Welcome to Part 2 of Our Ultimate Guide to Competitive Exams 2026-27!
At SkilledB Academy | NEET JEE Foundation, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, we are committed to helping students make informed career decisions and achieve admission to India’s top universities.
In this edition, we explore the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), one of India’s most important entrance examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions.
If you dream of studying at prestigious institutions such as Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Hyderabad, or many other participating universities, this guide is for you.
Chapter 2: Common University Entrance Test (CUET)
What is CUET?
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) programs offered by Central Universities, State Universities, Deemed Universities, and several participating institutions across India.
Introduced in 2022, CUET has standardized the admission process by providing students with a single entrance examination accepted by hundreds of universities.
CUET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
- No upper age limit.
- Minimum age depends on the admission rules of the respective university (generally 17 years).
Educational Qualification
- Passed or appearing in Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent examination.
- Minimum qualifying marks vary by university.
- Generally:
- General Category – 50%
- Reserved Categories – 45%
Number of Attempts
- No restriction on the number of attempts.
CUET UG Examination Pattern
Section IA – Languages
Students can choose from 13 Indian languages.
- English
- Hindi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Marathi
- Gujarati
- Bengali
- Punjabi
- Odia
- Assamese
- Urdu
Pattern
- 60 Questions
- Attempt 50 Questions
- Duration: 45 Minutes
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Language Skills
Section IB – Additional Languages
Additional language options include:
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Japanese
- Russian
- Chinese
- Arabic
- Italian
- Sanskrit
- Persian
- And other notified languages.
The examination pattern remains the same as Section IA.
Section II – Domain Subjects
Students may choose up to 6 domain-specific subjects based on the university and course requirements.
Popular Domain Subjects
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Accountancy
- History
- Political Science
- Geography
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Legal Studies
- Entrepreneurship
- Physical Education
- Fine Arts
- Biotechnology
- Agriculture
- Mass Communication
Pattern
- 50 Questions
- Attempt 40 Questions
- Duration: 45 Minutes
- Based on NCERT Class 12 syllabus
Section III – General Test
This section evaluates a student’s aptitude and reasoning skills.
Syllabus Includes
- General Knowledge
- Current Affairs
- General Mental Ability
- Logical Reasoning
- Analytical Reasoning
- Numerical Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude (up to Class 8 level)
Pattern
- 75 Questions
- Attempt 60 Questions
- Duration: 60 Minutes
CUET Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer: +5 Marks
- Wrong Answer: -1 Mark
- Unattempted Question: 0 Mark
CUET PG 2026
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s Degree in the relevant discipline.
- Minimum marks as required by the university.
- Final-year students are also eligible.
Exam Pattern
- Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Duration: 120 Minutes
- Total Questions: 100
- All Questions are Compulsory
Paper Structure
- Part A
- General Awareness
- Reasoning
- Mental Ability
- Numerical Ability
- Part B
- Domain-Specific Questions
- Based on the chosen postgraduate subject
Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer: +4
- Wrong Answer: -1
Expected CUET 2026 Important Dates
CUET UG
- Notification: February 2026
- Application Begins: February 2026
- Last Date: March 2026
- Admit Card: April 2026
- Exam: May–June 2026
- Result: June 2026
- Counselling: July–August 2026
CUET PG
- Notification: December 2025
- Application Begins: December 2025
- Last Date: January 2026
- Admit Card: February 2026
- Exam: March 2026
- Result: March 2026
- Counselling: April–May 2026
Universities Accepting CUET Scores
Central Universities
- Delhi University (DU)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
- Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
- University of Hyderabad
- Pondicherry University
- And 45+ Central Universities
State Universities
More than 100 State Universities accept CUET scores for admissions.
Deemed Universities
More than 50 Deemed Universities participate in CUET admissions.
Other Institutions
- Selected IIT Programs
- NITs
- IIITs
- Other Premier Institutions
Popular Courses Through CUET
Arts & Humanities
- BA Economics
- BA English
- BA History
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- B.Com (Hons)
- BBA
- Integrated BA LLB
Science
- B.Sc Physics
- B.Sc Chemistry
- B.Sc Mathematics
- B.Sc Biology
- Biotechnology
- Computer Science
- Statistics
- Environmental Science
- B.Sc Nursing
- B.Pharm
Commerce & Management
- B.Com
- BBA
- BMS
- Integrated MBA
Engineering & Technology
- B.Tech (Selected Universities)
- BCA
- B.Sc Computer Science
Preparation Strategy by SkilledB Academy
Section IA & IB (Languages)
- Read newspapers daily.
- Improve vocabulary.
- Practice grammar regularly.
- Solve reading comprehension passages.
- Practice previous year papers.
Section II (Domain Subjects)
- Study NCERT Class 11 & 12 thoroughly.
- Prepare concise revision notes.
- Solve NCERT Exemplar problems.
- Practice chapter-wise MCQs.
- Attend regular subject-wise mock tests.
- Focus on conceptual understanding.
Section III (General Test)
- Read current affairs magazines.
- Practice quantitative aptitude daily.
- Solve reasoning questions regularly.
- Improve logical thinking skills.
- Take weekly mock tests.
Time Management Tips
- Create a practical study timetable.
- Prioritize weak subjects.
- Revise consistently.
- Take full-length mock tests every week.
- Analyze mistakes after every test.
Why Choose SkilledB Academy, Madurai?
- Experienced Faculty Team
- Personal Mentorship
- Concept-Based Teaching
- Regular Mock Tests
- Performance Analysis
- Updated Study Materials
- Career Guidance & Counselling
- Foundation Courses for Competitive Exams
Conclusion
CUET has transformed university admissions by creating a transparent and standardized entrance process for students across India. A strong CUET score can open the doors to some of the country’s best universities and career opportunities.
With expert guidance, structured preparation, and consistent practice, students can significantly improve their chances of securing admission to their dream university.
At SkilledB Academy | NEET JEE Foundation, Madurai, we provide comprehensive coaching, subject expertise, mock tests, and personalized mentoring to help students excel in CUET and other major competitive examinations.
Coming Next
The Ultimate Guide to Competitive Exams 2026-27 (Part 3): IMU CET (Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test)
Discover everything about maritime careers, IMU CET eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, placement opportunities, and expert preparation tips from SkilledB Academy.