CUET Psychology Syllabus 2026: Important Topics, Pattern and Books to Prepare Psychology for CUET

Common University Entrance Test 2026 ( CUET )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 3 Jan '26 - 30 Jan '26

Saumya
Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Updated on Jan 12, 2026 12:35 IST
CUET 2026 exam will likely be held in May 2026. The preparations for the exam must begin now. In this article, Shiksha brings you the complete CUET Psychology syllabus along with important topics, best books and the CUET exam pattern. Read below to know more.

In this article, Shiksha brings the complete Psychology syllabus for CUET along with the best books, important topics and exam pattern. Read below to know more.

CUET Psychology syllabus 2026 is released by National Testing Agency in the form of a PDF. Psychology is the science of mind and human behaviour. Psychology courses are offered at various levels including the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The CUET UG syllabus for Psychology includes the important topics and sub-topics which will be asked in the CUET 2026 syllabus. The Psychology syllabus of CUET includes topics such as Variations in Psychological Attributes, Self and Personality, Psychological Disorders, Attitude and Social Cognition, etc.

CUET 2026 will be held from May 11, 2026, to May 31, 2026, in the computer-based test mode. The CUET application form 2026 was released on January 3, 2026. CUET is a national-level exam which serves as a gateway to various undergraduate courses offered in the central, state, private and deemed universities across India.

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Table of contents
  • CUET Psychology Syllabus 2026
  • CUET Psychology Syllabus PDF Download
  • Download CUET Section/Domain Wise Question Paper and Syllabus
  • CUET Exam Pattern 2026
  • Best Books to Read for CUET 2026 Psychological Syllabus

CUET Psychology Syllabus 2026

The CUET Psychology syllabus includes various psychological topics presented in different units. These units are interconnected and built in a way that they provide a comprehensive understanding of psychology. Take a look at the complete CUET Psychology syllabus below:

Q:   is it enough to learn from NCERT textbooks to clear CUET?
A:

Since the CUET UG 2025 syllabus is in line with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus, it can be safely assumed that the NCERT books are enough to clear CUET UG 2025 exam. Candidates must note that, CUET exam tests students' understanding of the concepts and ability to apply them in various situations. Therefore, to prepare well and get a good score, it is advised that students refer to other study materials and books designed for national level competitive entrance exams. The CUET UG syllabus is in tune with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus. The chapters and topics are similar to Class 12 syllabus. Unlike other UG entrance exams, CUET UG syllabus does not include Class 11 syllabus.

Units

Important topics

Unit I: Variations in Psychological Attributes

The unit aims to study how people differ with respect to their various psychological attributes.

  1. Individual differences in human functioning
  2. Assessment of psychological attributes
  3. Intelligence
  4. Theories of intelligence
  5. Individual Differences in Intelligence
  6. Culture and Intelligence
  7. Special abilities: Aptitude — nature, and measurement
  8. Creativity
  9. Emotional Intelligence

Unit II: Self and Personality

This unit focuses on the study of self and personality in the context of different approaches in an effort to appraise the person along with the assessment of personality.

  1. Self and Personality 
  2. Concept of Self
  3. Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Self: Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation
  4. Culture and Self
  5. Concept of Personality
  6. Major approaches — Type and Trait, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Behavioural, Cultural
  7. Assessment of personality: Self report measures, behavioural analysis, and projective measures

Unit III: Meeting Life Challenges

This unit deals with the nature of stress and how responses to stress depend on an individual’s appraisal of stressors.

  1. Nature
  2. Types and Sources of Stress
  3. Effects on Psychological Functioning and Health: Stress and Health, General Adaptation Syndrome, Stress and Immune System, Lifestyle
  4. Coping with Stress: Stress Management Techniques
  5. Promoting positive health and well-being- Life Skills

Unit IV: Psychological Disorders

This unit discusses the concepts of normality and abnormality and the major psychological disorders.

  1. Concepts of abnormality and psychological disorders
  2. Classification of Psychological Disorders
  3. Factors underlying abnormal behaviour
  4. Major psychological disorders – Anxiety, Somatic, Dissociative, Mood, Schizophrenic, Developmental and Behavioural-Substance use related

Unit V: Therapeutic Approaches

The unit discusses the goals, techniques, and effectiveness of different approaches to treating psychological disorders.

