CUET-UG 2025 put off, exams to begin from May 13 instead of May 8

NEW DELHI: The Common University Entrance Test for undergraduate programmes (CUET-UG) 2025, conducted by the National Testing Agency, will now commence from May 13, five days later than when it was scheduled to begin. The delay comes amid a lack of official communication from the NTA on exam city slips and detailed schedules, causing confusion among lakhs of aspirants.The national exam schedule has been finalized with tests set to run from May 13 through early June, according to sources familiar with the matter.Official confirmation is expected shortly.The exam city slips are likely to be issued by either Tuesday or Wednesday this week. These slips will provide candidates with information about their designated exam center locations.The documents may also include a detailed subject-wise schedule of examination dates for candidates.Also See: CBSE Board Class 10th and 12th Results Live UpdatesThis year, CUET-UG has seen record registrations, with 13.5 lakh candidates applying to appear for the national-level entrance exam, which is the gateway to undergraduate admissions in central, state and private universities.2025 CUET-UG to be entirely computer-basedIn a major shift, the 2025 exam will be conducted entirely in computer-based test (CBT) mode for all 37 subjects. Each subject paper will be of 60 minutes duration and consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. The number of shifts per day will vary depending on the availability of exam centres, with two to three shifts expected daily.English has emerged as the most opted-for subject, with over 10 lakh candidates, requiring a minimum of 10 shifts to accommodate all test-takers. The General Test has also received over eight lakh registrations, further adding to scheduling complexity.Unlike previous years, NTA has not issued a formal date sheet this time. Instead, the agency is expected to share exam details directly through the city intimation slips. Students and parents across the country have been expressing concern over the delay in communication, especially with travel and accommodation arrangements pending.As the countdown begins, candidates have been advised to regularly check the official NTA CUET website for updates and prepare for a tightly packed examination cycle beginning May 13.