karnatak (HUQP12) Music - Percussion (HUQP25) Music – Hindustani (HUQP14) Painting (HUQP15) Pottery & Ceramics (HUQP19) Plastic Arts (HUQP17) Theatre (HUQP24)Agri-Business Management etc. (COQP01) Commerce, Business Finance, Accounting & Taxation, Economic Administration and Financial Management etc. (COQP08) Economics, Financial Economics, Business Economics, Rural Economics etc. (COQP10) General MBA, Marketing & Finance Management, Tourism, Travel & Hotel Management, Business Analytics, Sales & Marketing etc. (COQP12) Healthcare & Hospital Management (COQP22)Ancient Indian History, Culture & Arch, Archaeology Heritage Management, Conservation Preservation and Heritage Management etc. (HUQP01) Anthropology (HUQP02) Disaster Studies (COQP09) Development and Labour Studies (HUQP06) Geography (HUQP08) History and Archaeology, Ancient Indian History, Culture etc. (HUQP09) History of Art, Archaeology Heritage Management etc. (HUQP10) Home Science-Food & Nutrition, Nutrition and Health, Human Development & Childhood Studies, Fabric & Apparel Science, Resource Management & Design Application, Development Communication & Extension etc. (HUQP11) Museology (HUQP13) Philosophy (HUQP16) Political Science, Public Administration, Human Rights, Politics and International Relations etc. (HUQP18) Psychology, Applied Psychology, Health Psychology etc. (HUQP20) Social Work, Urban & Rural Community Development etc. (HUQP21) Sociology, Peace and Conflict Studies and Management (HUQP22) Rabindra Sangit (HUQP26) Commerce etc. (COQP08) Criminology (SCQP10)Shiksha Shastri B.Ed. (ACQP01) Shiksha Acharya M.Ed. (ACQP02) Agama (ACQP03) Baudha Darshan & Buddhist Studies (Trilingual - Hindi, Sanskrit & English) (ACQP04) Dharma Shastra, Vastu, Paurohitya and Veda (ACQP05) Dharma Vijnan (ACQP06) Dharmashastra (BHU) (ACQP07) Hindu Studies (Bilingual - Sanskrit, English) (ACQP08) Indian Knowledge System (ACQP09) Jain Darshan (BHU) (ACQP10) Jyotish - Falit (BHU) (ACQP11) Jyotish - Ganit (BHU) (ACQP12) Krishna Yajurveda (BHU) (ACQP13) Nyaya Vaisheshika (ACQP14) Phalita and Siddantha Jyotisha (ACQP15) Puranetihas (ACQP16) Rigveda (ACQP17) Sahitya (BHU) (ACQP18) Sahitya (Alankara and Kavya Varga) (ACQP19) Samveda (ACQP20) Shukla Yajurveda (BHU) (ACQP21) Veda etc. (ACQP22) Vedanta (BHU) (ACQP23) Vedanta, Sarvadarshan, Mimansa, Nyaya etc. (ACQP24) Vyakaran (BHU) (ACQP25) Vyakarana & Sabdabodha Systems (ACQP26) Yoga (COQP21)General, L.L.B., Bachelor of Library & Information Science, Defence and Strategic Studies, Jammu & Kashmir Studies, Hindu Studies, Women Studies, Anthropology, Digital Society, Finance & Taxation, Physical Education, Textile Design, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Gender Studies etc. (COQP11) Library and Information Science: Library & Information Science (COQP13) L.L.M. (COQP14) Mass Communication and Journalism: Mass Communication and Journalism (COQP17) Physical Education, Yoga and Sports: Physical Education (COQP18) Sports - Physiology, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Biomechanics etc. (COQP20) Yoga (COQP21)

Negative marking

Negative marking scheme is followed with a deduction of 1 mark for each wrong answer.

Application fees

Only online applications are accepted for CUCET-2024, and application fees for various categories are listed below.

