CUET UG Exam Pattern 2024 - Complete Guide

Complete understanding of CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test - Undergraduate) exam pattern, structure, marking scheme, and preparation strategy for admission to central universities.

🎯 CUET UG Overview

Basic Information

📋 Exam Structure

Section-Wise Breakdown

CUET UG consists of 3 main sections:

📚 Section IA: Languages (13 Options)

Available Languages:

1. Tamil
2. Telugu
3. Kannada
4. Malayalam
5. Marathi
6. Gujarati
7. Odia
8. Bengali
9. Assamese
10. Punjabi
11. English
12. Hindi
13. Urdu

Pattern for Each Language:

Question Distribution:

• Reading Comprehension: 30-35 questions
• Literary Aptitude: 10-15 questions
• Verbal Ability: 5-10 questions (if applicable)

Marking Scheme:

Correct Answer: +5 marks
Wrong Answer: -1 mark (Negative marking)
Unattempted: 0 marks

📖 Section IB: Domain Subjects (27 Options)

List of Domain Subjects:

Science & Mathematics:

1. Physics
2. Chemistry
3. Biology/Biological Studies/Biotechnology/Biochemistry
4. Mathematics

Commerce & Economics: 5. Accountancy 6. Business Studies 7. Economics 8. Entrepreneurship

Humanities & Social Sciences: 9. History 10. Geography 11. Political Science 12. Sociology 13. Psychology 14. Legal Studies 15. Teaching Aptitude 16. Mass Media/Mass Communication

Arts & Others: 17. Fine Arts/Visual Arts (Sculpture/Painting) 18. Performing Arts 19. Agriculture 20. Environmental Studies 21. Home Science 22. Physical Education/NCC/Yoga

Computer & Engineering: 23. Computer Science/Informatics Practices 24. Engineering Graphics 25. Knowledge Tradition & Practices of India

Languages (additional): 26. Sanskrit 27. Any other language

Pattern for Each Domain Subject:

Marking Scheme:

Correct Answer: +5 marks
Wrong Answer: -1 mark (Negative marking)
Unattempted: 0 marks

Question Types:

• Conceptual Questions: 40-45%
• Application-Based: 35-40%
• Numerical/Problem-Solving: 15-20%
• Diagram/Data-Based: 5-10%

🧠 Section II: General Test (Optional for Most)

Pattern:

Sub-Sections:

Marking Scheme:

Correct Answer: +5 marks
Wrong Answer: -1 mark (Negative marking)
Unattempted: 0 marks

When is Section II Required?

• Not mandatory for most programs
• Required for specific programs like:
  • BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies)
  • BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)
  • BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication)
  • And other programs as specified by individual universities

Check individual university requirements before opting!

⏰ Exam Duration & Timing

Time Allocation:

Note: Total exam duration depends on number of subjects chosen (max 6 domain + 2 languages + General Test)

Exam Shifts:

• Multiple shifts across multiple days
• Usually 2 shifts per day:
  • Shift 1: 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM (approx)
  • Shift 2: 3:00 PM - 6:15 PM (approx)

🎓 Subject Selection Strategy

How Many Subjects to Choose?

Minimum: 1 Language + 2-3 Domain subjects Maximum: 2 Languages + 6 Domain subjects + General Test

Selection Tips:

1. Check University Requirements First:

• Each university has different requirements
• Some require specific subject combinations
• Some require General Test, some don’t

2. Choose Subjects You’re Strong In:

• CUET allows flexibility - choose your best subjects
• No need to stick to your 12th stream entirely
• Example: Science student can choose Economics if strong in it

3. Common Combinations:

For Science Programs (BSc Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics):

- 1 Language (English/Hindi)
- Physics (mandatory)
- Chemistry (mandatory)
- Mathematics (mandatory)
- Biology (if BSc programs require)
- General Test (if required)

For Commerce Programs (B.Com/BBA):

- 1 Language
- Accountancy
- Business Studies/Economics
- Mathematics (for BCom Hons)
- General Test (often required for BBA)

For Humanities (BA programs):

- 1 Language
- 3-4 subjects from: History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Psychology
- General Test (if required)

4. Strategic Extra Subjects:

• Choose 1-2 extra domain subjects as backup
• Helps if you don’t score well in some subjects
• Universities consider best scores

📊 Marking Scheme & Calculation

Per Question:

Correct: +5 marks
Incorrect: -1 mark
Unattempted: 0 marks

Maximum Marks:

• Per Language: 200 marks (40 questions × 5)
• Per Domain Subject: 200 marks (40 questions × 5)
• General Test: 300 marks (60 questions × 5)

Score Calculation Example:

Mathematics Paper:

Attempted: 40 questions
Correct: 32
Wrong: 8

Score = (32 × 5) - (8 × 1)
      = 160 - 8
      = 152 out of 200
Percentage = 76%

📈 Normalization Process

Why Normalization?

