Dreaming of the iconic JNU campus? Whether it’s Foreign Languages, Social Sciences, or Biotechnology, getting into JNU requires more than just hard work—it requires a CUET-focused strategy.
This Zero to Hero roadmap is built for
CUET-UG and CUET-PG aspirants
aiming for a seat in one of India's most prestigious central universities.
Follow this guide to navigate the deprivation points system and the latest NTA exam patterns.
JNU Admission Roadmap 2025–26: How to Crack CUET for JNU
Master the JNU entrance with our Zero to Hero guide—covering CUET subject mapping, deprivation points, and topper strategies.
Updated: 3 days ago
Categories: JNU Admissions, CUET Prep, Career Guide
JNU Zero to Hero: The Ultimate Roadmap (2025–2026)
1. Understand the JNU Admission Route (CUET Era)
JNU no longer conducts JNUEE for most courses. Admissions are now primary through CUET (UG & PG).
Exam Format:
• Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Question Type: Objective MCQs
• Marking: +5 for Correct, -1 for Incorrect (CUET UG)
The JNU "Secret Sauce": Deprivation Points
JNU is unique! It awards extra "deprivation points" (up to 12 points) to candidates from Quartile 1 & 2 districts, female/transgender candidates, and Kashmiri migrants. This can drastically change the final merit list.
Exam Format:
• Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
• Question Type: Objective MCQs
• Marking: +5 for Correct, -1 for Incorrect (CUET UG)
The JNU "Secret Sauce": Deprivation Points
JNU is unique! It awards extra "deprivation points" (up to 12 points) to candidates from Quartile 1 & 2 districts, female/transgender candidates, and Kashmiri migrants. This can drastically change the final merit list.
2. Subject Mapping – Choose Wisely
To get into JNU, you must select specific subjects in CUET. If you pick the wrong ones, you are ineligible even with a 100 percentile.
For B.A. (Hons.) Foreign Languages:
• Section IA: English (Mandatory)
• Section III: General Test (Mandatory)
For B.Sc. Ayurveda Biology:
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Maths + Sanskrit + General Test.
For M.A. / M.Sc. (PG):
• Focus entirely on Domain Knowledge (Part B). JNU often calculates merit based 100% on the domain score.
For B.A. (Hons.) Foreign Languages:
• Section IA: English (Mandatory)
• Section III: General Test (Mandatory)
For B.Sc. Ayurveda Biology:
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Maths + Sanskrit + General Test.
For M.A. / M.Sc. (PG):
• Focus entirely on Domain Knowledge (Part B). JNU often calculates merit based 100% on the domain score.
3. Preparation Timeline (2025–2026)
Phase 1: Concept Building (Now – Feb)
Stick to NCERTs for UG and Standard Reference books for PG. JNU questions are known for being analytical rather than just factual.
Phase 2: The General Test Grind (Feb – March)
If aiming for BA, master Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, and Quant. This is often the tie-breaker for JNU seats.
Phase 3: Revision & Mock Tests (April – May)
The CUET window is usually May. Solve at least 20 full-length mocks to adapt to the NTA interface.
Stick to NCERTs for UG and Standard Reference books for PG. JNU questions are known for being analytical rather than just factual.
Phase 2: The General Test Grind (Feb – March)
If aiming for BA, master Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, and Quant. This is often the tie-breaker for JNU seats.
Phase 3: Revision & Mock Tests (April – May)
The CUET window is usually May. Solve at least 20 full-length mocks to adapt to the NTA interface.
4. School-Specific Smart Strategy
School of International Studies (SIS):
Read editorials daily. Focus on World History and Political Theory for PG levels.
School of Languages (SLL&CS):
For UG, your English Vocabulary and General Awareness about different countries (France, Germany, Japan, etc.) must be top-notch.
School of Social Sciences (SSS):
Heavy focus on critical thinking. Don't just memorize dates; understand the "Why" behind historical or sociological shifts.
Read editorials daily. Focus on World History and Political Theory for PG levels.
School of Languages (SLL&CS):
For UG, your English Vocabulary and General Awareness about different countries (France, Germany, Japan, etc.) must be top-notch.
School of Social Sciences (SSS):
Heavy focus on critical thinking. Don't just memorize dates; understand the "Why" behind historical or sociological shifts.
5. Best Books & Digital Resources
For UG (BA Languages):
• Arihant/RS Aggarwal for General Test
• Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis)
• Lucent’s General Knowledge
For PG (MA/MSc):
• Previous Year JNUEE Papers (Pre-2022) — they are still the best for practice!
• IGNOU Study Material (Excellent for Social Sciences domain).
Online: NTA "Abhyas" App and JNU official e-prospectus.
• Arihant/RS Aggarwal for General Test
• Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis)
• Lucent’s General Knowledge
For PG (MA/MSc):
• Previous Year JNUEE Papers (Pre-2022) — they are still the best for practice!
• IGNOU Study Material (Excellent for Social Sciences domain).
Online: NTA "Abhyas" App and JNU official e-prospectus.
6. Critical Revision Tips
• Negative Marking: In JNU, 1 mark can be the difference between AIR 10 and AIR 500. Avoid "blind guessing" at all costs.
• Current Affairs: Focus on the last 8 months, especially International Summits, Awards, and Cultural news.
• Shallow vs Deep: For General Test, aim for speed. For Domain subjects, aim for depth.
• Current Affairs: Focus on the last 8 months, especially International Summits, Awards, and Cultural news.
• Shallow vs Deep: For General Test, aim for speed. For Domain subjects, aim for depth.
Important JNU Links
• JNU Official Portal →
jnu.ac.in/admissions
• NTA CUET UG → cuet.nta.nic.in
• NTA CUET PG → exams.nta.nic.in
• NTA CUET UG → cuet.nta.nic.in
• NTA CUET PG → exams.nta.nic.in
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