CUET English Exam Pattern 2026: Check Marking Scheme, Question Paper Structure, Important Topics
Common University Entrance Test 2026 ( CUET )
CUET UG 2026 Exam
11 May '26 - 31 May '26
Applicants preparing for CUET English exam must check this page to know the exam pattern. NTA will conduct CUET 2026 in CBT mode. Scroll down to know more.
CUET English Exam Pattern
Students preparing for Common University Entrance Test (UG) for the 2026-27 cycle must know the CUET English exam pattern. The National Testing Agency released the exam pattern for CUET subjects at cuet.nta.nic.in. The exam pattern for English for CUET 2026 includes details like marking scheme, number of questions in test and the structure for CUET English question paper.
With English as a language, Arts/ Humanities students can get admission to UG courses like B.A. (Hons) in English, History, or Journalism; Commerce students can opt for B.Com, B.Com (Hons), or BBA; and Science students can pursue BCA or B.Sc. (Hons) in different specializations, including Chemistry, Physics, Botany, etc. To achieve a good score, students have to prepare according to CUET English syllabus and CUET exam pattern. The CUET UG 2026 is being administered in computer based test mode.
Commonly asked questions
The CUET questions are objective in nature and carries four options also known as MCQs. Candidates will have to choose the correct answer option and click on it with the help of mouse. Since CUET UG 2026 exam will be conducted in a CBT mode, test-takers will be able to mark only one answer option. In case it is the correct option, students will get +5 marks and in case of wrong answer, negative marking scheme will be applied. Hence, candidates must ensure the accuracy of the answer before selecting the answer.
NTA prescribes the CUET UG marking scheme. Check below to know the CUET UG marking scheme 2026:
- Correct answer or the most appropriate answer: Five marks (+5)
- Any incorrect option marked will be given minus one mark (-1).
- Unanswered/Marked for Review will be given no mark (0).
- If more than one option is found to be correct then Five marks (+5) will be awarded to only those who have marked any of the correct options.
- If all options are found to be correct then Five marks (+5) will be awarded to all those who have attempted the question.
- If none of the options is found correct or a question is found to be wrong or a question is dropped, then all candidates who have attempted the dropped question will be given five marks (+5) marks.
Practicing with CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test) question papers from previous years offers following benefits:
Helps in knowing format, structure, and types of questions.
Student can know repeated question types.
Help students know weak and strong sections
Helps in developing important skills.
Regularly solving CUET question papers improves problem-solving skills and speed.
CUET UG question paper for each subject will consist of 50 questions. Candidates will be required to attempt all questions and no optional questions will be provided. In CUET UG 2026 there are 37 subjects- 13 languages, 23 domain subjects and general tests. While filling the CUET application form, candidates can select upto five CUET subjects aligning with the subjects studied in class 12th and course requirement.
Candidates must attempt all the questions of the subjects selected. However, candidates must keep in mind the negative marking and select the options carefully.
- CUET 2026 English Exam Pattern
- CUET UG English Marking Scheme
- CUET English Total Marks 2026
- CUET English Exam Slot and Timings
- CUET English Important Topics & Expected Weightage
- Is CUET English Compulsory?
- CUET 2026 English Syllabus PDF
- Tips to Prepare for CUET UG English 2026
- CUET UG English Vocabulary
CUET 2026 English Exam Pattern
There are 13 languages in CUET, including English. Students looking for admission at participating CUET colleges based on NTA CUET score can refer to this table for exam pattern of CUET English in detail.
| CUET English Exam Pattern |
|
|---|---|
| Particulars |
Details |
| CUET English Number of Questions |
50 |
| Optional Questions |
No |
| Type of Questions |
Multiple Choice Questions |
| CUET English Exam Duration |
60 minutes |
| CUET English Mapping |
Bachelor of Arts in English (Honours) Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (Honours) Bachelor of Arts in History (Honours) |
Check Out: How to Score 180+ in CUET English 2026?
