CUET PG Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Eligibility

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CUET PG, the Common University Entrance Test for postgraduate programs, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Central universities and many state, deemed and private universities use CUET PG scores to admit students to master’s programs such as MA, M.Sc., M.Com, MBA, MCA and M.Tech in some institutes.

Each CUET PG paper is a 90-minute computer-based test with 75 questions and negative marking. You can take up to four papers. This guide explains eligibility, the exam pattern, the syllabus, how scores are used and how to prepare. Live dates for the current cycle appear in the tracker on this page.

CUET PG at a glance

Full name	Common University Entrance Test (PG)
Conducted by	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam level	National
Held	Once a year, in March in the most recent cycles
Mode	Computer-based test
Duration	90 minutes per paper
Questions	75 per paper
Total marks	300 per paper
Negative marking	Yes, minus 1 for each wrong answer
Papers you can take	Up to 4
Languages	English and Hindi for most papers; M.Tech and higher science papers in English only; language papers in that language
Leads to	Master’s programs at central, state, deemed and private universities
Official website	exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-PG

CUET PG important dates

These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.

Registration opensExpected December 2026 Expected
Exam1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24 and 25 Mar 2027 Announcedin 152 days
Your paper decides which of these days you sit the exam.
ResultExpected April 2027 Expected

Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). Official website. Always confirm dates on the official website. Report a wrong date.

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Dates can change. Always confirm on the official website. Report a wrong date · How we check dates

What is CUET PG?

CUET PG brings master’s admissions at many universities under one test. NTA sets and runs the exam and publishes scores. Each university then decides which CUET PG paper it needs for each program and runs its own admission process.

There are many paper codes, one for nearly every subject, plus a few common papers used for programs such as MBA. Picking the right code matters: always check the paper code your target university lists for your program before you apply.

CUET PG eligibility

NTA’s conditions for sitting the exam are simple. The real filter comes from each university’s program rules.

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent, or be in the final year of it in the current year
No age limit for the exam, though some universities set age rules for certain programs
Each university sets its own minimum marks and subject requirements for each master’s program
Read the program’s eligibility in the university’s own bulletin before choosing a paper

CUET PG exam pattern

All papers share the same structure. Earlier cycles had a separate general section; recent papers focus on the subject, and a few common papers test general aptitude for programs that need it.

The exam is spread over several days with many paper codes, and NTA assigns a date and shift for each paper you choose. Check the city slip and admit card carefully for each paper.

Feature	Details
Mode	Computer-based test
Questions	75 multiple-choice questions
Duration	90 minutes
Maximum marks	300
Papers allowed	Up to 4 paper codes
Medium	English and Hindi, except language papers and M.Tech and higher science papers, which are in English only
Shifts	Several shifts a day, assigned by NTA

CUET PG marking scheme

The marking scheme is the same for every paper. You have 72 seconds per question, and each wrong answer costs a quarter of a correct one.

A useful rule of thumb: if you can rule out two of four options, a guess is worth taking on average; if you cannot rule out any, leave it. Over 75 questions, disciplined skipping can protect 10 to 20 marks.

Correct answer: plus 4
Wrong answer: minus 1
Unanswered: 0
Dropped questions after answer key review are handled as per the rules in the bulletin

CUET PG syllabus

The syllabus for each subject paper is roughly at the level of a bachelor’s degree in that subject. NTA posts syllabus PDFs for every paper on the official site. For common papers used by management and similar programs, expect topics like:

Subject papers: core undergraduate topics in that discipline, for example history, economics, chemistry, commerce or computer science
Language papers: literature, grammar and comprehension in that language
Common aptitude papers: language comprehension, general awareness, mathematical and quantitative ability, and reasoning
Some papers for Sanskrit-based Acharya programs are set in Sanskrit

CUET PG result and universities accepting the score

NTA publishes a scorecard for each paper you took. When a paper runs in more than one shift, raw marks are converted to NTA scores using a percentile-based method so candidates from different shifts can be compared.

Universities such as Delhi University, BHU, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and many central universities use CUET PG, along with a growing list of state and private universities. Each one runs its own application portal, merit lists and admission rounds. You must register separately with every university you want.

How to prepare for CUET PG

Because most papers are pure subject tests, your undergraduate notes are your main resource. What changes is the speed and the negative marking.

Download the syllabus for your exact paper code and mark topics you did not study in your degree
Revise from standard undergraduate textbooks, one unit at a time, and make short notes for recall
Solve the previous CUET PG papers NTA has published; patterns of topic weight become clear quickly
Practice 75 questions in 90 minutes; if you are slow, do a quick first pass and return to hard ones
Guess only when you can remove two options; at plus 4 and minus 1, a blind guess rarely pays
If you take more than one paper, space your revision so each subject gets full mocks
You can keep your paper-wise mock scores in Kosuki to see which subject needs more time

How to apply for CUET PG

Visit the official CUET PG site and read the current information bulletin
Register with your email and mobile number
Fill in academic details and choose up to four paper codes
Select preferred exam cities
Upload a photograph, signature and any category or disability certificate
Pay the fee online and download the confirmation page
After the result, apply to each university’s admission portal

CUET PG FAQs

How many questions are there in CUET PG?

Each CUET PG paper has 75 multiple-choice questions, to be answered in 90 minutes. The maximum score is 300.

Is there negative marking in CUET PG?

Yes. A correct answer earns 4 marks and a wrong answer loses 1 mark. Unanswered questions score zero.

How many papers can I take in CUET PG?

You can choose up to four paper codes, matched to the programs you want to apply for.

Can final-year students apply for CUET PG?

Yes. Students in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can take the exam, provided they meet the university’s conditions at admission.

Is there an age limit for CUET PG?

NTA does not set an age limit. Individual universities may have their own age rules for some programs.

Does CUET PG have a general aptitude section?

Most subject papers no longer have a separate general section. A few common papers, used for programs like MBA, test general aptitude.

Related exam guides

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026 against the official National Testing Agency (NTA) notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.

CUET PG: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation