UGC NET New Syllabus & Exam Pattern. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has updated the syllabus of all papers for the UGC NET 2025 session.
Candidates willing to appear for the July or December session exam should follow the updated syllabus of their subject. More details are available at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
A notification issued by NTA reads, “The University Grants Commission has updated the syllabus of all NET subjects (including Paper-I on General Awareness). The revised syllabus of UGC-NET (Applicable for upcoming exams) is available on the UGC-NET website ugcnetonline.in.
Moreover, the syllabus of paper 1 of the UGC NET exam GENERAL PAPER ON TEACHING & RESEARCH APTITUDE. This paper is common for all candidates and is compulsory for every candidate to qualify.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) on behalf of the University Grant Commission (UGC). The NTA UGC NET examination is conducted twice in a year – June and December.
The UGC NET examination comprises two Papers – Paper I assesses the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate, while Paper II is based on the subject selected by the candidate. UGC NET Paper-I exam pattern, syllabus, and preparation tips for the examination.
UGC NET Exam Pattern
- UGC NET will be conducted as a Computer Based Test.
- The exam will have two papers. Both papers will be of Objective type and MCQ based.
- Candidates should note that no break will be given between the two Papers.
- Paper I will be out of 100 marks and Paper-II will be 200 marks.
- Candidates should note that all the questions are compulsory to attend.
- The total duration of UGC NET 2025 is for three hours.
- There is no negative marking for incorrect responses. Further, candidates will not receive marks for Unanswered or Marked for Review questions.
- Candidates will get 2 marks for each correct question.
- Further, the total number of questions for Paper I will be 50, and the total number of questions for Paper II will be 100.
- It should be noted that only those candidates who answered a particular question will be able to raise objections to it.
UGC NET Exam pattern
From this year, NTA will conduct the exam and instead of 3 papers, there will be only 2 papers – paper 1 and paper 2.
a. NTA UGC NET Paper I:
- UGC NET Paper 1, It will be of 100 marks and will contain 50 objective type compulsory questions.
- Each question will carry 2 marks, be general in nature, and test the candidate’s teaching/research aptitude.
- The same will be one hour (9:30 am to 10:30 am).
- 100 Marks – 50 Questions [Number of questions (All compulsory)].
- 1-hour Duration (First shift: 9.30 am to 10.30 am) and (Second shift: 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm)
b. NTA UGC NET Paper-II:
- UGC NET Paper 2, It will be of 100 marks and will contain 100 objective type compulsory questions.
- Each question will carry 2 marks and will be based on the subject opted by the candidate.
- The same duration will be two hours (11 am to 1 pm).
- 200 Marks – 100 Questions[Number of questions (All are compulsory)]
- 2 hours Duration (First shift: 11.00 am to 1.00 pm)and (Second shift: 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm)
The test will be conducted in computer-based (CBT) mode only. The candidates who desire to appear in the test may see the detailed Information Bulletin for UGC-NET which will be available on the website www.nta.ac.in.
The objective of Paper 1 (teaching and research): The main objective is to assess the candidates’ teaching and research capabilities. The test also aims to assess their teaching and research aptitude.
Candidates are expected to possess and exhibit cognitive abilities, which include comprehension, analysis, evaluation, understanding the structure of arguments, deductive and inductive reasoning.
The candidates are also expected to have a general awareness of teaching and learning processes in the higher education system. They should also be aware of the interaction between people, the environment, and natural resources and their impact on the quality of life.
UGC NET Paper-I: Paper-I of the UGC NET examination is generic in nature and aims to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidates.
It is primarily designed to examine the candidates’ reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking, and general awareness. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. The UGC NET Paper-I consists of 50 objective-type questions (MCQs), all of which are compulsory.
UGC NET Paper I Important Sections
- Teaching Aptitude
- Research Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
- Communication
- Reasoning (including Maths)
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
- People & Environment
- Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration
UGC NET Paper I Preparation Tips
- Make a study plan: Make a study timetable for all important sections of question paper and set a target for each day.
- Clear the concepts: The syllabus prescribed by the UGC is important, and candidates are advised to go through it and understand the important topics and concepts.
- Solve as many questions as possible: Use the previous year’s question paper and mock test to practice. It will help you in improving your speed and accuracy.
- Improve your weak areas: Once you attempt the mock test and the previous year’s papers, you can find your weak areas. Work on them, re-read them and spend more time solving similar questions.
- Time Management: Time management during the exam is important. You have to solve 150 questions in three hours. The practice papers will help you determine how to use your time effectively during the exam.
How to prepare?:
Some aspects of Paper-1 may seem new to many. So, it is important to focus on new topics and basic concepts first. Select standard material/books related to the UGC Net Paper-1 Syllabus, study thoroughly within the syllabus, and create a complete understanding.
After mastering the basic concepts, one should practice / practice the previous year’s examination question papers.
This gives candidates clarity on what concepts to ask questions about and what priority level will be given to which topics.
Practice increases clarity, precision and speed in writing the correct answer. This leads to time management skills and confidence.
Do not neglect to study any section of the syllabus in Paper-1. To score well you need to have a complete grasp of the subject with full understanding to write the answers to all the questions. Only then will the path to pass be paved.
Take short breaks in the middle while continuing to practice. This contributes to long-term memory and helps with recall in the examination room.
Understanding the subject requires resolving doubts with the help of peers and faculty / listening to a wide variety of expert lessons that are now widely available. Through this, the subject knowledge, as well as their experiences, will contribute. It also saves time.
Repeating as many times as possible will help you get the best score. To focus on the syllabus, use various reference books and free resources on the Internet.
Time management plays an important role in Paper-1. Avoid cell phones and social networking sites for testing purposes. Use technology wisely only for what is needed.
Motivation should continue until the test is complete. With a complete strategy, the goal can be reached by following the correct path according to the chronological table.
Practice mock tests and identify mistakes. Avoid repeating those mistakes in the later writing test. With continuous practice like this, one can achieve victories.
UGC NET Detailed Syllabus
- UGC NET Paper I is compulsory and the same for everyone, while UGC NET Paper-II is subject-specific. Candidates can choose subjects from their domain.
- Paper I comprises comprehension, communication, logical reasoning, mathematical reasoning, and research aptitude.
- Paper I also covers Teaching Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Information, and Communication Technology. It consists of topics related to People and the environment.
- Questions are also asked about Policies and Governance in Higher Education and the Evolution of Higher Education in India since Partition.
- Candidates should have a basic understanding of the changes and modifications in the Education System in India.
- As mentioned before, Paper II of UGC NET is subject-specific. It intends to test the candidate’s domain of expertise in the required subject.
- For example, candidates who will be taking UGC NET 2025 in Political Science can expect questions from Political Theory, Indian Political thought, Public Administration, Comparative Politics, and others.
Candidates can also download the detailed syllabus for Paper I and II from the web portal. For more details on UGC NET 2025, candidates should keep a check here and on the official website. – Check the updated syllabus of UGC NET.