CSIR NET Exam Analysis 2020 by Students; Check Difficulty Level & Expected Cutoff

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test 2025 ( CSIR NET )

DeskCalelnderExam On - 18 Dec '25

Updated on Nov 19, 2020 15:25 IST

CSIR NET 2020 exam has started from today, November 19. Check out the difficulty level and expected cutoff for CSIR UGC NET Earth Sciences and Physical Sciences papers here.

CSIR NET exam analysis 2020

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the CSIR NET 2020 exam on November 19, 21 and 26 in two shifts per day. The exam is being conducted as per the schedule mentioned below:

CSIR NET Exam Dates

CSIR NET Shifts

CSIR NET Subjects

19-Nov-2020

Shift-1 (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences

Shift-2 (3:00-6:00 PM)

Physical Sciences

21-Nov-2020

Shift-1 (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

Life Sciences (Group-1)

Shift-2 (3:00-6:00 PM)

Life Sciences (Group-2)

26-Nov-2020

Shift-1 (9:00 AM-12:00 PM)

Chemical Sciences

Shift-2 (3:00-6:00 PM)

Mathematical Sciences

CSIR NET Exam Pattern 2020

The CSIR NET question paper for each subject is divided into three parts. Part-A contains General Aptitude questions while Part-B and -C contain subject-related questions. Total 200 marks multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are asked in the exam. Candidates need to complete the paper in a duration of three hours.

CSIR NET exam pattern

CSIR NET syllabus

CSIR NET Exam Analysis 2020

Shiksha reported live from an exam centre in Noida to know the difficulty level, important topics and expected cutoff for Earth Sciences and Physical Sciences papers. Check complete CSIR UGC NET exam analysis 2020 by students below.  

CSIR NET 2020 Exam Analysis for Earth Sciences

Majority of the candidates that Shiksha spoke to shared that the CSIR NET Earth Sciences paper was moderate to difficult. Check out what exactly candidates had to say about the exam below:

Menaka: “My exam went okay. I found the difficulty level of the paper medium. If one had prepared well for the exam, s/he could solve the questions easily. Out of all the three sections, I found Part-A (Aptitude) and Part-B sections moderate. However, in Part-C there were more numerical questions so one had to remember all the formulas. I found Part-C difficult. Some of the important topics from which questions came in the exam include Oceanography, Seismology and Climatology. Questions in Part-C were mainly from EnGeo and Physics. I think the CSIR NET cutoff 2020 will increase this year.”

Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates

SSC CPO Slot Booking

17 Nov '25 - 21 Nov '25

SBI Clerk Mains Exam 2025

21 Nov '25

IBPS RRB...

16 Nov '25 - 23 Nov '25

Check live updates

IBPS Clerk 2025 Mains Exam

29 Nov '25

SBI PO Group Exercises & Interview

24 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25

SSC JE Tier 1 Exam 2025

3 Dec '25 - 6 Dec '25

SSC JHT Paper 2 2025 exam

14 Dec '25

UGC NET 2025 Dec Exam Date

31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26

UPSC IAS Main Result 2025

11 Nov '25 - 30 Apr '26

KSET 2025 Result

30 Nov '25

Navneet: “My exam went good. However, as compared to previous year’s exam, this year’s CSIR NET paper was tough. In Part-A (General Aptitude), I found only four to five questions moderate, rest all were tough. I found questions in Part-B also tougher than last year. There were more calculation-based questions in this section this year. In Part-C, the level of questions was very in-depth. One needs to study all the topics thoroughly and deeply to be able to solve them. Major topics that were covered in the exam are Seismology, Geology, Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanology. According to me, the CSIR UGC NET cutoff will reduce this year as the exam was tough.”  

CSIR NET 2020 Exam Analysis for Physical Sciences

Majority of the candidates that Shiksha spoke with shared that the CSIR NET Physical Sciences paper was of moderate difficulty level. Know what candidates had to say about the paper below:

Aastha: “Overall, I found the exam easy. There were few questions, which were hard. I found Part-A and -B moderate. In Part-C I found some questions difficult. This year, there were more questions on Electronic Sciences, Nuclear Sciences and Quantum Sciences. There were not many questions on Atomic Sciences. As compared to previous years’ papers, this year a bit more weightage was given to Atomic and Nuclear Sciences questions. I could complete my paper on time. I think this year’s CSIR NET cutoff will be higher than previous year’s exam.”  

Vishesh and Shubham: “The General Aptitude section of the exam was of moderate difficulty level. It was the same as every year. In sections B and C, the pattern has changed drastically. Earlier, numerical questions used be more in the exam. This year, the analytical skills and reasoning of candidates was tested more. The difficulty level of Reasoning has also increased by about 50 per cent over the past few years. Molecular Spectrum, Complex Numbers were the few important topics for the exam.” Continuing further, Vishesh and Shubham said, “Basically, the CSIR NET Physical Sciences paper is being modified every year. Therefore, one needs a lot of practice to crack the exam. One cannot clear this paper just by studying for two months. One needs continuous practice and perseverance to crack the exam.” About the expected CSIR NET cutoff, Vishesh and Shubham felt, “Considering the current COVID crisis and the fact the difficulty level of the paper was more than previous year’s paper, the CSIR NET cutoff for Physical Sciences should reduce this year.”     