For CUET-UG: (According to Data of CUET-UG 2024)

For CUET (UG) – 2024, fees will be charged based on the number of subjects chosen by the candidates. The following fee structure is applicable for CUET (UG) - 2024:

CategoryUp to 03 SubjectsFor each Additional Subject
General (UR) Applicants₹1,000 (US$12)₹400 (US$4.70)
OBC/EWS Applicants₹900 (US$11)₹375 (US$4.40)
SC/ST/PWD Applicants₹800 (US$9.50)₹350 (US$4.10)
Centres outside India Applicants₹4,500 (US$53)₹1,800 (US$21)

For CUET-PG: (According to Data of CUET-PG 2024)

For CUET (PG) – 2024, fees will be charged based on the number of subjects chosen by the candidates. The following fee structure is applicable for CUET (PG) - 2024:

CategoryUp to 02 SubjectsFor each Additional Subject
General (UR) Applicants₹1,200 (US$14)₹600 (US$7.10)
OBC/EWS Applicants₹1,000 (US$12)₹500 (US$5.90)
SC/ST Applicants₹900 (US$11)₹500 (US$5.90)
PWD Applicants₹800 (US$9.50)₹500 (US$5.90)
Centres outside India Applicants₹6,000 (US$71)₹2,000 (US$24)

Participating Universities

CUET-UG

Admission to the following universities is done through CUET-UG in 2024 (only undergraduate and integrated master's dees)-

Central UniversitiesDeemed UniversitiesState UniversitiesPrivate Universities
Aligarh Muslim University Assam University Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Banaras Hindu University Central Sanskrit University Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh Central University of Andhra Pradesh Central University of Gujarat Central University of Haryana Central University of Himachal Pradesh Central University of Jammu Central University of Jharkhand Central University of Karnataka Central University of Kashmir Central University of Kerala Central University of Odisha Central University of Rajasthan Central University of South Bihar Central University of Tamil Nadu Dr. Hari Singh Gour University The English and Foreign Languages University Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Jamia Millia Islamia Jawaharlal Nehru University Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Mahatma Gandhi Central University Manipur University Maulana Azad National Urdu University Mizoram University Nagaland University National Sanskrit University North Eastern Hill University Pondicherry University Rajiv Gandhi University Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University Sikkim University Tezpur University Tripura University University of Allahabad University of Delhi University of Hyderabad Visva-Bharati UniversityAvinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women Gurukul Kangri Jamia Hamdard National Rail and Transportation Institute Tata Institute of Social Sciences Gandhigram Rural InstituteSri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University Dr. B. R. Ambedkar School of Economics University Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology University of Kashmir Cluster University of Srinagar Cluster University of Jammu Islamia College of Science & CommerceBML Munjal University Galgotias University IIMT University Jagannath University Jagannath University, Jaipur Jaypee University of Information Technology Mewar University Teerthanker Mahaveer University K.R. Mangalam University

CUET-PG

Admission in the following universities is done through CUET-PG in 2024 (only master's degrees and postgraduate diplomas):

Central UniversitiesDeemed UniversitiesState UniversitiesPrivate Universities
Banaras Hindu University Central Sanskrit University Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh Central University of Andhra Pradesh Central University of Gujarat Central University of Haryana Central University of Himachal Pradesh Central University of Jammu Central University of Jharkhand Central University of Karnataka Central University of Kashmir Central University of Kerala Central University of Odisha Central University of Punjab Central University of Rajasthan Central University of South Bihar Central University of Tamil Nadu Dr. Hari Singh Gour University The English and Foreign Languages University Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Jawaharlal Nehru University Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Mahatma Gandhi Central University Manipur University National Sanskrit University North Eastern Hill University Pondicherry University Sikkim University Tezpur University Tripura University University of Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth DevelopmentNational Rail and Transportation Institute IIS (Deemed to be) University, Jaipur Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore (Karnataka) Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute Jaypee Institute of Information Technology NoidaDevi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University Dr. B. R. Ambedkar School of Economics University Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Delhi Technological University Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women Ranchi UniversityApex University, Jaipur Teerthanker Mahaveer University

See also

External links

  • Central Universities Common Entrance Test -
  • National Testing Agency (NTA) -