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CHRIST (Deemed to be University) · Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Pune Lavasa

Christ University CUET: exam pattern, syllabus and how to prepare

The Christ University entrance test explained — 120 questions in 90 minutes, negative marking, sectional time limits, and a different section split for every programme.

Last reviewed 27 July 2026

CHRIST (Deemed to be University) runs its own entrance test, confusingly also called CUET. It is completely separate from the NTA’s national CUET UG for central universities — different paper, different application, different process. If you are applying to both, you are preparing for two distinct exams.

Christ’s CUET is a centre-based computer test of 120 questions in 90 minutes, and unlike most liberal arts entrance exams it has negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer. Sectional time limits mean you cannot bank saved minutes from an easy section to spend on a hard one.

The section split changes by programme. A BBA candidate and a BA Psychology candidate sit tests with the same total but a materially different composition, so identify your programme’s pattern before you build a study plan.

Christ CUET at a glance

Exam nameChrist University Entrance Test (CUET) — not the NTA CUET
Conducted byCHRIST (Deemed to be University)
ModeCentre-based computer test — in-person attendance required
Questions120 MCQs
Total marks120
Duration90 minutes (varies for some programmes)
Marking+1 correct, −0.25 incorrect, 0 unattempted
Sectional time limitsYes — each section has a fixed window
CalculatorNot allowed
Question orderJumbled — not grouped by subject
LanguageEnglish only
NAAC gradeA++

Exam pattern and marking scheme

All programmes sit 120 questions for 120 marks, but the section split differs. Find your programme below. Average time per question is about 45 seconds.

SectionQuestionsMarksTime
BBA — English Language & Comprehension252510 min
BBA — General Knowledge & Current Affairs202010 min
BBA — Fundamental Accounting101010 min
BBA — Logical Reasoning252520 min
BBA — Quantitative Aptitude202020 min
BBA — Data Analysis & Interpretation202020 min
BBA total12012090 min
  • Negative marking is 0.25 per wrong answer. Unlike FEAT or KAT, blind guessing costs you — but eliminating even one option makes a guess worth taking.
  • Sectional time limits were introduced from 2025. You cannot carry unused time from one section into another, so pacing has to be managed within each section.
  • Calculators were removed from 2026 onwards — mental arithmetic now matters materially.
  • Questions appear jumbled rather than grouped by subject, so you switch context constantly.
  • Analysis of recent cycles suggests around 78 to 82 attempts with high accuracy is a competitive target rather than attempting all 120.
  • BCom splits as English 20, GK 20, Logical Reasoning 20, Fundamental Accounting 20, and Mathematics with Data Analysis 40.
  • BA and BSc humanities programmes weight English at 40 with 20 GK, 10 current affairs, 20 reasoning and 30 programme-specific questions. BSc Psychology shifts to 30 English, 30 GK and 30 psychology.
  • BA LLB and BBA LLB use 30 English, 30 GK, 15 current affairs, 25 reasoning and 20 data analysis.
  • BTech uses English 15, GK 15, Reasoning 20, Data Analysis 15, Mathematics 25, Physics 15 and Chemistry 15.

Section-wise syllabus

English Language & Comprehension

  • Reading comprehension passages
  • Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, contextual usage
  • Grammar and error detection
  • Sentence correction and completion
  • Para jumbles

General Knowledge & Current Affairs

  • National and international current affairs
  • Business and economy
  • History, geography and polity
  • Science and technology
  • Sports, awards, books and authors

Logical Reasoning

  • Arrangements and puzzles
  • Series — number and letter
  • Coding and decoding
  • Blood relations and directions
  • Syllogisms and statement-conclusion
  • Venn diagrams

Quantitative Aptitude

  • Arithmetic — percentages, ratio, profit and loss, averages
  • Algebra and equations
  • Geometry and mensuration
  • Number system
  • Time, speed, distance and work
  • Simple and compound interest

Data Analysis & Interpretation

  • Tables and charts
  • Bar graphs and pie charts
  • Line graphs
  • Caselets
  • Data sufficiency

Fundamental Accounting (BBA and BCom)

  • Basic accounting concepts and conventions
  • Journal, ledger and trial balance
  • Final accounts
  • Accounting equations

Eligibility criteria

Qualifying examClass 12 (10+2) or equivalent from any recognised board
Minimum marks — General50% aggregate
Minimum marks — SC / ST / PWD45% aggregate
Age limitNone
Attempt limitNo restriction
MediumEnglish proficiency required for most programmes
International studentsIELTS 6.0 (no sub-score below 5.5), TOEFL iBT 79, TOEFL CBT 213 or TOEFL paper 550

Admission process, step by step

  1. 1

    Register online

    Create an account on the Christ University admissions portal with name, email and mobile. A registration ID and password arrive by email.

