What is CUET and why does it matter?

CUET (Common University Entrance Test) is the mandatory entrance exam for admission to all central universities in India — including Delhi University, JNU, BHU, Jamia Millia, and 40+ other universities. Your Class 12 board marks are no longer used for admission to these universities. Only your CUET score matters.

What is the CUET 2027 exam pattern?

CUET has 3 sections: Section 1A (Language — 40 MCQs in 45 min), Section 2 (Domain Subjects — 40 MCQs per subject in 45 min, choose up to 6 subjects), and Section 3 (General Test — 50 MCQs in 60 min). All questions are MCQ-based with +5 for correct and -1 for wrong. The exam is computer-based (CBT).

Is NCERT enough for CUET 2027?

For domain subjects — absolutely yes. CUET domain subject questions are directly from NCERT Class 12 textbooks. In many cases, questions are near-identical to NCERT exercise questions or in-text examples. NCERT is not just recommended — it is the primary and often sufficient source for CUET preparation.

Which domain subjects should I choose for CUET?

Choose subjects based on your target course and university. For DU BA Honours Economics: pick Economics, Maths, and English. For DU BSc: pick your science subjects. For JNU: check specific programme requirements. General rule: pick subjects you scored highest in during Class 12, and always pick subjects where NCERT content is clear to you.

How is CUET different from board exams?

CUET is MCQ-based (boards have descriptive answers), has negative marking (boards do not), and tests application-level understanding over rote memorisation. However, the syllabus is identical to NCERT Class 12. The trick is to shift from 'writing long answers' mode to 'quick identification of correct option' mode.

What CUET score do I need for DU top colleges?

For DU's top colleges (SRCC, Hindu, St. Stephens, LSR, Hansraj) in popular courses: you need 750+ out of 800 in relevant subjects. For mid-tier DU colleges: 650-750. For BHU and JNU: cutoffs vary widely by programme — check previous year cutoffs for your specific course.

Should I prepare for CUET separately from boards?

No. CUET syllabus is NCERT Class 12, which is the same as your board syllabus. Prepare for boards using NCERT, and add CUET-specific practice: MCQ solving, time management, and negative marking awareness. The only truly separate preparation is the General Test section.

How important is the General Test in CUET?

The General Test is required by many universities for undergraduate admissions. It covers General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and General Mental Ability. It is not difficult but requires consistent current affairs reading and basic aptitude practice over 2-3 months.

CUET 2027 Preparation Guide

CUET has replaced board marks as the admission criterion for 45+ central universities, including Delhi University, JNU, BHU, and Jamia Millia Islamia. Whether you want BA Economics at SRCC, BSc Physics at St. Stephens, or any programme at a central university — your CUET score is what matters. This guide breaks down the exam section by section and gives you a concrete preparation strategy.

CUET 2027 Exam Structure

Section	Content	Questions	Duration	Marking
Section 1A	Language (English/Hindi/others)	40 MCQs (attempt any 40 out of 50)	45 min	+5 correct, -1 wrong
Section 2	Domain Subjects (up to 6)	40 MCQs per subject (out of 50)	45 min per subject	+5 correct, -1 wrong
Section 3	General Test	50 MCQs (out of 60)	60 min	+5 correct, -1 wrong

Key point: You get more questions than you need to attempt. This means you can strategically skip questions you are unsure about without losing out on total marks.

Section 1: Language — The Underrated Section

Most students treat the Language section as easy and do not prepare for it. This is a mistake. The section tests:

Reading Comprehension: 2-3 passages with questions on main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, and tone. Practice reading academic passages quickly.
Grammar and Vocabulary: Sentence correction, fill in the blanks, synonyms/antonyms, idioms. Solid Class 10-12 grammar knowledge is sufficient.
Literary Aptitude: Questions based on prose/poetry extracts. Read your NCERT English textbook — Flamingo and Vistas for Class 12.

Target: 180+ out of 200. This section is highly scorable with 2 weeks of focused practice.

Section 2: Domain Subjects — Where NCERT Mastery Pays Off

This is the most important section. Your domain subject scores determine which course and college you get into. The preparation is straightforward: master NCERT Class 12 textbooks.

