What is CUET? How does it help students?

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is an all-India entrance examination conducted by National Testing Authority (NTA) for admission to various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in central universities in India. Launched in 2022, CUET is currently the third largest entrance examination in number of candidates. 

Before the launch of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) in 2022, students seeking admission to central universities in India had to go through a complicated and expensive selection process. Each university had its own selection criteria, with or without entrance exams, requiring students to apply separately and pay application fees to each institution. This process was particularly challenging for students from backward areas and low-income backgrounds. 

CUET aims to simplify and give an equal opportunity for admissions process by providing a common platform for candidates across India. Through computer-based exams held in various cities and towns in India and outside, students can now pursue their higher education aspirations with ease and affordable accessibility, without having to pay separate application fees to individual institutions. Overall, CUET has revolutionized university admissions in India and established better connections between institutions and students. 

How has CUET evolved over the years?

The first version of CUET, known as Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET), was introduced in 2010 for admission to seven newly opened central universities. At the time, there were only 1,500 seats available across 41 undergraduate, postgraduate, and integrated programs. In 2021, the National Testing Authority (NTA) took over CUCET and made CUET compulsory for all 45 central universities in 2022. As CUET gained traction, other universities – state, deemed, and private – began accepting the exam scores as well. 

How does CUET conduct?

CUET simplifies the admission process for various central universities in India by enabling candidates to take a single exam to be considered for admission in various institutions. CUET has now become a mandatory requirement for admission to undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral level courses in central universities. 

The exam is conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode, and question papers include multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and are organized into different sections. 

CUET UG exam details

The undergraduate-level questions in CUET are divided into four sections: languages, domain-specific concepts, and general knowledge. The domain-specific test is based on the NCERT class 12 syllabus. In addition to this, the general test, which lasts for 60 minutes, includes questions related to general knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, numerical ability, quantitative reasoning, logical and analytical reasoning. 

Particulars	Details
Mode of the examination	Computer-based-test (CBT)/Online
Medium/ Language	English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu
Duration of the examination	Slot I – 195 minutes  Slot II – 225 minutes
Type of questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total number of questions	Slot I – 175 (140 to be attempted)  Slot II – 100 (80 to be attempted)
Total marks	Slot I – 700  Slot II – 400
Marking scheme	+5 for a correct answer  -1 for an incorrect answer
Number of domain subjects	27

CUET PG exam details

The test papers for postgraduate candidates are divided into two parts, with a total of 72 papers. The first part consists of 25 language comprehension/verbal ability questions, as well as general knowledge questions. In the second part of the exam, there are 75 domain-specific questions that cover topics relevant to the candidate’s chosen field of study. 

Particulars	Details
Mode of the examination	Computer-based test (CBT)/Online
Medium/ language	English and Hindi
Duration of the examination	Two hours
Frequency of exam in a year	Once a year
Type of questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total number of questions	100
Total marks	400
Marking scheme	+4 for a correct answer   -1 for an incorrect answer
Total sections in the question paper	2

After the declaration of result, the participant universities would prepare a merit list and they would conduct counseling based on the score card of CUET provided by NTA. 

You may also like to know more about the dual degrees and its prospects.

How many universities accept CUET?

In addition to the 45 central universities, a total of 249 universities accept CUET scores for admitting students into their undergraduate programs, and 142 universities accept CUET scores for postgraduate admission. These include 37 state universities, 32 deemed universities, and 132 private universities that recognize a valid CUET score for undergraduate admission. 

How does CUET help students?

The implementation of CUET brings several benefits for students and the education system as a whole. 

1. A common platform for university admission: CUET provides a common platform for students from diverse backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities for all. It eliminates the need for multiple university examinations, reducing the financial burden on students and their families. 
2. Fair evaluation of students’ abilities: CUET serves as a fair and standardized evaluation of students’ knowledge and skills. It helps identify talented students and provides universities with a comprehensive view of candidates’ abilities. By basing the syllabus on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks, CUET ensures that students are well-prepared and have a solid foundation in the relevant subjects. 
3. Helps enhance language skills: CUET helps students enhance their language skills through the language section of the exam. It familiarizes students with different types of passages and improves their reading comprehension abilities.
4. Improves soft skills: The examination also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and professional success.
5. Valid throughout India: Since hundreds of universities throughout India accept CUET score, a student can enroll in their preferred university without going through further screening test. Every year, more universities accept CUET for their admission. Hence, it is going to be the sole criterion for university admission in India. 

What if a student has no CUET score?

While CUET is compulsory for taking admission to central universities, state, deemed, and private universities may also consider candidates without a CUET score, although some of them are participating institutions. For admission to distance and online programs, CUET is not mandatory, but students who have a valid CUET score may have a smoother admission process. 

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) accepts CUET score for admission

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), located in Rajasthan, is one of the participating institutions in CUET UG, and it accepts CUET scores as a criteria for admission in undergraduate programs. The university prepares a merit list based on the scores obtained in CUET, and students who wish to take admission in a UG course at Manipal University Jaipur can appear for the CUET UG exam. 

Get the details of online degree programs offered by Manipal University Jaipur.

Is CUET mandatory for taking admission in online degrees?

Is it mandatory for students to have a CUET score to enroll in an online degree program? While a CUET score is not mandatory for online programs, having one can help universities understand the student’s abilities and make the admission process smoother. All universities at Online Manipal accept students with or without a CUET score for their online degree programs. 

Conclusion

CUET is a crucial exam for students looking to specialize in their domain of interest. It helps reduce the weightage of other subjects and allows students to focus on their chosen field. Additionally, the exam equips students with the necessary skills to pursue careers in their desired field and is useful for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.