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The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate (UG) courses is available to students who have completed their Class 12 education from a recognized board. The exam is usually held annually, covering 27 different domain subjects, including Biology. Students aiming to pursue degrees like B.Sc. in Biology, Zoology, Botany, Biotechnology, and related fields can easily access and download the CUET Biology syllabus from the official website of the National Testing Agency at https://exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG/.
CUET Biology Syllabus 2025
The CUET Biology syllabus for 2025 focuses on important topics in life sciences. It includes studying cells, the basic units of life, and genetics, which explains how traits are inherited. The syllabus has 5 units with 16 chapters. Section II (domain subject) consists of 50 questions, and students must answer 40 in 45 minutes.
It also covers the structure and functions of plants and animals, including their growth and reproduction. Human biology topics like digestion, breathing, and the circulatory system are included. The syllabus also teaches ecology, which explains how living things interact with their surroundings, and evolution, which looks at how species change over time.
CUET UG Zoology Syllabus
The topics related to Zoology covered in the CUET Syllabus are given below:
- Origin of Life
- Organic Evolution
- Mechanism of Organic Evolution
- Human Genetics and Eugenics
- Applied Biology
- Mammalian Anatomy (Eg. Rabbit)
- Animal Physiology
- Comparison between Periplaneta and Blatta
CUET UG Botany Syllabus
The topics related to Botany covered in the CUET Syllabus are given below:
- Plant Cell
- Protoplasm
- Ecology
- Ecosystem
- Genetics
- Seeds in angiosperm plants
- Fruits
- Cell Differentiation Plant Tissue
- Anatomy of Root, Stem, and Leaf
- Important phylums
- Soil
- Photosynthesis
CUET 2025 Unit Wise Biology Syllabus
The Students are advised to first go through the newly updated CUET syllabus before starting their preparation for the Common University Entrance Test [CUET]. The CUET 2025 Biology Syllabus has been discussed below, which covers almost all the topics of Biology. Each unit in the CUET UG Biology Syllabus carries several chapters or sub-topics.
Unit I: Reproduction
- Reproduction in organisms: Reproduction, a characteristic feature of all organisms for the continuation of species; Modes of reproduction –Asexual and sexual; Asexual reproduction; Modes- Binary fission, sporulation, budding, gemmule, fragmentation; vegetative propagation in plants.
- Sexual reproduction in flowering plants: Flower structure; Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination–types, agencies, and examples; Outbreedings devices; Pollen-Pistil interaction; Double fertilization; Post fertilization events– Development of endosperm and embryo, Development of seed and formation of fruit; Special modes– apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed and fruit formation.
- Human Reproduction: Male and female reproductive systems; Microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; Gametogenesis- spermatogenesis & oogenesis; Menstrual cycle; Fertilisation, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; Pregnancy and placenta formation (Elementary idea); Parturition (Elementary idea); Lactation (Elementary idea).
- Reproductive health: Need for reproductive health and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases(STD); Birth control- Need and Methods, Contraception and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP); Amniocentesis; Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies – IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (Elementary idea for general awareness).
Unit II: Genetics and Evolution
- Heredity and variation: Mendelian Inheritance; Deviations from Mendelism– Incomplete dominance, Co-dominance, Multiple alleles and Inheritance of blood groups, Pleiotropy; Elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; Chromosome theory of inheritance; Chromosomes and genes; Sex determination –In humans, birds, honeybee; Linkage and crossing over; Sex-linked inheritance- Haemophilia, Colour blindness; Mendelian disorders in humans– Thalassemia; Chromosomal disorders in humans; Down syndrome, Turner’s and Klinefelter’s syndromes.
- Molecular Basis of Inheritance: Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central dogma; Transcription, genetic code, translation; Gene expression and regulation–Lac Operon; Genome and human genome project; DNA fingerprinting.
- Evolution: Origin of life; Biological evolution and evidence for biological evolution (Paleontological, comparative anatomy, embryology, and molecular evidence); Darwin’s contribution, Modern Synthetic theory of Evolution; Mechanism of evolution–Variation(Mutation and Recombination) and Natural Selection with examples, types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy- Weinberg’sprinciple; Adaptive Radiation; Human evolution.
Unit III: Biology and Human Welfare
- Health and Disease: Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (Malaria, Filariasis, Ascariasis, Typhoid, Pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm); Basic concepts of immunology–vaccines; Cancer, HIV, and AIDs; Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse. Improvement in food production: Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, Biofortification; Apiculture and Animal husbandry.
- Improvement in food production: Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, Biofortification; Apiculture and Animal husbandry.
- Microbes in human welfare: In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation, and as biocontrol agents and biofertilizers.
Unit IV: Biotechnology and its Applications
- Principles and process of Biotechnology: Genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA technology).
- Application of Biotechnology in Health and Agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy; Genetically modified organisms-Bt crops; Transgenic Animals; Biosafety issues–Biopiracy and patents.
Unit V: Ecology and Environment
- Organisms and environment: Habitat and niche; Population and ecological adaptations; Population interactions– mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; Population attributes–growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution.
- Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; Energy flow; Pyramids of number, biomass, energy; Nutrient cycling (carbon and phosphorous); Ecological succession; Ecological Services– Carbon fixation, pollination, oxygen release.
- Biodiversity and its conservation: Concept of Biodiversity; Patterns of Biodiversity; Importance of Biodiversity; Loss of Biodiversity; Biodiversity conservation; Hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, biosphere reserves, National parks, and sanctuaries.
- Environmental issues: Air pollution and its control; Water pollution and its control; Agrochemicals and their effects; Solid waste management; Radioactive waste management; Greenhouse effect and global warming; Ozone depletion; Deforestation; Any three case studies as success stories addressing environmental issues.
CUET Biology 2025: Exam Pattern
The CUET Biology exam is simple. It has multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four options, and you choose the correct one. The questions come from your high school biology topics, like cell biology, genetics, ecology, and more. The exam may have different sections and covers the main ideas of biology. The number of questions and time limit can change, so check the details for your year. The test checks how well you understand biology and how you can use what you’ve learned.
CUET Biology Exam Pattern | |
Exam conducting body | National Testing Agency |
Examination Name | Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET 2024) |
Medium of Examination | 13 Languages (English, Kannada, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Malayalam Odia, Assamese Telugu, Bengali and Gujarati) |
Examination Mode | Computer-based Test (CBT) |
Time allotted for Biology Exam | 45 minutes |
Total number of questions in the Biology section | 45/50 questions |
Total Biology Questions to be Answered | 35/40 questions |
Total Marks in Biology Section | 200 Marks |
Marking Scheme |
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Best Books for CUET 2025 Biology Preparation
Preparing for CUET Biology requires good study materials. The best books help students understand concepts clearly and practice questions effectively. Choosing the right books can make your preparation easier and more efficient. Look for books that cover the full syllabus, have clear explanations, and provide plenty of practice questions.
- NCERT Biology Class 11 & 12
- Trueman’s Elementary Biology (Volume 1 & 2)
- Dinesh Objective Biology
- Pradeep’s Biology
- MTG Objective NCERT at your Fingertips Biology
- Biology by GR Bathla Publications