CUET Exam Pattern 2023 [UG] Marking Scheme, Paper Pattern & Marks Weightage

The CUET UG exams have concluded successfully for this academic year 2022, and the NTA will release results tentatively in the second week of September. 

Even before gathering Important CUET Books to study, it's essential to understand the exam pattern to know the flow of the paper. The exam pattern and syllabus might change or remain the same for next year. However, before you start your preparations, it is advised to check the CUET exam pattern! 

Since the CUET UG exam is considered a new exam in itself, the syllabus and exam pattern must be checked thoroughly to attend the preferred sections/ subjects in the correct shifts/ slots. You will likely lose your admission to the desired course and college by attending the incorrect subjects. This shows the significance of knowing the CUET Exam Pattern 2023. 

In the notification released by NTA, many crucial points regarding CUET UG have been explicitly mentioned.

This article will walk you through all such revised highlights of the NTA CUET Exam Pattern 2023.

CUET UG Exam Pattern 2023 Highlights

• A total number of questions, syllabi, and slots for the exams have been published. 
• The official notification explicitly talks about CUET-UG courses only and has also created a new official website - www.cuet.samarth.ac.in
• The UGC (University Grants Commission) confirmed that the entrance exam is conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode, i.e., online mode.
• There are many new changes and updates in NTA CUET (UG) 2023. Check all CUET (UG) Latest Updates 2023
• The question paper pattern will comprise objective-type questions and Input text-based questions.
• We assume that there would be negative markings in the exam to eliminate the competition. 
• Aspirants can attempt the question paper in any one of the 13 languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarathi, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Odia, and English. Learn why 13 Languages in NTA CUET is an Advantage for Students

Download Free Study Material for NTA CUET Exam by Super Grads

NTA CUET 2023 Exam Pattern

Check the number of questions in each section and their corresponding time limits. 

Sections	Subjects/ Tests	No. of Questions	Duration
Section IA	13 Languages	50	45 minutes for each language
Section IB	19 Languages
Section II	27 Domain-specific Subjects	50	45 minutes for each subject
Section III	General Test	75	60 minutes

NTA CUET Exam Pattern 2023 Details

The ministry of education (MoE) has concluded the Common University Entrance Test 2023, and it includes four sections listed below: 

• Section I A: 13 Languages
• Section I B: 19 Languages
• Section 2: Domain-specific test
• Section 3: General  test

The CUET exam 2023 is conducted in computer-based test mode, i.e., online mode, and in 13 different languages.

According to the CUET 2023 Exam Pattern, Section 1 is divided into two sections:

• Sections 1A
• Section 1B

Mode of Test	CBT
Test Pattern	Objective Type with MCQs
Syllabus	Section 1A and 1B: Languages to be tested through Reading Comprehension (based on different types of passages-factual, literal and narrative (literary aptitude and vocabulary)
	Section 2: As per the NCERT model syllabus for class 12
	Section 3: General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, Logical and Analytical Reasoning

You can opt for section 1B for other languages like French, German, and Japanese. 

In the second shift, if opted for, you will appear for the other four domain subjects and an additional language test (Section 1B).

Check: Short tricks to manage board and CUET preparation

International students are exempted from taking the NTA CUET exam, and the admissions are provided based on the existing supernumerary basis.

Note: Picking the exams/ subjects for NTA depends on the college you are targeting to study in. Check their college's official website for further details. 

NTA CUET Language Test Pattern 2023 [Section 1]

The exam is specifically designed to check the knowledge you hold of the language. CUET-UG is a language-based exam.

You can attempt the CUET question paper in any one of the 13 languages. However, most Indian aspirants opt for either the English language or the Hindi language.

Languages are Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarathi, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Odia, and English.

Section I A (13 languages)

• There would be 40 questions to be attempted out of 50.
• The duration would be 45 minutes for each language.
• Questions will be based on Reading comprehension. (based on different types of passages–Factual, Literary, and Narrative, [Literary Aptitude and Vocabulary]). You would require to Ace Reading Comprehension for NTA CUET 2023 to secure your seat on the merit list. 
• A candidate can choose a maximum of any 3 languages from Section IA and Section IB taken together. (One of the languages chosen needs to be in lieu of Domain-specific subjects)

Note: 

• You can expect 5-8 Reading Comprehension with a standard word limit of 400-450 words.
• The type of question will be very different.
• You need to practice editorial parts of newspapers and various novels to master RCs.
• You will be required to learn the art of skipping time-consuming questions.

