CUET 2026: Category-Wise Minimum Marks & University Criteria

Introduction

You’ve given your Class 12 boards everything you had. Now, with CUET 2026 on the horizon, a new question has taken over your mind — “How many marks do I actually need?” It’s one of the most common yet genuinely confusing questions students face, and if you’ve been scrolling through conflicting information trying to find a clear answer, you’re not alone. CUET 2026 minimum marks depend on a lot more than just one number, and understanding that early can completely change how you prepare.

The truth is, CUET 2026 minimum marks aren’t a single fixed bar that applies to everyone. Your category, your target university, and even the course you’re chasing — all of these shape what “enough” really means for you. In this blog, we’re breaking down everything: NTA’s qualifying criteria, how universities like DU, BHU, and JNU set their own cutoffs, what the difference between qualifying and getting in actually is, and how you can build a smarter prep strategy around your real target.

What Is CUET and Why Do Minimum Marks Matter?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts CUET (Common University Entrance Test) for admission into undergraduate programmes across central, state, deemed, and private universities across India. Introduced as a single-window entrance system, CUET replaced the old Class 12 percentage-based admissions, making things theoretically more equal for students from different boards and backgrounds.

But here’s where students often trip up — there are actually two different “minimum marks” you need to understand:

1. NTA Qualifying Marks — the minimum you need to score to be considered a valid CUET candidate
2. University Admission Cutoffs — the actual score you need to secure a seat at a specific university and course

Clearing the first doesn’t automatically mean you get into your dream college. Think of it like clearing the door to enter the building — but each floor has its own key. That’s why understanding both layers matters so much.

CUET 2026 Qualifying Marks — What NTA Says

Before we talk about university cutoffs, let’s talk about what NTA requires just to be eligible.

As per the CUET 2026 eligibility norms, most universities require a minimum of 50% marks in Class 12 for the General category, while SC/ST/OBC candidates need 45%. Additionally, reservations follow Government of India norms — OBC-NCL gets 27%, SC gets 15%, ST gets 7.5%, EWS gets 10%, and PwD candidates receive 5% reservation in participating universities.

General Category Qualifying Marks

For the General category, the minimum qualifying marks to appear for CUET are 45% in Class 12 from a recognised board. In terms of the CUET exam itself, there is no hard cutoff score published by NTA to “qualify” — what NTA releases is a scorecard, and each university then uses that score to create their own merit list.

Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS)

For SC, ST, and OBC candidates, the minimum qualifying marks in Class 12 is 40%. Reserved category students also benefit from relaxation in university admission cutoffs — typically 10–20% lower than the General category benchmark, depending on the institution.

Here’s a clean summary of the category-wise Class 12 eligibility criteria for CUET 2026:

Note: Always verify the exact qualifying criteria for your chosen university on the official NTA website at cuet.nta.nic.in since individual universities may specify additional requirements.

University Admission Criteria — It’s Not Just About Qualifying

Here’s the thing that most students realise too late: NTA doesn’t release a common cutoff list. Each participating university publishes its own CUET cutoff after results are declared, and these cutoffs vary depending on factors like the total number of candidates appearing, seat availability, popularity of the course, and the difficulty level of the exam.

So what does that mean for you? It means you can’t just aim for the “minimum” — you need to aim for the cutoff of your target university and course.

Delhi University (DU) — Where the Competition is Fiercest

DU is perhaps the most talked-about CUET destination in the country, and for good reason. Admission to Delhi University is conducted entirely through CUET UG scores via the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS), and the DU cutoff varies depending on the difficulty level of the CUET exam, the candidate’s category, total applicants for a course, and available seats.

Based on previous year trends: students need 750+ marks for top DU colleges like Hindu College, Hansraj College, Lady Sri Ram, and SRCC; 700+ marks for colleges like Miranda House, Ramjas, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh College; and 600+ marks for colleges like Aryabhatta and ARSD College.

For highly sought-after courses like B.A. (Hons.) Economics, B.A. (Hons.) Political Science, and B.Com (Hons.) At top North Campus colleges, the cutoff for general category candidates typically ranges between 850 and 950 marks — so candidates should target 900+ to be on the safer side. Reserved category candidates, however, can expect significant relaxation of around 150–200 marks or more.

