UGC NET exam pattern comprises information on mode of exam, test language, type of questions, marks allotted to each question or section, etc. This year, the NTA (National Testing Agency) will conduct the UGC NET 2021 exam. The first UGC NET exam will take place on 2nd May 2021.
This exam will be held in the CBT or Computer Based Test mode in more than 255 cities in India. As per the UGC NET exam pattern, the question paper shall contain 150 questions which have to be attempted in 180 minutes.
CSIR UGC NET 2021 is a national level exam, which is held twice every year (June and December) for the admission of eligible candidates for the positions of:
- Only Assistant Professor, or
- Both Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges
Buddy4Study has compiled all the information on the updated UGC NET exam pattern in this article.
Important Updates
- UGC NET 2021 exams for May 2021 cycle are scheduled to be held on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th & 17th of May 2021.
- Candidates can avail the information bulletin from www.nta.ac.in or http://ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
- NTA UGC NET 2021 subject-wise schedule of the exam is out. Click here.
- UGC NET exam will be conducted in English and Hindi
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Key Highlights
Candidates who have registered and applied for the UGC NET exam should go through the exam pattern thoroughly before attempting the exam. Here are a few key points that they should keep in mind:
UGC NET Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam name | University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) |
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Official Website | https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/ |
| Duration of Exam | 3 hours or 180 minutes |
| Examination Mode | CBT/ Computer Based Test (Online) |
| Medium of Exam | English or Hindi |
| Type of Questions | Objective/Multiple-Choice (MCQ) |
| Number of Questions | 150 |
| Types of Paper |
|
| Allotment of Marks |
Total Marks – 150 |
| Marking Scheme | +2 for Every Correct Answer
No Negative Marking for Incorrect Answers or Unattempted Answers |
| Posts |
|
| Age | Assistant Professors – No upper age limit
JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) – Not more than 30 years as on 1st June (of the year of exam) |
| Mock Test Preparation | https://www.nta.ac.in/Quiz |
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Shift Timings
Candidates appearing for the UGC NET exam 2021 must have complete information regarding the exam shift timings and reporting time. As per the UGC NET 2021 Notification, the exam will be conducted in two different shifts:
| UGC NET Exam Timing | Forenoon (FN) Shift 1 | Afternoon (AN) Shift 2 |
| Exam Time | 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Reporting time | 1.5 hour before the exam | |
| 7:30 AM | 1:30 PM | |
| Documents Checking Before Entering | 30 minutes before the exam | |
| Instructions by the Invigilators | 8:45 AM to 8:55 AM | 2:45 PM to 2:55 PM |
| Start of the Exam | 9:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| End of the Exam | 12:00 Noon | 6:00 PM |
| Total Duration | 3 hours | |
Note: No break-time between Paper 1 and Paper 2
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Section-wise Distribution of Questions
As per NTA’s official announcement and official UGC NET exam pattern, there will be 2 papers in the UGC NET exam. All candidates will receive common questions inUGC NET Paper 1. In the case of Paper 2, the questions will be subject-specific.
Paper 1 will have 50 questions, and Paper 2 will have 100 questions. Candidates will have the freedom to attempt or move onto the next question anytime they want. If they want, they can start with any question in Paper 1 and continue answering as per their ease. The same is also applicable for Paper 2.
However, candidates cannot switch between both papers. Once they complete Paper 1 in an hour, they can begin answering the questions in Paper 2.
The questions will be objective (MCQ) and will have 4 options. Among the 4, candidates will have to select one option that they consider as the most appropriate answer.
Candidates can know more about the UGC NET exam pattern in the table below, and check the sectional distribution of questions and marks to prepare accordingly for the exam.
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Distribution of Questions and Marks
| UGC NET Paper | Maximum Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | 50 | 100 | 1 Hour |
| Paper 2 | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Total | 150 (MCQs) | 300 | 3 Hours |
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Syllabus & Section-wise Weightage of Questions
NTA has released the UGC NET syllabus along with the official UGC NTA notification pdf. Candidates can find the syllabus of both Paper 1 and Paper 2 by visiting the official website or by clicking on the given link.
Coming back to the syllabus of UGC NET exam, Paper 1 is divided into 10 sections.
Based on the previous years’ UGC NET exam pattern and question papers, candidates can check the weightage of questions as per topics to prepare better for the upcoming CSIR UGC NET examination.
UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus
| Teaching Aptitude | Logical Reasoning |
| Research Aptitude | Data Interpretation |
| Comprehension | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) |
| Communication | People, Development and Environment |
| Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude | Higher Education System |
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2021 – Section-wise Distribution of Questions in Paper 1
| Units | UGC NET Paper 1 – Subjects | Number of Questions | MaximumMarks Allotted |
| Unit 1 | Teaching Aptitude | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 2 | Research Aptitude | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 3 | Comprehension | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 4 | Communication | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 5 | Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 6 | Logical Reasoning | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 7 | Data Interpretation | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 8 | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 9 | People, Development and Environment | 5 | 10 |
| Unit 10 | Higher Education System | 5 | 10 |
| Total | 50 | 100 |
UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus
| General Paper on Teaching & Research Aptitude (Paper -I) | Linguistics | Women Studies | Prakrit | Arabic |
| Economics / Rural Economics /Cooperation / Demography / Development Planning/ Development Studies / Econometrics/ Applied Economics/Development Eco./Business Economics | Management (including Business Administration Management/Marketing/ Marketing Management/Industrial Relations and Personnel Management / Personnel Management/Financial Management/Co-operative Management) | Sanskrit traditional subjects (including) Jyotisha/Sidhanta Jyotish/ Navya Vyakarna/ Vyakarna/ Mimansa/ Navya Nyaya/ Sankhya Yoga/ Tulanatmaka Darsan/ Shukla Yajurveda/ Madhav Vedant/ Dharmasasta/ Sahitya/ Puranotihasa /Agama) | Human Rights and Duties | English |
| Political Science | French (French Version) | Criminology | Tourism Administration and Management | Chinese |
| Philosophy | Adult Education/ Continuing Education/ Andragogy/ Non-Formal Education | Tribal and Regional Language/Literature | Yoga | Dogri |
| Psychology | Physical Education | Folk Literature | Sindhi | Nepali |
| Sociology | Arab Culture and Islamic Studies | Comparative Literature | Maithili | Manipuri |
| History | Indian Culture | Visual Art (including Drawing & Painting/Sculpture Graphics/Applied Art/History of Art) | Bengali | Assamese |
| Anthropology | Labour Welfare/Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/ Labour and Social Welfare/Human Resource Management | Politics including International Relations/International Studies including Defence/Strategic Studies, West Asian Studies, South East Asian Studies, African Studies, South Asian Studies, Soviet Studies, American Studies | Hindi | Gujarati |
| Commerce | Law | Social Medicine & Community Health | Kannada | Marathi |
| Education | Library and Information Science | Forensic Science | Malayalam | Spanish |
| Social Work | Buddhist, Jain, Gandhian and Peace Studies | Pali | Oriya | Russian |
| Defence and Strategic Studies | Comparative Study of Religions | Konkani | Punjabi | Persian |
| Home Science | Mass Communication and Journalism | Computer Science and Applications | Sanskrit | Rajasthani |
| Public Administration | Performing Art – Dance/Drama/Theatre | Electronic Science | Tamil | German |
| Population Studies | Museology & Conservation | Environmental Sciences | Telugu | Japanese |
| Music | Archaeology | Geography | Urdu | Kashmiri |
| Bodo | Santali |
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2021 – Distribution of Questions in Paper 2
| Paper 2 | Type of Questions | Number of Questions | Marks Allotted per Question | Total Marks |
| Selected Subject from the 81 Subject Options | Objective/Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) | 100 | 2 | 200 |
Click to know the detailed UGC NET Syllabus pdf here.
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Marking Scheme
Candidates will get 4 options for every question. For every correct answer, they will be awarded 2 marks. Besides, UGC NET does not follow the negative marking system.
UGC NET Marking Scheme
| Type of Answers | Marks Allotted |
| Correct Answer | +2 |
| Unattempted question | No marks awarded or deducted |
| Wrong Answer | 0 (No Negative Marking) |
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Previous Years’ Question Papers
Buddy4Study has compiled previous years’ question papers in the below table. Candidates can download these to understand the UGC NET exam pattern thoroughly and prepare for the upcoming examination accordingly.