1.  Nature and Process of Therapy: Therapeutic Relationship

2. Types of Therapies: Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Cognitive, Behaviour and Bio-medical, Alternative Therapies

4. Rehabilitation of Mentally Ill

Unit VI: Attitude and Social Cognition

This unit focuses on the formation and change of attitudes, cultural influences on attributional tendencies, and conditions influencing pro-social behaviour.

  1. Explaining social behaviour: Impression formation and explaining the behaviour of others through attributions
  2. Nature and Components of Attitudes
  3. Attitude Formation and Change
  4. Behaviour in the presence of others
  5. Prejudices and Discrimination
  6. Strategies for Handling Prejudice

Unit VII: Social Influence and Group Processes

The unit deals with the concept of the group, its functions, and the dynamics of social influence on conformity, obedience, and compliance. Different conflict resolution strategies will also be discussed.

  • Nature and formation of groups
  • Types of groups
    • Social Loafing
    • Group Polarization

Also Read: CUET Psychology Question Paper PDF

CUET Psychology Syllabus PDF Download

NTA released the CUET Psychology syllabus link online at cuet.nta.nic.in. Refer the link below to download the CUET Psychology PDF:

CUET Psychology Syllabus PDF 2026

Download CUET Section/Domain Wise Question Paper and Syllabus

Candidates preparing for CUET can download the CUET 2026 syllabus and CUET question paper for the following subjects mentioned in the table below:

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Download CUET Syllabus and CUET Question Paper PDF
Subjects CUET Syllabus PDFs CUET Question Paper PDFs
English CUET English Syllabus PDF CUET English Question Paper PDF
Biology CUET Biology Syllabus PDF CUET Biology Question Paper PDF
Accountancy/ Book Keeping CUET Accountancy Syllabus PDF CUET Accountancy Question Paper PDF
Business Studies CUET Business Studies Syllabus PDF CUET Business Studies Question Paper PDF
Chemistry CUET Chemistry Syllabus PDF CUET Chemistry Question Paper PDF
Computer Science/ Informatics Practices CUET Computer Science Syllabus PDF CUET Computer Science Question Paper PDF
Economics/ Business Economics CUET Economics Syllabus PDF CUET Economics Question Paper PDF
Engineering Graphics CUET Engineering Graphics Syllabus PDF (Awaited)

CUET Engineering Graphics Question Paper

Entrepreneurship CUET Entrepreneurship Syllabus PDF CUET Entrepreneurship Question Paper PDF
Geography/Geology CUET Geography Syllabus PDF CUET Geography Question Paper PDF
Home Science CUET Home Science Syllabus PDF CUET Home Science Question Paper PDF
Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India CUET Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India Syllabus PDF (Awaited) CUET Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Legal Studies CUET Legal Studies Syllabus PDF CUET Legal Studies Question Paper PDF
Environmental Science CUET Environmental Science Syllabus PDF CUET Environmental Science Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Mathematics CUET Mathematics Syllabus PDF CUET Mathematics Question Paper PDF
Physics CUET Physics Syllabus PDF CUET Physics Question Paper PDF
Political Science CUET Political Science Syllabus PDF CUET Political Science Question Paper PDF
Psychology CUET Psychology Syllabus PDF CUET Psychology Question Paper PDF
Sociology CUET Sociology Syllabus PDF CUET Sociology Question Paper PDF
Teaching Aptitude CUET Teaching Aptitude Syllabus PDF CUET Teaching Aptitude Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Agriculture CUET Agriculture Syllabus PDF CUET Agriculture Question Paper PDF
Mass Media/ Mass Communication CUET Mass Media/ Mass Communication Syllabus PDF

CUET Mass Media/ Mass Communication Question Paper PDF

Anthropology CUET Anthropology Syllabus PDF CUET Anthropology Question Paper PDF
Fine Arts/ Visual Arts (Sculpture/ Painting)/Commercial Arts CUET Fine Arts Syllabus PDF CUET Fine Arts Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Performing Arts CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF CUET Performing Arts Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Sanskrit CUET Sanskrit Syllabus PDF (Awaited) CUET Sanskrit Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
History CUET History Syllabus PDF CUET History Question Paper PDF
General Test

