CUET UG exam rules, marking and timelines.

How many papers can I take?

Choose up to five papers, including any languages and GAT you select.

• The 2026 catalogue has 37 papers: 13 languages, 23 domains and GAT.
• Choose using your university’s exact programme requirements; English and GAT are not universal additions.

Questions and exam format

Each paper has 50 multiple-choice questions in a computer-based test.

• The 2026 bulletin lists all 50 questions as compulsory. Unanswered questions receive zero marks.
• Combined papers can have subject-specific alternative sections. Check the individual syllabus and on-screen instructions.

Duration and shifts

The standard duration is 60 minutes for each paper.

• Your admit card gives the date, shift and reporting time; papers need not all be in one sitting.
• The 2026 rules provide compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour for eligible candidates under the disability/scribe provisions. Check required certificates and the full conditions.

Marking system

Raw marks use +5 for a correct answer, −1 for an incorrect answer and 0 for an unanswered question.

• With 50 questions, the maximum raw score is 250 per paper.
• If several options are accepted as correct, marking any accepted option earns +5. If no option is correct, or a question is wrong/dropped, every candidate who appeared receives +5, even if they did not attempt it.

Question-paper languages

There are 13 question-paper mediums in the 2026 reference.

• Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
• The language paper you choose and the medium used for another subject are separate choices. Check your course’s requirements.

Exam-day checklist

Follow your admit card and the latest NTA instructions for your examination year.

• Take the printed admit card/undertaking, required photograph and an authorised original, valid photo ID. Carry applicable disability documents.
• Check your reporting time and allotted centre; report any incorrect subject or technical issue to the invigilator.
• The later 7 May 2026 advisory permits transparent water bottles and normal shoes, slippers or low heels. It also allows articles of faith and woollens subject to early reporting for frisking.
• Do not bring phones, smartwatches or other prohibited electronic aids. Read the full official item/dress instructions.

Exam and result timelines

2027 dates are not verified at this check. The past-cycle dates below are historical references, not predictions.

2027: dates awaiting verification

Applications and fee deadline

Not verified / awaiting official announcement

Application correction window

Not verified / awaiting official announcement

Exam city and admit card

Not verified / awaiting official announcement

Exam dates and shifts

Not verified / awaiting official announcement

Provisional keys and challenges

Not verified / awaiting official announcement

Final key and result declaration

Not verified / awaiting official announcement

What happened in 2026

1. Examinations held

   11–31 May and 6–7 June 2026

   Official 2026 notice (opens in a new tab)
2. Provisional-key challenge window

   9–11 June 2026; challenges closed at 10:00 PM on 11 June

   Official 2026 notice (opens in a new tab)
3. Challenge-fee payment deadline

   11 June 2026, 11:50 PM

   Official 2026 notice (opens in a new tab)
4. Result declared

   23 June 2026

   Official 2026 notice (opens in a new tab)

These 2026 windows have ended. Each university announces its own counselling dates; there is no single NTA university-admission calendar.

Answer keys and challenges

Check the provisional key against your recorded responses during the official challenge window.

• In 2026, a challenge cost ₹200 per question as a non-refundable processing fee.
• Use the prescribed online process, match question IDs and submit supporting evidence within the published deadlines.
• Experts review challenges; the final key is used to prepare the result.

Results, scores and university admission

A CUET scorecard is not a university admission offer.

• Download your scorecard from the official portal. The 2026 score applies to the 2026–27 admission year.
• Multi-shift raw marks may be converted to NTA scores using the published method; a raw-score calculation is not a percentile or admission prediction.
• The 2026 bulletin does not provide result re-evaluation/rechecking. Universities separately announce merit lists, counselling and admission conditions.

Who can appear, and who can get admission?

Exam eligibility and programme admission eligibility are separate checks.

• For CUET UG 2026, Class XII/equivalent passed candidates and those appearing in 2026 could take the test; NTA specified no age limit for appearing.
• Universities may impose their own age, school-subject, marks, category and other programme conditions.

Official sources and verification

Checked 2026-11-04. Rules can be clarified by later notices: the 7 May 2026 exam-day advisory, for example, gives later instructions on water bottles and footwear. Follow the applicable year’s notices and your admit card.

• NTA CUET UG 2026 information bulletin (opens in a new tab)
• NTA CUET UG 2026 FAQs (opens in a new tab)
• NTA exam-day advisory · 7 May 2026 (opens in a new tab)
• NTA successful-conduct release · 7 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
• NTA answer-key challenge notice · 9 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
• NTA result declaration · 23 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
• Official CUET UG portal (opens in a new tab)
• Latest NTA public notices (opens in a new tab)