CUET-UG results: Lone candidate got top score across 4 subjects; dip in aspirants and universities this year

Indian Express

14 hours ago

In the fourth year of CUET-UG serving as a common entrance exam for undergraduate courses, results announced on Friday saw only a single candidate with a top score in four out of five subjects. Besides, fewer candidates appeared for the exam and fewer universities participated this year as compared to previous years.
Out of the top 20 scorers this year, more than half – 11 – are female candidates, including the only candidate who secured a 100 percentile in four out of five subjects, according to an official in the National Testing Agency (NTA).
In terms of other high scores:
– The top three aggregate scores in five subjects this year were 1225.93, followed by 1210.10, and 1205.17.
– A total of 17 candidates scored 100 percentile in three subjects this year.
– 150 candidates saw a top score in two subjects.
– 2,679 candidates secured a top score in one subject.
In 2024, when candidates could write their exams in six subjects, 63 candidates secured full marks in four subjects, while five candidates secured full marks in five subjects, according to the official. That year also saw 558 candidates secure full marks in three subjects, while 3,014 candidates secured a full score in two subjects, and 14,941 candidates secured a full score in one subject.
In 2023, a total of 195 candidates scored a 100 percentile in at least four subjects; this figure was 114 in 2022, which was the first time the exam was held.
A total of 10.72 lakh candidates appeared for the exam this year, down from 11.16 lakh in 2023 and 11.14 lakh in 2024. A lower number of candidates appeared for the exam in its first edition in 2022 – 9.68 lakh.
The number of women who appeared for the exam this year (5.24 lakh) has seen an uptick from 5.19 lakh last year, while the number of men who appeared for CUET-UG dropped to 5.48 lakh this year from 5.94 lakh last year.
The NTA official pointed to a few differences in this year's exam compared to last year.
First, students picked five subjects to write their papers instead of six, and the number of subjects offered was down to 37 from last year's 63. The test duration for all subjects was a uniform 60 minutes this year, while a few papers had a test duration of 45 minutes last year.
This year, the test was only offered as a computer-based test, unlike last year when it was offered in hybrid mode — both pen-and-paper and computer-based. CUET-UG, which was held from May 13 to June 4 this year, is used for undergraduate admissions to central universities, and participating state and private universities. There are a total of 239 participating universities this year, down from 283 last year, and 249 in 2023. In 2022, the exam was for admissions across 90 universities.
The computer-based test saw a few glitches this year. While a technical glitch in the server delayed the exam at several centres across the country on May 26, the exam on May 13 and 14 at a centre in Srinagar was rescheduled on account of a technical glitch.