MENTORAExam Prep
CUET UG Syllabus 2026 for Science Students (PCM & PCB)
By the Mentora Academic Team · Updated 10 August 2026 · 8 min read
For science students, the CUET UG 2026 syllabus is built from three parts: a language test, your science domain subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology), and an optional General Test. The domain-subject syllabus follows the Class-12 NCERT curriculum, so what you study for boards is the same content CUET tests — there is no separate CUET-only syllabus to learn.
Science students often worry that CUET needs a whole new syllabus on top of boards. It does not. This guide sets out exactly what a PCM or PCB student is tested on in CUET UG 2026, section by section, and where each part’s syllabus comes from.
What sections do science students take in CUET UG?
CUET UG is built from three kinds of test. A science student typically takes:
| Section | What it covers | Syllabus source |
|---|---|---|
| Section IA — Language | One language (usually English): reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary | General language skills |
| Section II — Domain subjects | Your science subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Maths (PCM) or Biology (PCB) | Class-12 NCERT |
| Section III — General Test | General knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, basic numerical ability, logical reasoning | General awareness + aptitude |
You choose which tests to take based on the courses and universities you are applying to — most students take one language, their required domain subjects, and (where a course asks for it) the General Test. A candidate can appear for up to five tests in total. Always check each university’s required subjects before finalising your choices.
PCM vs PCB: which domain subjects do you pick?
Your domain subjects follow your Class-12 stream:
- PCM students: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (useful for BSc, engineering-adjacent and other science courses).
- PCB students: Physics, Chemistry and Biology (useful for BSc life-sciences, and eligibility for many allied and central-university science courses).
- You can add a language and the General Test on top, and some students take both Maths and Biology if their target courses need it.
What is the CUET domain syllabus for each science subject?
Each domain subject’s CUET syllabus follows the Class-12 NCERT syllabus for that subject. The main units are:
Physics (Class 12 NCERT)
- Electrostatics and Current Electricity
- Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
- Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
- Electromagnetic Waves and Optics
- Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter; Atoms and Nuclei
- Electronic Devices (semiconductors)
Chemistry (Class 12 NCERT)
- Solutions and Electrochemistry
- Chemical Kinetics
- d- and f-Block Elements; Coordination Compounds
- Haloalkanes and Haloarenes; Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
- Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids; Amines
- Biomolecules
Mathematics (Class 12 NCERT) — for PCM
- Relations and Functions; Inverse Trigonometric Functions
- Matrices and Determinants
- Continuity and Differentiability; Application of Derivatives
- Integrals and their Applications; Differential Equations
- Vector Algebra and Three-dimensional Geometry
- Linear Programming and Probability
Biology (Class 12 NCERT) — for PCB
- Reproduction (in organisms, flowering plants and humans) and Reproductive Health
- Genetics and Evolution (inheritance, molecular basis of inheritance, evolution)
- Biology and Human Welfare (health and disease, microbes)
- Biotechnology (principles, processes and applications)
- Ecology and Environment (organisms and populations, ecosystems, biodiversity)
Because the domain syllabus is the Class-12 NCERT syllabus, your board preparation already covers it. NCERT rationalises its syllabus from time to time, so confirm the exact unit list against the official CUET syllabus PDF for your exam year before you finish revising.
What is in the CUET General Test?
The General Test (Section III), asked for by some courses, covers general knowledge and current affairs, general mental ability, logical and analytical reasoning, and basic numerical ability (arithmetic, quantitative reasoning up to about Class-8 level). It is not subject-specific, so science students prepare for it separately with current-affairs reading and reasoning practice.
How should a science student prepare for CUET?
Prepare boards and CUET together, because the domain content is shared:
- Master each Class-12 NCERT chapter thoroughly — this covers both your boards and your CUET domain subjects.
- Practise CUET-style MCQs on each chapter under a timer, since CUET rewards speed and accuracy with negative marking (+5 / −1).
- If a target course needs the General Test, add 20–30 minutes of current affairs and reasoning practice a few times a week.
- Take full-length, timed CUET mock tests to build stamina and get used to the per-subject 60-minute format.
For exactly how CUET is scored and how many marks each subject carries, see the CUET marking scheme guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CUET syllabus for science students in 2026?
Science students take a language test, their domain subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Maths for PCM or Biology for PCB) and, where required, the General Test. The domain-subject syllabus follows the Class-12 NCERT curriculum.
Is the CUET domain syllabus the same as Class 12 NCERT?
Yes. Each domain subject’s CUET syllabus is based on the Class-12 NCERT syllabus for that subject, so your board preparation covers it. Confirm the exact units on the official CUET syllabus PDF for your year, as NCERT is rationalised periodically.
Which subjects should a PCM or PCB student choose in CUET?
PCM students usually take Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; PCB students take Physics, Chemistry and Biology — plus a language and, where a course requires it, the General Test.
Does CUET have a separate syllabus from board exams?
No. For domain subjects, CUET tests the same Class-12 NCERT syllabus as your CBSE boards, in a multiple-choice format with negative marking. Only the language and General Test sections are prepared separately.
Keep going
Free tools