Best Time Management Tricks for UGC NET

University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2025 ( UGC NET )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 7 Oct '25 - 7 Nov '25

Updated on Dec 9, 2022 17:57 IST

UGC NET notification is going to be released soon for the year 2023 by the National Testing Agency(NTA). The candidates can know about time management skills in the UGC NET exam in the article. 

UGC NET 2023, UGC NET exam, UGC NET Syllabus, UGC NET Paper

UGC NET Time Management Skills

UGC NET or NTA-UGC NET is an eligibility examination taken by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grant Commission (UGC) for the posts of assistant professor and/or JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) award in colleges and universities. Earlier, the UGC NET exam was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination. The CBSE conducted the UGC NET exam till 2018.  

The UGC NET exam is conducted twice a year in the months of June and December but after the covid era, the UGC NET exam cycle has been disturbed and it is being conducted in merged cycles once a year.  

In this article, the candidates can know how to manage time in UGC NET exams as many applicants get disappointment in the exam due to lack of time. Before getting to the time management tips the candidates must know the exam pattern of the UGC NET exam. So, they can prepare for the UGC NET exam in a strategic manner. 

Table of content
  • UGC NET Exam Pattern
  • Time Management Tricks for UGC NET
  • UGC NET Paper 1&2 Time Division
  • What to Solve First in UGC NET Papers?
  • UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2023
  • Important Tips for Qualifying UGC NET 2023

UGC NET Exam Pattern  

The UGC NET exam is designed to determine the eligibility of candidates as assistant professors. The UGC NET exam is divided into two papers i.e., Paper 1 and Paper 2. UGC NET Paper 1 is a common paper for all subjects that comprise maths, reasoning, teaching aptitude, etc. However, Paper 2 is concerned with the specific subject in which the candidate has applied to qualify as an assistant professor. The detailed UGC NET/NTA NET exam pattern has been given below in the table: 

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UGC NET Exam Pattern  

Total Number of Questions 

Paper 1: 50 
Paper 2: 100 
Total: 150  

Nature of Questions  

MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) 

Total Marks  

300 

Marks for correct answer 

+2 

Marks Deduction for incorrect answer 

Time Duration  

3 Hours (180 Minutes) 

Also Read: UGC NET Notification 2023 

Time Management Tricks for UGC NET  

Studying the exam pattern the candidates can see that they have to solve 150 questions in 3 hours and there are no time barriers for solving Paper 1 and Paper 2. Most of the candidates miss time management skills in solving these papers. This article has discussed how to enhance your time management skill for the UGC NET exam.  

UGC NET CBT  

The candidates must be aware that the UGC NET exam is conducted in online CBT (Computer Based Test) mode. Most of the candidates prepare for the UGC NET exam offline. Practicing offline kills your ability to perform in online UGC NET CBT mode exam as many circumstances get changed like using the mouse instead of a pen, reading comprehension and passages scrolling the page, etc. The candidates are advised to take mocks and practice sets in CBT mode to get used to it. Getting familiar with the online CBT mode will save the maximum time in the UGC NET exam.  

UGC NET Question Review System  

The candidates can mark the questions for review that are answered, not answered, marked for review, answered but marked for review, or not visited. Marking the question helps in saving a lot of time as the candidates do not have to hop on the questions blindly to search for the questions the candidates need while taking the UGC NET exam.  

UGC NET exam, UGC NET Tips, NTA Question

 

Also Read: UGC NET English Syllabus 2023 

UGC NET Paper 1&2 Time Division 

The total duration of the UGC NET exam is 3 hours and there are no time barriers for solving the papers distinctly. But we suggest that the candidates must divide the time between Paper 1 and Paper 2. The candidates must give 1 hour to Paper 1 as it has 50 questions and 2 hours to Paper 2 which comprises 100 questions. Dividing the papers in a given time frame will enhance your speed and save you time.  

What to Solve First in UGC NET Papers? 

The candidates should solve the sections that are easy and less time to take in the UGC NET exam. If we take the example of the maths section from UGC NET Paper 1, the candidates must skip the questions that are lengthy and time taking as data interpretation. D.I. takes much more time than the other question. So, it should be saved for the last time. The candidates need to understand that being stuck on a single question kills more time. Though you know that you can crack the question but you have to give more time and giving more time to a single question is not beneficial for time management in the UGC NET exam. The candidates should not waste their time on topics that are time taking and save it later by keeping time in their hands. The list of the sections in papers that should not go first: 

  • Data Interpretation 
  • Reading Comprehensions  
  • Reasoning  
  • And the topics that the candidates are weak  

Paper 1 plays an important role in qualifying for the exam. Therefore, the candidates must go through the syllabus of UGC NET Paper 1 to analyse the sections. The UGC NET syllabus has been given below for the candidates in the article.  

