Last Updated: May 2026
The CUET General Test (Section III, Code 501) is the most widely-attempted paper in CUET UG — selected by candidates targeting BA programmes, BCom (Hons), BBA, integrated law, and almost every multi-discipline UG admission. It is a 60-question, 60-minute, computer-based test with quantitative reasoning, logical aptitude and general awareness. Strong scores in this paper open admissions at DU, JNU, BHU, JMI, Hyderabad Central University and 250+ central and state universities.
CUET General Test 2027 — Snapshot
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| NTA Subject Code | 501 |
| Number of Questions | 60 (attempt 50) |
| Marks per Question | +5 / -1 |
| Maximum Marks | 250 |
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Languages Available | 13 mediums |
1. Section-wise Composition
| Sub-section | Approx. Questions | Recommended Time |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 20-22 | 15 min |
| General Mental Ability / Logical Reasoning | 15-18 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability / Quantitative Reasoning | 15-18 | 22 min |
| Buffer for review | — | 3 min |
2. General Awareness — Topic Map
- History: Indian Freedom Struggle, Mauryas, Mughals, post-independence India.
- Geography: Indian rivers, mountains, agriculture, world geography basics.
- Polity: Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Parliament, Judiciary, Schedules.
- Economy: Five-Year Plans (replaced by NITI Aayog), GDP, Inflation, RBI.
- Science and Technology: ISRO missions, Nobel laureates, recent inventions.
- Sports: Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth, IPL.
- Current Affairs (last 12 months): Awards, summits, government schemes.
3. Logical Reasoning — Sub-topics
- Series — number, alphabet, alphanumeric.
- Coding-decoding — letter shift, EJOTY rule.
- Direction sense — pivot diagrams.
- Blood relations — family tree method.
- Syllogism — Venn diagram method.
- Statement and Conclusion.
- Statement and Assumption.
- Cause and Effect.
- Seating arrangement (linear and circular).
- Puzzles — calendars, clocks.
4. Quantitative Reasoning — Topic List
- Number system — divisibility, HCF, LCM, remainders.
- Percentages, profit-loss, discount.
- Ratio and proportion, partnership.
- Average, age problems.
- Time, speed, distance, trains, boats.
- Time and work, pipes and cisterns.
- Simple and compound interest.
- Mensuration — areas, volumes.
- Data interpretation — bar charts, pie charts, tables.
- Geometry basics — angles, triangles, circles.
5. The 60-Minute Pacing Plan
| Block | Time | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness scan | 15 min | Solve 20 known answers, mark 4 unknown. |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 min | Skip puzzles > 90 sec; return later. |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 22 min | Approximate where possible; avoid long calculations. |
| Buffer + flagged review | 3 min | Submit only confidently-flagged answers. |
6. Sample Practice Questions
General Awareness
Q1. The first Indian to win a Nobel Prize in Literature — (a) Tagore (b) Gandhi (c) Tilak (d) Naoroji. Ans: (a)
Q2. The capital of the Maurya Empire was — (a) Ujjain (b) Pataliputra (c) Mathura (d) Kannauj. Ans: (b)
Q3. The Reserve Bank of India was nationalised in — (a) 1935 (b) 1947 (c) 1949 (d) 1969. Ans: (c)
Logical Reasoning
Q4. If A is the sister of B, B is the brother of C, C is the son of D, what is D to A?
(a) Father (b) Brother (c) Sister (d) Son. Ans: (a) Father.
Q5. Find the missing term: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
(a) 40 (b) 42 (c) 44 (d) 48. Ans: (b) Differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.
Q6. If MONKEY is coded as XJOLPM, then DONKEY is coded as —
(a) EOPLMV (b) ZPMLPM (c) XJOLPM (d) ZPMLZM. Ans: (b) (reverse + 1 shift).
Quantitative Reasoning
Q7. 30% of 250 = ?
(a) 65 (b) 70 (c) 75 (d) 80. Ans: (c)
Q8. A man covers 60 km in 3 hours. What is his average speed?
(a) 15 km/h (b) 20 km/h (c) 25 km/h (d) 30 km/h. Ans: (b)
Q9. CI on Rs 5000 at 10% pa for 2 years compounded annually =
(a) Rs 1000 (b) Rs 1050 (c) Rs 1100 (d) Rs 1150. Ans: (b) 5000 × 1.1² − 5000 = 1050.
7. Cutoff Reality Check
| Programme | Indicative GT Cutoff (2025) |
|---|---|
| DU BCom (Hons) — top colleges | 240+ / 250 |
| DU BA Hons Economics | 235+ / 250 |
| JMI BBA | 200+ / 250 |
| BHU BCom | 210+ / 250 |
| State Universities | 140-180 / 250 |
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Spending more than 90 seconds on a single LR question. Skip and return.
- Negative marking creep. Attempt 50 of 60 maximum unless 100% sure of others.
- Ignoring NCERTs. 60% of GA questions trace to NCERT Class 6-12.
- Skipping data interpretation. 4-5 marks lie there in every paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CUET General Test compulsory?
It is mandatory for most BCom, BBA and integrated programmes. Pure-domain BA programmes such as History or Political Science may not require it. Always check the course brochure of the target university.
How many questions to attempt of 60?
NTA permits attempt of 50 of 60. The system marks the best 50. Attempting fewer than 50 leaves marks on the table.
Is the General Test paper the same as the General Awareness paper?
No. General Test (Code 501) bundles GA, LR and QR. There is no separate General Awareness paper in CUET UG.
How does scoring 240/250 compare with the cutoff?
240+/250 is competitive for top DU BCom (Hons) colleges. JMI and BHU programmes typically settle around 200-220. State universities require 140-180.
Best book for CUET General Test?
For QR: R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude. For LR: M.K. Pandey Analytical Reasoning. For GA: Lucent’s General Knowledge plus a monthly current-affairs compilation.
