CUET UG Subject Strategy: Why Confidence and Course Fit Matter More Than Popularity

With the CUET UG 2025 results out, students of the 2026 batch are now focusing on subject selection. While traditionally popular subjects like Business Studies, English, and Political Science continue to dominate the top score lists, a growing number of students and educators are emphasising a shift in strategy — focusing on confidence, course fit, and academic strengths over popularity.

“In CUET, it’s not just about what most students choose — it’s about what you can ace,” says a Delhi University aspirant, capturing the new mindset among serious candidates.

CUET UG: A Quick Overview

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG), introduced in 2022, is the standardised admission test for undergraduate programmes across central and many participating state universities. Candidates can choose a maximum of five subjects from a pool that includes 13 languages, 23 domain-specific subjects, and one General Aptitude Test.

Subject choice plays a decisive role, as most universities list subject-wise eligibility requirements for specific courses — for instance, pursuing a B.Sc. in Zoology usually demands Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Popularity Doesn’t Equal Advantage

According to CUET UG 2024 data, Business Studies led the full-score tally with 2,098 students scoring a perfect 200. Political Science followed with 5,141 students, and English with 1,683. These subjects remain mainstream due to the availability of resources and familiarity across schools.

However, niche subjects — including Assamese, Mizo, Japanese, German, and Sanskrit — had just one or two candidates scoring full marks. While this might seem marginal, it indicates a lower competition density, offering opportunities for confident students to excel with less percentile pressure.

Niche Subjects: Competitive Edge or Risky Gamble?

The appeal of niche subjects lies in their smaller test-taker pool, potentially making it easier to secure a high percentile, but only if you are genuinely strong in them.

“Many students are waking up to the fact that niche subjects may offer an edge,” says an assistant professor at a central university in Assam. “Subjects like Sanskrit or Persian can work to a student’s advantage if they are confident and well-prepared.”

Karan Mehta, co-founder of Toprankers, warns that a smaller pool doesn’t ensure high percentiles. “In niche subjects, one mistake can cost you significantly. The percentile is based on relative performance, not just the number of test takers.”

Ritika Gupta, CEO of AAera Consultants, agrees: “The key is performance. With fewer students taking the test, any poor performance becomes more noticeable and can lead to a steeper drop in percentile. So, niche subjects only benefit those who are confident and prepared.”

Additionally, CUET’s normalisation policy adjusts scores based on exam difficulty and test group performance, meaning smaller groups can swing percentile outcomes more drastically, positively, and negatively.

Real Student Experiences

Angad Arora, a humanities student from Chandigarh, chose Punjabi as his language subject. “I was fluent since childhood but was discouraged because it wasn’t a mainstream pick,” he says. “Turns out, I scored 200 — it greatly boosted my CUET percentile.”

Similarly, Garima, who appeared for six subjects, Hindi, Political Science, Geography, and History, in CUET UG 2022, scored full marks in all subjects and secured admission in Political Science (Hons) at Hindu College. Her advice: “Go for subjects you’re confident in — that’s what matters.”

The Double-Edged Sword

Experts caution against picking a niche subject solely due to lesser competition.

“Subjects should be chosen primarily based on interest and aptitude, not competition,” says Ramnath Kanakadandi, senior course director at T.I.M.E. “If competition is made the primary factor, students risk entering domains they neither enjoy nor perform well in.”

Moreover, if a niche subject doesn't align with the eligibility requirements of your preferred programme, it could disqualify you from your dream college, regardless of how high you score in it.

Garima also highlights this risk: “For a B.Sc. Zoology courses, biology, chemistry, and physics are essential. There’s no space for niche subjects. So, you must study the course structure and requirements carefully.”

Subject Strategy: What to Consider

The CUET UG strategy is increasingly moving from default board subject choices to more data-driven, goal-oriented selections. Subject selection should balance:

• Course eligibility criteria from university websites or CUET bulletins.
   
• Interest and performance history in the subject.
   
• Availability of preparation resources and coaching.
   
• Normalisation and scoring trends from previous years.
   
• Flexibility for backup options across universities.

“Start assessing your strengths from Class 11,” advises Mehta. “Choose subjects that match your comfort zone, but also allow you to keep multiple course options open.”

For instance, Economics (Hons) often mandates Mathematics, while English might just be qualifying for science-based degrees. Students should verify subject weightage and cutoffs for each programme.

CUET’s New Admission Landscape

With CUET serving as a gateway to over 200 universities, subject selection has become a strategic process rather than a routine academic decision. Students no longer pick subjects just because schools offer them — they choose with purpose, considering percentile patterns, admission cutoffs, and course requirements.

Many are also including General Aptitude Tests and language papers to maximise flexibility across colleges. The result: a more informed, prepared, and strategic student body.

Conclusion: Confidence is Key

Ultimately, whether a student chooses a popular or niche subject, the decision must be rooted in:

• Confidence in the subject,
   
• Alignment with long-term academic goals, and
   
• Awareness of course and university requirements.
   

Choosing a subject just because it's less competitive is a flawed approach unless it fits your strengths and target course. Instead, use your subject selection to play to your strengths, open up options, and stay resilient under CUET's competitive pressure.

In CUET UG, clarity, not conformity, will be your greatest advantage.