Also Read: UPTET 2023

UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus 2023  

The UGC NET notification 2023 is going to be released soon for the NTA NET 2023 exam. The UGC NET syllabus has been divided into 10 units. The syllabus for UGC NET Paper 1 has been given below for the aspiring candidate: 

Unit-1: Teaching Aptitude 

  • Teaching: Concept, objectives, levels of teaching (memory, understanding, and reflective), characteristics, and basic requirements 
  • Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (academic, social, emotional, and cognitive), individual differences 
  • Factors affecting teaching related to Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment, and Institution 
  • Methods of teaching in higher learning institutions: Teacher-centred vs learner-centered methods; offline vs online methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs, etc.). 
  • Teaching support system: Traditional, modern, and ICT based 
  • Evaluation systems: Elements and types of evaluation, evaluation in Choice Based Credit Systems in higher education, computer-based testing, innovations in evaluation systems 

Unit-2: Research Aptitude 

  • Research: Meaning, types, and characteristics, positivism and post-positivistic approach to research 
  • Methods of research: Experimental, descriptive, historical, qualitative, and quantitative methods 
  • Steps of research 
  • Thesis and article writing: Format and styles of referencing 
  • Application of ICT in research 
  • Research ethics 

Unit-3: Comprehension 

  • A passage of text is given. Questions are asked from the passage which needs to be answered. 

Unit-4: Communication 

  • Communication: Meaning, types, and characteristics of communication 
  • Effective communication: Verbal and non-verbal, inter-cultural and group communications, classroom communication 
  • Barriers to effective communication 
  • Mass-media and society 

Unit-5: Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude 

  • Types of reasoning 
  • Number series, letter series, codes, and relationships 
  • Mathematical aptitude (fraction, time & distance, ratio, proportion and percentage, profit and loss, interest and discounting, averages etc.) 

Unit-6: Logical Reasoning 

  • Understanding the structure of arguments: Argument forms, the structure of categorical propositions, mood and figure, formal and informal fallacies, uses of language, connotations and denotations of terms, the classical square of opposition 
  • Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning 
  • Analogies 
  • Venn diagram: Simple and multiple uses for establishing the validity of arguments 
  • Indian Logic: Means of knowledge 
  • Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension) 
  • Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference) 

 
Unit-7: Data Interpretation 

  • Sources, acquisition, and classification of data 
  • Quantitative and qualitative data 
  • Graphical representation (bar-chart, histograms, pie-chart, table-chart and line-chart) and mapping of data 
  • Data interpretation 
  • Data and governance 

Unit-8: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) 

  • ICT: General abbreviations and terminology 
  • Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio, and Video-conferencing 
  • Digital initiatives in higher education 
  • ICT and Governance 

Unit-9: People, Development and Environment 

  • Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals 
  • Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on the environment 
  • Environmental issues: Local, regional and global; air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), climate change and its socio-economic and political dimensions 
  • Impacts of pollutants on human health 
  • Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests 
  • Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies 
  • Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance 

Unit-10: Higher Education System 

  • Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India 
  • Evolution of higher learning and research in post-independence India 
  • Oriental, conventional, and non-conventional learning programs in India 
  • Professional, technical and skill-based education. 
  • Value education and environmental education 
  • Policies, governance, and administration 

Also Read: RRB NTPC 2023 

Important Tips for Qualifying UGC NET 2023 

The important tips for the candidates to qualify for the UGC NET 2023 exam have been given below for the candidates: 

  • The candidates must start preparing for the UGC NET exam from their post-graduation days 
  • Candidates should follow the syllabus of central universities as they cover the maximum topics of the UGC NET syllabus 
  • Candidates should cover the syllabus from graduation to post-graduation 
  • Candidates should solve the previous year’s question papers and take mock tests in the exam condition to perform well in the UGC NET CBT exam  
  • Try to answer all the questions in the question though you don’t know the answers as there is no negative marking for incorrect answers 
  • Take frequent breaks while preparing for the exam in the last months to keep your mind sane

Read More: REET Certificate 2023

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Answered 6 hours ago

The Commission released the UGC NET 2025 December session examination dates on the official website ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The exam will be conducted from December 31 to January 7, 2025. The detailed schedule will be released later.

V

Virajita Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a week ago

The Commission released the UGC NET notification 2025 for the December session in the form of PDF on October 7 at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The registration also started for the December sesison along with the notification. The last date to apply is November 7, 2025. 

N

Nitesh Pruthi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

There are several books available in the market that consist of the UGC NET practice sets. Also, some standard guidebooks include model test papers for the practicing of the UGC NET exam. Online test series are also available for the candidates who are aspiring to prepare for the UGC NET exam.

S

Shikha Goyal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Candidates can check below the important books that can be used for the preparation for UGC NET paper 2 Commerce and English.

Commerce: Some of the books are Trueman's UGC NET Commerce, CB Gupta's Business Organisation, etc.

English: Some of the books are Arihant UGC NET English Literature, History of

...Read more

V

Virajita Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a month ago

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the December session of the UGC NET 2025 exam. The notification is not released yet. It is conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for the post of Assistant Professor, the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and the admission to Ph.D

...Read more

K

Kritika Sharma

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

After BA, you need to pursue an MA in Urdu (or a related subject).

Once you complete or are in the final year of your MA, you can apply for UGC NET in Urdu.

In short:

BA alone cannot fulfill the eligibility for UGC NET.

The eligibility for UGC NET is MA in Urdu (or related field) with 55%+ marks

S

SUMIT .

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 2 months ago

No, PhD students aren't exempt from UGC-NET or CSIR-NET. To get admission in a PhD course, UGC is requesting institutions to integrate NET scores.

A

Anshul Jindal

Contributor-Level 10