CUET 2022 Handbook: Exam pattern, choosing subjects and counselling

NEW DELHI: For the first time, 45 Central Universities across the country will come together to grant admission based on scores in a single entrance test – Central University Entrance Test (CUET) – from the 2022-23 academic year.

The test aims to do away the pressure of scoring almost perfect scores in the Class 12 board exams. The CUET scores alone will determine admission to undergraduate programmes offered in these major universities. According to the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20, almost 4 crore students were enrolled in higher education in India. Given the pool of undergraduate students, the CUET will overhaul the existing admission process especially for universities that took admission based on Class 12 results.

Students aspiring for admission to 45 major universities in the country will sit for the exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in July. All processes pertaining to the test will be completed digitally, including the exam itself which will be computer-based. The online application process will be open for students from April 2 to 30, 2022.

While CUET scores are mandatory for admission, each university has been given the liberty to design its own admission policy. Each university is required to display the minimum eligibility criteria, seat intake and the counselling procedure for every programme it offers. The admission process beyond the examination will remain decentralised. NTA, in its official notice, has advised candidates to go through the required eligibility of the desired university for selecting the options from UG programmes being offered.

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The higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC) is also encouraging state and private universities to join the camp. Eight deemed universities including Tata Institute of Social Sciences; Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram; Dindigul Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra; Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar; Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad; Avinashilingam Institute of Home Sciences, Coimbatore; and Ramakrishna Vivekananda Educational Research Institute, Kolkata have expressed interest in participating in the single-point entrance test.

M Jagadesh Kumar, UGC chairman, said that the exam intends to increase choices while removing the burden of appearing for multiple entrance exams off the students.

CUET 2022: Choosing subjects

NTA will conduct 27 domain-specific exams (See Table), 13 language tests out of which one is compulsory, and another additional 19 languages which are optional for the students

Every candidate will have to mandatorily attempt one language from section 1A. The 13 options include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odiya, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English.

Languages in section 1B are optional for those seeking undergraduate degrees in languages other than those in section 1A. These are: French, Spanish, German, Nepali, Persian, Italian, Arabic, Sindhi, Sanskrit, Kashmiri, Konkani, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Santhali, Tibetan, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese.

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“Generally, the languages and subjects chosen should be the ones that a student has opted in his latest Class 12 Board examination. However, if any university permits any flexibility in this regard, the same can be exercised under CUET (UG) -2022 also,” the NTA notice states. “Choosing options from each section is not mandatory. Choices should match the requirements of the desired university,” it further added. For instance, a science stream student with subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics can take admission in history honours if a university allows admission based on PCM scores. If a university’s eligibility criteria for history programmes require general aptitude test scores, then the students will have to write that exam.

Considering there are a variety of subjects offered across state boards, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian School Certificate exam (ISC), the NTA has allowed students to appear for courses that are closely related to subjects in Class 12. “If the subject to be studied in the undergraduate course is not available in the list of 27 domain-specific subjects being offered, the candidate may choose the subject closest to his/her choice for e.g. for biochemistry the candidate may choose biology,” the notice says.

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CUET 2022 structure

The CUET consists of four sections – the first is split into two – with an objective-type test pattern and multiple-choice questions and students can choose from 13 languages for the medium of the test.

According to the UGC chairman, there will be negative marking for every wrong answer. This is how the overall exam will be structured

Section I: Languages

Section IA: 13 languages

Section IB: 20 additional languages

Section I: Languages

A candidate can choose a maximum of three languages from Sections IA and IB taken together, the public notice says. One of the languages chosen must be in place of domain-specific subjects. For instance, if a student wishes to pursue a language undergraduate programme, they can appear for only five domain subject exams.

The language section will primarily include reading comprehension based on factual and literary passages. The section will test the literary aptitude and vocabulary of the student. For each language chosen, students will have to attempt at least 40 out of 50 questions within 45 minutes.

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Section II: 27 Domain-specific subjects

Of the 27 domains, students can choose up to six, except for those who opted for three languages. Each domain-specific subject test will contain 50 questions and students must attempt at least 40 to qualify. The maximum duration for each domain-subject test is 45 minutes. “All questions in various testing areas will be benchmarked at the level of Class 12 only,” the notice said. “Students having studied Class XII Board syllabus would be able to do well in CUET (UG)–2022.” However, NCERT books, designed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, are primarily taught in CBSE-affiliated schools, most of which are private. In most cases, states adopt NCERT books for subjects like science and mathematics only. It might make the test difficult for students from state boards.

CUET 2022: Domain subjects list

Section III: General aptitude

The general test will include questions pertaining to general knowledge and current affairs and also assess general mental ability, numerical ability and quantitative reasoning. Logical and analytical reasoning are also part of this section. Out of the total 75 questions, students will have to attempt at least 60 questions within
60 minutes.

NTA will conduct the CUET over multiple days and in two shifts, depending on the number of candidates and languages and tests taken by them.

CUET 2022 syllabus, test pattern

CUET UG 2022 Counselling

This year, the NTA and UGC have decided not to conduct a common counselling but rather provide the scores based on which merit lists will be prepared. Universities will be required to use the merit list and CUET scores to admit students in different courses. Most universities will prepare the merit lists based on the number of application forms received and scores obtained in CUET 2022.

Even though there is no weightage assigned to Class 12 marks in the test, a participating university can set it as a minimum eligibility criterion for admission. For instance, Jamia Millia Islamia University has set the minimum eligibility to Class 12 or equivalent exam with not less than 50 percent marks in aggregate of best of five subjects or in the concerned subject.

The CUET will also not hinder the reservation policies followed in the respective central university. “We want all the universities to take admission based on CUET scores, however, this exam will not affect the specific admission criteria followed in a university. For instance, the reservation policy for seats and how to conduct counselling will remain a university’s decision,” said Kumar. Minority institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Delhi University-affiliated colleges like St Stephen’s College, Jesus and Mary College, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College and such reserve seats for the community. Students are required to check admission policies before applying to these institutions.

Furthermore, in case of performing arts courses like theatre, music and art, the universities will have to include a practical exam along with CUET scores for admission.