CUET UG 2027 / English syllabus

CUET UG 2027 · Paper 101

CUET English Syllabus 2027: Topics, Question Types and Pattern

The official CUET UG English (Language) syllabus (paper 101), unit by unit, with the book chapter each unit comes from, what changed from 2025 to 2026, and where to practise.

Practise CUET English in the Study OS Official NTA syllabus PDF

2027 status: NTA has not released the CUET UG 2027 syllabus. This page shows the official CUET UG 2026 English syllabus, the latest available, and will be updated when NTA publishes the 2027 version.

CUET English at a glance

Paper code: 101 (English (Language))
Questions: 50 multiple-choice questions, all compulsory
Time: 60 minutes
Marking: +5 for a correct answer, minus 1 for a wrong answer; 250 maximum
Syllabus: 2 areas, 14 practice areas in our chapter map

How the CUET English paper is structured

English (paper 101) is the language paper most CUET candidates take. The official syllabus is short: reading comprehension on three kinds of passage (factual, narrative and literary, each up to 300 words) and verbal ability (rearranging parts, match the following, choosing the correct word, synonyms and antonyms). The syllabus says questions are not limited to these topics, and the 2026 bulletin adds literary aptitude and vocabulary to the description of every language paper.

There is no prescribed textbook. Preparation is reading practice plus vocabulary and grammar drills, timed against the 60 minute limit.

CUET English syllabus, unit by unit

Unit titles and topics as printed in NTA’s CUET UG 2026 syllabus PDF.

Area 1

Reading Comprehension (three types of passages, maximum 300 words)

a. Factual
b. Narrative
c. Literary

Area 2

Verbal Ability

a. Rearranging the parts
b. Match the following
c. Choosing the correct word
d. Synonyms and Antonyms

Practice areas

The first five areas come straight from the official syllabus. The others are question types the syllabus does not name but which fall under its "not limited to" clause.

Reading Comprehension: Factual Passages
Reading Comprehension: Narrative Passages
Reading Comprehension: Literary Passages and Poems
Rearranging the Parts (Para/Sentence Jumbles)
Match the Following (words, idioms, figures of speech)
Choosing the Correct Word (Fill in the Blanks, Prepositions, Modals)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms and Phrasesnot named in the syllabus
One-Word Substitutionnot named in the syllabus
Phrasal Verbsnot named in the syllabus
Grammar: Tenses, Subject-Verb Agreement, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvementnot named in the syllabus
Figures of Speech and Literary Devicesnot named in the syllabus
Homophones and General Vocabularynot named in the syllabus

What changed from 2025 to 2026

No change: 2025 and 2026 English syllabus text is identical (2025 numbered sub-items i-iv, 2026 a-d).

Compared against NTA’s CUET UG 2025 syllabus PDF. When the 2027 syllabus is out, this section will compare 2027 with 2026.

Books to study from

No textbook is prescribed. Use unseen passages, editorials and a good grammar reference for practice.

NCERT books are on ncert.nic.in; NIOS course material is on nios.ac.in.

Practise CUET English chapter by chapter

The Study OS CUET track follows the chapter map above. Choose English as one of your papers, revise a chapter, then test it with exam-style questions and read the explanation after every answer.

Practise CUET English

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam pattern of the CUET English paper?

CUET UG English (paper code 101) has 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes. A correct answer earns 5 marks and a wrong answer costs 1 mark, so the paper is out of 250. This is the CUET UG 2026 pattern; NTA has not announced any change for 2027.

Has NTA released the CUET English syllabus for 2027?

Not yet. The syllabus on this page is the official CUET UG 2026 English syllabus, which is the latest one NTA has published. This page will be updated when the 2027 syllabus is released.

Which books should I study for CUET English?

No textbook is prescribed. Use unseen passages, editorials and a good grammar reference for practice.

What changed in the CUET English syllabus?

No change: the 2026 English syllabus text is the same as 2025. This compares the 2025 and 2026 syllabi; the 2027 syllabus is not out yet.

Is there a book for the CUET English paper?

No. NTA does not prescribe a textbook for English. The paper tests reading comprehension and verbal ability, so practice with unseen passages and vocabulary sets works better than any single book.

What kinds of passages come in CUET English?

The syllabus names three: factual, narrative and literary passages, each up to 300 words. Recent papers have used a poem as the literary passage.

Is grammar part of the CUET English syllabus?

Grammar is tested through the verbal ability items, especially choosing the correct word and rearranging parts. The syllabus also says questions are not limited to the listed topics.