NPAT vs CUET UG: Differences & Similarities, Competition Analysis, Section Wise Prep Tips

NPAT vs CUET UG: Differences & Similarities, Competition Analysis, Section Wise Prep Tips

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Abhishek
Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content
Updated on Oct 6, 2025 09:54 IST

CUET UG is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to UG courses across 250+ colleges. Whereas, NPAT exam is conducted for admission to BBA, BSc, and BCom courses offered by different campuses of SVKMs NMIMS. Check difference between CUET and NPAT here.

CUET vs NPAT

Difference b/w CUET & NPAT; Check Preparation Plan, Competition Analysis, Exam Pattern and more

CUET UG or NPAT becomes a big confusion for candidates aspiring for BBA admission in India. NTA CUET is a safe choice for BBA aspirants, as it offers a larger number of participating institutes and alternative course options. Compared to CUET, NPAT is only accepted by SVKMs NMIMS campuses. CUET UG exam pattern and NPAT exam pattern vary on multiple aspects. Scroll down for complete insights on CUET and NPAT exam comparison, including differences and similarities.

Table of content
  • Why Choose Between CUET UG and NPAT?
  • NPAT vs CUET: Highlights
  • NPAT vs CUET: Exam Pattern Differences
  • CUET vs NPAT: Competition Difference
  • NPAT vs CUET: Eligibility Criteria
  • CUET vs NPAT Preparation

Why Choose Between CUET UG and NPAT?

Choosing between CUET and NPAT becomes difficult as the aspirants must choose between high admission chances and admission to a top b-school in the country. With low admission chances through NPAT, the test structure is in favour of the candidates. With CUET UG delivering high admission chances, CUET UG exam pattern is designed to be tricky if compared with NPAT.

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Also Read: CUET Syllabus

More than 180 BBA Colleges accepting CUET scores in India provide aspirants with more choices. Whereas NPAT score is accepted by SVKMs NMIMS campuses only.

Also, NPAT is included among the options as candidates have the flexibility to appear for the NPAT exam three times within the test window. On the contrary, candidates can only take CUET exam once during one exam session. Additionally, NMIMS is among the top colleges that offer management education.

Q:   Which NMIMS is best for MBA?
A:

NMIMS University Mumbai offers a wide range of regular, distance and part-time courses at the UG, PG and PhD levels. The University offers these courses via its 17 constituent schools. NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai is popularly known for its MBA courses. NMIMS SBM, Mumbai is a part of the NMIMS Group and is among the leading private B-schools in India. Accredited by AACSB, NMIMS School of Business Management is approved by UGC and AICTE. So, candidates seeking admission to the MBA course can apply to the School of Business Management, NMIMS Mumbai. To get admission to this college, candidates must have valid scores in entrance test such as NMAT.

Q:   Is NMIMS Bangalore best for management studies?
A:

Yes, NMIMS Bangalore is best for management studies due to the following reasons :

1.   It has been SVKM's NMIMS Deemed to be university collaborations and offers 300 seats. 

2.  Highest package reported at INR 19.58 LPA and an average package of INR 11.8 LPA. 

In summary, by taking all the points into consideration we can say that NMIMS Bangalore best for management studies, for more information please visit NMIMS official websites. 

Q:   Is Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Bangalore as good as NMIMS Deemed to be University - Navi Mumbai Campus?
A:

NMIMS Navi Mumbai campus is much better than Narsee Monjee institute of management studies Bangalore and also has different cut offs with 209-212 cut off for Mumbai and 190- 195 cut off for Banglore.

NMIMS - Navi Mumbai Campus is much better  than Narsee Monjee institute of management studies Banglore in a sense that it is a main campus and also wide exposure in varioius feilds and administration.

The decision of chosing one from both the options depends on many factors like location, courses these institutes offers. Your career goal would be a ultimate and most important determinant of chosing the one institute among two .

Also Read: NPAT Syllabus

Typically, candidates go for both CUET and NPAT for BBA admissions as they are unable to choose between high admission chances and a candidate-friendly exam.

