Zollege is here for to help you!!

Need Counselling

PU CET UG Exam Pattern 2026: Subjects, Marking Scheme, Timings and Syllabus

Content Curator | Updated On - Oct 6, 2026

PU CET UG 2026 has 60 questions in each subject paper, with 70 minutes to answer them. A correct answer earns 2 marks and a wrong answer loses 0.5. The test uses an OMR answer sheet and is conducted in English.

Your course decides which papers you need: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; Physics, Chemistry and Biology; or Mathematics alone. The pattern, schedule and admission rules below apply to the 2026 undergraduate test.

PU CET UG Exam Pattern 2026

PU CET UG is an English-medium, pen-and-paper test for specified B.Sc. honours programmes and B.Pharm. at Panjab University. Each subject has its own 70-minute paper.

Subject paper	Questions	Maximum marks	Time
Mathematics	60	120	70 minutes
Chemistry	60	120	70 minutes
Physics	60	120	70 minutes
Biology	60	120	70 minutes

Each question has four options, and you mark one response on an OMR sheet. PCM and PCB candidates answer 180 questions for 360 marks across three papers. Mathematics-only candidates answer 60 questions for 120 marks.

A candidate taking all four subjects answers 240 questions across the day. Admission merit is calculated for the relevant subject combination, rather than as one combined 480-mark score.

Which Subject Combination Should You Choose?

Course or course group	CET subject combination
B.Pharm.	PCM or PCB
B.Sc. Botany / Zoology	PCB
B.Sc. Mathematics / Mathematics & Computing	Mathematics
B.Sc. Chemistry, Physics, Physics (Electronics), Geology and Anthropology	PCM or PCB
B.Sc. Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biophysics and Forensic Science	PCM or PCB

PCM means Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics; PCB means Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The required entrance papers and the Class 12 eligibility conditions both depend on the course.

For B.Pharm., either PCM or PCB is accepted in the entrance test. The qualifying-school subjects include English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Biotechnology or Mathematics. Botany and Zoology use PCB, while the Mathematics courses list Mathematics alone.

A PCMB student can take all four papers for consideration in the relevant qualified lists. Eligibility still follows the chosen Panjab University programme.

B.Sc. specialisations such as Biotechnology appear in the course list, but the entrance subject choices remain Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

PU CET Marking Scheme and Score Calculation

Correct answers earn 2 marks; wrong answers lose 0.5 marks. An unanswered question earns zero. The penalty is one-fourth of the two marks assigned to a question, not a deduction of 0.25 marks.

Raw score = (2 × correct answers) − (0.5 × wrong answers).

Illustrative subject attempt	Calculation	Score out of 120
45 correct, 10 wrong, 5 blank	90 − 5	85
42 correct, 6 wrong, 12 blank	84 − 3	81
40 correct, 20 wrong, none blank	80 − 10	70

Four wrong answers cancel the 2 marks earned by one correct answer. Calculate each paper separately, then add Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for PCM or Physics, Chemistry and Biology for PCB.

PU CET 2026 Exam Timings

The published subject schedule for 10 May 2026 was:

Paper	Scheduled slot
Mathematics	9:00 am to 10:10 am
Chemistry	10:40 am to 11:50 am
Physics	12:20 pm to 1:30 pm
Biology	2:20 pm to 3:30 pm

PCM or PCB candidates have 210 minutes of answering time; all four papers add up to 280 minutes. Breaks between papers are additional. Each paper has a separate end time, so unused minutes cannot be carried into the next subject.

The 2026 rules allow 20 extra minutes per paper for the specified visually impaired/PwD candidates. Scribe arrangements require separate approval.

Subject Weightage and Syllabus

Each subject contributes 120 of the 360 marks in PCM or PCB, giving Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology equal subject weightage.

The 2026 CET syllabus points to CBSE Class 11 and Class 12 content for the 2023–25 session. The broad areas are:

Subject	Topic groups
Physics	Units and measurement; motion and forces; energy; rotation; gravitation; thermal physics; oscillations and waves; electricity and magnetism; optics; atoms, nuclei and electronic devices
Chemistry	Mole concept; atomic structure; periodicity and bonding; thermodynamics; equilibrium; redox; organic principles and hydrocarbons; solutions; electrochemistry; kinetics; d/f block and coordination compounds; functional groups and biomolecules
Mathematics	Sets and functions; algebra; trigonometry; coordinate geometry; calculus; vectors and three-dimensional geometry; linear programming; statistics and probability
Biology	Diversity; plant and animal organisation; cells; plant and human physiology; reproduction; genetics and evolution; human welfare; biotechnology; ecology

PU CET does not publish fixed chapter-wise question weightage. The CBSE curriculum defines the syllabus content; its board-examination marks distribution does not apply to the CET.

