UGC NET January 3, 2026 Exam Analysis (OUT)- Check Shift 1 & 2 Subject-wise Difficulty, Questions & Review

University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2026 ( UGC NET )

Shikha
Shikha Goyal
Assistant Manager
Updated on Jan 3, 2026 18:54 IST
The National Testing Agency conducted the January 3 UGC NET exam in two shifts. Both shifts are over. The UGC NET exam analysis for paper 1 and 2 based on the student reactions is provided here. Scroll down for the UGC NET exam analysis including difficulty level, topics asked, expected cutoff etc.

The UGC NET 2025 analysis for the exam January 3 (Day 3) is provided here. Both Shifts were Over. Candidates can check below UGC NET 2025 Dec exam day analysis, difficulty level, memory-based questions and answers, whether the paper is easy or tough, etc., based on the students' responses.

UGC NET Exam Analysis January 3, 2026

UGC NET Exam Analysis January 3, 2026

UGC NET 2025 January 3 Exam Analysis: The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the December session exam on January 3, 2026. It was conducted in two shifts. Both Shifts were Over. Check student reactions, difficulty level, memory-based questions and answers, etc. below based on the students' responses for UGC NET 2025 Shift 1.

Analysis plays a significant role in the preparation as it provides information about the level of difficulty of the examination, the question paper, the topics asked in the exam, etc. Candidates can predict about the cutoff, whether it will rise or drop. The UGC NET 2025 exam dates were December 31, January 2, January 3, January 5, January 6 and January 7. Scroll down for detailed exam analysis for the NTA UGC NET exam for January 3 based on the student reactions.

Table of contents
  • UGC NET 2025-26 January 3 Exam Analysis (Shift 2) OUT: Student Reactions & Topics Asked
  • UGC NET 2025-26 January 3 Exam Analysis (Shift 1) OUT: Student Reactions & Topics Asked
  • UGC NET 2025 Paper 1 Analysis (Shift 1, January 3)
  • UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025
  • UGC NET 2025 Dec Paper 1 Syllabus

UGC NET 2025-26 January 3 Exam Analysis (Shift 2) OUT: Student Reactions & Topics Asked

As per the students' Paper 1 of Shift 2 was Moderate. Some students' felt Easy.

Topics asked are:

  • Informal Fallacy
  • Validity
  • Research Scale
  • QL/QN statement
  • Variables- Reinforcement
  • Philosophy- Indian Logic
  • Hetvabhas-Statement, etc.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Why is an analysis important for the preparation journey of the UGC NET exam?
A: 

Analysis is important for candidate in NTA NET exam. It helps in preparation, understand paper structure, difficulty level, topics asked or high weightage areas, expected cutoff. By analyzing mock tests and previous years papers students can prepare well.

Q:   Why is it important to solve the mock test for the NTA UGC NET exam?
A: 

To give mock test is important. It helps them to find out strengths and weaknesses. regular practice also improves speed, gain confidence, reduce the exam pressure, helps to understand the exam pattern, improves speed, etc.

Q:   How can I crack UGC NET exam in two months?
A: 

To crack UGC NET in two months, you really need to work hard. that to in a right direction. Firstly you need to focus on building your basics strong, and need to solve previous years' question papers. Preparation should be in such a manner that you can revise at least 60 - 70% of the syllabus before the exam (as it is very difficult to read complete syllabus). 

Q:   Is UGC NET exam easy or tough?
A: 

UGC NET exam is considered to be moderate to difficult in the overall difficulty level as per the experts. The syllabus of the exam is vast and a bit challenging to cover for the candidates. In depth subject knowledge is required to crack the examination. Frequent revision also plays an important role. Paper 1 is about the teaching or research aptitude and Paper 2 is focused on specialised subjects.

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UGC NET 2025-26 January 3 Exam Analysis (Shift 1) OUT: Student Reactions & Topics Asked

As per the students' Paper 1 of Shift 1 was Easy to Moderate. Chronology was also asked.

Topics asked are:

  • Validity
  • IL (hetabhyaas)
  • GHG
  • Qn/Ql
  • DI was easy
  • Fallacy formal
  • SOO
  • Conversion
  • Informal Fallacy
  • ICT (Malware, Hacking, Phishing, etc.)
  • Bits
  • App
  • LAN
  • Argument, etc.

Also Read:

UGC NET 2025 Exam Analysis Dec 31

UGC NET 2025-26 Exam Analysis January 2

UGC NET 2025 Paper 1 Analysis (Shift 1, January 3)

Candidates can check below in detail about the Paper 1 analysis, questions, topics asked, weightage, etc. as per the students' review:

Section Topics asked (Shift 1) Difficulty Level (Shift 1)
Data Interpretation

DI (Table based), Percentage calculation, DI was easy as compared to the previous shifts

Moderate
Communication Mass Media, Communication Models (Aristotle, 5W-Chronology, TV Channel Series, News Agencies & Sources, Barriers of Communication, etc. Moderate
Logical Reasoning Fallacies, Square of Opposition, Indian Logic, Assertion-Reason, Coding-Decoding, Number Series, alphabet based question, etc. Moderate
ICT
Binary-Octal, RAM & ROM, CPU, Number System, Generation of Computers, MS Excel (Short Cut Keys), Network Devices, Full Forms
Easy
People and Environment Environment Protection Act (Chronology), Greenhouse Gases, Ozone Protocol, Ethanol, Coal Formation (Stages & Longest Period), earth Development Stage, etc. Easy to Moderate
Mathematics to be updated here Easy
Reading Comprehension The passages were direct and factual, no tricky vocabulary was asked, questions were straight forward Moderate
Higher Education System

 

NAAC-UGC Sequence, History of Coal Information, Governance-related fact based questions, Universities (Matching), etc.

Easy
Teaching Aptitude Types of Evaluation and Functions (Match the following), Formative & Summative Evaluation, P-Value, Assertion and Reason questions, Ancient Universities (Nalanda-Takshila match the following), Teaching-learning Process Moderate
Research Aptitude
Research Hypothesis & Null Hypothesis, Research Methodology, P-Value, Statistics-based question, Research Evaluation concepts, etc.
Easy

UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates can check below the exam pattern below.

UGC NET Paper

Number of Questions

Marks

Paper 1

50 

100

Paper 2

100 

200

Total

150 

300

Also Read: UGC NET Exam pattern

UGC NET 2025 Dec Paper 1 Syllabus

The Paper 1 syllabus is provided below. Paper 1 comprises 50 questions from 10 units that hold a total weightage of 100 marks:

  • Teaching Aptitude
  • Research Aptitude
  • Comprehension
  • Communication
  • Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Data Interpretation
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  • People, Development, and Environment
  • Higher Education System

Also Read:

UGC NET Syllabus 2025

UGC NET Exam Analysis 2025

About the Author
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Shikha Goyal
Assistant Manager

Role: Editorial Domain

Education: Mass Com & Journalism, MSC Mathematics

Expertise: Sarkari Exam Expert

About

Shikha Goyal is a double post graduate with more than 12 years of experience in education domain, journal

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