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CUET 2025 Psychology Syllabus: Units, Section-wise Weightage, Books & Preparation Tips

Last update: Jun 06, 2025

CUET 2025 Psychology Syllabus, released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), includes seven major units. These cover key concepts such as Variations in Psychological Attributes, Self and Personality, Meeting Life Challenges, Psychological Disorders, Therapeutic Approaches, Social Cognition, and Social Influence. Each unit is further divided into detailed subunits, allowing candidates to explore core psychological concepts. The units of the CUET Psychology Syllabus are typically based on the NCERT Units. So, a thorough reading of textbooks is more important to achieve a good score in the CUET 2025 Exam. According to past year exam patterns, the Psychological Disorders, Therapeutic Approaches, and Meeting Life Challenges sections likely hold higher weightage percentages. Hence, candidates must focus on regular revision and MCQ practice to attempt all questions in these high-priority areas. Below are more details on the syllabus, essential books, and preparation tips.

 

Table of Contents
  1. CUET 2025 Psychology Syllabus
  2. CUET Psychology Syllabus: Unit-wise Weightage
  3. CUET 2025 Psychology Exam Pattern
  4. Important Books
  5. CUET 2025 Psychology Preparation Tips
  6. Final thoughts

 

CUET 2025 Psychology Syllabus

The CUET 2025 Psychology syllabus is structured with seven key units. It allows candidates to learn about human behaviour, mental health and social dynamics. The detailed subtopics under each unit are presented below.

Units

Subunits

Unit 1: Variations in Psychological Attributes

  1. Introduction
  2. Individual Differences in Human Functioning
  3. Assessment of Psychological Attributes
  4. Intelligence
  5. Theories of Intelligence
  6. Individual Differences in Intelligence
  7. Culture and Intelligence
  8. Emotional Intelligence
  9. Special Abilities
  • Aptitude: Nature and Measurement
  1. Creativity

Unit 2: Self and Personality

1. Introduction

 

2. Self and Personality

 

3. Concept of Self

 

4. Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Self

  •  Self-esteem
  •  Self-efficacy
  •  Self-regulation

5. Culture and Self

 

6. Concept of Personality

 

7. Major Approaches to the Study of Personality

  •  Type Approaches
  •  Trait Approaches
  •  Psychodynamic Approach
  •  Behavioural Approach
  •  Cultural Approach
  •  Humanistic Approach

8. Assessment of Personality

  •  Self-report Measures
  •  Projective Techniques
  •  Behavioural Analysis

Unit 3: Meeting Life Challenges

1. Introduction

 

2. Nature, Types and Sources of Stress

 

3. Effects of Stress on Psychological Functioning and Health

  •  Stress and Health
  •  General Adaptation Syndrome
  •  Stress and the Immune System
  •  Lifestyle

4. Coping with Stress

  •  Stress Management Techniques

5. Promoting Positive Health and Well-being

  •  Life Skills

Unit 4: Psychological Disorders

  1. Introduction
  2. Concepts of Abnormality and Psychological Disorders
  3. Classification of Psychological Disorders
  4. Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour
  5. Major Psychological Disorders
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
  • Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
  • Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Depressive Disorders
  • Bipolar and Related Disorders
  • Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders
  • Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Unit 5: Therapeutic Approaches

  1. Introduction
  2. Nature and Process of Psychotherapy
  • Therapeutic Relationship
  1. Types of Therapies
  • Behaviour Therapy
  • Cognitive Therapy
  • Humanistic-existential Therapy
  • Factors Contributing to Healing in Psychotherapy
  • Ethics in Psychotherapy
  • Alternative Therapies
  1. Rehabilitation of mentally ill persons

Unit 6: Attitude and Social Cognition

  1. Introduction
  2. Explaining Social Behaviour
  3. Nature and Components of Attitudes
  4. Attitude Formation and Change
  5. Prejudice and Discrimination
  6. Strategies for Handling Prejudice

Unit 7: Social Influence and Group Processes

1. Introduction

 

2. Nature and Formation of Groups

 

3. Types of Groups

 

4. Influence of Group on Individual Behaviour

  •  Social Loafing
  •  Group Polarisation.

