UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis & Student Reaction: Know Difficulty Level

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

Deputy Manager - Editorial

Updated on Nov 21, 2021 15:02 IST

UGC NET 2021 exam began on November 20 and will conclude on December 5. The difficulty level of the exam was moderate to difficult. Read further to know more on UGC NET Exam Analysis & Review by students.

National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the UGC NET 2021 exam in 213 cities across 469 centres on November 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29 and 30 and on December 1, 3, 4 and 5, 2021. The exam is being conducted in two shifts- 9:00 am to 12:00 noon and 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Around 12.67 lakh candidates registered for the UGC NET 2021. As per the feedback shared by the candidates who appeared for the UGC NET exam, the overall paper was easy to moderate in terms of the difficulty level.

Read below the detailed exam analysis and review of the UGC NET 2021 exam as per students’ reactions. This analysis will be helpful for candidates who are yet to appear for the exam and will them familiar with the topics from which questions are asked in the exam.

Table of content

UGC NET Exam Pattern 2021
UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis & Review by Students (November 21)
UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis & Review by Students (November 20)

UGC NET Exam Pattern 2021

UGC NET exam pattern 2021 is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is comprised of 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Paper 2 contains 100 MCQs. Paper 1 is common for all the candidates, however, Paper 2 contains questions from the subject chosen by candidates in their applications. Candidates need to attempt Paper 1 and 2 in a single duration of three hours. The total marks allotted to the UGC NET 2021 exam are 300. Have a look at the exam pattern below.

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UGC NET Paper	Number of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
Paper 1	50	100	3 hours
Paper 2	100	200
Total	150	300

UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis & Review by Students (November 21)

The UGC NET 2021 exam held on November 21 was easy to moderate in terms of the difficulty level. Students who appeared for the exam found Paper 1 level as easy to moderate. There was no change in the UGC NET exam structure. Shiksha visited one of the UGC NET exam centres in Faridabad to obtain the feedback of students as stated below along with the reaction video:

Jaswinder stated, "The Paper 1 was difficult because it is based on our judgement and abstract ideas. Paper 2 was easier as it was subject-oriented. Paper 1 was comprised of questions from statistics, computers, percentage, average. Reading Comprehension was easy. The Paper 2 Psychology paper was easier."

Sonali stated, "Paper 2 Law paper was difficult and contained questions from International Law. Paper 1 was easier and contained questions from Reasoning, ICT, Environment, Reading Comprehension, Communication and Mathematics. Reading Comprehension was easy."

Sumit stated, "The difficulty level of the paper was easy to moderate. Paper 1 was more analytical based. The questions from Communication were of a moderate level. Paper 2 Law paper was moderate to difficult."

Vineeta stated, "The UGC NET paper was easier than the previous ones. Paper 2 Law paper covered Environmental Law, ICT, etc. Paper 1 comprised questions from Research Methodology. Reading Comprehension was based on teaching patterns and effective teaching."

Watch UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis Video

UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis & Review by Students (November 20)

As per the feedback shared by the candidates, the overall difficulty level of the UGC NET Paper 1 held on November 20 was easy to moderate. Let’s look at the paper-wise and section-wise UGC NET exam analysis below and know about the topics from which questions are asked in the exam as per the students' reactions.

Sections	Topics from which questions were asked	Difficulty level
Paper 1 Exam Analysis
Teaching Aptitude	Levels of teaching, key behaviours of teaching, formative evaluation, teaching skills	Moderate to Difficult
Research Aptitude	Ethics of research, methods of teaching, qualitative research, action & qualitative research	Moderate to Difficult
Reading Comprehension	-	Easy to Moderate
Communication	Barriers of communication, classroom communication – statement based questions, cluster network, effective communication	Moderate
Maths	Ratio, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage	Easy to Moderate
Logical Reasoning	Statement, Assertion & Reason based questions, Letter Coding, Relationship, Hetu, Praman, Wireless Bluetooth, Jainism, Buddhism, Anumaan	Easy to Moderate
Data Interpretation	Ratio & Proportion (calculative in nature)	Moderate
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	Memory hierarchy, Input & Output devices, FTP, VLE, TB, AGP	Moderate to Difficult
People & Environment	Ozone depletion, global warming, climate change, natural hazards, COP25, Paris Agreement	Moderate to Difficult
Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration & Current Affairs	NAAC, Swayam, Swayam Prabha, schemes, Sakshat portal	Moderate
Total	-	Moderate to Difficult
Paper 2 Exam Analysis
81 Subjects	Subject-specific questions	Moderate to Difficult

About the Author

Rupali Pruthi

Deputy Manager - Editorial

“Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.” Rupali strives to go by this. With years of editorial experience in education, lifestyle and IT fields, she enjoys creating cont Read Full Bio

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