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The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the exam pattern for the CUET PG 2026. For students aiming to secure admission into top Central, State, and Deemed universities, understanding the Common University Entrance Test for Post Graduate (CUET PG) structure is the first step toward a successful application.
The 2026 pattern continues with the major shift introduced recently, focusing primarily on Domain Knowledge to better evaluate a candidate’s core academic proficiency.
CUET PG Exam Pattern
CUET PG Exam Pattern Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Number of Questions | 75 questions |
| Number of Subjects / Papers Offered | 157 subjects / question paper codes |
| Total Marks | Maximum marks: 300 marks (4 marks per correct) |
| Exam Duration | 1 Hour and 30 minutes (90 Minutes) |
| Language of Question Paper | The comprehension section in the General Paper will be available in either English or Hindi, based on the candidate’s preference indicated during registration |
Note: As per the latest guidelines, the General Paper (Part A) has been scrapped for most courses. The paper now consists of 75 domain-specific questions.
Detailed Structure of CUET PG 2026 Question Paper
Unlike previous years where the paper was divided into Part A (General) and Part B (Domain), the CUET PG 2026 structure is streamlined.
Domain-Specific Focus
The question paper now consists of 75 Multiple Choice Questions entirely based on the subject chosen by the candidate. This allows students to focus strictly on their graduation-level syllabus.
Subject Categories & Paper Codes
With over 157 subjects offered, the NTA has categorized them into broad domains. Below are some major categories and sample codes:
- Science (SCQP): Physics (SCQP24), Chemistry (SCQP08), Mathematics (SCQP19), Life Sciences (SCQP17).
- Humanities (HUQP): History (HUQP09), Political Science (HUQP18), Sociology (HUQP22), Economics (COQP10).
- Common/Professional (COQP): LLB (COQP11), MBA (COQP12), B.Ed (COQP03).
- Acharya/Sanskrit (ACQP): Shiksha Shastri B.Ed (ACQP01), Sahitya (ACQP18).
CUET PG 2026 Detailed Exam Structure (Expected)
The exam offers many papers; you choose the subject relevant to your PG programme. Below is a breakdown of subject / paper codes and some examples from each domain. Full list is extensive; this table captures major ones.
| Domain / Category | Sample Subjects / Codes |
|---|
| Common Papers | Agribusiness Management (COQP01), Applied Geography & Geoinformatics (COQP02), B.Ed (COQP03), B.Ed Humanities & Social Sciences (COQP04), Commerce (COQP08), Economics (COQP10), Mass Communication & Journalism (COQP17), Physical Education (COQP18), Public Health (COQP19), Hospital Management (COQP22) etc. NTA Exam+1 |
| Humanities / Arts | Ancient Indian History, Culture & Architecture (HUQP01), Geography (HUQP08), History (HUQP09), Political Science (HUQP18), Psychology (HUQP20), Sociology (HUQP22), Fine Arts / Painting (HUQP07, HUQP15), Music (Hindustani / Karnatak etc.) etc. NTA Exam+1 |
| Acharya / Indology / Religious Studies | Shiksha Shastri (B.Ed.) (ACQP01), Shiksha Acharya (M.Ed.) (ACQP02), Agama (ACQP03), Baudha Darshan (Buddhist Studies) (ACQP04), Dharmashastra etc., Veda topics, Sahitya etc. NTA Exam+1 |
| Languages | English (LAQP01), Hindi (LAQP02), Sanskrit (LAQP03), Linguistics (LAQP04), Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Chinese, French, etc. NTA Exam |
| Science / Higher Sciences | While the detailed “Science / MSc” stream has many more specialist subject codes (e.g. Chemistry, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology, Physics etc.), these are included under the domain-specific syllabus. |
CUET PG 2026 Marking Scheme
The marking scheme is rigorous, and candidates must be cautious of negative marking.
Multiple Correct Options: If more than one option is found to be correct, marks will be awarded to those who marked any of the correct options.
