How to Prepare for CUET PG 2026

A practical preparation strategy for the COQP12 (General/MBA) paper. Follow these tips to maximize your score in 75 questions and 90 minutes.

1. Master the Negative Marking Strategy

With +4 for correct and -1 for wrong, you need to be at least 25% sure before attempting a question for it to be statistically worthwhile. Here's the math:

  • If you can eliminate 1 option: You have a 33% chance among 3 remaining options. Expected value = 0.33 x 4 - 0.67 x 1 = +0.65. Attempt it.
  • If you can eliminate 2 options: 50% chance among 2 options. Expected value = +1.5. Definitely attempt.
  • Pure guess (no elimination): 25% chance. Expected value = 0.25 x 4 - 0.75 x 1 = +0.25. Marginally positive, but risky.
  • Rule of thumb: Skip if you cannot eliminate even 1 option.

2. Time Management: 72 Seconds Per Question

90 minutes for 75 questions means roughly 72 seconds per question. But not all questions are equal:

  • Language & Vocabulary: 30-40 seconds each. Do these first to bank time.
  • Logical Reasoning: 60-90 seconds each. Medium difficulty.
  • Quantitative Aptitude: 90-120 seconds each. Some calculations needed.
  • Data Interpretation: 90-120 seconds for the first question in a set, then 45-60 seconds for follow-ups (data is already processed).

3. Subject-wise Preparation Approach

Quantitative Aptitude

Focus on Percentages, Ratio, and Number System first — these appear most frequently. Learn shortcut methods for calculations. Practice mental math daily.

Logical Reasoning

Syllogisms and Blood Relations are the most predictable — learn the rules and they become free marks. For Coding-Decoding, practice pattern recognition.

Data Interpretation

Speed matters more than accuracy here. Learn to approximate rather than calculate exact values. Practice reading tables and charts quickly.

Language Comprehension

Read the questions before the passage to know what to look for. For vocabulary, maintain a daily word list. Grammar rules are finite — learn them all.

4. The 3-Month Study Plan

Month 1: Build Foundations

  • - Cover all topics from the syllabus at least once
  • - Solve 20-30 practice questions per topic
  • - Focus on understanding concepts, not speed
  • - Use TimeBack topic-wise practice for each subject

Month 2: Practice & Speed

  • - Take 2 full mock tests per week
  • - Analyze each test — identify weak topics
  • - Focus extra practice on your bottom 3 topics
  • - Start timing yourself during practice

Month 3: Test & Refine

  • - Take 3-4 full mock tests per week
  • - Simulate real exam conditions (90 min, no breaks)
  • - Review mistakes — never repeat the same error
  • - Focus on test-taking strategy (question order, skipping)

5. Exam Day Strategy

  1. First pass (0-45 min): Attempt all questions you can solve within 60 seconds. Mark difficult ones for review.
  2. Second pass (45-75 min): Return to marked questions. Spend up to 2 minutes each.
  3. Final pass (75-90 min): Review marked-for-review answers. Attempt remaining only if you can eliminate 2+ options.
  4. Last 5 minutes: Do NOT attempt new questions. Review your confident answers for silly mistakes.

Put These Tips into Practice

Start with topic-wise practice, then take a full mock test

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