Overall: Easy to Moderate Not that tough but some questions were tricky. No questions repeated from previous shifts. RC passages manageable — 1 factual (cricket), 1 narrative (girl visiting hometown). Para Jumbles easy and doable.
55%Easy
35%Moderate
10%Tricky
Section-wise Difficulty
Vocabulary
Easy
Para Jumbles
Easy
Poetic Devices
Easy
Narration/Voice
Easy
Adjective
Easy
RC Passages
Mod.
Subj-Verb Agr.
Mod.
Gram. Sentences
Mod.
Epigram / Homophones
Tricky
Key Observations
Zero question repetition from previous shifts — all fresh questions
Unique: Epigram identification — first time this literary device was tested
Homophones: elicit/illicit and eminent/imminent — easy to confuse
Grammar: 3 Qs on grammatically correct sentences (A/B/C combos) — confusing format
RC: Cricket passage — 3 direct + 2 tricky Qs; Hometown narrative — mostly direct
"I'd say the level was easy-moderate; not that tough but some questions were tricky. None of the questions from other shifts were repeated. Para jumbles were pretty easy, very doable. 1 question on reported speech and 1 active-passive — easy. Whoever has their exam now, I hope this helped and well all the best — you got this!"
Memory-based — question count per section may vary. Student was a BSc aspirant (English not counted in score) and attempted 40 out of 50 questions.
Vocabulary Words
Precarious
Uncertain, dependent on chance; not safe
Umbrage
Offence or annoyance
Innocuous
Not harmful or offensive
Aplomb
Self-confidence, composure under pressure
Obtrusive
Noticeable in an unpleasant way
Repugnant
Extremely distasteful, unacceptable
Annihilate
Destroy utterly; obliterate
Vindictive
Having a strong desire for revenge
Carcinogenic
Capable of causing cancer
Espionage
The practice of spying
Apprehensive
Anxious or fearful about the future
Comprehensive
Complete, including all aspects
Match the Following · Set 1
Match vocabulary words with meanings (carcinogenic, espionage + 2 more not recalled)
Carcinogenic—Cancer-causing agent
Espionage—Practice of spying
+ 2 more words not recalled by student
Match the Following · Set 2
Match vocabulary words with meanings (annihilate, vindictive, quant + 1 more not recalled)
Annihilate—Destroy completely
Vindictive—Seeking revenge
+ "quant" and 1 more word not fully recalled by student
Homophones / Confusing Pairs
These are commonly confused word pairs that appeared in the paper. Distinguishing meaning and spelling is key.
Set 1 — Elicit vs Illicit
elicitverb — to draw out a response
illicitadjective — forbidden by law or rules
Trick: e-licit = e-voke (both start with 'e', both mean draw out). illicit = ill + legal.
Student noted: "Something peculiar I found was — choose a sentence that represents an epigram. I didn't know what it was." First time this literary form appeared in CUET!
What is an Epigram?
An epigram is a short, clever, witty statement that expresses a truth in a surprising or paradoxical way. It is brief, pointed, and often humorous.
Classic Examples of Epigrammatic Sentences:
"I can resist everything except temptation." — Oscar Wilde
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
"If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you."
"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
How to identify: Look for a short statement with a twist or paradox — something that sounds contradictory but contains a truth. It feels surprising and witty.
Poetic Devices — 2 Questions
Q 01 · Identify Figure of Speech
"The silence screamed louder than the argument."
APersonification ✓
BSimile
CMetaphor
DHyperbole
Personification — silence given human action (screaming)
Q 02 · Identify Figure of Speech
"The wind whispered through the trees..."
APersonification ✓
BSimile
CAlliteration
DMetaphor
Personification — wind given human action (whispering)
Both poetic device questions in this paper had Personification as the answer. A clear pattern — review personification, simile, metaphor, and alliteration for upcoming shifts.
Grammar
Subject–Verb Agreement
Q — Fill in the Blank
Because the AC turned off, professor, along with his students, was/were (sentence continues).
Answer: Singular verb (was/is)
Rule: When two subjects are joined by "along with", "as well as", "in addition to", "together with" — the verb agrees with the FIRST subject (professor → singular).
Common trap: "along with his students" makes it sound plural, but verb stays singular because professor is the true subject.
Adjective Degree
Q — Choose correct adjective form
He is a ___ when it comes to...
AMeeker (comparative)
BGreatest (superlative)
CCowardly ✓ (positive/base form)
DComparative degree option
The sentence uses "a" + adjective as a noun modifier — requires the positive/base form, not comparative or superlative.
Vocabulary in Context
Q — Fill in the Blank (Confusing Pair)
She was ___ whether the changes would be approved by her boss.
AApprehensive ✓ (anxious/worried)
BComprehensive (complete/thorough)
COption 3
DOption 4
Context = feeling of worry/doubt → apprehensive. "Comprehensive" means thorough/complete, which makes no sense here.
Grammatically Correct Sentences · 3 Questions
3 questions in this format — "Which of the following is/are grammatically correct?" with options like: Only A · Only B · Both A and B · Both B and C
Student noted these were "a bit confusing." Tip: Eliminate clearly wrong sentences, then check grammar rules for remaining options.
Narration & Active–Passive Voice
1 question each — both reported as easy by the student. Standard transformation questions.
Prepositions · Match the Following
Match prepositions with the correct context/usage: to · for · from · with
toforfromwith
Idiom
A stitch in time saves nine
Taking care of a small problem now prevents it from becoming a much bigger problem later. Act promptly to avoid greater effort in the future.
Reading Comprehension — 2 Passages
RC Passage 1
Cricket — History & Facts
Very fact-based passage about cricket and its history. 5 questions asked. 3 were direct and easy to find in the passage; 2 were slightly confusing. The student left 1 question.
Memorable Question
What does the obituary column of the newspaper depict?
Answer from passage context — about death/legacy in cricket writing
Topics likely covered: Origins of cricket, important historical milestones, cricket culture and journalism.
RC Passage 2
A Girl Visiting Her Hometown
Descriptive/narrative passage about a girl returning to her hometown after a long time because her grandmother passed away. Mostly direct questions — easy to answer. One unusual/tricky question on an expression.
Tricky Question
What does the expression "tugged at her heart" mean?
Caused a strong feeling of emotion / nostalgia (pulled at her emotions)
Themes: Nostalgia, grief, homecoming, emotional connection to place and memory.
Para Jumbles
Student Feedback
Para jumbles were "pretty easy, very doable" in this shift. Exact sentences not recalled.
Strategy: Find the opening sentence (has no pronoun reference backward), then follow logical flow. First and last sentences are usually easiest to identify.