with the CBSE With Class 12 results expected soon, students across the country are wondering if their marks will be enough to get through. Admission Like in top colleges He has, JNU and other reputed universities.However, the admission system of India’s top universities has changed dramatically in recent years, and board marks alone do not decide a student’s future in higher education. Instead, entrance exams like CUET have taken center stage, while CBSE scores now serve as a qualifying filter and academic indicator rather than a final selection tool. This change has created both clarity and confusion among students. On the one hand, it has reduced the pressure of extremely high board cutoffs that once defined colleges like Delhi University. On the other hand, it has introduced a new layer of competition where performance in a single entrance exam can exceed years of board preparation. As a result, students in 2026 must now balance both board performance and admissions preparation to remain competitive for top institutions.
Delhi University (DU)
For DU, admissions to popular courses like BCom (Hons), Economics, Political Science and English remain highly competitive. For 2026 DU undergraduate admissions, Class XII board exam scores are not directly required for merit calculation, but you must clear your boards. Admissions are based 100% on CUET (UG) 2026 score through Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS).However, board scores (and now Class X marks) will be used to break ties only if two candidates have identical CUET scores.The university also said that the minimum qualifying percentage criteria across boards may still be applicable for certain courses.
JNU
At Jawaharlal Nehru University, admissions to most undergraduate programs are also based on CUET scores. Here, CBSE marks are mainly used for eligibility. However, students with a strong academic background often perform better in entrance exams, with CBSE generally seeing a cutoff of 75-90% successful candidates, though this is not a strict requirement for admission. Candidates must opt for Section IA (English) and Section III (General Test) in the CUET exam to be eligible for admission to JNU.The same trend holds for other reputed institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University, and private universities.CBSE marks ensure eligibility and academic credibility, but CUET performance is the deciding factor. So even if students get mid-range board scores, they can still get admission if they perform well in the entrance test.
