The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) (UG) 2025 is your gateway to undergraduate programs at prestigious central universities like Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Banaras Hindu University (BHU). If you're aiming for universities like DU, JNU, or BHU through CUET (UG) 2025, getting a 99+ percentile is often the golden ticket. But how many marks do you actually need to get there? In this blog, we’ll break down the marks vs. percentile relationship for CUET 2025, provide estimates based on official guidelines and past trends, and share tips to help you aim high.
Table of Contents
Understanding CUET (UG) 2025: Exam Structure
Before diving into marks and percentiles, let’s recap the CUET (UG) 2025 exam pattern, as outlined in the National Testing Agency (NTA) Information Bulletin:
- Total Subjects: Up to 5 subjects (from 13 languages, 23 domain-specific subjects, and 1 General Aptitude Test).
- Questions per Subject: 50 MCQs per subject.
- Marking Scheme:
- Correct Answer: +5 marks
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (negative marking)
- Unanswered: 0 marks
- Maximum Marks: 1250 (5 subjects × 50 questions × 5 marks).
- Duration: 60 minutes per subject test.
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT) in 13 Indian languages.
- Normalization: For multi-shift exams, NTA normalizes scores to ensure fairness across shifts, converting raw marks into percentiles.
Note: In 2024, there were reports that normalization might be removed for CUET-UG due to single-shift exams (The Hindu, April 22, 2024). However, for 2025, the NTA confirms normalization will apply for multi-shift subjects, ensuring fair comparisons.
What is CUET Percentile?
Unlike CUET marks, which are your raw score based on correct answers, the CUET percentile shows how you rank against other test-takers. It indicates the percentage of candidates who scored at or below your mark. For example:
- A 90th percentile means you outperformed 90% of candidates.
Percentiles matter because they provide a fair comparison, especially in exams like CUET, which may have varying difficulty across multiple shifts. Two students with the same marks can have different percentiles depending on the overall competition, making percentiles a clearer indicator of your rank.
Marks vs. Percentile: What’s the Connection?
1. Marks: Your raw score is calculated as:
Total Marks=(Number of Correct Answers×5)−(Number of Incorrect Answers×1)
For example, answering 45 questions correctly and 3 incorrectly in a subject yields:
(45×5)−(3×1) = 225−3 = 222 marks (out of 250).
2. Percentile: This is a relative score showing the percentage of candidates who scored at or below your mark. The formula is:
NTA uses normalized scores for multi-shift exams to account for difficulty variations, ensuring fair percentile calculations.
3. Why Percentile Matters: Universities like DU and BHU often use NTA Scores (percentile-based) to create merit lists. A 99+ percentile is typically required for top courses, but the exact marks needed depend on exam difficulty, candidate performance, and subject popularity.
How is CUET Percentile Calculated?
The percentile is calculated using normalized scores to ensure fairness across shifts. The formula is:
For instance, if 90,000 candidates score at or below your 200 marks in a subject, and the total number of candidates is 100,000, your percentile is:
(90,000/100,000​)×100=90th percentile.
This means you’ve outperformed 90% of test-takers in that subject. Normalization adjusts raw marks for shift difficulty, ensuring percentiles reflect relative performance.
How Many Marks for a 99+ Percentile in CUET 2025?
The marks required for a 99+ percentile vary by subject, year, and candidate pool. Since CUET 2025 percentiles will only be known post-exam (tentatively July 2025), we can estimate based on trends from CUET 2023 and 2024.
Per-Subject Estimates
Each subject has a maximum of 250 marks. Based on past data:
- English: ~190–220 marks (e.g., ~181+ marks for 96.9+ percentile in 2024).
- Mathematics: ~180–200 marks (e.g., ~143–144 marks for 99+ percentile in 2024).
- Physics/Chemistry: ~180–210 marks (e.g., ~121–133 marks for 99+ percentile in 2024).
- Economics: ~190–220 marks (e.g., ~186 marks for 99+ percentile in 2024).
