Candidates preparing for the CUET UG English exam 2026 must know the syllabus. Read this article to get CUET English preparation strategy to score well on the entrance test.
CUET English Exam Preparation Tips
Preparation Strategy for CUET English Exam: Candidates taking English as a language from Section I of the Common University Entrance Test must prepare well to score competitive marks in the exam. According to CUET UG statistics of 2022-2025, English is the most opted subject by students. The CUET English exam is expected to have a moderate difficulty level. The English question paper will have questions from reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and verbal ability.
Check out this article to get some preparation tips for the CUET English paper. Also, find out the CUET 2026 Syllabus and important topics for English on this page. Find important vocabulary words to practice for exam
- CUET English Syllabus 2026
- CUET English Important Topics
- CUET English Topic-Wise Weightage
- Preparation Tips for CUET English 2026
- CUET UG English Preparation Books
- CUET English Preparation: Download Past Papers for Practice
- CUET English Vocabulary (Most Repeated Words)
- CUET English Exam Pattern 2026
CUET English Syllabus 2026
According to the exam pattern, no optional questions will be given in the test paper, and candidates must attempt all the questions. With no choice in the questions, candidates must study more thoroughly to ensure they can answer as many questions in CUET exam as possible with keeping negative marking in mind. To prepare well for the exam, start by understanding the CUET 2026 English Syllabus given below:
- Reading Comprehension: There will be three types of passages (maximum 300-350 words):
- Factual
- Narrative
- Literary
- Verbal Ability
- Rearranging the parts
- Choosing the correct word
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Vocabulary
Download CUET English Syllabus PDF
Candidates preparing for CUET 2026 English exam can download the PDF from direct link given below.
| CUET English 2026 Syllabus PDF Link |
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
The CUET UG English syllabus includes topics given below
- Reading Comprehension
- Factual
- Narrative
- Literary
- Verbal Ability
- Rearranging the parts
- Choosing the correct word
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Vocabulary
Know more about -
The maximum marks in CUET UG exam for each subject is 250 marks. The CUET total marks may vary depending upon the number of subjects opted by candidate.
- CUET maximum marks per subject: 250 marks
- Maximum subjects that can be opted: five subjects
- Total possible maximum marks: 1250
On analysing the CUET UG cut off for the academic year 2025-26, scoring above 700 marks can be considered a good score in CUET UG. Candidates scoring above 700 may fall in the category of 95+ percentile. Candidates can get admission to top central universities like University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and other universities in the desired course. Given below is the range that is considered good for admission:
- Very Good Score: 700 and above
- Good Score: 650 and above
CUET UG total marks is 250 Marks for each subject. Candidates can choose up to five CUET subjects. Each subject paper has 50 questions which will total to 250 marks for each subject. For every correct answer, candidate will get 5 marks. The CUET total marks will be uniform for all 37 subjects. The Total CUET subjects marks can vary depending on the number of subjects chosen by candidates.
- If three CUET subjects chosen: 750 total marks
- If four CUET subjects chosen: 1000 total marks
- If five CUET subjects chosen: 1250 total marks
CUET English Important Topics
The CUET English paper includes 50 questions, all of which are compulsory. Candidates get 60 minutes to complete the exam in CBT mode. Candidates must give importance to below topics while preapring for English exam.
| CUET English Important Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary |
|
| Grammar |
|
| Reading Comprehension |
|
Check Out: How to Score 180+ in CUET English 2026?
CUET English Topic-Wise Weightage
Candidated preparing for CUET 2026 English must check this table to know which topics have more weightage in CUET English Question Paper.
| Topics |
Expected number of questions |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Also Read: CUET English Most Repeated Questions
Commonly asked questions
The best strategy includes:
- Completing NCERT thoroughly
- Revising regularly
- Solving previous year papers
- Attempting mock tests consistently
- Improving speed and accuracy
The difficulty level of the CUET exam varies between moderate and tough. Since the CUET UG exam is held for multiple subjects and slots, the difficulty level of the exam varies from subject to subject. Sometimes, the difficulty level may also vary for different slots. While for the well-prepared candidates, the difficulty level will be low, for the underprepared students, the level of difficulty will be on the higher side.
To prepare well for the CUET UG and board examinations, candidates must:
- Start their preparations for CUET UG along with class 12th board examination. This will help students to cover the maximum syllabus for CUET.
- Candidates must make sure to be familiar with the CUET exam pattern and syllabus for the subjects they are planning to opt for.
- Candidates must know weak and strong topics by solving CUET mock tests or previous year question papers.