Expected DU CUET 2026 Score Ranges (Category-Wise):

Note: These are expected ranges based on previous year CUET trends. Official DU cutoffs will be released at https://admission.uod.ac.in/  after CUET results in June 2026.

BHU, JNU, and Other Central Universities

Not everyone is chasing DU — and honestly, BHU and JNU have just as much to offer. For BHU, the most competitive courses like B.Com (Hons.) and BA LLB are expected to have high cutoffs for General students in the range of 630–690 marks, while OBC and EWS candidates may need approximately 590–640 marks. Arts and Social Science cutoffs are moderate — around 560–600 for General category and 510–550 for OBC/EWS, with SC/ST cutoffs ranging between 430–480.

The cutoff difference between the General and SC/ST categories is expected to be 100–150 marks for high-demand subjects like B.Com, BA LLB, and B.Sc. Agriculture.

University-Wise Expected CUET UG Score Range (General Category):

Always verify cutoffs on the official university admission portals listed above, as these are expected ranges based on previous year data.

How Are CUET Marks Calculated? Understanding Raw Score vs. Percentile

This is a section students often overlook — and it genuinely matters.

The CUET UG 2026 marking scheme awards +5 marks for every correct answer and deducts -1 mark for every incorrect response. Unanswered questions carry zero marks.

The CUET 2026 total marks depend on the number of subjects taken — each subject carries 250 marks, so 3 subjects = 750 marks, 4 subjects = 1000 marks, and 5 subjects = 1250 marks. Notably, the normalisation process has been stopped, meaning raw scores will now be used directly for calculations.

This is actually big news for 2026. Earlier, students used to worry about which shift was tougher because normalisation could swing scores. Now, what you score is what counts — no adjustments, no surprises. This makes consistent preparation even more important.

So What’s a “Good” CUET Score?

A score between 850 and 950+ out of 1000 is generally considered good for securing admission to top universities like DU or BHU. But here’s what students often miss — “good” is relative to your target. A score of 500 might comfortably get you into a central university in a less competitive state, while the same score won’t even come close to DU’s top colleges. 

The smart move? Know your target university’s expected cutoff before you finalise your preparation strategy.

Common Mistakes Students Make While Targeting Cutoffs

Let’s be real — a lot of students make these mistakes without even realising it. If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to course-correct.

1. Targeting only the minimum qualifying marks “I just need to qualify” is a mindset that ends up limiting your options. Qualifying and getting into your dream college are two very different things. Aim higher than the minimum — always.
2. Not checking programme-specific subject requirements Incorrect subject selection in CUET can lead to disqualification, and admission can even be cancelled after seat allocation. Checking eligibility before applying is extremely important. Your CUET subject choices need to match what your target university requires for the specific course.
3. Ignoring category-specific cutoff patterns Reserved category students sometimes over-prepare thinking they need General category scores, or under-prepare thinking their category relaxation is much more than it actually is. Know your actual target — not an assumption of it.
4. Relying on previous year cutoffs as guaranteed benchmarks Cutoffs change every year based on competition, paper difficulty, and seat availability. Use previous year data as a reference range, not a fixed target.
5. Not applying to multiple universities Just meeting the cutoff might not guarantee admission in highly competitive courses. Consider applying to multiple universities — different universities have different cutoffs, which increases your chances of securing admission somewhere.

How Many Marks Should You Actually Aim For?

Here’s a practical framework to set your target:

Step 1 — Identify your top 3 universities and preferred courses. Don’t be vague. “A good college” is not a target. “B.A. (Hons.) Political Science at Hindu College, DU” is.

Step 2 — Look at previous year cutoffs for those universities and courses. Check official university portals (linked in the tables above) for historical data.

Step 3 — Add a 10–15% buffer to that cutoff. Cutoffs can go up if competition increases. A buffer score protects you.

Step 4 — Factor in your category. If you’re from a reserved category, your target score is lower — but don’t take it for granted. Always calculate based on actual category-wise cutoffs, not rough guesses.

