Learn More About CUET-UG 2024’s Hybrid Pen-Paper and Computer Modes Here

The test schedule for the third iteration of the Central University Entrance Test—Undergraduate (CUET-UG) for admission to central institutions has undergone a number of revisions to ensure a seamless and timely administration, mitigating the delays that marred the previous year’s event.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the test nationwide, said earlier this year that the CUET-UG would take place this year from May 15 to May 31. Applications for the same were available on February 27 and must be submitted by March 26.

Last year, CUET-UG saw record numbers of applications, surpassing NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test), which is the biggest entrance test in India for admission to medical institutes.

46 central universities, 32 state universities, 20 deemed-to-be-universities, 98 private universities, and 6 government institutions have registered to accept CUET-UG scores for their admission to undergraduate (UG) programs, according to the University Grants Commission (UGC), the body that oversees higher education.

OMR Mode for High-Registration Papers

“More people are enrolling,” said Prof. M Jagadesh Kumar, head of UGC, “and since this year’s CUET-UG will be conducted in hybrid mode, all papers with high registration numbers will be conducted in OMR mode (pen and paper mode).” This will enable us to leverage educational institutions as testing grounds rather than focusing just on computer labs. The former problem of setting up exam centers around the country is thus unlikely to arise.

CUET-UG has been administered in “Computer-Based Test” (CBT) style ever since it launched. This is the first time the admissions test has been offered in both computer-based and pen-and-paper formats since it was initially introduced.

“We will use the CBT mode for all papers with fewer registrations,” he said.

NTA officials said that because they already have a list of the locations where NEET is held each year, finding test locations won’t be an issue this year.

The test results were released in July of last year; according to the NTA, they will probably be finished by June of this year.

The first edition’s glitches and second edition’s delays

Numerous administrative and technological issues plagued the inaugural administration of CUET, forcing the NTA to repeatedly postpone and cancel the test.

Even though they were better equipped to deal with technological difficulties, the test was conducted in seven stages last year, going over schedule by more than a week to accommodate all of the registered candidates. This resulted in a protracted exercise, mostly because it was difficult to locate test centers around the nation, which needed to have computer-equipped facilities for conducting the exam.

11.16 lakh of the 14.99 lakh students who enrolled for the exam last year actually took it, according to NTA statistics.

Even though an unprecedented 14.99 lakh applications were submitted for the second edition of the CUET-UG, the most applications came from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Jharkhand, and the whole Northeast region combined. The number of students from J&K and Jharkhand who applied for the exam was at least 17.74%, which caused problems in locating test venues that were easily accessible and equipped. Numerous applicants from these areas were assigned centers in the adjacent cities.

Up to six papers may be attempted by students.

This year, students will be allowed to write up to six papers, as opposed to the previous requirement of ten. This choice was made because, in the previous year’s exam, a very small fraction of students chose to take 10 papers. But because of how difficult it is to schedule the papers, the exam must be administered across multiple days, according to Kumar.

This year, he said, CUET-UG may be scheduled across fewer days, which is beneficial for the students, since they can write six papers in various combinations, such as four domain papers, one language paper, one general test paper, or three domain papers, two language papers, and one general test paper.

Up until now, students may have chosen from ten different disciplines to complete the test. This caused problems for them, such as having to write many examinations in a single day without a break.

According to an NTA official, candidates who appear for more than one topic on the same day will have a “sufficient gap” between their two examinations this year. The official said, “Depending on the number of candidates in a given area, like last year, the exam will be conducted in two or three shifts in a day.”

Languages, with English topping the list and Hindu and Urdu following, are the most popular topics with the most registrations, as shown by the data from the previous two years. Among the other popular disciplines are history, mathematics, economics, accounting, biology, and accountancy.

Students should “Trust Your Preparation, Avoid Coaching,” according to the UGC Chief

“Focus on consistent, balanced study routines; and prioritise self-care with breaks and relaxation techniques,” Kumar advised students getting ready for the CUET-UG. Stay upbeat and have faith in your plans.

With the introduction of the common entrance exam for admission to central institutions, more students are choosing to get private tutoring in order to be ready for it. Preparation courses for the CUET-UG are now being offered by many coaching centers.

However, according to Kumar, kids may study alone and without outside assistance if they follow a regular study routine. “The class XII syllabus and concepts should be thoroughly understood by students, as the entrance exam will have a moderate level of difficulty,” the speaker said.