CUET General Test Syllabus PDF

CUET General Test Question Paper PDF

Also Read: CUET Mock Test 2026

CUET Exam Pattern 2026

CUET UG 2026 exam will be conducted in a computer-based mode (CBT). The questions will be given in a multiple-choice questions (MCQ) format. The duration of the exam will be two hours. Check below to know the CUET 2026 exam pattern:

Particulars

Details

CUET Exam Conducting Body

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Medium of Exam

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

Number of questions

50 questions across subjects

Type of questions

Multiple Choice Questions

Marking Scheme

+5 for each correct answer

-1 for each incorrect answer

CUET Psychology Mapping for Courses

  • BA in Psychology
  • Integrated BA in Psychology
  • BSc in Psychology
  • BSc Hons in Psychology
  • BA Hons In Psychology
  • BA Hons in Applied Psychology
  • BA (Hons/Hons with Research) in Psychology
  • BSc in Clinical Psychology
  • BSc Hons in Clinical Psychology
  • Undergraduate Programme in Social Science

Best Books to Read for CUET 2026 Psychological Syllabus

Here is a list of the best books to read for the CUET Psychology syllabus 2026:

  • Objective Psychology by RPH Editorial Board
  • Summarizing Psychology by Bhasker Malu
  • Highly Useful MCQs For Psychology Entrance Preparation With Explanations by PschoZone
  • UGC NET/JRF Exam - Solved Papers Psychology (by Pratiyogita Darpan)

Read More:

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Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud

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Answered 3 days ago

National Testing Agency commenced CUET UG 2026 registrations on January 03, 2026. The registration window is open. Candidates who are desireous of appearing for CUET and admission to undergraduate programme must stay updated with the upcoming important CUET 2026 UG dates below:

  • Last date to apply fo

...Read more

N

Nishtha Kumar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

CUET UG 2026 application fee varies on number of subjects chosen and category of student. NTA has defined the CUET 2026 fe structure for General, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD and OBC candidates. Check the table below to know CUET application fee for 5 subjects:

CategoryCUET Fee for 5 Subjects
GeneralINR 1800
OBC-NCL/EWSINR 1650
SC/ST/PwBD/Third GenderINR 1500
Centres outside IndiaINR 8100

S

Satyendra Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

If a candidate has made a mistake in CUET UG 2026 application form, he/she can edit the details in online form once the correction window is open. NTA will open CUET 2026 correction window from February 02 to February 04. During this period, candidates can correct the details in the application, if

...Read more

K

Kritika Malhotra

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

No, National Testing Agency has not yet issued the official notification for the extension of CUET UG 2026 registration last date. CUET UG 2026 application window is scheduled to close on January 30. Like every year, NTA is expected to extend the last date for candidates. Check below to know CUET ap

...Read more

N

Nishtha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

Total 30 seats are available for admission in JUIT BBA programme as per official admission disclosure. Out of these 30 seats for JUIT BBA, 50% are filled through direct admission based on class 10+2 merit, and rest 50% are filled based on CUET (UG) Score.

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

No, CUET is not required for Nalanda Open University admissions. The university is an Open University and offers courses through online and distance learning mode. Hence, no selection rounds are conducted. Students can apply simply by completing the Class 12/ Graduation as per the course.

U

Upasana Harsha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 5 days ago

USWL, Karnavati University accepts CUET scores for admission to BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) courses. However, it is not mandatory. Aspirants with CLAT score can also apply. Candidates can also appear for KUAT conducted by Karnavati University for admission to UG Law courses.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 6 days ago

Yes, admissions are possible without CUET at CCSU. The other accepted entrance examinations are UPTAC,  JEE Main, and others. Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut admission is held online. Chaudhary Charan Singh University Meerut admissions are done both merit & entrance-based. Interested studen

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R

Rashmi Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

No, the CUET-UG is not a mandatory entrance exam for BBA admissions at IIM Bangalore. Aside from the CUET-UG, candidates can also apply through the scores obtained in the JEE Mains. If the candidate has failed to appear for either of the aforementioned exam, they can still apply through the IIMB DBE

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S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

No, NIF Global Jaipur does not accept CUET scores for enrollment into BBA course. The college accepts the scores of Class 12 for admission to this course. Students should complete their Class 12 from any recognised board in any stream with decent scores. After evaluating applicants' scores, the coll

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V

Vishakha

Contributor-Level 10