CUET 2026 was held from May 11 to May 31 and Class 12th boards have concluded. Soon after boards, candidates had roughly 30 days to prepare for CUET. With the exam date nearing, know the syllabus for CUET. Know what is the right time to begin CUET preparation here.
CUET Preparation
Wondering if it is the right time to begin CUET preparation along with boards? Yes, it is good time for candidates to begin preparation for NTA CUET UG 2026 exam. The CUET syllabus is similar to class 11th and 12th NCERT curriculum, majorly based on class 12th. Both exams cover same subjects and topics for exam preparation. However, CUET is entry to top state, private, and central universities. Success in Common University Entrance Test requires good planning and preparation. One important aspect of this journey is knowing right time to begin preparation to score CUET qualifying marks. The CUET 2026 was conducted between May 11 to May 31, whereas the Class 12th boards have concluded.
Also Read:
- When to Begin CUET UG Preparation?
- How to Begin with CUET Preparation?
- CUET 2026 Syllabus: Stream Wise
- Where Can I Download CUET Question Papers?
- About CUET UG
When to Begin CUET UG Preparation?
Candidates who are desireous of taking admission to Undergraduate program of Central Universities must begin their preparation early. CUET UG preparation is key to admission in top colleges and courses. Candidates can check below to know when to begin CUET UG preparation below:
Begin in Class 11 or Early Class 12th
CUET UG syllabus is similar to class 12th subject syllabus. Candidates preparing for board examinations must check the CUET syllabus and prepare for both exams simultaneously.
6 Months before Board Examination
CUET UG exams are conducted in May-June soon after the board examinations are over. Candidates must get familar with the CUET exam pattern and syllabus and cover the syllabus timely.
Commonly asked questions
CUET 2027 exam will likely be held in two slots. As per last year's exam timings, the first slot is held between 9 AM and 12 PM and the second slot between 3 PM and 6 PM. Candidates will be able to check the exact subject-wise timings on their admit card.
DU CSAS portal was activated at ugadmission.uod.ac.in in the last week of June. The DU Phase 1 Registrations were started within this same month and Phase 2 registration started in July. The last date to fill the DU UG 2026 applications was scheduled in second week of July.
Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is conducted Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu languages. Candidates must note that the selection of medium will be restricted to state/UTs. Refer the table below to know the mediums restricte to respective state/UTs:
| Language | Examination Centres |
|---|---|
| English | All examination centres |
| English and Hindi | All examination centres |
| English and Assamese | Examination centres in Assam |
| English and Bengali | Examination centres in West Bengal, Tripura, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| English and Gujarati | Examination centres in Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu |
| English and Kannada | Examination centres in Karnataka |
| English and Malayalam | Examination centres in Kerala and Lakshadweep |
| English and Marathi | Examination centres in Maharashtra |
| English and Odia | Examination centres in Odisha |
| English and Punjabi | Examination centres in Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi/New Delhi (Including Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Noida/Greater Noida) |
| English and Tamil | Examination centres in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| English and Telugu | Examination centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| English and Urdu | All examination centres in India |
As per CUET exam pattern, the subjects are divided into three sections as:
Section I- Languages
Section II- Domain Subject
Section III- General Test
Candidates will get 60 minutes for each subject. Candidates will not be given extra time.
How to Begin with CUET Preparation?
To begin CUET UG 2026 preparation, student must make sure to understand exam pattern and structure. Students must focus on NCERT curriculum of class 12th. To begin with CUET preparation, candidates can check expert tips below:
Check CUET Pattern & Syllabus
Begin by familiarising with the CUET 2026 exam pattern and syllabus. Knowing the updated pattern and structure of question paper helps candidates create a preparation strategy as per CUET syllabus.
Also Read:
Domain Subjects in CUET 2026; Check Complete List, Course Mapping Criteria
Start Preparation Early
Preparation for CUET UG must start with board preparation. Starting with building a strong foundation in basics of subjects as per stream like Commerce, Arts or Science.
Also Read:
Strategy to Manage CUET Exam Preparation along with Boards
Be Consistent
Success in CUET UG is not about filling information at the last minute. Candidate must create a strategy to cover subjects that are being studied in class 12th.
