UGC NET Exam Analysis

Exam On - 31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26

Updated on Dec 18, 2018 18:30 IST

Take a look at UGC NET exam analysis 2018 to have a better understanding of paper pattern and difficulty level of questions.

UGC NET Exam Analysis 2018: UGC NET 2018 is being conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) from December 18 - 22 at 598 centres across the country. The exam is being conducted in two shifts – morning shift (9:30 AM to 1:00 PM) and afternoon shift (2:30 PM – 6:00 PM). Shiksha reported live today, December 18 from an exam centre in Noida to capture students’ reactions for UGC NET. A majority of candidates that Shiksha spoke to shared that the exam was of moderate difficulty level.

UGC NET 2018 Student Reaction & Review for Paper-I

UGC NET 2018 Student Reaction & Review for Paper-II

Further, Shiksha brings you UGC NET exam analysis 2018 that includes difficulty level of question paper. However, let us first take a look at UGC NET exam pattern.

Exam pattern for UGC NET is such that candidates need to appear for two papers in computer-based mode. While paper-I is common for all candidates, paper-II contains subject-specific questions. Both the papers (paper-I and II) consist of objective-type multiple choice questions that candidates need to complete in a duration of one and two hours, respectively. Have a look at UGC NET exam pattern below:

Paper	Number of Questions	Marks
I	50	100
II	100	200
Total	150	350

UGC NET Exam Pattern for Paper-I

Section	Questions	Marks
Teaching Aptitude	5	10
Research Aptitude	5	10
Reading Comprehension	5	10
Communication	5	10
Reasoning (including Maths)	5	10
Logical Reasoning	5	10
Data Interpretation	5	10
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	5	10
People & Environment	5	10
Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration	5	10
Total	50	100

Note: As per the official website of NTA, questions in paper-I are generic in nature, intending to assess the teaching/ research aptitude of candidates. The paper is primarily designed to test reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness of candidates.

UGC NET Exam Analysis 2018 for Paper-I

In previous years, all ten sections in paper-I consisted of five questions each. However, this year sections such as Teaching Aptitude and Reasoning consisted of more questions as compared to other sections. About 12 – 15 questions were asked from Teaching Aptitude section and over 12 questions were asked from Reasoning (Logical/ Mathematics) section.

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Section	Number of Questions	Difficulty Level
Teaching Aptitude	10 - 12	Moderate
Research Aptitude	3 - 5	Moderate
Reading Comprehension	5	Easy to Moderate
Communication	2 - 4	Easy to Moderate
Reasoning (including Maths)	6 - 8	Easy to Moderate
Logical Reasoning	5	Easy to Moderate
Data Interpretation	5	Easy to Moderate
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	4	Easy to Moderate
People & Environment	2	Moderate
Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration	3 - 4	Easy to Moderate
Total	50	Moderate

UGC NET Exam Analysis 2018 for Paper-II

UGC NET paper-II carried multiple choice questions specific to the subject chosen by a candidate. Most of the candidates that Shiksha spoke to said that they found paper-II of moderate difficulty level. It may be noted that every year UGC NET is conducted for about 85 subjects.

Number of Questions	Total Marks	Difficulty Level
100	200	Moderate

UGC NET Exam Analysis Highlights 2018

UGC NET was conducted by NTA for the first time.
The exam was conducted in online mode for the first time.
It was mandatory to attempt both the papers – I and II.
There were no major changes in exam pattern for both the papers.
All questions in the exam were compulsory.
This year, paper-I contained more questions from Teaching Aptitude and Reasoning sections.
Both paper-I and II were of moderate difficulty level.
Each question in UGC NET exam (both paper-I and II) carried two marks weightage.
There was no negative marking in the exam.
Both paper-I and II contained questions in English and Hindi languages. Candidates had to answer questions in the language opted by them before the exam.

UGC NET 2018 is scheduled to end on December 22. Once the exam concludes, UGC NET results will be declared by NTA on its official website on January 10, 2019.

Read: UGC NET Cutoffs

Stay tuned to Shiksha for all latest updates on UGC NET 2018.

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