UGC NET Solved Question Paper (2012 – 2019)
UGC NET Exam Pattern – General Instructions for Online Test
Candidates must follow the online test instructions and guidelines set by the UGC NET authority. The test instructions will help the candidates to attempt the computer-based exam without any hassles. Given below is a list of online test instructions set by the IGNOU panel:
- The candidate/s must report at the examination centre at least an hour before the allotted exam time
- Candidates arriving at the examination centre after 8:45 AM in First Shift and after 2:45 PM in Second Shift will not be allowed to sit for the examination
- The candidate/s must compulsorily bring the admit card (hard copy). The test centre officials will verify it and then allow the candidate to sit for the examination.
- The candidate must show, on-demand, the Admit Card downloaded/printed from the NTA’s website
- Admit cards must be in good condition. Dismantled, disfigured or mutilated admit cards compromising the details of the candidate will not be accepted
- A seat with Roll Number will be allotted to each candidate. They should find and sit on their allocated seats only
- No baggage is allowed inside the examination hall
- Candidates will only be allowed to carry a photo ID proof and hard copy of admit card inside the examination hall
- Candidates will not be allowed to carry mathematical/log tables, electronic watches, calculator, slide rules, pager, pen, bits of papers and cell phone inside the examination hall
UGC NET Exam Pattern – COVID-19 Guidelines for UGC NET 2021
Candidates must check out these COVID-19 related guidelines and follow them at all the UGC NET exam centres:
- The body temperature of candidates will be checked using thermo guns
- A student with a body temperature above 99.4°F or 37.4°C will be taken to a separate room where they have to give the test alone.
- Social distancing will be maintained strictly at the exam centres. Candidates will have to maintain at least 6 feet or 2-metre distance from other candidates.
- Exam authority will ensure that monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, desk, chair, etc. are thoroughly sanitised.
- A significant gap will be present between two seats inside the exam hall.
- Hand sanitizers will be present at the entrance door and various places inside the exam centre for both candidates and the staff.
- Invigilators will distribute rough sheets to candidates wearing gloves.
- UGC NET admit cards of the candidates will be scanned through barcode readers, present at the entry.
- To avoid crowing, exam room numbers will not be displayed outside the centre.
- Exam centres will keep stock of fresh masks to ensure hygiene and stop unfair means during the exam.
- Candidates violating COVID-19 directives/advisories will not be allowed to sit for the exam
- Candidates will be allowed to leave the test centre one at a time to avoid the rush and maintain social distancing.
UGC NET Exam Pattern – Recommended Books
Candidates need to prepare well from the topics highlighted as per the UGC NET syllabus to score well in the upcoming entrance test on 02nd May 2021.
Buddy4Study advises candidates to prepare well for their upcoming exam with the help of the below-mentioned books that are recommended by candidates who cracked the exam successfully in the previous years.
| Books | Publisher | Author |
| NTA-UGC-NET (Paper-I) Exam Guide: with Previous Years’ (Solved) Papers | Ramesh Publishing House | Dr. M S Ansari & RPH Editorial Board |
| UGC NET/ SET Paper 1 | McGraw Hill Education | – |
| CBSE UGC NET/SET/JRF – Paper 1: Teaching and Research Aptitude | Pearson Education | KVS Madaan |
| UGC NET/ JRF/ SLET General Paper-1 Teaching & Research Aptitude | Arihant Publication | Arihant Express |
| Trueman’s UGC NET/ SLET General Paper I | Danika Publishing Company | M. Gagan (Author), Sajit Kumar |
UGC NET Exam Pattern – FAQs
In which format are the questions asked in the UGC NET 2020 exam?
As per the UGC NET exam pattern, candidates will find questions asked in Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) format.
What is the duration of the UGC NET exam?
According to the UGC NET exam pattern, the duration to complete Paper 1 is 1 hour. Candidates will be given 2 hours to complete Paper 2. This will be a continuous exam with no breaks between both the papers and hence, the total duration of the UGC NET exam will be 3 hours.
Is there any negative marking in the UGC NET exam?
No. UGC NET does not follow the negative marking system.
Is it mandatory to appear for both the papers?
Yes. It is mandatory to take both the UGC NET Paper 1 & 2.
What is the age limit for UGC NET?
There is no upper age limit to apply for the post of Assistant Professor. However, candidates applying for the JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) post should not be more than 30 years of age. Candidates are also provided with age relaxation benefits, which is highlighted in the UGC NET syllabus article.
How many times is UGC NET conducted in a year?
UGC NET entrance test is conducted twice every year, generally in the month of June and December.