Correct Answer: +4 marks.
Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (Negative Marking).
Unanswered Question: 0 marks.
Dropped Questions: If a question is dropped due to a technical error, full marks (+4) are awarded to all candidates, regardless of whether they attempted it.
CUET PG 2026 Shift Timings (Expected)
The exam is typically conducted in three slots to accommodate the high volume of applicants.:
| CUET PG 2026 Shift | CUET PG 2026 Shift Timing | Duration (in hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 09:00 AM to 10:30 AM | 1 Hour and 30 minutes (90 Minutes) |
| Shift 2 | 12:45 PM to 02:15 PM | 1 Hour and 30 minutes (90 Minutes) |
| Shift 3 | 04:30 PM to 06:00 PM | 1 Hour and 30 minutes (90 Minutes) |
CUET PG 2026 Full Exam Schedule & Dates
Marking Scheme
The marking scheme of the CUET PG 2026 exam is as follows:
- Each question carries four marks.
- For each correct response, candidates will get four marks.
- For each incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted from the total score.
- Unanswered/un-attempted answers will be given no marks.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Rough Work: All calculations must be done on the rough sheet provided at the center. These must be handed over to the invigilator after the exam.
- Subject Selection: Candidates can choose a maximum of 4 test papers in total.
- Eligibility: Ensure you check the specific university eligibility criteria, as some may still require a “General Test” score for certain professional courses.
Top ICAR & Central Universities Accepting CUET PG Scores
💡 Preparation Strategy for this Pattern
- Pacing: With 75 questions in 90 minutes, you have exactly 72 seconds per question.
- Calculated Risks: Since there is negative marking, only guess if you can eliminate at least two options.
- Subject Mastery: Since “Part A” (General Aptitude) is gone for most of you, your rank depends entirely on your core subject. Don’t waste time on general math or English if your subject code (e.g., Chemistry or History) doesn’t require it.
CUET PG
The Common University Entrance Test for Post Graduate (CUET PG) is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). CUET PG is a national-level common entrance exam conducted to facilitate admissions to Central, State, Deemed, and Private Universities that accept CUET PG scores in various disciplines such as MA, M.Sc, M.Tech, M.Sc B.Ed, Acharya, MPA, M.Des, MFA, MPH, MCA, MP.Ed, MBA, PG Diploma, LLB, B.Lib, BPEd, M.Voc, M.Lib, LLM, M.Ed, B.Ed, and M.Lib.ISc.
Quick Links:
- Syllabus
- Test Paper Code
- Question Papers
- Application Form
- Exam Pattern
- Participating Universities
- Answer Key
- City Allotment
- Admit Card
- Result
CUET PG Exam Pattern – An Overview
| Aspects | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | CUET PG |
| Event | Exam Pattern of CUET PG |
| Similar Exams and Their Results | Common Entrance Exams |
| Full Form of CUET PG | Common University Entrance Test for Post Graduate |
| Official Body That Announces Results | NTA |
| NTA Full Form | National Testing Agency |
| Scale of Exam and Result | National Level |
| Courses Where Admission Is Through This Result | MA, M.Sc, M.Tech, M.Sc B.Ed, Acharya, MPA, M.Des, MFA, MPH, MCA, MP.Ed, MBA, PG Diploma, LLB, B.Lib, BPEd, M.Voc, M.Lib, LLM, M.Ed, B.Ed, M.Lib.ISc, |
| Colleges Where Admission Is Through This Result | Central, State, Deemed, Private Universities acepting CUET PG scores |
| States or Regions Where Colleges Are Situated | India |
| Official Website for Score and Rank | cuet.nta.nic.in |
FAQs
No, the NTA has removed the mandatory General Aptitude (Part A) section. The paper now consists of 75 domain-specific questions.
One mark is deducted for every incorrect response (-1).
The exam duration is 90 minutes.