- Students must make sure to download the CUET question papers and analyse difficulty level of the exam
- Aspirants must select the best books for CUET UG preparation.
More than 200 CUET participating universities, including central, state, government, private, and deemed institutes offer admission to various undergraduate and integrated courses through Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG). Each CUET college offers the courses across Science, Humanities, Commerce, Management, Law, Engineering, and other streams. Students planning to get admission through CUET exam have to check the courses offered by their target university on their official website, NTA official website, or at Shiksha page.
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Preparation Tips for CUET English 2026
Preparing for the CUET English exam requires a well-structured approach that covers all aspects of the syllabus, from reading comprehension to grammar and vocabulary. Candidates planning to take the Common University Entrance Test for English must ensure to follow CUET preparation tips 2026 given below.
1. The first step of preparing for the CUET English exam is to understand its syllabus and exam pattern. According to official syllabus released by National Testing Agency, CUET English paper includes questions from reading comprehension, English vocabulary (such as synonyms, antonyms), grammar (such as tenses, subject-verb agreement), and verbal ability.
2. Practice as many RCs as you can. With good practice, you can learn how to grasp information while reading a paragraph and can easily find answers. Start with simple and short RCs. Once you master them, practice complex reading comprehension, in case the difficulty level for these questions increases.
3. Everyone must know the basics of grammar topics. However, do not overestimate yourself and go through the basic rules and aspects of the grammar topics such as verbs, active-passive voice, conjunctions, prepositions, etc.
5. Improve your vocabulary. According to the previous year's student reaction and exam analysis, vocabulary-based questions are the most difficult ones for them. The CUET English paper sometimes includes foreign vocabulary words. Do not cram, but try to understand how to derive the meaning of a word using the root words.
6. Practice from CUET previous years’ papers to improve your speed in the exam. While solving past papers, give yourself 60 minutes and see whether or not you are able to complete the exam on time.
CUET UG English Preparation Books
To perform well in the English test, candidates must practice CUET mock tests. Here is a list of some recommended books for students to prepare for the CUET English Section.
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi
- High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
- English Language Comprehension Skills by Arihant Experts
- CUET 2025 English Guide by Oswaal Books
- Reading Comprehension for Competitive Exams by Disha Experts
- Idioms, Phrases, and Proverbs with Usage by Oxford
Commonly asked questions
The CUET General Test is moderate in difficulty level. The exam is not very difficult if the candidate is prepared well for the exam. CUET General Test assess candidate's basic aptitude, reasoning and general awareness. CUET General Test includes topics like percentages, profit & loss, ratio & proportions, time & work, simple compound & interest and may more topics in class 12th NCERT curriculum.
For most domain subjects, NCERT books are the primary preparation source for CUET UG. However, mock tests and question banks are also important for practice.
Students should begin with understanding the syllabus and exam pattern. Start studying NCERT Class 12 topics and gradually move towards mock tests and previous year papers.
For Delhi University admission through CUET UG, candidates must select the subjects studied in class 12th and those that meet the preferred DU UG course requirements. CUET subject mapping is an important criterion for admission to Delhi University. The key requirements for CUET subjects vary by course. To check the CUET subject combination criteria, candidates must visit the official NTA CUET website.
CUET English Preparation: Download Past Papers for Practice
As discussed above, apart from preparing for the exam from different books and study material, students must also practice from CUET English previous year question papers. These test papers help candidates understand the question paper pattern and the types of questions asked in the exam. The table below entails PDFs for CUET English 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Candidates can download the CUET English Question Paper PDFs for free here.
| CUET Year | CUET English Question Paper PDFs (2022-2025) |
|---|---|
| CUET 2025 | CUET 2025 English Question Paper PDF |
| CUET 2024 |
|
| CUET 2024 English Re-test Question Paper PDF | |
| CUET 2023 | CUET 2023 English Question Paper PDF |
| CUET 2022 | CUET 2022 English Question Paper PDF |
CUET English Vocabulary (Most Repeated Words)
Students preparing for English exam can check below to get important vocabulary words that were there in past CUET English question papers.
