Exam logo

CUET Exam Pattern 2026: Check Section-Wise Weightage, Marking Scheme

• Updated on 8 Sept, 2025 by Taniya Singh

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 has been revised by the National Testing Agency. NTA will conduct the CUET 2026 Exam in three sections, and the format of the questions will be Multiple-Choice Questions. NTA has reduced the number of questions for the CUET Exam; now, candidates have to attempt only 50 questions from each section instead of 60 questions. NTA will provide 5 marks for each correct answer and deduct 1 mark for each incorrect answer. Read here to know more about the CUET 2026 Exam Pattern.

 

Table of Contents
  1. CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
  2. CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Section-Wise Details
  3. CUET Section-Wise Exam Pattern 2026
  4. CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme
  5. CUET Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

 

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview

The key information about the CUET 2026 Exam Pattern is listed below:

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

Common University Entrance Test 2026 (CUET 2026)

Conducting Authority

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Official Website

  • nta.ac.in
  • cuet.nta.nic.in

Exam Duration

  • Slot I: 9 AM - 11 AM
  • Slot II: 12:30 PM - 2 PM
  • Slot III: 4 PM - 5:30 PM

Exam Mode

Computer-Based Test (CBT) Mode

Types of Question

Multiple-Choice Questions

Number of Sections

Section 1: Language

 

Section 2: Domain-Specific Subjects

 

Section 3: General Test

Number of Questions per Section

50 Questions per Section

Marking Scheme

Correct Answer: +5 Mark

 

Incorrect Answer: -1 Mark

 

CUET 2026 Exam Pattern: Section-Wise Details

Here is the detailed information about the CUET 2026 Exam section-wise. The candidate can refer to the table for their better understanding of the CUET 2026 Exam Pattern:

Sections

Details

Section 1: Language

English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu

Section 2: Domain-Specific Subjects

Accountancy or Book Keeping/Agriculture/Biology or Biological Science/Chemistry/Anthropology/Geography/Business Studies/Environmental Science/Economics/Computer Science/Fine Arts/History/Sociology/Sanskrit/Mathematics or Applied Mathematics/Psychology/Political Science/Physics/Physical Education/Knowledge Tradition Practices in India/Home Science/Mass Media or Mass Communication/Performing Arts

Section 3: General Test

General Knowledge and Current Affairs/General Math Ability/Logical and Analytical Reasoning/General Science/Environment Literacy

Also Read: CUET 2026 Syllabus

 

CUET Section-Wise Exam Pattern 2026

NTA has divided the CUET 2026 Exam into three main categories: language, domain-specific subjects, and a general test. NTA has introduced a basic structure for the CUET 2026 Exam, in which a candidate needs to choose one language and domain-specific subjects (up to 5 subjects). Below is the section-wise exam pattern for the CUET 2026:

Sections

Number of Questions per Section

Types of Questions

Section 1: Language

50 Questions

Language to be tested through the Reading Comprehension

Section 2: Domain-Specific Subjects

50 Questions

Multiple Choice Questions based on Class 12 NCERT Books

Section 3: General Test

50 Questions

Input test can be used for multiple-choice questions

Total

150 Questions

-

 

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme

NTA will follow a prescribed structure for its CUET 2026 Exam evaluation. Here is a list of points stated below that will be considered while evaluating the results:

  • For each correct answer and the most appropriate answer, +5 Marks will be awarded.
  • For each incorrect answer, a penalty of 1 Mark will be imposed.
  • Unanswered and Mark for Review questions will be awarded zero marks.
  • If more than one option is found to be correct, then the candidate who attempted any of the correct options will be awarded with +5 Marks.
  • If all options are found to be correct, then the candidate who attempted the question will be awarded +5 Marks.
  • If no option is correct or the question is wrong or found to be dropped, then the candidate who attempted that question will be given +5 Marks.

 

CUET Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

How many questions need to be attempted by the candidate in a section of the CUET 2026 Exam?

NTA has reduced the number of questions that need to be attempted by the candidate. Candidates are supposed to attend 50 questions per section instead of 60 questions in their CUET 2026 Exam.

What is the CUET 2026 Marking Scheme?

NTA has released the CUET 2026 Marking Scheme for its CUET 2026 Exam. NTA will provide 5 marks for each correct answer and will deduct 1 mark for each incorrect answer.

How many subjects are there in section 2 of the CUET 2026 Exam?

NTA has reduced the number of subjects in Section 2 of the CUET 2026 Exam. Now, there are only 23 domain-specific subjects, out of which candidates are supposed to take up to 5 subjects.

What is the format of the question for the CUET 2026 Exam?

The format of the questions of the CUET 2026 Exam is Multiple-Choice Questions. The candidate needs to select the correct option from the other options.

What is the syllabus for the General Test of the CUET 2026 Exam?

The General Test Syllabus of the CUET 2026 Exam includes General Knowledge and Current Affairs/General Math Ability/Logical and Analytical Reasoning/General Science/Environment Literacy.

How many languages are offered by the NTA for the CUET 2026 Exam?

NTA will offer 13 different languages for the CUET 2026 Exam. The languages are English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

How many sections are there in the CUET 2026 Exam?

NTA has divided the CUET 2026 Exam into three different sections. The sections are language, domain-specific subjects, and a general test.

Can I apply for 6 Domain-Specific Subjects in the CUET 2026 Exam?

No, Candidates are not allowed to choose 6 domain-specific subjects for the CUET 2026 Exam. As per the NTA, candidates can choose up to 5 subjects for their CUET 2026 Exam.