CUET UG English Marking Scheme
The marking scheme to be followed by NTA for evaluating the answer sheet of candidates is given in the table below.
| CUET English Marking Scheme |
|
|---|---|
| Criteria |
CUET UG Marks |
| Correct answer |
Five marks (+5) |
| Wrong answer |
Minus one mark (-1) |
| Unanswered/Marked for Review |
No mark (0) |
| More than one option is found correct |
Five marks (+5) to those who have marked any of correct options |
| All options are found correct |
Five marks (+5) to all those who have attempted question |
| None of the options is found correct/ Dropped |
Five marks (+5) marks for students who have attempted question |
CUET English Total Marks 2026
According to the marking scheme of CUET English, a candidate will be awarded 5 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer. The exam pattern for English states that there are 50 questions in the question paper, all of which are compulsory to attempt in the given duration. This means that the CUET total marks for English exam is 250 marks (50 questions x 5 marks each).
Candidates must note that this is the total marks for only one subject. The overall total marks per student vary based on the number of subjects opted by them.
Also Read: CUET UG Subjects
Commonly asked questions
To download the CUET UG previous year question papers for all subjects, candidates must visit the link provided below:
Candidates can access the subject-wise CUET UG question papers for past four years.
UGC has announced the deletion of 26 subjects from CUET UG 2025 onwards. CUET UG 20 foreign languages and six domain subjects have been removed. Check the list below to know the name of the subjects:
- Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German, Nepali, Persian, Italian, Arabic, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Santhali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Japanese, Russian, Chinese)
- Domain Subjetcs (Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, Fashion Studies, Tourism, Legal Studies, Engineering Graphics)
Common University Entrance Test UG 2025 question papers can be download at - CUET UG 2025 Question Papers. Candidates can visit the provided link and download subject wise CUET question paper 2025 PDF online for free. CUET PYQs are important for exam preparation.
Common University Entrance Test (CUET) sample papers are released by the conducting body, National Testing Agency (NTA). To download the CUET question papers follow the steps below:
- Go to- CUET Question Paper
- Select CUET subject to download the question paper for
- Click on the tab download
- Create the login details for new registrations
- Link to download the CUET question paper will be sent on the registered email ID
- Click on the link provided and save the PDF.
CUET English Exam Slot and Timings
National Testing Agency will release exam dates in CUET 2026 datesheet. To know the exam dates, slot and timings for CUET English exam, candidates will have to check their CUET admit card. Check below to get the schedule:
| CUET Shift | CUET Shift Timing (Tentative) | Reporting Time |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 9 AM to 12 PM | 7 AM |
| Slot 2 | 3 PM to 6 PM | 1 PM |
CUET English Important Topics & Expected Weightage
After analysing the previous years' question papers of CUET English, Shiksha here has mentioned some important topics along with the number of questions expected in CUET English question paper this year.
| CUET English Topics |
English Expected number of questions in CUET 2026 |
|---|---|
| Comprehension |
15 |
| Parts of speech |
3-4 |
| Para jumbles |
3-4 |
| Synonyms and antonyms |
2-3 |
| Active/passive voice |
3-4 |
| Fill in the blanks |
3-4 |
| Incorrect/correct statement |
3-4 |
| Phrases and meaning |
5-6 |
Commonly asked questions
CUET UG Language section will include 50 questions. Candidates must attempt all questions. There will be no optional questions.
The language section will check candidate's reading comprehension based on different types of passages. This section will also include questions from grammar. To prepare for the CUET UG language section, candidates must solve previous year question papers and mock tests to become familiar with the type of questions asked in the exam.
No, NTA has not yet released the CUET response sheet 2026. It is expected that response sheet download will be available tentatively in June 2026. The direct link to download the answer key and response sheet will be updated soon after release.
Is CUET English Compulsory?
No, it is not compulsory for candidates to take CUET English exam. If a candidate wishes to choose English or his/her target univeristy's CUET subject mapping criteria mentions English as a mandatory subject for a course, they can select the same in applicaiton form. However, it is advised for candidates to select English whether or not it is a compulsory subject as it windens the number of course options. Also, ever since Common University Entrance Test is conducted by NTA, English is the top most selected CUET UG subject.
CUET 2026 English Syllabus PDF
To prepare well for CUET English, students must know the CUET UG syllabus 2026 in detail. Check the space below to get the CUET English syllabus for preparation. Also, find the direct PDF link to download the syllabus.
- Reading Comprehension: Three types of passages with a maximum of 300-350 words
- Factual
- Narrative
- Literary
- Understanding the central theme, vocabulary and main ideas used in passages
- Verbal Ability
- Rearranging the parts
- Choosing the correct word
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Grammar and Usage
- Error spotting
- Tenses, Active & Passive Voice, Modal Verbs
- Sentence completion
- Phrasal verbs and conditionals
- Figure of speech
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Tips to Prepare for CUET UG English 2026
Completing syllabus is not the only strategy to prepare for the entrance exam. A candidate must have a proper strategy and study plan in mind. Check here for preparation tips for CUET English.