| CUET Important Vocabulary Words | ||
|---|---|---|
| Opportune | Ardent | Portend |
| Puerile | Disconcerting | Nadir |
| Iniquitous | Tranquil | Zenith |
| Belligerent | Placate | Impertinent |
| Obstentatious | Invective | Repugnant |
| Pageantry | Languish | Sagacious |
| Impetuous | Conceited | Impudent |
| 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 |
Commonly asked questions
To map the CUET subjects as per the B.Sc course criteria at University of Delhi, candidates must select the following test papers as per the course specialisation:
B.Sc Specialisation | CUET Subject Selection |
|---|---|
B.Sc. (Hons.) Anthropology | Physics + Chemistry + Biology/ Biological Studies/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Biological Sciences | Physics + Chemistry + Biology/ Biological Studies/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Biomedical Science | Chemistry + Physics + Biology/Biological Studies/Biotechnology/ Biochemistry |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Bio-Chemistry | Combination I: Chemistry + Biology/ Biological Studies/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry + Physics |
Combination II: Chemistry + Biology/Biological Studies/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics | |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany | Physics + Chemistry + Biology/Biological Studies/ Biotechnology/Biochemistry |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry | Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Computer Science | Combination I : Any one Language from List A + Mathematics/ Applied Mathematics + Any two subjects from List B OR |
Combination II : Any two Languages from List A + Mathematics/ Applied Mathematics + Any one subject from List B | |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Electronics | Combination I: Physics + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics + Chemistry |
Combination II: Physics + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics + Computer Science/Informatics Practices | |
B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics | Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics/Applied Mathematics |
B.Sc. (Prog.) Mathematical Sciences | Combination I: Any one language from List A + Mathematics/ Applied Mathematics + Any two subjects from List B |
To puruse B.A (Hons.) History from DU, candidates must appear for CUET UG 2026 exam and register for exam online. While filling the CUET online form, candidates must select below CUET Arts subjects:
Combination I: Any one Language from List A + Any three subjects from Domain Subjects
OR
Combination II: Any two Languages from List A + Any two subjects from Domain Subjects
Yes, 750 marks are considered good score in CUET UG. However, the score depends on the preferred course subject combination criteria. 750 marks are calculated as approximately 95th percentile. Candidates can target top CUET-accepting universities with this score.
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.
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CUET English Exam Pattern 2026
The National Testing Agency lays down the CUET UG exam pattern for all subjects and sections. Check out points below for the CUET English Exam Pattern:
- Mode of Examination: Computer Based Ted
- Medium of Exam: 13 languages
- Number of Questions: 50 questions (all compulsory)
- Exam Duration: 60 minutes
- Nature of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions
- CUET UG Maximum Marks: 250 Marks
- Marking Scheme:
+5 for each correct answer
-1 for each incorrect answer
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
A score of 350 is competitive and viable for categories like SC, ST, or lower EWS/OBC brackets as merit lists progress through later rounds.
CUET raw score cutoffs for the main campus typically range higher than 420–490+ for the unreserved.
M
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 6 days ago
YES. Galgotias University accepts JEE Main and CUET scores for B.Tech admissions and gives preference to candidates with these scores in the merit list. Students also need to meet the required Class 12 eligibility criteria for their chosen B.Tech program.
V
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 days ago
For admission to B.Tech at CUH, the college does not consider CUET exam. Instead, it allows admission through JEE Main scores for this course.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Your options depend on your category and stream. With your JEE Main percentile of 87, making top NITs/IIITs difficult, but state engineering colleges, lower-tier GFTIs, or private universities are open for you.
Your CUET score of 348, you can try admission to lower-demand programs or regional central
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can get into Doon University with a score of 140 in the CUET UG exam if you belong to the General AI category. For the aforementioned category, the Round 1 cutoff ranged from 140 to 160. Students can check the table below to know which courses are available with the attained score. Please k
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Doon University CUET UG cutoff 2025 has been released for admission to the BA (Hons) and BSc courses. For the General AI category, the Round 1 cutoff ranged from 140 to 160. As per this range, BA (Hons) in Media & Communication Studies was the most sought-after course for admission. See below to kno
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, with a CUET score 330 and IPU CET score 6529, you have a great chance to get admission at DME.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
UG students of JECRC University Alwar Campus get a maximum of 50% waiver based on CUET score. Students with 97% and above percentile in CUET get 50% waiver. Below is the detailed criteria:
| Percentile | Scholarship (Tuition Waiver) |
|---|---|
| 80-89.99 percentile | 15% waiver |
| 90-94.99 percentile | 25% waiver |
| 95-96.99 percentile | 30% waiver |
| 97 percentile & above | 50% waiver |
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 weeks ago
If you have studied Agriculture in Class 12, then for B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture at BHU, the combination of Agriculture+Biology+Chemistry is the most relevant option.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Top B.Tech options accepting CUET or Class 12 merit include prominent central and state universities like Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and Amity University Noida.
S
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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