- General Test: ~190–230 marks (e.g., ~161+ marks for 99+ percentile in 2024).
To achieve a 99+ percentile, aim for 180–230 marks per subject (72–92%), depending on the subject’s competitiveness and difficulty.
Overall Estimate (5 Subjects)
For the full exam (1250 marks), a 99+ percentile typically requires a total score of 900–1100 marks (72–88% overall). This range aligns with:
- CUET 2023: ~900–1150 marks for top percentiles across 5 subjects.
- CUET 2024: ~180–230 marks per subject for 99+ percentile, totaling ~900–1100 for 5 subjects.
Factors That Affect Percentile
- Difficulty Level of paper (Harder papers lower the marks needed for high percentiles).
- Number of Candidates (~13 lakh)
- Subject Popularity (English, Economics = High Cutoffs)
- Normalization across exam shifts
| CUET UG 2025 Quick Links | |
| Notification | Exam Pattern and Syllabus |
| CUET UG Datesheet PDF Download | Previous Year Questions - PDFs Download |
How to Score 900–1100 Marks for a 99+ Percentile
Achieving a 99+ percentile requires strategic preparation. Here’s how to target ~180–230 marks per subject:
- Maximize Accuracy:
- Aim for 45–48 correct answers per subject (~225–240 marks).
- Minimize incorrect answers to avoid negative marking. For example, 45 correct and 2 incorrect = 223 marks; 45 correct and 5 incorrect = 220 marks.
- Focus on NCERT for Domain Subjects:
- The syllabus for domain subjects is based on the NCERT Class 12 curriculum. Master key concepts in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, or Economics.
- Strengthen Language and General Test:
- Language Subjects: Practice Reading Comprehension, Literary Aptitude, and Vocabulary.
- General Test: Cover General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Quantitative Reasoning, and Logical Reasoning. Use resources like newspapers and reasoning books.
- Practice with Mock Tests:
- Simulate the 60-minute, 50-question format to improve speed and accuracy.
- Analyze mistakes to reduce negative marks.
- Time Management:
- Allocate ~1 minute per question during the exam.
- Skip tough questions initially and revisit them if time permits.
- Post-Exam Analysis:
- Use the NTA answer key and response sheet (released on https://cuet.nta.nic.in) to calculate raw marks.
- Compare with trends (~180–230 per subject for 99+ percentile) to estimate your percentile.
FAQs: CUET Marks vs Percentile 2025
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What is the difference between CUET marks and percentile?
Answer: CUET marks are your raw score, calculated as (Correct Answers × 5) - (Incorrect Answers × 1) per subject. The percentile shows the percentage of candidates who scored at or below your mark, indicating your rank. For example, a 90th percentile means you outperformed 90% of test-takers. Percentiles are often used for university admissions due to normalization across shifts.
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How many marks are needed for a 99+ percentile in CUET (UG) 2025?
Answer: Based on past trends, you’ll likely need 900–1100 marks out of 1250 (5 subjects × 250 marks) for a 99+ percentile. This translates to roughly 180–230 marks per subject (72–92%), depending on the subject’s difficulty and competition.
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Does CUET (UG) 2025 use normalization?
Answer: Yes, normalization applies for multi-shift exams to ensure fairness across different sessions, as per the CUET (UG) 2025 Information Bulletin. This adjusts raw marks based on shift difficulty, affecting percentiles.
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Can two students with the same marks have different percentiles?
Answer: Yes, due to normalization and shift variations. If one student’s exam shift is tougher, their normalized score (and percentile) may be higher than another with the same raw marks in an easier shift.
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What is the total marks for CUET (UG) 2025?
Answer: The maximum marks are 1250, based on 5 subjects (each with 50 questions × 5 marks), as per the Information Bulletin
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Do all universities use percentiles for CUET admissions?
Answer: Most universities use NTA Scores (percentile-based) for merit lists, but some may consider raw marks or subject-specific requirements. Check university websites for exact criteria
Still have questions about CUET 2025? Drop them in the comments, and we will get back to you soon.