Utilise Resources
Invest in good quality CUET study materials, reference books, and online resources to prepare from. Candidates can also check CUET Practice Test 2026 to solve previous year question papers. Use technology to learn from online learning platforms, practice tests, and mock exams.
CUET Mock Tests
Regularly take CUET mock tests to get real exam day experience. This not only familiarises candidate with the CUET exam pattern but also helps manage time efficiently during actual test. Analyse performance after each mock test to identify areas that need improvement.
Know Current Affairs
General awareness is an important part of CUET preparation. Candidates by now must start reading newspapers, magazines, and online news portals. This habit not only improves knowledge but also improves performance and comprehension important for CUET general awareness section and reading comprehension.
Seek Guidance
Consider joining coaching classes or taking help from experienced teachers or mentors. Many CUET toppers suggest that practising from NCERT books can help score 99 percentile in CUET UG.
Assess and Improve
Continuously reassess CUET study plan, strengths and weaknesses. Adapt approach to work on areas that need improvement.
The right time to start preparation for CUET 2026 exam is now. Early preparation, discipline, and a strategic approach are the keys to score more than 95 percentile.
Also Read:
CUET 2026 Syllabus: Stream Wise
Science, Commerce or Arts students preparing for CUET UG exam must be thorough with the CUET syllabus and exam pattern to devise an effective preparation strategy. The core subjects for each stream differ. Check the stream-wise CUET syllabus 2026 below.
| CUET Syllabus for Science Students | CUET Syllabus for Commerce Students | CUET Syllabus for Arts Students |
Commonly asked questions
To appear for CUET UG exam, candidates must make sue to follow the below mentioned dress code:
- Candidates must not wear long sleeve clothes.
- Candidates wearing cultural/customary dress must report at the CUET exam centre one hour before the reporting time.
- Candidates must wear slippers or sandals with low heels. Shoes will not be permitted inside exam centre.
- In case of any circumstances, candidates must take the approval of NTA before the release of CUET admit card.
Common University Entrance Test/ CUET UG is an entrance exam. It is conducted for admission to UG programs offered by various central, state, private and deemed universities. Candidates willing to take admission to undergraduation programme in streams like Science, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Management must appear for CUET UG exam when conducted.
This entrance examination assesses candidates at various levels: Language, domain knowledge and general aptitude. CUET UG is conducted annually in computer based mode. CUET UG scores are accepted by more than 300 universities across India.
Candidates can check the CUET 2026 allotted exam centre upon release of CUET intimation slip and CUET admit card. Only candidates who will fill the CUET application form along with the successful application fee payment will be able to download the intimation slip for CUET exam. The name of exam centre will be mentioned on the intimation alip in advance to help candidates make preparations accordingly. The CUET 2026 admit card is expected to release three to four days prior to the day of examination in online mode. Candidates will be able to check the following details on the release of CUET 2026 admit card:
- Name of the candidate
- Registration number
- Category
- Location
- Date of exam
- Time of exam
- Exam centre name & address
- Photograph
- Signature
- Instructions related to the exam
Candidates must note that the CUET exam centre once allotted, no request for change in exam centre will be entertained under any circumstances. Candidates are advised to carefully enter the exam centre preference while filling the CUET 2026 application form.
Candidates must reach alloted CUET exam centre two hours before mentioned exam time. Candidates must complete verification process and take their seats immediately after the opening of examination hall. If the candidates does not report at alloted CUET exam centre on time due to traffic, delay in transport, important instructions to appear for the exam can be missed.
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Where Can I Download CUET Question Papers?
National Testing Agency has released the CUET UG question papers for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The CUET question paper bank subject-wise is available for free. Candidates can click on the links provided below to check previous year question papers:
| CUET 2025 Question Paper | CUET 2024 Question Paper |
| CUET 2023 Question Paper | CUET 2022 Question Paper |
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About CUET UG
Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates is conducted for admission in all central universities for academic session 2026-27. It is a common platform to provide equal opportunities to candidates across the country. CUET is conducted once a year. More than 249 universities accept CUET UG score for admission to its undergraduate full-time courses.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 19 hours ago
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 5 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 2 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 6 days 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 6 days 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
Shruti Garg is a graduate in English and Education with over 7 years of experience in content writing/editing and education journalism. At Shiksha.com, Shruti covers UG and PG entrance exams like MBA entrance exams,
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