Both Class 11 and Class 12 topics are included. A revision plan limited to Class 12 would leave out areas such as mechanics, chemical bonding, cell biology and parts of algebra.

OMR Rules That Affect Your Marks

Fill the OMR bubbles with a black ball or gel pen. Leave all four options blank for a question you do not attempt. Erasing or overwriting a filled response can spoil the answer.

Use the rough-work space in the question booklet for calculations. Only the responses marked on the OMR sheet are evaluated.

Calculators are prohibited. The university supplies the permitted logarithmic table; candidates cannot bring or borrow their own. Hand over both the question booklet and OMR sheet after each paper.

A 60-question practice paper with a separate OMR sheet lets you include bubbling time within the same 70-minute limit used in the exam.

Books and Subject-Wise Practice

NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 books cover the CBSE-based subject foundations. After revising a chapter, practise objective questions from the subjects in your PCM or PCB combination.

Subject	Practice linked to the test format
Physics	Solve numerical and graph-based questions without a calculator. Use the supplied-log-table method where needed.
Chemistry	Combine numerical questions with reactions, reagents and periodic trends from the prescribed chapters.
Mathematics	Complete mixed-topic objective sets within a 70-minute paper, including algebra, calculus and geometry.
Biology	Revise diagrams, examples and similar biological terms, then test them through four-option questions.

A full subject mock contains 60 questions in 70 minutes, averaging 70 seconds per question. Calculate the result with the +2/−0.5 marking scheme and include time spent filling the answer sheet.

Qualifying Marks and Admission Merit

Category group in the 2026 rules	Qualifying percentage	For PCM/PCB out of 360	For Mathematics out of 120
General threshold	15%	54	18
SC / ST / BC / PwD	10%	36	12

The marks shown are the arithmetic equivalents of the qualifying percentages. Admission depends on the course merit list, eligibility and seats available.

For the combined PCM/PCB process, CET percentile contributes 75% and the relevant Class 12 marks contribute 25%, with applicable additional activity weightages. PCM and PCB percentile lists are evaluated separately. A raw score percentage is not the same as the percentile used in this calculation.

The Mathematics merit rule is different

B.Sc. honours Mathematics uses a different calculation: the CET Mathematics score out of 120 plus the Class 12 total scaled to 40, giving a maximum of 160. A CET Mathematics score of 84 and a Class 12 total of 80% give 84 + 32 = 116. This is the stated Mathematics merit formula, not a formula for every course containing Mathematics.

What do you need right now?

Quick Navigation PATTERN

Questions and marks
Course-wise subjects
Marking scheme

Paper Structure

−

Paper	Questions	Marks	Duration
Mathematics	60	120	70 minutes
Chemistry	60	120	70 minutes
Physics	60	120	70 minutes
Biology	60	120	70 minutes

Mode: OMR-based. Medium: English. Each subject has its own time slot.

Subjects for Your Course

−

Course group	Combination
B.Pharm.	PCM or PCB
B.Sc. Botany / Zoology	PCB
B.Sc. Mathematics / Mathematics & Computing	Mathematics
B.Sc. Chemistry, Physics, Physics (Electronics), Geology and Anthropology	PCM or PCB
B.Sc. Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biophysics and Forensic Science	PCM or PCB

PCM and PCB each total 360 marks. Mathematics alone totals 120. Course eligibility also depends on Class 12 subjects and marks.

Compare Panjab University programmes.

Marking Scheme and Worked Score

Response	Marks
Correct	+2
Wrong	−0.5
Blank	0

Example: 48 correct, 8 wrong and 4 blank give 96 − 4 = 92/120. This is a raw subject score, not a percentile.

2026 Subject Timings

Paper	10 May 2026 slot
Mathematics	9:00 am to 10:10 am
Chemistry	10:40 am to 11:50 am
Physics	12:20 pm to 1:30 pm
Biology	2:20 pm to 3:30 pm

Answering time: 210 minutes for three papers; 280 minutes for four. The gaps between papers are outside these totals.

