Rajasthan CET Senior Secondary Exam Pattern 2026

The Rajasthan CET Senior Secondary exam pattern is a single objective paper of 120 questions carrying 240 marks, to be solved in 2 hours 30 minutes. It is conducted by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) for posts that need a Class 12 qualification, and the answers are marked on an OMR sheet.

This page explains the structure, the marking scheme and what the numbers mean for your attempt strategy. The details follow the 2026 notification as reported by education news sources. The RSSB website could not be opened while this page was drafted, so verify every figure on rssb.rajasthan.gov.in before exam day.

Table of Contents

Exam pattern

The exam dates were revised from 23 to 25 October 2026. Treat the December dates as tentative and track the official site.

Key changes and common confusions

• Do not mix up the levels: The graduation level CET is reported to have 150 questions, 300 marks and 3 hours. The senior secondary paper has 120 questions, 240 marks and 150 minutes.

• Older pages: Pages written for earlier cycles may show a different number of subjects or topics. Older pages may still show the earlier format, so follow the official notification.

• Subject-wise split: The sources used did not give a verified question count per subject. Some websites publish a table with exact counts, but those are not confirmed in the notification text we could check.

Subjects in the paper

The 120 questions are drawn from the following 13 subject areas. The order below is for convenience and does not indicate the order of questions.

Topic details are on the Rajasthan CET Senior Secondary syllabus page.

Marking scheme and negative marking

Each question carries 2 marks. For each wrong answer, one-third of the marks allotted to that question is deducted, which is about 0.67 marks. There is no extra reward for speed.

Worked example

The first two rows reach the same score by very different routes. Accuracy and attempts both matter, and the right balance depends on how sure you are about each answer.

OMR sheet rules to know

Some reports of the 2026 notification describe a five-option format in which option E is meant for questions you choose not to answer. They also say that a question left with no option marked can attract the same deduction as a wrong answer, and that leaving more than 10 percent of questions unmarked can lead to disqualification. They add 10 extra minutes at the end for checking the OMR sheet. These points are reported by a single source and are not confirmed, so read the instructions in the official notification and on your admit card before you decide how to mark.

• Mark every question: If the rule on unanswered questions applies, use the "not attempted" option rather than leaving a blank.

• Use the pen specified: OMR sheets are read by machine, and an incomplete circle can be rejected.

• Check the code: Match your question booklet series code with the code you bubble on the sheet.

What the pattern means for you

• Two minutes per question is generous: 150 minutes for 120 questions gives about 75 seconds each. Aim to finish a first pass in about 120 minutes and keep 30 for review.

• A wrong answer costs about a third of a right one: If you can remove two options, guessing is usually worthwhile. With no idea, skipping is safer.

• Rajasthan studies are the base: Five subjects focus on the state, so a strong score in these gives you a cushion for aptitude.

• Do not ignore the small subjects: Computer, public health and Hindi questions are short and quick, which saves time for reasoning and mathematics.

Qualifying marks and later stages

A minimum qualifying percentage was reported: 40 percent for General and 35 percent for SC and ST candidates. That means about 96 marks out of 240 for General and 84 for SC and ST. These figures are tentative. Qualifying only makes you eligible. Merit determines who is shortlisted, and each department then conducts its own stages. See the cut-off page for how to set a realistic target.

There is no interview at the CET stage. Physical tests, typing tests or document verification, where they apply, belong to the department's later recruitment.

Time management and exam-day strategy

1. First 5 minutes: Read the instructions and check the booklet and OMR codes.

2. First pass, about 100 minutes: Answer sure questions first, starting with the subject you find easiest. Mark doubtful questions in the booklet.

3. Second pass, about 30 minutes: Return to doubtful questions and apply elimination.

4. Last 15 minutes: Transfer or verify all answers on the OMR sheet. Do not rush this step.

Practising this routine in mocks is the best way to make it automatic.