Follow this article until the end to learn briefly about the CUET full form and what is CUET. Understand all the crucial details and the differences between the Boards & CUET to clear all doubts.
CUET Full Form: With a joint initiative from the MoE and UGC, they decided to conduct a centralized standard entrance test (CUET) for UG admissions nationwide. It is administered by the NTA and conducted annually. CUET full form is the “Common University Entrance Test”. True to its name, CUET is the common qualifying exam for UG admissions to over 250 universities in India (including 44+ central universities like DU, BHU, JNU, JMI, and more).
But What is CUET? How has it revamped the entire UG admission landscape in India? It has single-handedly negated the difference in marking schemes and difficulty levels of question papers from various Boards nationwide. Now, candidates don’t have to compete in the high cut-offs (based on Board results) to secure admission to various top colleges and universities. Students will be assessed through one common entrance (CUET UG), and admissions will be based on the CUET scorecard. This is why CUET is important from every student's perspective.
Follow this article until the end to learn briefly about the CUET full form and what is CUET. Understand all the crucial details and the differences between the Boards & CUET to clear all doubts.
The CUET full form is the Common University Entrance Test. CUET is not an entirely new concept, so what is CUET then? Previously known as CUCET (where only a handful of 13-15 universities participated), it was revamped in 2022 and reintroduced as CUET. In the inaugural edition (2022), only 89 universities participated in CUET UG. The number rose to 261 in 2024. This significant increase in numbers puts a lot of emphasis on why CUET is important.
Corresponding to the CUET full form, it will be the sole gateway for UG admission to 44+ central and 210+ other state, private, and deemed universities (a total of 250+). Students seeking UG admission to any of the top colleges or universities in the country have to appear in the test and score good marks.
Check out the important details about CUET 2025. Click here
For beginners wondering what is CUET? As the full form of CUET suggests, it is a standard nationwide entrance test for UG admission. But why CUET is important, and so crucial for students aspiring for higher education?
Previously, all the top universities in India admitted students to various UG courses based on the Board results. This gave undue advantages to students from a few Boards due to the uneven marking scheme and difficulty level of the question paper. But, what is CUET doing is negating the primary reliability of Board results. Now, students will be assessed through a common entrance test (CUET) for UG admissions to all the participating universities. Instead of the Board results, the admissions will be based on the CUET scores.
This must have cleared many doubts of the students regarding what is CUET. The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the exam once a year. The complete exam cycle (beginning of registrations to the admission process) spans from February to August (tentatively).
A few crucial details regarding what is CUET:
| Parameters | Details |
| Exam name | CUET UG |
| CUET full form | Common University Entrance Test |
| What is CUET | The common entrance exam for UG admission (nationwide) |
| Exam conducting body | NTA (National Testing Agency) |
| Exam mode | Hybrid (Online CBT & Offline pen-paper) mode |
| Exam schedule | Once a year (Feb-August) |
| Participating universities | 250+ |
| Total seats | 3 Lakh+ |
| Number of applicants | 15 Lakh (approx.) |
| Exam syllabus | Complete NCERT class 12 syllabus |
What is CUET, and why CUET is important? It is the second-largest UG entrance exam in the country. For CUET 2024, NTA received approximately 13 lakh applications. The number is expected to grow beyond 20 lakh in the following year. CUET 2025 (UG) will be the most crucial test for students seeking to pursue higher studies. There are various reasons why students should take CUET (UG) seriously. Some of the significant reasons why CUET is important are mentioned below.
There is a lot of doubt among students regarding what is CUET and exactly how it is different from the Board exams. To put an end to all the doubts, the table clearly mentions the point of difference between Boards and CUET (UG). Follow it thoroughly also to understand the significance of CUET and why CUET is important.
| Factors | Boards | CUET |
| Scope | Nationwide, various Boards (CBSE, ICSE, State) | Nationwide (Specific to participating universities in India |
| Examinations Covered | Class X and XII Board exams [Recognized across India] | Entrance exam for UG programs offered by 250+ universities |
| Subjects | Wide range, including Science, Commerce, Arts | Depends on the university and course of the student |
| Curriculum | Prescribed curriculum for each Board | Determined by the UGC, NTA, & Central Universities |
| Exam Pattern | Theory-based exams, practical exams (wherever applicable) | MCQ based - Hybrid mode (both online & offline) |
| Grading System | Varied (e.g., CGPA, percentage) | Marks and percentile |
| Eligibility Criteria | Passing respective qualifying exams | 45%+ score in Boards (relaxation 5% provided to category students) |
| Exam syllabus | Defined by respective boards | Complete NCERT class 12 syllabus |
| Application Process | Application through the respective Board's process | Online application through the CUET portal |
| Applicability | Used for school education certification | Used for UG admission to the participating universities in India |
Passing the Common University Entrance Test (CUET - UG) with a good score involves efficient strategies and systematic preparation. Since we have thoroughly understood what is CUET and why CUET is important, let’s go through a few crucial tips for CUET preparation.
Tips to Crack CUET:
This article aimed not only to make students aware of the CUET full form but also to enable students to grasp the significance of the test. This article tried to provide students with updates and information about what is CUET and why CUET is important. This will aid the aspirants in the best way to prepare and maximize their scores.
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CUET 2025 will be the gateway for UG admissions to 250+ universities in the country, offering approximately 3 lakh seats.
A good score in CUET might vary depending on the number of subjects a student has opted for. According to the previous year's report, a score/percentile of 85-90/100 is considered good.
DU does not accept scores other than CUET UG for admission to its constituent colleges. It also considers the Board marks only in case of a tiebreaker (two or more students with the same CUET scores opting for the same college and course.
The full form of CUET is the Common University Entrance Test.
CUET (UG) will be the standard admission test for 250+ universities (including 44+ central universities). The CUET score will be the sole criterion for UG admission across all the central universities, including DU, BHU, JNU, and JMI.