Section I B (19 languages)

• Those who want to choose other languages like Kashmiri, French, Konkani, Spanish, Bodo, German, Dogri, Nepali, Maithili, Persian, Manipuri, Italian, Santhali, Arabic, Tibetian, Sindhi, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, and Sanskrit must attempt the section 1B paper.

In the language test, you can expect reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar questions, and the questions are designed to test your English language skills.

NTA CUET Domain-Specific Test Pattern 2023 [Section 2]

This section has 27 subjects, of which you have to choose six domains you wish to pursue in your UG course. Go through the detailed NTA CUET Syllabus 2023

• There would be 40 questions to be attempted out of 50.
• The duration would be 45 minutes for each language.
• Input text can be used for objective-based questions.
• There will be negative markings in the exam. 

The 27 subjects are as follows: 

Accountancy	Economics	Home Science
Biology	Practices	Practices India
Business Studies	Engineering Graphics	Commercial Arts
Chemistry	Entrepreneurship	Physical Education/ NCC
Physics	Knowledge Tradition	Music General
History	Sociology	Sanskrit
Arts	Media/ Mass Communication	Aptitude
Performing Arts	Teaching	Agriculture
Political Science	Psychology	Legal Studies
Computer Science/ Informatics	Geography	Mathematics

Questions related to the domain-specific topic will be asked in this section. Section II offers 27 Subjects, out of which you may choose a maximum of 6 Subjects.

Note: Input text can be used for Objective-based questions. It indicates that there could be some questions in the examination where you will be required to enter the data via the keyboard. These are subjective questions that are presented in the form of objective questions. You will have to input the answer without having the options directly.

NTA CUET General Aptitude Test Pattern 2023 [Section 3]

The general aptitude section is mandatory for admission to one of the 45 central universities.

 General tests will include:

• General Knowledge
• Current Affairs
• General Mental Ability
• Numerical Ability
• Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts)
• Arithmetic/ algebra
• Geometry/ mensuration/ statistics
• Logical and Analytical
• Reasoning

This section will have multiple-choice questions based on NCERT textbooks, and there is a negative marking for each wrongly answered question.

Check: Best Online coaching for NTA CUET exam

NTA CUET Marking Scheme 2023

There is no explicit mention of the marking scheme; we must assume that there would be a negative marking since the level of competition is very high. 

Hence, here is a brief analogy of the marking scheme for the CUET exam 2023. For every correct answer, you will be awarded a +1 mark.

Also, there is a negative marking in the NTA CUET exam. Check out the table below to know the detailed NTA CUET marking scheme 2023.

Correct answer	+1 mark
Incorrect answer	-0.25 marks
Non-attempted questions	No marks

NTA CUET Exam Pattern 2023 for Bachelors Course

Although this is the general exam pattern of the NTA CUET UG exam, each university expects you to pick exams from each section with respect to the course you are aiming to target. 

Let's check the exams you must pick for each course offered at Delhi University.

