What is CUET PG?
The Common University Entrance Test for postgraduate courses (CUET PG) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Universities that join CUET PG use its scores to admit students to MA, MSc, MCom and other postgraduate programmes. One test score is shared with every participating university, but each university then applies its own admission rules.
The exam is subject-based. Instead of one common paper, you choose question paper codes that match the master's programmes you want, and each paper tests the subject at roughly the undergraduate level.
Eligibility basics
Under the CUET PG 2026 information bulletin, you can appear if you have passed a bachelor's degree or equivalent, or if you are in the final year of your bachelor's degree in the exam year. There is no age limit for the test itself. Universities set the marks and subject conditions for each programme, so confirm those on the university's admission page.
Exam pattern
| Parameter | As per the 2026 bulletin |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) only |
| Choice of papers | Up to four question paper codes |
| Questions | 75 multiple-choice questions per paper |
| Time | 90 minutes per paper |
| Maximum marks | 300 per paper (75 x 4) |
| Marking | +4 correct, -1 incorrect, 0 for unanswered or marked for review |
| Medium | Humanities, science and common papers in English and Hindi; language papers in that language |
The syllabus for every paper code is published on the CUET PG website. Read the code mapping carefully: a university may accept only a specific paper for a programme, and picking the wrong code can make you ineligible there.
Stages of a CUET PG cycle
- Information bulletin and online application.
- Correction window, then exam city intimation slip.
- Admit card download and the CBT in multiple shifts.
- Recorded responses and provisional answer key, with a paid challenge window.
- Final answer key and result in the form of NTA scores, then university admissions.
NTA states that there is no re-evaluation or re-checking after the result, which makes the answer key challenge the only point where you can question a mark.
Choosing your question paper codes
This is where most CUET PG mistakes happen. Each master's programme is mapped to one or more paper codes, and the mapping is different at each university. An MA in Economics at one university may accept only the Economics paper, while another may accept a common paper. Before you apply:
- Open the admission page of every university on your list and write down the code each programme accepts.
- Choose codes that cover the most programmes on your list; the 2026 bulletin capped this at four.
- Remember that the fee grows with each extra paper, so do not add codes you will not use.
- Check the exam city choice too: the bulletin lets you pick a limited number of cities, and NTA allots one based on availability.
After the result, each university opens its own portal, often with a separate fee. Your CUET PG score is valid only for admission in that academic year.
CUET PG guides on HindiScope
- CUET PG answer key guide - how to view the provisional key and your responses, raise a challenge and work out your raw score.
- Our answer key section lists keys for other entrance and recruitment exams too.
Related exams
If you are still choosing between undergraduate courses, the CUET UG hub explains the bachelor's level test. Postgraduates aiming for teaching or research often look at the UGC NET syllabus, and graduates considering civil services can start with the UPSC Civil Services hub.
HindiScope is not an official site; confirm every detail on exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/.