- Learn the basic rules of English grammar.
- Create a study plan dividing time for each topic.
- Practice reading comprehension starting from the easy to difficult level.
- Refer to books like High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin for grammar topics.
- Learn how to determine the meaning of a word using root words for vocabulary questions.
- Refer to Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis for vocabulary words & foreign words.
- Manage speed to complete the exam within the duration.
- Focus on important topics and high weightage topics.
- Solve CUET English previous year question papers.
Exam Day Tip - While appearing for the Common University Entrance Test for English, you must not remain stuck on one question. If you do not know the answer or are confused, skip the question for the time being and complete the rest of the exam. After answering other questions, if you have time left, then you can come back to the skipped question.
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CUET UG English Vocabulary
Vocabulary is very important for CUET English exam. It is not only required for synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, homophones, and homonyms, but also for reading comprehension. The table table includes some important vocabulary words that begin repeated in past question papers of English.
| English Vocabulary Words | ||
|---|---|---|
| Opportune | Ardent | Portend |
| Puerile | Disconcerting | Nadir |
| Iniquitous | Tranquil | Zenith |
| Belligerent | Placate | Impertinent |
| Obstentatious | Invective | Repugnant |
| Pageantry | Languish | Sagacious |
| Impetuous | Conceited | Impudent |
| English Foreign Words | ||
| Deja vu | Ad hoc | Prima facie |
| Ad valorem | Alma mater | Ad infinitum |
| Aide-memoire | Raison detre | Ad interim |
| Joie de vivre | Bete noire | Vis-a-vis |
| Status quo | Piece de resistance | Faux pas |
| Verbatim | En masse | Savior-faire |
| Expose | Rapport | Liaison |
Learn Grammar Topics from here:
| Nouns | Verbs | Tenses |
| Subject Verb Agreement | One Word Substitution | Reading Comprehension |
| Idioms | Synonyms | Antonyms |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Mostly all central university take admission on the basics of CUET score but North Eastern hill university's like Assam University, Manipur University, mizoram university, Nagaland University offers admission without CUET.
R
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 days ago
The overall difficulty level of CUET UG 2026 exam is moderate. As per the student review, the domain subject question paper is mostly based on NCERT books and previous year questions.
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
For the CUET UG 2026 exam, 15,68,666 candidates have applied for the exam. This year has been marked by higher registrations. Approximately 67.56 Lacs candidates were allowed to choose upto 5 subjects.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, Diploma students can apply for B.Tech lateral entry in CSE through LEET or university-specific admission processes after completing a recognised diploma. Eligibility may differ by university, so checking subject requirements and minimum marks is important. At Lovely Professional University, lat
S
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, Arts or Humanities students are eligible for admission through CUET scores. Common University Entrance Test is open for candidates from all streams. Candidates can secure admission to top colleges and courses.
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
For Science students, aiming admission to top CUET accepting college must score between 750 and 800 marks out of 1000 marks. Securing minimum of 90 percentile is considered a good score for admission to top tier courses like B.Sc, B.Sc (Hons.). Candidates must also ensure to meet the subject criteri
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, candidates can get admission to Delhi University with 300 marks in CUET. But in such a case, the course options will be limited. Candidates belonging to reserved criteria will have chances of getting admission to less preferred courses and colleges.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
No, NTA has not yet released the CUET response sheet 2026. It is expected that response sheet download will be available tentatively in June 2026. The direct link to download the answer key and response sheet will be updated soon after release.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
Candidates will be able to download the CUET response sheet 2026 from the official website. It is expected that NTA will release the CUET UG 2026 response sheet and answer key sheet soon. To download the response sheet, candidates must enter their application number and password.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
For commerce students, aiming admission to top CUET accepting college must score between 750 and 800marks out of 1000 marks. Securing minimum of 90 percentile is considered a good score for admission to top tier courses like B.Com, B.Com (Hons.). Candidates must also ensure to meet the subject crite
D
Contributor-Level 7
Nupur Jain started with a passion for educational content writing, which soon grew into a meaningful journey of helping students through reliable guidance. A commerce graduate from Delhi University, she has spent ov
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