Here’s What You Should Study First
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET), is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and is one of the major entrance examinations for admission to postgraduate programmes across participating universities in India.
And it is certainly competitive.
But there is something we have observed year after year: not everyone preparing for CUET is a full-time aspirant. Many students are simultaneously attending college, completing their graduation, doing internships or even working full-time. As a result, quite a few students begin their CUET preparation much later than they had originally planned.
If you are one of them, do not waste whatever time is left worrying about when you should have started.
The more important question is:
What should you study first?
At Maansarovar Law Centre, we have worked with students starting from very different levels of preparation. And when time is limited, your strategy cannot simply be to study everything in the order in which it appears in a book.
You need to prioritise.
So, if you are starting your CUET preparation late, here is exactly where you should begin.
First, Understand the Five Major Sections
Your preparation can broadly be divided into five areas:
1. General Knowledge
2. Computers
3. English
4. Logical Reasoning
5. Mathematics
If you are beginning late, you should not give equal time to every chapter within these five subjects. Instead, begin with the areas that have historically been more relevant and can give you a better return on the time you invest.
Let us take them one by one.
1. General Knowledge: Start With What Matters Most
General Knowledge forms a significant portion of the examination, and both Current Affairs and Static GK need your attention.
But if you are beginning your preparation late, there is one important principle you should remember:
Current affairs closer to the examination are generally more important than events that happened several months ago, unless the older event was of major national or international significance.
Start Reading a Newspaper Every Day
No matter how late you begin your CUET preparation, start reading a newspaper from Day 1. Take a subscription to a physical newspaper and spend some time reading it every day.
But here is the important part:
You do not have to make detailed newspaper notes. The primary purpose of newspaper reading at this stage is to develop awareness.
Regular reading helps you:
• recognise important personalities and organisations
• understand major national and international developments
• connect current affairs topics with your classroom notes
• understand GK lectures more easily
• develop familiarity with frequently discussed issues
Sometimes you may not remember the exact answer immediately, but one option may look familiar because you have repeatedly encountered the name, organisation, country or event while reading the newspaper. That familiarity can help you eliminate incorrect options and reach the correct answer. So, if you are starting late, do not abandon the newspaper merely because you cannot cover the previous several months through newspaper reading.
Start with today’s newspaper and continue consistently.
What to Study in Static GK
Static GK is enormous, and trying to study every possible fact when you have limited preparation time is not a sensible strategy.
Hence, its is advisable that you prioritise the following areas.
History
Give greater emphasis to:
• Indian National Movement
• Modern Indian History
• Post-Independence India
If time is limited, these areas should generally receive greater attention than extensive preparation of Ancient and Medieval History.
Government Schemes
Government schemes are extremely important and questions are regularly asked from this area.
Focus particularly on:
• important Central Government schemes
• target beneficiaries
• ministries concerned
• objectives of major schemes
• recently launched or modified schemes
Indian Polity and Constitution
This is another area that deserves priority.
Build clarity regarding:
• Fundamental Rights
• Fundamental Duties
• Parliament
• President and Prime Minister
• Constitutional bodies
• important constitutional provisions
• basic structure of Indian governance
Indian Geography
Do not try to memorise an entire geography textbook if you are short on time.
Begin with areas such as:
• River systems
• Mountain ranges
• Natural vegetation
• important geographical features of India
• Solar System and basic physical geography
Books and Authors
Learn major books and their authors, particularly those frequently appearing in competitive examinations or current affairs.
Miscellaneous GK
Prepare important factual areas such as:
• First in India
• First in the world
• Important personalities
• Major awards
• Important organisations
• significant national and international facts
General Science
You do not need to become a science expert.
Concentrate on the most frequently tested general science facts and concepts, particularly those relevant for competitive examinations. A well-curated GK source or coaching material becomes extremely useful here because it prevents you from wasting time on low-priority information. We here at Maansarovar provide all the relevant GK material.
2. Computers: Begin With the High-Yield Areas
Computers can also constitute a substantial portion of the paper, and the advantage of this section is that many questions come from identifiable areas.
If you are starting late, begin with the following topics:
1. Networking and Internet
Understand basic concepts relating to: Internet, LAN and WAN networking terminology, browsers, protocols, internet services.
2. Memory and Storage
Topics like primary and secondary memory, RAM and ROM, storage devices, memory units and basic differences between various types of storage are important.
3. Software and Operating Systems
Topics like system software, application software, operating systems and basic software terminology can be studied.
4. Cybersecurity
This has become increasingly relevant.