NPAT vs CUET: Highlights

The table below mentions the key areas of comparison between CUET UG and NPAT exam:

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CUET vs NPAT

CUET UG

NPAT

Conducting body

NTA

SVKMs NMIMS

Exam level

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

Exam frequency

Annually with single attempt

Annually with three attempts

Exam mode

Hybrid (using OMR sheet and CBT mode)

CBT only

Exam difficulty level

Moderate to tough

Moderate

Courses on offer

UG courses across all streams

UG courses under:

  • Commerce
  • Economics
  • Liberal Arts
  • Branding & Advertising
  • International Studies
  • Management

Educational qualification

Passed in 10+2

Passed in 10+2 with up to 60 per cent aggregate

Age limit

No age limit for CUET UG

NPAT eligibility lays the age limit between 17 years to 25 years.

Exam fees

  • INR 750 (General)
  • INR 700 (OBC-NCL, EWS)
  • INR 650 (SC, ST, PwD and Transgender)
  • INR 3,750 (International centres)

INR 2000 for single attempt with one school choice. (Additional INR 1000 required for each additional school choice)

Exam sections

IA: Language

IB: Second Language (optional)

II: Domain subject (Business Studies)

III: General Test

I: Quantitative Reasoning

II: Logical Reasoning

III: Verbal Reasoning

Type of questions

MCQ

MCQ

Medium of exam

English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu

English

Marking scheme

+5 marks for each correct response

-1 mark for each incorrect response

+1 marks for each correct response

No negative marking

Validity of score

One year

One year

Average time for preparation

6 month preparation is enough

4-6 month preparation

Colleges accepting scores

UG and PG courses of state, central, private and deemed universities

All NMIMS campuses

Official website

exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG

nmimsnpat.in

Also Read: What is the right time to begin CUET preparation?

NPAT vs CUET: Exam Pattern Differences

NPAT and CUET exam patterns have multiple differences in terms of sections. Therefore, it is difficult for candidates to prepare for NPAT and CUET UG simultaneously. However, fundamentals can be covered while NPAT and CUET preparation.

CUET vs NPAT Exam Pattern

The table below mentions differences in the CUET and NPAT test pattern:

Q:   How is NMIMS Bangalore placements as compared to Christ University?
A:

Some claim that Christ University outplaces NMIMS University Bangalore in terms of placements. Christ University has a higher ROI than NMIMS, according to several rankings. The largest payment made was INR 21.46 lacs annually. There were 1,304+ PG students placed.Christ University outperforms NMIMS in terms of rankings, is better organized, and offers a wide range of options. In every way, it surpasses NMIMS Bangalore. It offers BBAs in a number of specializations, including f&a. In addition, Christ University's placements are superior to NMIMS.

Q:   Is Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Hyderabad better than IBS Hyderabad?
A:

NMIMS Hyderabad and IBS Hyderabad are both well-regarded management programs, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. NMIMS boasts AMBA accreditation, strong industry connections, experienced faculty, diverse specializations, good placements, vibrant campus life, and affordable fees. IBS focuses on practical skills and industry exposure, holds AICTE and AACSB accreditations, has a good placement record, and offers affordable fees. Choosing the "better" programme depends on your individual career goals, preferences, and factors like programme curriculum, faculty expertise, location, and alumni network. Conduct thorough research and compare each program's specifics to make an informed decision.

Q:   Is NMIMS Hyderabad better than Symbiosis for law?
A:

A comparison between BBA LLB offered at NMIMS Hyderabad and Symbiosis Law School on the basis of total tuition fee and total seat intake is given below:

CollegeTotal Tuition feeTotal Seat intake
NMIMS HyderabadINR 5.10 lakh60
Symbiosis School of LawINR 19 lakh180

The total tuition fee is taken from unoffficial sources. Hence, is indicative.

CUET vs NPAT

CUET

NPAT

Exam mode

Hybrid (using OMR sheet and CBT mode)

CBT only

Type of questions

MCQ

MCQ

Total questions

- 40 out of 50 questions for all test papers

- 50 out of 60 for the General Test

120 (40 in each section)

Exam Duration

- 60 minutes for

  • Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Accountancy
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • Computer Science
  • Informatics Practices
  • General Tests

- 45 minutes for all other test papers

1 hour 40 minutes

Marking scheme

+5 marks for each correct response

-1 mark for each incorrect response

+1 marks for each correct response

No negative marking

Sectional time limit

No

No

Medium of exam

English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu

English

CUET vs NPAT: Sections

The table below mentions differences in the CUET and NPAT exam sections:

Sections

CUET Sections

NPAT Sections

Section I

Language A (one among 13 choices)

Quantitative Reasoning

Language B (one among 20 choices)

Section II

Domain subject (27 options)

Logical Reasoning

Section III

General Test

Verbal Reasoning

Universities offering BBA admissions through CUET provide the domain subjects and language to be mapped while filling the CUET application form. For BBA admissions, most of the universities will require the candidate to choose Business Studies as a domain subject in section II of CUET. Additionally, universities may or may not require the candidate to take the General Test.

