CUET 2027 Exam Pattern: Section-wise Breakdown
This is where most Class 12 students get confused. Let me break it down in the simplest way possible.
CUET UG has three sections. You don’t have to attempt all three — you choose what you need based on your target course.
Section I: Languages (Compulsory)
You need to choose at least one language. Most students pick English.
- Section IA: 13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu).
- Section IB: 20 additional languages (optional, only if you’re applying for a language-specific course).
- Questions: 50 per language
- Duration: 60 minutes per language
- What it tests: Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, verbal ability.
Tip: Even if you’re a science student, don’t ignore the language section. It carries weight in your overall score and many universities require it.
Section II: Domain-Specific Subjects
This is where you pick subjects related to your desired course. There are 23 subjects to choose from:
Accountancy, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, History, Home Science, Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Agriculture, Mass Media, Anthropology, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Sanskrit.
- Questions: 50 per subject
- Duration: 60 minutes per subject
- What it tests: Your Class 12 NCERT knowledge in that subject.
- Maximum subjects allowed: You can choose up to 5 subjects in total (including languages and General Test).
Section III: General Test (Optional)
This is like a general aptitude test. Many universities require it for courses that don’t need specific domain subjects (like BBA, BMS, Hotel Management, etc.).
- Questions: 50
- Duration: 60 minutes
- What it tests: General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical and Analytical Reasoning.
The Marking Scheme (This is Important!)
| Answer Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +5 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 mark (negative marking!) |
| Unattempted | 0 marks |
Total per subject: 50 questions × 5 marks = 250 marks
Critical insight: With +5/-1 marking, random guessing is dangerous. A wrong answer doesn’t just cost you 1 mark — it costs you the opportunity to score +5 on a question you might have known. If you’re unsure, it’s often better to skip than guess.
How Many Subjects Should You Choose?
You can choose a maximum of 5 subjects including languages and the General Test. Here’s what most students do:
- Option 1 (Science student targeting B.Sc.): English + Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics + Biology
- Option 2 (Commerce student targeting B.Com): English + Accountancy + Business Studies + Economics + General Test
- Option 3 (Arts student targeting B.A.): English + History + Political Science + Geography + General Test
Pro tip: Check what subjects your dream university requires for your dream course. If DU needs English + Domain X for B.A. Economics, make sure you select those exact subjects.