Degree	Program/ Course offered	Domain/ General/ Optional Languages mapped to the Programmes
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Anthropology	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Biological Sciences	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Zoology	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Biomedical Science	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Biochemistry	Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Polymer Science	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Computer Science	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics+ Any two from Section II
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Electronics	Physics, Chemistry/ Computer Science, Mathematics
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Instrumentation	Physics, Chemistry/ Computer Science, Mathematics
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons) Environmental Science	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/ Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Food Technology	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/ Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Geology	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/ Biology/ Geography
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Mathematics	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics+ Any two from Section II
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics+ Any two from Section II
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Microbiology	Physics, Chemistry, Biology
B.Sc. (Hons.)	B.Sc. (Hons.) Home Science	Biology, Physics/ Chemistry, Anyone from Section II
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Pass) Home Science	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Prog.) Applied Physical Sciences with Analytical Methods in Chemistry and Biochemistry	Physcics+Mathematics+Chemistry
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Prog.) Applied Physical Sciences with Industrial Chemistry	Physcics+Mathematics+Chemistry
B.Sc. (Pass)	B. Sc. (Prog.) Physical Science with Chemistry	Physcics+Mathematics+Chemistry
B.Sc. (Pass)	B. Sc. (Prog.) Physical Science with Electronics	Physcics+Mathematics+Chemistry/ Computer Science
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Prog.) Physical Science with Computer Science/ Informatics Practices	Physcics+Mathematics+Chemistry/ Computer Science
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Prog.) Life Science	Physcics+Chemsitry+ Biology
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Prog.) Applied Life Science	Physcics+Chemsitry+ Biology
B.Sc. (Pass)	B.Sc. (Prog.) Mathematical Science	Anyone from Section I +Mathematics+ Any two from Section II
Bachelors	B.Tech. (Information Technology and Mathematical Innovation)	Anyone from Section I +Mathematics+ Section III
B.Sc.	B.Sc. in Physical Education, Health Education & Sports	Anyone from Section I +Physical Education + Any two from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Sanskrit	Anyone from Section I + Sanskrit from Section I/ Section II + Any two from Section II OR Sanskrit from Section I+ Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) English	English+ Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons) Hindi	Hindi + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Punjabi	Punjabi + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Bengali	Bengali + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Urdu	Urdu + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Arabic	Arabic + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons) Persian	Persian + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) French	French + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) German	German + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Italian	Italian + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Spanish	Spanish + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Applied Psychology	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Psychology	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Philosophy	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons) Hindi Patrakarita	Hindi + Any three from Section II / Section III
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Journalism	English + Any three from Section II / Section III
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. Hons. (Humanities and Social Sciences) (offered by Cluster Innovation Centre)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Geography	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) History	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Political Science	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Social Work	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Sociology	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A.(Hons.) Economics	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics+ Any two from Section II
B.A. (Hons.)	B.A. (Hons.) Multi-Media and Mass Communication	Anyone from Section I + Mass Media+ Section III
Degree	Five Year Integrated Program in Journalism	English/ Hindi + Section III
B.A. (Program)	B.A. (Program)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.A.	B.A. (Vocational Studies)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Voc.	B.Voc. (Printing Technology)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Voc.	B.Voc. (Health Care Management)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Voc.	B.Voc. (Retail Management and IT)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Voc.	B.Voc. (Banking Operations)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Voc.	B.Voc. (Web Designing)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.Voc.	B.Voc. (Software Development)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
B.A. (Hons)	B.A. (Hons) in Karnatak Music- Vocal/ Instrumental (Veena/ Violin)	Anyone from Section I +Performing Arts + Any two from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons)	B.A. (Hons) in Hindustani Music- Vocal/ Instrumental (Sitar/ Sarod/ Guitar/ Violin/ Santoor	Anyone from Section I +Performing Arts + Any two from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B.A. (Hons)	B.A. (Hons) in Hindustani Music – Percussion (Tabla/ Pakhawaj)	Anyone from Section I +Performing Arts + Any two from Section II OR Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II
B. Com. (Hons.)	B. Com. (Hons.)	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics/ Accountancy + Any two from Section II
B. Com.	B. Com.	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II OR Anyone from Section I+ Anyone from Section II + Section III
Bachelor of Management Studies [BMS]	Bachelor of Management Studies [BMS]	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics + Section III
Bachelor of Business Administration (Financial Investment Analysis) [BBA(FIA)]	Bachelor of Business Administration (Financial Investment Analysis) [BBA(FIA)]	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics + Section III
Bachelor of Business Economics [BBE]	Bachelor of Business Economics [BBE]	Anyone from Section I + Mathematics + Section III
Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.)	Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.)	Anyone from Section I + Any three from Section II

Similarly, check the NTA CUET 2023 UG site to learn about the eligibility and subjects to be chosen in each section to understand the exam pattern for other universities.

Check your preparation levels by attempting NTA CUET Mock Tests