What is a Good Score in CUET 2026? Marks Distribution, Score Calculation

With lakhs of students competing in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG 2026, knowing what counts as a good score is essential for admission to top central universities like Delhi University (DU), BHU, JNU, and others. Whether you're aiming for a high percentile or just looking to clear the CUET passing marks, this guide will help you understand score benchmarks, percentile expectations, and university cutoffs — all based on a total of 250 marks.

Several factors determine what constitutes a good result, including the course you intend to pursue, the university's reputation, the level of competition, and previous score trends. Aspirants should set score targets based on their specific aspirations, courses of study, and desired colleges. This is especially important when considering highly sought-after institutions—which is why DU remains top choice for CUET UG 2026 aspirants, thanks to its academic legacy, wide range of programs, and competitive cutoffs.

CUET UG Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution

CUET UG 2026 scores are now commonly normalized and considered out of 250 total marks during university admission processes, particularly for DU.

CUET Score Calculation and Normalization

CUET uses the Equi-percentile method for score normalization due to multiple shifts for the same subject. This ensures that scores are adjusted fairly across different sessions.

• Raw Score: Based on correct and incorrect responses
• Normalized Score: Adjusted based on shift difficulty
• Universities (especially DU) calculate merit using Best of 4 normalized scores, scaled to 250 marks.

What is a Good Score in CUET 2026?

When we talk about “what is a good score in CUET,” it depends on your course, category, and CUET Colleges List 2026. Here you can check the expected good score in CUET 2026 for a few colleges given in the table below.

How are CUET 2026 Qualifying Marks Determined?

Once candidates know what is a good score in CUET, they must also understand the factors affecting the CUET qualifying marks. Several factors that determine the qualifying marks in CUET 2026 include the following:

• Difficulty level of the CUET exam: The difficulty level of the CUET question paper highly affects the overall score and cutoff for a particular year. To ensure balance and fairness in the difficulty level across all the slots, the normalization process is applied.
• Course and University Reputation: Candidates willing to take admission to a prestigious university or a highly demanded course require a good score in the CUET 2026. This is because higher standards are set for courses or universities with high reputations.
• Performance in the exam: Students must note that the number of test-takers and their performance in a particular year greatly influence the CUET score. Hence, achieving a high score becomes difficult when the competition is high for a year.
• Previous years' cutoff trends: Candidates can get an idea of the CUET score to target by examining the previous years' cutoff trends for specific courses at particular universities. This also helps to understand the level of competition and set realistic goals.
• Availability of seats: The availability of seats is highly influenced by the reservation criteria for the backward categories, which can affect the CUET cutoff scores as well. Reserved categories like SC, ST, OBC, etc., might have different cutoff requirements.

Also Read: List of Universities Accepting CUET Score 2026

Top Previous Years' CUET Percentiles Statistics

Candidates must have an idea of the previous test-takers' performance in the CUET 2023 exam. They can refer to the table below to understand the previous years' CUET percentile statistics and how many students secured the top percentile for each subject.

CUET Maximum Marks 2026

Candidates appearing for the CUET 2026 must be aware of the CUET maximum marks. According to the CUET exam pattern 2026, students will be awarded 5 marks for every correct response, and 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong response. The section-wise CUET maximum marks are given below.

CUET 2026 Score vs Percentile 2026

Students can refer to CUET Marks vs Percentile 2026 for reference to understand what is a good score in CUET 2026. The CUET 2026 score and percentile information provided in the table is based on previous years’ data this will help the candidates understand 2026 trends:

How to Calculate CUET Percentile Score 2026?

The process of calculating the CUET percentile score begins with considering the total number of candidates who appeared in the exam. To understand the method of calculating the percentile, candidates may refer to the calculation below:

CUET 2026 Qualifying Score

The CUET passing marks 2026 range from 300-400 marks in total. Here’s a detailed division of passing marks across each section:

• In Section I (Language) (IA and IB), candidates must obtain a minimum of 160 marks to pass this section.
• In Section II (Domain-specific Subjects), a minimum of 120 marks must be obtained to pass this section.
• And lastly, in Section III (General Aptitude Exam), candidates are advised to obtain a minimum of 120 marks to pass this section.

CUET Section-wise Marks Distribution

CUET is a standardized test for admission to various undergraduate programs at over 250 universities. This test analyzes candidates using an 800-point scoring system, with each section bearing a variable weightage. Understanding the scoring methodology is critical for achieving a high score on CUET 2026.

5 marks will be awarded for each correct answer and 1 marks is deducted for each incorrect one. Avoiding a question will not result in a loss of marks; however, providing an incorrect response will result in a 1-mark deduction.

What is the CUET Normalization Process 2026?

The National Testing Agency has initiated the normalization process to ensure that all candidates have been allotted fair CUET scores. The CUET normalization process 2026 begins with considering the highest marks scored by all candidates and the total marks in the CUET exam.

This process is done for the candidates who have appeared in the same subject for the exam but in different shifts. The process is completed based on the raw scores obtained by the candidates in the CUET exam.

Note: Marks do not increase or decrease in the normalization process.