Which Domain Subjects to Pick

You can choose up to 6 domain subjects, but most students need 2-4 based on their target course. Here is a quick guide:

Target Course	Required/Recommended Subjects
BA Economics (DU/JNU)	Economics, Mathematics, English
BA Political Science	Political Science, History, English
BA English Honours	English (domain), History or Political Science
BSc Physics	Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry
BSc Chemistry	Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics
B.Com (DU)	Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics
BA History (JNU/BHU)	History, Political Science, Geography

Pro tip: Check the specific admission criteria for your target university and course BEFORE choosing subjects. Some courses require specific domain subjects; others give you flexibility.

Subject-Wise Preparation Tips

Humanities subjects (History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology): Read NCERT Class 12 textbook cover to cover. Make chapter summaries. Focus on dates, events, key thinkers, and definitions. Practice MCQs to train your recognition speed.
Commerce subjects (Accountancy, Business Studies): For Accountancy, practice numerical problems from NCERT. For Business Studies, focus on definitions, principles, and case-based questions.
Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths): NCERT theory + NCERT exercise problems. CUET Science questions are easier than JEE/NEET level — they test textbook understanding, not advanced problem-solving.
Economics: Read both Micro and Macro NCERT thoroughly. Focus on graphs, numerical problems, and definitions. Economics is one of the most competitive CUET subjects — aim for 190+ out of 200.

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Section 3: General Test — Consistent Practice Wins

The General Test is required by many universities. It covers:

General Knowledge and Current Affairs (15-20 questions): Read a newspaper daily or use a monthly GK digest. Focus on last 6 months of national/international events, awards, appointments, and government schemes.
Quantitative Reasoning (10-15 questions): Basic arithmetic, percentages, ratios, averages, data interpretation. Class 10 Maths level — not difficult, but requires practice for speed.
Logical and Analytical Reasoning (10-15 questions): Series, coding-decoding, blood relations, Venn diagrams, syllogisms. Practice from any standard aptitude book.
General Mental Ability (5-10 questions): Puzzles, pattern recognition, spatial reasoning.

Target: 200+ out of 250. Start General Test prep 3 months before the exam with 30 minutes daily.

DU vs JNU vs BHU — Cutoff Strategy

Each university uses CUET scores differently:

University	How They Use CUET Scores	What to Prioritise
Delhi University	Merit-based on CUET scores in relevant subjects	Maximise domain subject scores — every mark counts
JNU	CUET score for shortlisting, some programmes have interviews	Clear the cutoff and prepare for programme-specific requirements
BHU	CUET score with programme-specific subject requirements	Check BHU's specific subject requirements for your course
Jamia Millia	CUET score for most UG programmes	Focus on domain subjects and General Test

Month-Wise Preparation Plan

Month	Focus	Testing
Jun-Aug (Class 12)	Study Class 12 NCERT alongside school. Cover domain subjects thoroughly.	Chapter-wise MCQ tests
Sep-Nov	Complete NCERT for all domain subjects. Start Language section practice.	Subject-wise tests (1/week)
Dec-Jan	Full NCERT revision. Start General Test prep (30 min/day).	Full mock tests (1/week)
Feb	Board exam preparation (identical to CUET prep for domain subjects).	Board pattern + 1 CUET mock/week
Mar-Apr	CUET intensive: MCQ practice, previous year papers, General Test.	Full mocks every 2-3 days
Last 2 weeks	Revision of weak areas, light practice, confidence building.	1 mock daily

5 Common CUET Mistakes

Choosing too many domain subjects: Quality over quantity. It is better to score 190+ in 3 subjects than 160 in 6 subjects. Only pick subjects you genuinely know well.
Ignoring the General Test: Many students treat it as optional and lose easy marks. It takes just 2-3 months of light preparation.
Not practising MCQs: Knowing NCERT content is different from solving MCQs on it under time pressure. Convert your knowledge into MCQ-solving speed.
Neglecting negative marking: CUET has -1 for wrong answers. Do not blindly guess — if you cannot eliminate at least 2 options, skip the question (you have extra questions anyway).
Treating CUET as a formality: CUET cutoffs for DU top colleges are extremely competitive. 750/800 in a domain subject is common for top courses. Take it seriously from the start.

This guide follows the expected CUET 2027 pattern. For more exam details, visit the CUET 2027 exam page. Last updated: March 2026.

CUET 2027 Preparation Guide — DU, JNU & Central University Admissions