 

CUET Psychology Syllabus: Unit-wise Weightage

Past years’ exam pattern suggests Psychological Disorders, Therapeutic Approaches, and Meeting Life Challenges carry a high weight percentage, each contributing approximately 10–12%. These units are key focus areas for candidates. In contrast, Variations in Attitude and Social Cognition, Social Influence and Group Processes, etc., are expected to carry a lower mark distribution. A detailed breakdown of the units is presented below for better clarity for candidates.

Units

Number of questions

Marks

Percentage

Psychological Disorders

5-6

25-30

10%-12%

Therapeutic Approaches

5-6

25-30

10%-12%

Meeting Life Challenges

5

25

10%

Self and Personality

2-3

10-15

4%-6%

Variations in Psychological Attributes

1-2

5-10

2%-4%

Attitude and Social Cognition

1-2

5-10

2%-4%

Social Influence and Group Processes

1-2

5-10

2%-4%

Psychology and Life

1-2

5-10

2%-4%

Developing Psychological Skills

1-2

5-10

2%-4%

 

CUET 2025 Psychology Exam Pattern

Candidates need both precision and speed to score well in the CUET 2025 Exam. In only 60 minutes, candidates must attempt 50 questions. But, fortunately, the exam will consist only of MCQs. Hence, candidates need to focus on accuracy more to try all the questions within the given time. Each correct answer will carry +5 marks, while an incorrect answer will result in a -1 mark penalty. Candidates can quickly review the table below to revise the CUET 2025 Exam pattern.

Particulars

Details

Mode of the Exam

Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode

Question Type

MCQs

Total Questions

50  

Maximum Marks

250

Duration

60 minutes

Marking Scheme

Correct Answer: 05 marks

 

Incorrect Answer: -1 mark

 

Unanswered/unattended Answer: 0

Course mapping for CUET Psychology

  1. BA in Psychology
  2. Integrated BA in Psychology
  3. BSc in Psychology
  4. BSc Hons in Psychology
  5. BA Hons In Psychology
  6. BA Hons in Applied Psychology
  7. BSc Hons in Clinical Psychology

 

Important Books

As mentioned, CUET 2025 Psychology Syllabus is based on the NCERT chapters. Hence, candidates should rely solely on the NCERT 11 and 12 Psychology textbooks. In addition, they can refer to some other books for practice. The list is as follows:

  • Oswaal NTA CUET (UG) 5 Mock Test Papers Psychology.
  • Together with NTA CUET UG & NCET 2025 Psychology Question Bank, Exam Code 324 by Rachna Sagar.
  • Objective Psychology by RPH Editorial Board.
  • Summarising Psychology by Bhasker Malu.

 

CUET 2025 Psychology Preparation Tips

Psychology is a subject that demands critical thinking and comprehension skills. Hence, candidates must develop a critical mind by interlinking basic psychological topics with real-life situations. In this article, aspirants will find ways to develop critical thinking abilities to master the CUET Psychology syllabus. Below are some quick and effective tips:

  • Candidates should assess their strong and weak areas by practising questions and solving mock test papers. This strategy can help them to put an in-depth focus on high-priority sections.
  • Writing notes on real-life case studies is essential. This will help students develop critical thinking ability.
  • Candidates must take a planned approach. Easier sections should be revised first, and then they should jump to the comparatively difficult sections. In this way, a longer time can be allotted for complex parts.
  • Candidates should primarily focus on the NCERT books. After developing a solid grasp, candidates should get secondary help from the suggested books.

 

Final thoughts

Success in the CUET 2025 Psychology exam does not demand just memorising the syllabus topics but truly understanding the concepts. Candidates are advised to stick to the concepts of the NCERT books only. This will help them apply concepts to real-life situations with better concept clarity. In addition, they are also suggested to emphasise the high-priority areas of  CUET 2025 Psychology Syllabus to achieve a perfect 250/250.

 

Best Wishes for the Exam!

 

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