Also Read: Domain Subjects in CUET

CUET vs NPAT: Competition Difference

As per the previous year's CUET registrations, more than 2 lakh candidates applied with Business Studies as the domain subject. Typically, Business Studies domain subject is chosen by the candidates to get into a business related course such as BBA. On the other hand, NPAT records around 80,000 test takers every year for admission to courses after class 12th at NMIMS campuses.

Also Read: NMIMS NPAT Registration

CUET UG exam is conducted for admission to 150+ BBA colleges. Whereas, NPAT exam is conducted for admission to all campuses of NMIMS. BBA admission through CUET will likely fill around 10,000+ seats across India. On the contrary, NPAT exam is conducted to fill more than 3900 seats across different courses offered by NMIMS campuses.

NPAT vs CUET: Eligibility Criteria

Besides the NPAT and CUET UG exam structure, both the exams host differences in eligibility conditions as well. The space below mentions the CUET and NPAT eligibility criteria

CUET UG Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for CUET, candidates must meet the following conditions:

Educational Qualification: Class 12 passed candidates from a recognised board are eligible. Candidates who are waiting for the Board exam results are also eligible.

Age Limit: There is no age limit for CUET exam; however, candidates must check the institute-specific eligibility for the same.

Nationality: Candidates must abide by any of the following citizenship rules to be eligible for CUET:

  • The candidate must be an Indian citizen
  • A constituent subject of Nepal or Bhutan
  • A Tibetan refugee who landed in India before January 1, 1962, to reside in India permanently
  • Candidates from the following countries who have moved to India permanently:
    • Pakistan
    • Burma
    • Sri Lanka
    • Kenya
    • Uganda
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
    • Malawi
    • Zaire (The Democratic Republic of Congo)
    • Ethiopia
    • Vietnam

The above-mentioned CUET eligibility criteria are for candidates who want to appear for the exam. Eligibility conditions for admission may vary across CUET UG participating universities.

NPAT Eligibility Criteria

The space below mentions the NMIMS NPAT eligibility criteria for all courses:

  • Age Limit: NMIMS has set the upper age limit as 25 years for admissions based on NPAT exam.
  • Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed 10+2 in single attempt. Minimum score requirements and compulsory subjects vary for different courses mentioned here:
    • BBA: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate with Mathematics or Statistics in 10+2
    • BCom: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate with Mathematics or Statistics in 10+2
    • BSc Finance: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate with Mathematics or Statistics in 10+2
    • BSc Economics: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate with Mathematics or Statistics in 10+2
    • BBA Branding and Advertising: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate in 10+2
    • BA Liberal Arts: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate in 10+2
    • BBMM: Minimum 50 per cent aggregate in 10+2
    • BBA International Business: Minimum 60 per cent aggregate in 10+2

Also Read: NMIMS Mumbai Courses

CUET vs NPAT Preparation

CUET UG preparation and NPAT preparation can go hand in hand. CUET Language will be covered by the candidate while NPAT Verbal Ability preparation. On the other hand, CUET General Test preparation includes topics to be covered from numerical ability and reasoning. Candidates will cover major chunk of CUET General Test syllabus while preparing for QA and LR of NPAT exam.

Candidates can refer to the table below to get CUET and NPAT preparation resources:

CUET Preparation Resources

NPAT Preparation Resources

CUET Business Studies Syllabus PDF

NPAT Preparation in One Month

CUET Business Studies Question Paper

NPAT Preparation in Three Months

CUET General Test Syllabus PDF

NPAT Preparation in Six Months

CUET General Test Question Paper

NPAT Question Papers, Previous Year Sample Question Papers

CUET Question Papers

Best Books for NPAT

Best Books for CUET

NPAT Preparation Tips

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About the Author
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Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content
With a creative soul, Abhishek is inclined towards anything in the creative space be it drawing, painting, craft, or writing. He has been working in the ed-tech industry since he started his career. Besides creative Read Full Bio