CUET 2026 exam will be conducted between May 11 and May 31, 2026. When few days are left for the exam, here we bring the last-minute preparation strategy and tips for the exam day. Read the article by Shiksha to know the dos and don’ts regarding the last-minute preparation for CUET UG 2026.

CUET 2026 Last Minute Tips and Strategy

CUET UG 2026 exam will be conducted between May 11 and May 31, 2026. NTA will conduct CUET UG exam in a CBT mode only. Candidates who are willing to take the test must be well prepared and are focusing on the revision. Those who will be scheduled to take the CUET UG 2026 on later dates must also concentrate on the last-moment practice and brush up on their weak areas. When few days are left for the test, this article of Shiksha brings the CUET 2026 last-minute preparation tips.

CUET Exam Pattern 2026

CUET 2026 exam will be conducted in hybrid mode for different time slots and subjects. There will be three sections in the CUET UG with a varied number of questions. The detailed structure of the exam is given below:

CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme

As per the CUET 2026 exam pattern, following marking scheme will be followed:

• Each question will carry five marks
• There will be negative marking of -1 for each wrong answer
• No marks will be awarded or deducted for the unattempted questions.

CUET 2026 Section-wise Question Types

NTA has given the guidelines on the CUET 2026 syllabus or the types of questions asked in each section.

Section I- Language: Language to be tested through Reading Comprehension based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary and Narrative, (Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary).

Section II- Domain Subject: MCQs based on NCERT Class 12 syllabus only

Section III- General Test: General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration/s tat taught till Grade 8), Logical and Analytical Reasoning

Also Read: CUET Vs JEE Vs NEET

CUET 2026 Last-Minute Preparation Tips

Now, we will bring to the readers the last-minute preparation tips to ace the CUET UG 2026 exam.

Revise the core subjects: Go through the notes for the core subjects. You may also check the question papers or mock tests you have already taken and scored well. This would not only boost your confidence but would also help you take note of the mistakes to avoid and steps to follow to solve different question types. You must make notes for the topic studied to study in brief at last minute.

Decide the exam-taking strategy: By now, you must have decided on your exam-taking strategy in terms of the number of questions to attempt, duration to dedicate for each question and section, topics of questions to select, and revision. You must go through the plan once again for a foolproof strategy. You must also keep a backup plan ready in case your original plan does not seem feasible while taking the test.

Talking about her exam day strategy, Mahalaxmi Swaminathan, another CUET topper of last year who scored full marks of 800, said, “Firstly, I answered all the questions that I was very confident with. For each subject, one is given a buffer of 10 questions which they can skip. Thus one must go through the entire 50 questions. This helped me in analysing how many more questions I needed to solve to answer 40 questions. Plus, going through all questions helps one to evaluate which of the remaining questions is relatively easier to solve within the specified time. The elimination method also helps in answering MCQs, but I would suggest that one should not entirely rely on this technique.”

Minimise frequency of mock tests: You shouldn't take a new mock test or solve the question paper a day before the exam. However, if your exam is scheduled in the next few phases, then you can take a mock test in alternate days and, in between, get it analysed. While at this stage, you would not be able to convert your weak areas to your strength, you can work on minimising the silly mistakes that you have been regularly committing. The only way to do this is by more practice and improving your concentration while taking the test. Also, you should ideally take the mock tests within the time allotted to the test, in a proctored manner. Sharing her strategy, Prisha Khandelwal, a CUET 2022 topper and an SRCC Delhi student, said, “I used to devote at least four hours per day; in those four hours, I used to solve practice papers for every subject. I used to practice sample papers and PYQs in an MCQ format.”

Do not start a new topic or chapter: Starting a new topic is also not ideal at this stage. Instead, you can dedicate the time to brush up on the language sections and the General Knowledge section (if applicable). This would serve a dual purpose of revising for the sections other than your core subjects and keeping your mind unburdened.

Also Read: CUET Topper Tips: Following NCERT by Heart is Key to Score Full Marks, says Jigeesha Bhargavi

Refer to the Internet for Additional Information: While you must have completed the NCERT textbooks and referred to additional sources as well, you can also tap the online resources by being a part of various online study groups and communities, watching YouTube videos by experts and past years’ toppers to know the exam day strategy and other tips and tricks. Talking about the same, Kabya Nayak, top scorer in CUET 2022 and Hindu College student said, “I would like to suggest they value more qualitative studying, wisely exploit the powerful reservoir of knowledge, i.e., the Internet and CUET-related channels on YouTube to access the free material.”

Keep yourself relaxed: At this stage, there is no use in being stressed. Hence, don’t stress and stay relaxed. Ensure that you eat a balanced diet on time and get ample rest so that you feel completely energetic and confident on the day of your exam.

CUET 2026 will be held between May 11 and May 31, 2026 in CBT mode. Last year, 13.9 lakh candidates applied for the exam across India and abroad. Over 250 universities across India will be accepting the CUET result 2026 for admission to undergraduate courses in the academic year 2026-24.

Read More:

• CUET 2026 Exam Day Instructions, Know Dos and Don’ts for the Exam Day
• CUET 2026 Books and Study Materials