Rashmi: “My exam went good. As compared to last year’s paper, the level of this year’s exam was a bit up. Questions were randomly asked in this year’s paper. As per me the General Science part was normal in terms of difficulty level. In Part-B, questions were moderate. The pattern of the exam has changed in the last couple of years since the time NTA started conducting the exam. Prior to NTA conducting the exam, the level of the CSIR NET exam used to be very tough. However, the actual difficulty level of each section of the exam depends on one’s preparation level.”

About the Author
Download Important Dates for Sarkari Exams Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

3 Dec '25 -

6 Dec '25

SSC JE Tier 1 Exam 2025

10 Nov '25 -

13 Nov '25

SSC JE Tier 1 Self-Slot Bookin...

4 Oct '25 -

6 Oct '25

Application Correction

1 Oct '25 -

3 Oct '25

HP TET Nov 2025 Application Wi...

Aug '25

Kerala SET 2025 July Exam

12 Jun '25

Kerala SET 2025 July Applicati...

31 Dec '25 -

7 Jan '26

UGC NET 2025 Dec Exam Date

10 Nov '25 -

12 Nov '25

UGC NET 2025 Dec Application C...

29 Sep '25

KTET Answer Key

18 Sep '25 -

19 Sep '25

KTET Exam Date

15 Nov '25 -

22 Nov '25

OTET OMR Sheet & Final Answer ...

12 Nov '25 -

25 Nov '25

OTET Application Form

15 Nov '25 -

29 Nov '25

TSTET Application Form Submiss...

27 Dec '25

TSTET Admit Card Release

16 Nov '25 -

23 Nov '25

IBPS RRB PO prelims admit card...

22 Nov '25 -

23 Nov '25

IBPS RRB PO 2025 Prelims Exam

Nov '25

UPSC IAS Main Result 2025

22 Aug '25 -

31 Aug '25

IAS Main 2025 Exam Date

7 Sep '25

JK SET Exam

1 Sep '25

Release of admit card

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 weeks ago

Some of the topics that a candidate can revise in the CSIR NET Chemical Science subject:

Organic Reactive Intermediates: Carbocation, Carbanions, Free Radicals, Benzynes
Stereochemistry: Stereogenicity, Stereoselectivity, Enantioselectivity
Organic Reaction Mechanisms 
Pericyclic Reactions
Structure Dete

...Read more

S

Shikha Goyal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

The authority will release the CSIR NET 2025 result for the December session on the official website at csirnet.nta.nic.in. It will contain the name of a candidate, roll number, category, parents' name, Post applied (JRF and Assistant Professor or Assistant Professor Only), subject code, etc.

G

Gunjan Majumder

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

The authority will release the CSIR NET answer key at csirnet.nta.nic.in. It contains correct answers for all the questions asked in the exam. Check below for more details:

Exam name

Exam date

Exam shift

Exam subject name

Exam subject code

Question IDs

Correct option IDs

-

V

Virajita Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

The CSIR NET 2025 final answer key will be released on the official website at csirnet.nta.nic.in. After analysing the representations of the aspirants, the NTA will release the CSIR UGC NET final answer key for the Dec session. The answer key will be released in two phases- Provisional and Final. 

N

Nitesh Pruthi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

Candidates can calculate the CSIR NET Chemical Sciences scores through the answer key in the following manner.

CSIR NET Chemical Science Paper Parts

Marks Allotted for Each Question 

Marks Deducted for Each Question

A

+2

-0.5

B

+2

-0.5

C

+4

-1

K

Kritika Sharma

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

As per the information bulletin, the upper age limit for the CSIR NET exam should not be more than 30 years as on the first day of the month in which the examination is concluded. A relaxation of upto 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to OBC-NCL (as per the Central list of OBC) /SC/ST/

...Read more

M

Manisha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

The authority released the CSIR NET 2025 application form at csirnet.nta.nic.in. The last date to apply was October 27. Candidates who are interested in appearing the exam, need to fill the application form by providing all the details as asked. 

 

C

Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

Candidates can check below the specifications required to upload the images in the CSIR NET application form:

DocumentsFormatSize in KB
PhotographJPG10-200
SignatureJPG10-50

S

Satyendra Garg

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

The authority will release the CSIR NET 2025 result for the December session at csirnet.nta.nic.in. Candidates required an application number and date of birth to view their scorecard. After the CSIR NET result, the candidates who will be qualified for the exam will be provided with the CSIR NET eli

...Read more

N

Nitesh Pruthi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

As per the information bulletin, there is no end period for the validity of the qualifying certificate of Assistant Professor. 

S

Shikha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6