  2. 2

    Fill the application

    Select campus, programme and specialisation, then fill personal, academic and contact details and indicate your preferred exam date and centre.

  3. 3

    Upload documents

    Class 10 and 12 marksheets, photograph and ID proof. Applications with missing or unclear documents are rejected as not eligible.

  4. 4

    Pay the application fee

    Paid online; the amount varies by programme and number of choices.

  5. 5

    Download the admit card

    Released two to three days before the exam. It must be printed.

  6. 6

    Sit the entrance test

    Log in at least 30 minutes before the start time with your admit card and original marks cards for verification.

  7. 7

    Selection process

    Skill Assessment, Micro Presentation, Personal Interview or Audition depending on programme, held over a set window.

  8. 8

    Final selection list

    Published on the portal.

How the admission calendar works

On dates: exam and deadline dates change every admission year, so we describe how the calendar is structured rather than publishing dates that go stale. Always confirm current dates on the official source linked below before planning around them.

  • Christ admits across multiple sessions in an admission year, with Session 1 opening several months before Session 2.
  • Each session runs the same sequence: application window, application deadline for entrance-test programmes, admit card release, entrance test, then the in-person selection process, then the final selection list.
  • Non-entrance-test programmes have their own later deadline within the same session.
  • Christ does not send email or SMS updates about selection-process dates — candidates must check the portal themselves. Selection slots are auto-generated by the system and cannot be changed.
  • NRI candidates sit the selection process at overseas venues in the Gulf during Session 1.

How to prepare

Adjust for negative marking

  • At −0.25 a wrong answer, blind guessing across the paper is a net loss. Guess only when you can eliminate at least one option.
  • A competitive target is roughly 78 to 82 attempts with high accuracy, not all 120. Accuracy beats coverage here.
  • This is the opposite instinct to FEAT and KAT — if you are preparing for several exams, keep the marking rules straight.

Practise against sectional timers

  • Sectional limits mean a strong section cannot rescue a weak one. Practise each section against its own clock.
  • The tightest squeeze is usually English at 25 questions in 10 minutes — about 24 seconds per question.
  • Build the habit of abandoning a question at the halfway mark of your per-question budget.

Rebuild mental arithmetic

  • Calculators were removed from 2026. Percentage, ratio and interest calculations now have to be done by hand at speed.
  • Drill multiplication tables, squares to 30, and common fraction-to-percentage conversions.
  • Data Interpretation is where the calculator loss bites hardest — practise approximation techniques rather than exact computation.

Handle the jumbled question order

  • Questions are not grouped by subject, so you switch between English, reasoning and quant constantly.
  • Practise mixed sets rather than subject-wise blocks to build the context-switching habit.

Know your programme’s split

  • A BBA paper is a third reasoning and data analysis; a BA humanities paper is a third English.
  • Confirm your programme’s exact section composition before allocating study time.
  • Law and BTech aspirants sit substantially different papers again.

Frequently asked questions

Is Christ University CUET the same as the NTA CUET?

No. They are entirely separate exams. The Christ University Entrance Test is set and conducted by CHRIST (Deemed to be University) for its own programmes. The NTA CUET UG is a national exam for central universities like Delhi University, BHU and Jamia Millia Islamia. Different papers, different applications, different processes.

Does Christ University CUET have negative marking?

Yes. You get +1 for a correct answer and −0.25 for an incorrect one, with no penalty for leaving a question unattempted. This makes it different from FLAME FEAT and Krea KAT, which have no negative marking.

How many questions are in the Christ University entrance test?

120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks in 90 minutes, which is roughly 45 seconds per question. Each section has its own fixed time window.

Are calculators allowed in the Christ University entrance test?

No. On-screen calculators were removed from the 2026 cycle onwards, so mental arithmetic is now essential — particularly for the Data Analysis and Interpretation section.

What is the eligibility for Christ University?

You need Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board with 50% aggregate for General category candidates and 45% for SC, ST and PWD candidates. There is no age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts.

How many questions should I attempt in the Christ entrance test?

Because of the 0.25 negative marking, attempting all 120 is usually counterproductive. Analysis of recent cycles points to roughly 78 to 82 attempts with high accuracy as a competitive target. Guess only where you can eliminate at least one option.

Official sources

We compile these guides from official university material, but universities change their patterns and dates at their own discretion. Verify anything you plan around:

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