UGC NET 2021 Exam Analysis & Student Reaction: Know Difficulty Level
University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2025 ( UGC NET )
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.
- 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.
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
| 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 |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
Candidates can crack or clear the UGC NET exam in first attempt with regularity, dedication, hard work, proper study plan, etc. He or she should also solve previous year papers and give mock test.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The NTA will release the UGC NET 2026 notification for the June session on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. All the important dates related to the exam like application form start date and all will be mentioned in the notification. It is advised to the candidates to read the notification ca
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The NTA is expected to release the UGC NET notification in April 2026. It will be announced in the form of PDF at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The notification or information brochure consists the details about the exam including the registration form, exam duration, pattern, etc.
I
Contributor-Level 6
B
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 3 weeks ago
The authority will release the NTA UGC NET provisional answer key after the conclusion of an exam in a few days along with the question paper and response sheet. It will help the candidates to verify their responses, estimate the probable scores and evaluate their performance in the examination.
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
No. candidate can not submit the UGC NET application form offline. It was released on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The application form was released online on October 7. All the process of the online form including the registration, document upload, fee payment, confirmation, etc. must
K
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
In the UGC NET exam, two marks are awarded for every correct answer. There is no negative marking in the exam. For every correct answer, two marks are awarded. Scroll down to know the marking scheme.
UGC NET Marking Parameters | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
Correct answer | +2 |
Incorrect answer | 0 |
Un-attempted question | 0 |
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The NTA released the UGC NETadmit card 2025 for the December session exam. It was released on the official portal at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The admit card is a mandatory document thata needs to be carried at the examination centre by the candidate.
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The UGC NET December session exam was over on January 7. As per the students' feedback UGC NET January 2 Paper 1 was Moderate some felt that Assertion & Reasoning part was a bit difficult. Paper 1 was lengthy.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The questions asked in the NTA UGC NET Paper 1 exam are generic and intend to assess the teaching or research aptitude of the candidate. Details are provided below:
UGC NET Paper 1 Sections | No. of Questions | Total 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 |
M
Contributor-Level 6
UGC NET Notifications
With MA in English, Rupali has more than 15 years of editorial experience. At Shiksha.com, a subsidiary of Info Edge (India) Limited, she creates content and make prep guides for students preparing for competitive e
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