Here’s a simple guide to help you through the CUET admission process!
Until a few years ago, admission to some of India’s top central universities was based solely on merit—your Class 12 percentage determined your eligibility. However, the scenario has changed. Today, instead of relying on merit alone, a standardized test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at multiple levels is used for admissions to undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in Central Universities and several other participating institutions. This test is known as the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Additionally, many State Universities and Deemed Universities across India also accept CUET scores. Let’s take a closer look at this entrance exam and its process.
CUCET started in 2010 to offer admission to seven central universities with 1,500 seats across 41 courses. The exam was held in June 2010 at about 30 centers across India. From 2010 to 2020, the Central University of Rajasthan organized CUCET for 12 central universities. In 2021, the National Testing Agency took over. In 2024, following the National Education Policy 2020, CUET was introduced as a new and improved version of CUCET, making it mandatory for all 45 central universities and several other universities to use it.
The CUET exam consists entirely of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided into different sections. Starting in 2024, for undergraduate programs, the exam has three parts: Section IA with 13 languages, Section IB with 20 languages, Section II with 27 subject-specific tests, and Section III, which is a General Test. The CUET-UG exam includes a Language Test, Domain-Specific papers, and a General Test. Candidates can choose either up to 2 languages and 6 domain-specific subjects, or 3 languages and 5 domain-specific subjects. Each correct answer earns 5 marks, while 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer.
CUET is an important exam for admission to over 280 universities in India. Although the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been successfully conducting CUET for the last three years, the admission process still takes time and needs careful attention.
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) admission process takes several months and involves multiple steps. Here’s a quick overview:
First, you need to fill out the CUET online application form on the official website of the NTA for CUET. Provide your basic details, upload the required documents, and pay the application fee based on your category. Once your documents are verified, you must appear for the entrance exam to move forward in the admission process.
Before the exam, download your admit card and city intimation slip, and be sure to reach the exam center on time. Keep checking official sources for any updates about the exam.
After the exam, you can check your raw scores using the CUET answer key. Remember, cut-off marks vary for the 280+ universities accepting CUET scores, as there is no single centralized cut-off. So, visit the official websites of the universities you’re interested in for specific details.
Following the results, you’ll need to upload university-specific documents, exam scores, and course preferences during counseling. Admission depends on meeting eligibility criteria, your rank on the merit list, medical fitness, document verification, and any other university requirements. Each university manages its own admission process and announces counseling schedules and merit lists after the NTA releases the results. So keep checking the websites.
Though the process may seem long and complex, it’s worth it when you’re aiming for top universities like DU, JNU, BHU, or others!
