Key Fact: CUET English Language is tested under Section IA — the Language Test section. It contains 40 questions to be attempted in 45 minutes, based entirely on Class 12 NCERT English level skills.
What Is CUET English Language (Section IA)?
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2027 tests English Language as part of Section IA — Language Tests. Any student who wishes to take admission to English-medium programmes at central universities — including Delhi University, JNU, BHU, and 250+ other institutions — must appear for this section.
Unlike board exams, CUET English does not test literature deeply. It focuses on applied language skills: comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal ability — skills you build through careful NCERT study and consistent reading practice.
CUET English Language Syllabus 2027 — Topic-wise Breakdown
| Topic | Weightage | Key Skills Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | ~40% | Main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, tone |
| Vocabulary & Word Usage | ~20% | Synonyms, antonyms, fill-in-the-blanks, idioms |
| Grammar & Usage | ~20% | Tenses, subject-verb agreement, sentence correction |
| Creative Writing / Verbal Ability | ~10% | Para jumbles, sentence completion, figures of speech |
| Literary / Textual Reference | ~10% | Author-work matching, poem/prose identification |
NCERT Chapters That Overlap With CUET English
CUET English is explicitly based on Class 11 and 12 NCERT textbooks. Here is how each NCERT book maps to CUET topics:
Class 12 — Flamingo (Core Prose)
- The Last Lesson — narrative comprehension, inference skills
- Lost Spring — factual comprehension, vocabulary in context
- Deep Water — tone and author intent questions
- The Rattrap — figurative language and character analysis
- Indigo — historical prose comprehension
Class 12 — Vistas (Supplementary Prose)
- The Third Level — fantasy vs. reality comprehension
- On the Face of It — dialogue-based comprehension
- Evans Tries an O-level — inference and critical reading
Class 12 — Flamingo (Poetry)
- My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das — figures of speech, imagery
- A Thing of Beauty by John Keats — vocabulary, poetic devices
- Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda — theme-based questions
- Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers by Adrienne Rich — symbolism questions
Class 11 — Hornbill and Snapshots
- Grammar exercises across both books directly reflect CUET grammar section
- Reading sections from Hornbill build comprehension stamina
5 Sample CUET English Question Types (With Explanations)
Type 1: Reading Comprehension — Inference
Q: Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the author’s attitude towards industrialisation?
Strategy: Never answer from general knowledge — always stick to the passage. Look for tone words (critical, admiring, neutral, ambivalent).
Type 2: Vocabulary — Synonym in Context
Q: The word “ephemeral” as used in the passage most closely means:
A) Eternal B) Transient C) Vibrant D) Majestic
Answer: B — Ephemeral means short-lived; Transient is the closest synonym.
Type 3: Grammar — Subject-Verb Agreement
Q: Choose the correct sentence:
A) Neither of the students have submitted their assignment.
B) Neither of the students has submitted his assignment.
Answer: B — “Neither” is singular; takes singular verb “has”.
Type 4: Figures of Speech
Q: “The wind whispered through the trees.” Identify the figure of speech.
Answer: Personification — wind (non-human) is given human quality of whispering.
Type 5: Para Jumble
Strategy: Identify the opening sentence (usually a definition or broad statement), then find the logical flow. Look for pronouns (it, they, this) that refer back to nouns in previous sentences.
CUET English Scoring Strategy 2027
Recommended Attempt Order
- Vocabulary questions first (fastest — 30-45 seconds each) — attempt all 8-10
- Grammar questions (rule-based, 45-60 seconds each) — attempt all 8-10
- Comprehension passages (spend 3-4 minutes reading, then 45 sec per Q) — attempt 2 full passages
- Para jumbles / verbal ability — use remaining time
Time Allocation
| Question Type | No. of Questions | Time Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 8-10 | 7-8 min |
| Grammar | 8-10 | 8-10 min |
| Reading Comprehension | 16-18 | 20-22 min |
| Para Jumbles / Verbal Ability | 4-6 | 5-7 min |
Common Mistakes CUET English Candidates Make
- Reading comprehension from memory — Always go back to the passage. Never answer from general knowledge.
- Ignoring NCERT poetry — Figures of speech from Class 12 poems are regularly tested.
- Confusing homophones — their/there/they’re, its/it’s, affect/effect questions appear frequently.
- Not practising para jumbles — Many students skip this. Even 4-5 correct para jumble answers can significantly improve the score.
- Spending too long on one passage — If a passage is tough, move to vocabulary/grammar and return later.
Best Resources for CUET English Preparation
- NCERT Class 12 Flamingo — Read all prose chapters thoroughly; note difficult vocabulary
- NCERT Class 12 Vistas — Focus on comprehension exercises at chapter ends
- NCERT Class 11 Hornbill — Grammar exercises are excellent for CUET level
- NCERT Class 11 Snapshots — Supplementary reading builds speed
- Arihant CUET English Language — Best for practice papers at CUET difficulty level
- Previous year CUET papers (2022, 2023, 2024) — Essential to understand NTA’s question style
Frequently Asked Questions — CUET English Language 2027
Is CUET English Language compulsory for all programmes?
CUET English (Section IA) is compulsory for programmes where English is the medium of instruction, including most humanities, commerce, and social science programmes at central universities. Science stream students may opt for their regional language instead in some cases, but English is required for most DU, BHU, and JNU undergraduate programmes.
How many questions are in CUET English and what is the time limit?
CUET English Language has 40 questions to be attempted in 45 minutes. Each correct answer gives +5 marks and each wrong answer deducts -1 mark (negative marking applies).
Which NCERT books are most important for CUET English?
The most important NCERT books are Class 12 Flamingo (prose and poetry), Class 12 Vistas (supplementary reader), Class 11 Hornbill (grammar exercises), and Class 11 Snapshots. Reading comprehension passages in CUET are at the level of these textbooks.
What is the ideal score target in CUET English for top university admissions?
For top central universities like DU’s top colleges (Miranda House, SRCC, Hindu College), you should aim for 180+ out of 200 in CUET English. For mid-tier colleges, 150-170 is generally competitive. Each correct answer gives 5 marks, so 36 correct answers out of 40 gives 180.
Does CUET English test literature from NCERT textbooks directly?
CUET English does not typically give direct questions from NCERT literature chapters (like “what happened in chapter X”). Instead, it uses NCERT-level passages for comprehension and tests grammar, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning at the Class 12 standard. However, author-work matching and figure-of-speech questions may reference NCERT poems and prose.
Practice Quiz: CUET English Language
Test your preparation with these 10 CUET-style English questions. Each question reflects the actual difficulty and pattern of CUET Section IA.
Practice Quiz — 10 CUET-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.