The latest fully specified pattern available in the National Testing Agency’s CUET-PG 2026 Information Bulletin is a computer-based paper of 75 questions in 90 minutes, with four marks for a correct answer, one mark deducted for a wrong answer and no marks for a blank or review-only response. NTA has not yet published the rules for the 2027-28 admission session in the material used here. Treat the figures below as the verified 2026 reference, then confirm the next bulletin before choosing papers or finalising a mock-test plan. NTA Information Bulletin for CUET (PG) 2026 · CUET-PG official portal
CUET-PG 2026 pattern at a glance
The 300-mark ceiling is arithmetic from the 75-question and four-marks-per-correct-response rules; it is not a separate NTA score guarantee. A candidate can choose up to four question-paper codes in the application, but the codes must correspond to the degree or programme sought at the universities where the candidate plans to apply. Each code is a distinct test paper. Do not read “four papers” as a single 300-minute test or assume that every postgraduate programme accepts the same code. Check the current NTA code list and each university’s programme-specific admission notice before selecting papers. NTA Information Bulletin, examination scheme and Appendix II
How the marking scheme changes attempt decisions
For the 2026 reference, the raw-score rule is straightforward: add four for a correct response, subtract one for an incorrect response, and add zero when you leave a question unanswered or only mark it for review. A useful way to compare a guess with a blank is to estimate your own chance of being right. Under this scoring rule, the expected score of an attempt is 4p − 1(1 − p), where p is your estimated probability of a correct response. That is positive when p is above 20 per cent. This is a mathematical comparison, not an instruction to guess: your estimate may be poor, the next bulletin may change the rule, and a rushed attempt can cost time that would be better used on a question you can solve.
The 90-minute clock for 75 questions works out to 1.2 minutes per question on average. It is a planning average, not a required pace for every item. A lengthy calculation may need more time; a direct recall question may take less. In practice, rehearse a first pass for questions you can solve confidently, mark uncertain ones for review, and reserve time to revisit them. The bulletin’s zero for unanswered or review-only responses means a review marker alone does not earn credit. Before the test, practise the computer interface and navigation rules in NTA’s official bulletin rather than assuming a paper-based mock reproduces the real workflow.
NTA also describes how answer-key challenges can affect scoring. If more than one option is found correct, the bulletin awards four marks to candidates who marked any of the accepted correct options. If no option is correct, a question is wrong, or a question is dropped, the bulletin says four marks are awarded to all candidates who appeared, whether or not they attempted it. These are post-exam key-resolution rules; candidates should use the final answer key and scorecard rather than trying to predict whether a disputed item will be dropped. NTA Information Bulletin, marking scheme
Paper codes and question-paper language
The paper code is a programme-matching decision, not just a subject preference. NTA’s 2026 bulletin maps codes to programmes, courses and disciplines in Appendix II and says candidates should select codes according to the university programme for which they seek admission. The list of participating programmes and the syllabus can change by cycle, and universities may set their own subject combinations. Before applying, compare the exact course name and paper code on the NTA list with the programme-specific notice of every university on your shortlist. A similar course title is not enough to establish that two institutions accept the same test paper.
For 2026, most question papers were bilingual in English and Hindi, with exceptions. Language papers were in the language concerned, except Linguistics, which was English-only. M.Tech and Higher Sciences papers were English-only. The bulletin specifies Sanskrit for Acharya papers, with named exceptions: Hindu Studies was bilingual in English and Hindi, while Indian Knowledge System and Baudha Darshan were trilingual in English, Hindi and Sanskrit. For papers other than language and Acharya papers, the English version is the final reference if versions differ. Candidates who plan to rely on a particular medium should check the code-specific rules in the next bulletin, especially for specialist or language papers. The official syllabus portal lists the available 2026 paper domains and subject-wise material. NTA CUET-PG syllabus portal
What the score does, and what it does not do
CUET-PG is a common entrance test, but NTA’s role ends at registration, test conduct, answer-key handling, score preparation and scorecard hosting. The 2026 bulletin states that participating universities and organisations prepare their own merit lists and conduct their own admissions. A CUET-PG score therefore does not by itself confirm that a candidate meets a course’s degree, subject, category, reservation or other university-specific requirements. Review the programme prospectus and counselling instructions of each institution separately.
The 2026 score was for the 2026-27 academic session. It should not be carried forward as a valid score for a later admission year. As of 27 October 2026, the official pages linked here provide the 2026 bulletin and 2026 syllabus; this page uses those documents as a dated reference rather than claiming that the 2027-28 bulletin has confirmed the same format. When NTA releases the next bulletin, recheck the question count, duration, code choices, language exceptions and marking scheme before relying on this baseline. NTA Information Bulletin, score use and admissions · NTA CUET-PG official portal
Quick checks before applying
- Match each selected question-paper code to the exact postgraduate programme and the admitting university’s current notice.
- Use 75 questions, 90 minutes and +4/−1/0 only as the NTA 2026 reference until the 2027-28 bulletin is published.
- Check the paper’s language rules; bilingual delivery is not universal across language, M.Tech/Higher Sciences and Acharya papers.
- Plan attempts around the penalty and the time budget, while leaving review time for uncertain questions.
- Keep NTA’s exam rules separate from university eligibility, merit lists, counselling and final admission decisions.