Prepare concepts such as:, malware, viruses, phishing, firewalls, cyber threats and basic internet security.
5. Computer Hardware
Try to Understand the basic components of a computer and their functions.
3. English: Vocabulary Before Excessive Grammar
One common mistake students make is spending too much time trying to revise every rule of English grammar. This may not be the best use of your time.
For CUET preparation, Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary deserve significant attention.
Vocabulary
Your vocabulary preparation should include:
• Word meanings
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• One-word substitutions
• Idioms and phrases
Vocabulary is not something you can completely prepare in two or three days, so begin learning it from the very first day of your preparation. For this you can use a structured vocabulary book or properly curated vocabulary material rather than collecting random words from ten different sources.
At Maansarovar Law Centre, for instance, we provide our students with extensive vocabulary material specifically structured for entrance examinations so that their preparation remains focused and exam oriented.
Reading Comprehension
Practice Reading Comprehension regularly, if not daily.
Do not simply read passages and check answers. Work on the wrong answers, their analysis and their reasoning.
What About Grammar?
Grammar should certainly not be ignored.
However, if you are starting late and have to decide where to allocate more time, vocabulary and comprehension should generally receive greater attention than trying to master every grammar rule from scratch. Some important topics of grammar for CUET are:
• Subject Verb Agreement
• Superfluous Expressions
• Tenses
• Active and Passive Voice
• Direct and Indirect speech
4. Logical Reasoning: Begin With Frequently Tested Topics
Logical Reasoning is one of those sections where targeted practice can produce substantial improvement within a relatively short period.
If you are starting late, begin with:
• Figures and patterns
• Ranking and arrangement
• Coding-decoding
• Blood relations
• Directions
• Number series
These topics should form the first layer of your Logical Reasoning preparation.
But remember one thing: Logical Reasoning cannot be prepared merely by reading formulas or watching lectures. You have to solve questions regularly and you have to learn the concept, solve a set of questions immediately and identify the kinds of traps you are making. That is where actual improvement happens.
5. Mathematics: Strengthen the Core Topics First
Mathematics can sometimes create unnecessary fear among students, particularly those who have not studied the subject regularly. The good news is that if you are beginning late, you do not have to start by trying to master every advanced chapter. Questions can certainly come from a wide range of areas, and recent papers have tested students across multiple topics. However, if you have to prioritise, begin with the fundamental arithmetic and commonly tested chapters.
Focus first on:
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Ratio and Proportion
• Average
• Time and Work
• Time, Speed and Distance
• Mensuration
• Clocks
• Calendars
The first six topics in particular are interconnected. For example, a strong understanding of percentages makes Profit and Loss, Ratio and several other arithmetic questions considerably easier.
So instead of studying Mathematics randomly, build it layer by layer.
If You Are Starting Late, Your Rule Should Be: Prioritise Before You Expand
The biggest mistake a late starter can make is trying to compensate for lost time by collecting too many books, courses, PDFs and study materials. That usually creates more confusion, not more preparation.
Your strategy should be simple: First complete the high-priority topics. Then expand your preparation if time permits.
For quick reference, your first priorities should look something like this:
GK: Current Affairs + Newspaper + National Movement + Post-Independence + Government Schemes + Polity + selected Geography + important miscellaneous GK
Computers: Networking and Internet + Memory and Storage + Software + Cybersecurity + Hardware
English: Vocabulary + Reading Comprehension + essential Grammar
Logical Reasoning: Figures and Patterns + Ranking + Coding-Decoding + Blood Relations + Directions + Number Series
Mathematics: Percentage + Profit and Loss + Ratio + Average + Time and Work + Time, Speed and Distance + Mensuration + Clocks + Calendars
Complete these areas properly before worrying about whether someone else has already finished three books.
Your Preparation Plan Should Also Be Personalised
There is one more important point. There cannot be one identical timetable for every late starter. One student may already be excellent at Mathematics but weak in GK. Another student may have strong English and reasoning skills but may never have studied Computers. Someone else may have already covered half the syllabus and simply need to know what to prioritise during the remaining weeks.
That is why, once you understand the general priority order, your actual study plan should be customised according to what you have already covered, what you are weak at and how much time you have left.
If you are confused about where you currently stand, you can connect with the team at Maansarovar Law Centre. We can help you assess your preparation and create a practical study plan according to your individual situation.
Starting late does not mean preparing randomly. It means being even more careful about what you study first, what you study next and what you can afford to leave for later. Use your remaining time intelligently, stay consistent and keep moving forward.
Together, let us start your success story!