Syllabus and Weightage

Subject	Areas to cover
Physics	Units and measurement; motion and forces; energy; rotation; gravitation; thermal physics; oscillations and waves; electricity and magnetism; optics; atoms, nuclei and electronic devices
Chemistry	Mole concept; atomic structure; periodicity and bonding; thermodynamics; equilibrium; redox; organic principles and hydrocarbons; solutions; electrochemistry; kinetics; d/f block and coordination compounds; functional groups and biomolecules
Mathematics	Sets and functions; algebra; trigonometry; coordinate geometry; calculus; vectors and three-dimensional geometry; linear programming; statistics and probability
Biology	Diversity; plant and animal organisation; cells; plant and human physiology; reproduction; genetics and evolution; human welfare; biotechnology; ecology

These are topic groups, not a chapter-weightage forecast. The 2026 test names CBSE Class 11–12 content for the 2023–25 session.

OMR and Permitted Materials

Black ball or gel pen for responses.
One response bubble per question; blank bubbles for an unanswered question.
Rough work in the question booklet, not on the OMR sheet.
No calculator; use only the log table provided by the university.
Return both the question booklet and answer sheet after each paper.

Books and Subject-Mock Practice

Resource or exercise	Use
NCERT Class 11–12 subject textbooks	Match concepts and examples to the specified syllabus.
A 60-question subject set	Finish answers and OMR marking within 70 minutes.
Marked answer review	Separate concept, calculation, reading and bubble-number mistakes.
Error retest	Redo the missed question without looking at its solution.

Use the same two-mark reward and half-mark penalty when recording mock scores.

Qualifying Marks Versus Admission Merit

Measure	2026 rule
Qualifying threshold	15%; 10% for SC/ST/BC/PwD
PCM/PCB merit	75% CET percentile + 25% relevant Class 12 marks, plus applicable weightages
B.Sc. honours Mathematics	CET Mathematics /120 + Class 12 total scaled to /40

Qualifying does not establish the last admitted score for a course.

PU CET UG Exam Pattern FAQs

Subjects and Duration

Is PU CET UG the same as CUET UG?+

No. PU CET UG is Panjab University's entrance test for the specified undergraduate courses. It uses an OMR answer sheet and its own subject combinations and marking scheme. CUET UG and PU CET PG are separate examinations.

Do all candidates have to take four papers?+

No. The course requires PCM, PCB or Mathematics alone. A PCMB student may take all four for consideration through the relevant qualified lists; a Mathematics-only applicant has one paper.

Is Biotechnology a separate PU CET paper?+

No. Biotechnology is a course option, not a fifth test paper. The four entrance subjects are Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

Can I use unused Chemistry time for Physics?+

No. Each paper has its own 70-minute slot. Finishing Chemistry early does not extend the Physics paper.

Marks and Answer Sheets

Does one-fourth negative marking mean minus 0.25?+

Not here. Each correct answer carries 2 marks, and one-fourth of 2 is 0.5. Five wrong answers therefore cost 2.5 marks, not 1.25.

Can I correct an answer after filling its OMR bubble?+

Erasing or overwriting a filled bubble can spoil the response. Mark one option only, using the permitted black ball or gel pen. A skipped question should have all four bubbles blank.

Are calculators allowed for Physics or Chemistry?+

No. Calculators are prohibited in all subjects. The university supplies the permitted logarithmic table; you cannot bring or borrow your own.

Does a qualifying score guarantee admission?+

No. For PCM/PCB, the general qualifying threshold is 54 out of 360, but the closing merit for a seat depends on the course, category and available places. The admission calculation also includes the applicable Class 12 component.

Is a CET percentage the same as a CET percentile?+

No. A percentage compares your marks with the maximum. A percentile places your performance within the relevant candidate group. The combined PCM/PCB admission calculation uses the specified CET percentile, so replacing it with raw marks divided by 360 changes the result.

Syllabus and Preparation

Can I use CBSE chapter marks as PU CET weightage?+

No. CBSE board unit marks describe a board examination, not the number of questions PU CET will ask from each chapter. PU CET specifies syllabus coverage and equal marks for each subject but no fixed chapter-wise allocation.

Is Class 12 preparation alone enough for the syllabus?+

The syllabus includes both Class 11 and Class 12. Class 11 areas such as mechanics, chemical bonding and cell biology remain part of the preparation, alongside the Class 12 topics.

Which NCERT books should I use for PU CET UG?+

Use the NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 books for the subjects in your selected combination. Follow chapter revision with objective questions, then practise 60-question subject papers in 70 minutes with OMR marking. This combines the prescribed content with the actual test format.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.