• Exam conducted in multiple shifts
• Different difficulty levels across shifts
• Ensures fairness to all candidates

How It Works:

NTA uses a normalization formula to adjust scores based on:

1. Difficulty level of your shift
2. Performance of all candidates in that shift
3. Comparison with other shifts

Formula (simplified):

Normalized Score = (Your Raw Score - Mean of your shift)
                   × (SD of base shift / SD of your shift)
                   + Mean of base shift

Impact:

• If your shift was harder → Score slightly increased
• If your shift was easier → Score slightly decreased
• Aim is to make all shifts equivalent

🎯 Difficulty Level Analysis

Overall Difficulty Distribution:

Subject-Wise Difficulty:

Easiest Subjects (Generally):

• English (if strong in language)
• Biology (mostly recall-based)
• History (NCERT-focused)

Moderate Difficulty:

• Chemistry
• Economics
• Political Science

Challenging Subjects:

• Physics (numerical heavy)
• Mathematics (problem-solving)
• Computer Science (conceptual depth)

📚 Syllabus Overview

Source:

• NCERT Class 12 syllabus for most subjects
• CBSE/equivalent boards curriculum
• No specific CUET syllabus - standard 12th syllabus applies

Chapter-Wise Coverage:

Mathematics (Example):

• Relations and Functions
• Algebra (Matrices, Determinants)
• Calculus (Differentiation, Integration, Applications)
• Vectors and 3D Geometry
• Linear Programming
• Probability

Physics (Example):

• Electrostatics
• Current Electricity
• Magnetic Effects of Current
• Electromagnetic Induction
• Optics
• Modern Physics

Chemistry (Example):

• Solid State
• Solutions
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Kinetics
• d and f Block Elements
• Coordination Compounds
• Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
• Alcohols, Phenols, Ethers
• Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids
• Biomolecules, Polymers

🎯 Preparation Strategy

3-Month Plan:

Month 1: Foundation

• Complete NCERT thoroughly for all subjects
• Make chapter-wise notes
• Focus on understanding concepts

Month 2: Practice

• Solve previous year questions
• Topic-wise MCQ practice
• Identify weak areas

Month 3: Perfection

• Full-length mock tests (15-20 tests)
• Revision of formulas and important topics
• Time management practice

Time Management Strategy:

Per 45-minute paper (50 questions, attempt 40):

First 5 min: Quick scan of entire paper
Next 25 min: Solve all easy + medium questions (30-32 questions)
Next 10 min: Attempt difficult questions (5-8 questions)
Last 5 min: Review marked questions, fill OMR carefully

Per 60-minute General Test:

First 5 min: Scan paper, identify easy questions
Next 40 min: Attempt all sections systematically
Last 15 min: Attempt remaining + review

✅ Dos and Don’ts

✅ Dos:

1. Read instructions carefully before starting
2. Attempt easy questions first for confidence
3. Manage time strictly - don’t over-spend on one question
4. Use elimination method for uncertain MCQs
5. Mark questions for review using software feature
6. Calculate risk before guessing (considering -1 marking)
7. Stay calm if you find paper difficult (normalization helps)

❌ Don’ts:

1. Don’t panic if some questions seem very difficult
2. Don’t spend >90 seconds on any single question
3. Don’t randomly guess without eliminating options
4. Don’t leave easy questions for later
5. Don’t change answers unless you’re very sure
6. Don’t rush in the last 5 minutes - careful OMR filling crucial

🏆 Cut-Off Trends

Understanding Cut-Offs:

• Cut-offs vary by university and program
• Depend on:
  • Number of applicants
  • Seat availability
  • Difficulty of exam
  • Category (General/OBC/SC/ST)

General Trends (2023-2024):

Top Universities (Delhi University, JNU, BHU):

• General Category: 85-95%
• OBC: 80-90%
• SC/ST: 70-80%

Mid-Tier Universities:

• General: 75-85%
• OBC: 70-80%
• SC/ST: 60-70%

Note: These are indicative. Check specific university cut-offs after results.

🔗 Related Resources

Preparation Materials:

• Mock Test Series - Full-length CUET pattern tests
• Previous Year Analysis - Detailed topic analysis
• Formula Sheets - Quick revision

Study Strategies:

• Last 30 Days Plan
• Last 15 Days Plan
• Last 7 Days Plan

Community:

• CUET Forum
• Ask Expert
• Study Groups

Subject Pages:

• All CUET UG Subjects

📞 Important Links

Official Resources:

• NTA Official Website: https://cuet.nta.nic.in/
• CUET Participating Universities: Check NTA website
• Exam Schedule & Updates: NTA announcements

🚀 Final Tips

Keys to Success:

1. Understand the Pattern thoroughly before starting preparation
2. Choose subjects wisely based on university requirements and strengths
3. Practice extensively - MCQs need different approach than board exams
4. Time management is crucial - practice with timer
5. Mock tests are mandatory - at least 15-20 full-length tests
6. Stay updated with NTA announcements
7. Plan university choices before exam based on subject combinations

Remember:

“CUET is about smart preparation, not hard preparation. Know the pattern, practice rigorously, and manage time well.”

All the best for CUET UG 2024! 🎓✨

Have questions? Ask on CUET Forum