120 Marks in CUET UG 2026: Expected NTA Score, Percentile and College Options

A raw score of 120 out of 200 in CUET UG 2026 is expected to fetch an NTA Score of approximately 70–78, based on 2024–2025 normalisation trends.

NTA converts raw marks into a percentile-based NTA Score to account for difficulty variation across shifts and sessions. Universities use this NTA Score — not raw marks — to prepare merit lists. At an estimated NTA Score of 70–78, General category students can target mid-range Delhi University affiliated colleges and central universities outside Delhi. Top DU colleges require NTA Scores of 90 or above and are out of reach at this score.

• CUET UG 2026 domain subject papers carry 50 questions; students attempt any 40, earning +5 per correct answer and losing 1 mark per wrong answer — maximum raw score is 200 marks.
• A score of 120 out of 200 represents 60% of the maximum raw marks.
• Based on 2024–2025 trends, 120 marks is expected to translate to an NTA Score of 70–78 (varies by subject and shift difficulty).
• General category students at this NTA Score can realistically target mid-range DU colleges and several central universities outside Delhi.
• Reserved category students (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD) have significantly better prospects at 120 marks due to lower category-wise closing NTA Scores.
• Top DU colleges such as Miranda House, Hindu College and Lady Shri Ram require NTA Scores of 90+ for General category — these are not accessible at 120 marks.

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CUET UG 2026 Marks Structure

Each CUET UG 2026 domain subject paper follows a fixed structure set by NTA. Understanding this structure is essential to interpret what 120 marks means in competitive terms.

To reach 120 marks, one example combination is 25 correct answers and 5 wrong answers: (25 × 5) − (5 × 1) = 125 − 5 = 120. Another is 26 correct and 10 wrong: (130 − 10) = 120. Unattempted questions do not affect the raw score.

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Expected NTA Score for 120 Marks in CUET UG 2026

The NTA Score is not your raw marks — it is a percentile figure normalised across all shifts for a given subject. The table below shows estimated NTA Score ranges for raw marks between 100 and 150, based on 2024–2025 normalisation trends. These are expected values for planning purposes only.

All NTA Score estimates above are based on 2024–2025 trends and are expected figures. Actual NTA Scores for 2026 depend on shift difficulty and the performance of students in your specific session and subject.

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Category-wise Admission Chances at 120 Marks

Universities using CUET UG scores prepare separate merit lists and maintain category-wise closing NTA Scores. At 120 marks, reserved category students have noticeably better admission prospects because their category closing NTA Scores are lower than those of the General category.

Admission chances vary by programme and university. Always check the specific university’s category-wise cutoff notification before applying. Some central universities accept combined scores across multiple subjects, which can improve your position further.

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College Options for 120 Marks in CUET UG 2026

With an expected NTA Score of 70–78, General category students should focus on institutions with 2024–2025 closing NTA Scores in the 65–80 range. The table below lists colleges and central universities that are realistically accessible at this score, based on previous year trends.

Closing NTA Scores above are based on 2024–2025 trends and are expected estimates. Actual 2026 closing scores will be released by universities after the admission process concludes.

Note: Top DU colleges including Miranda House, Hindu College, Lady Shri Ram, Hansraj College and Kirori Mal College require NTA Scores of 90 or above for General category in most programmes. These are not realistic targets at 120 raw marks. Reserved category students may find some of these colleges accessible at lower category-wise closing scores.

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How NTA Calculates Your Score

NTA uses an equipercentile normalisation method to derive NTA Scores from raw marks. This process ensures fairness across students who appeared in different shifts with varying difficulty levels.

• Raw marks are calculated first using the marking scheme: +5 for correct, −1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted.
• NTA analyses the difficulty of each shift statistically based on overall student performance in that session.
• Raw score distributions from all shifts are mapped onto a common percentile scale using the equipercentile method — ensuring a student from an easier shift is not unfairly advantaged.
• The resulting normalised figure is the NTA Score, expressed on a scale of 0.0000000 to 100.0000000 on the official score card.
• Two students with the same raw marks in different shifts may receive slightly different NTA Scores — this is by design and not an error.
• Each subject you appeared in receives a separate NTA Score. Universities combine scores from the subjects you nominate during the admission process.