Step 5 — Work backward to build your prep plan. If your target score is 750, you know you need to consistently score 75%+ in mock tests before the exam.

Here’s a quick score-targeting cheat sheet based on university ambition:

Smart Preparation Tips Based on Your Category & Target University

Focus on high-scoring subjects first. If your target course requires 3 subjects, identify which subject you’re strongest in and maximise your score there. Even 10 extra marks in a strong subject can make a difference.

Practice with official NTA sample papers. NTA provides sample papers for practice, and candidates can access mock tests on the official CUET website. Use cuet.nta.nic.in to access these — they’re the closest to what the actual exam looks like.

Don’t ignore the General Test. For universities like DU that use the General Test as one of the admission criteria for certain programmes, scoring well here can give you an unexpected edge over students who skip it.

Revise the marking scheme strategically. With +5 for correct and -1 for wrong, attempting a question you’re 70% sure about is mathematically smart. Don’t leave too many blanks, but don’t guess wildly either.

Apply for CSAS (DU) and other university portals on time. Clearing CUET is step one — but if you miss the registration window at your target university, your score won’t matter. Keep track of all admission portal deadlines separately. 

How Career Plan B Helps

Career Plan B supports students in turning CUET target scores into a meaningful, future-focused plan:

• Personalized Career Counselling: Helps students map their strengths to the right universities and courses—not just target scores.
• Psycheintel & Career Assessment Tests: Provides data-backed clarity on interests and aptitudes for better decisions.
• Admission & Academic Profile Guidance: Ensures preparation aligns with realistic, achievable admission goals.
• Career Roadmapping: Helps students move beyond cutoffs and build a clear, purposeful long-term future.

For Latest Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does NTA publish a common minimum qualifying score for CUET UG 2026? No, NTA does not release a single common qualifying score for CUET UG. What NTA provides is your scorecard after the exam. Each participating university then independently releases its own cutoff based on merit, seats available, category, and course. You can check all official updates on the NTA website at cuet.nta.nic.in.

Q2. How much relaxation do SC/ST/OBC students get in CUET cutoffs? Reserved category candidates may generally get around 10% lower cutoffs than general category students, though the exact relaxation varies by university and course. At top DU colleges, for instance, reserved category candidates can expect relaxation of around 150–200 marks or more compared to the General category cutoff. Always verify specific category relaxation on the official university admission portal.

Q3. Is my Class 12 percentage considered at all for CUET 2026 admissions? For most central universities including Delhi University, admissions are now based entirely on CUET scores. Only CUET UG 2026 scores will be considered for DU admissions — other exam marks or Class 12 percentages are not considered for regular undergraduate admissions. However, Class 12 marks still matter for eligibility — you need to have passed with the minimum percentage as per your category.

Q4. Can I apply to multiple universities with a single CUET score? Yes, absolutely. CUET is a single-window examination that allows you to apply to multiple participating universities using the same score. You’ll need to register separately on each university’s admission portal. Always keep an eye on individual university registration deadlines after CUET results are declared in June 2026.

Q5. What happens if I just meet the cutoff — am I guaranteed a seat? Not necessarily. Clearing the cutoff is not the only criteria to get confirmed admission — final selection depends on factors such as your rank in the merit list, number of seats available for a certain course, and your performance in counselling rounds at the universities applied for. Aim above the cutoff to have a comfortable buffer.

Conclusion

CUET 2026 is more than just an entrance exam — it’s the one test that can open doors to some of India’s finest universities, from Delhi University to BHU to JNU. But knowing how to approach it strategically, especially with an eye on category-wise cutoffs and university-specific criteria, is what separates students who get into their dream college from those who just come close. The students who do well aren’t always the ones who studied the most — they’re the ones who studied with the right target in mind.

So go back to the tables in this blog, identify your real target score, give yourself that buffer, and start preparing with a clear head. Category benefits exist to level the playing field — use them wisely. Subject selection matters — choose carefully. And most importantly, remember that CUET 2026 minimum marks are not your ceiling, they’re just your starting point. The ceiling is wherever you decide to aim.