UGC NET English Syllabus 2025: December Paper 2 Syllabus, Topic Wise Points, Exam Pattern & More
University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2026 ( UGC NET )
The NTA released the whole schedule for the December session. The English Subject exam will be conducted on January 5, 2026. Scroll down to know in detail about the English syllabus and also download the PDF link provided below.
UGC NET English Syllabus
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the December session UGC NET 2025 exam from December 31 to January 7, 2026. The subject-wise schedule was released for the NTA UGC NET 2025 for the December session. The English exam will be conducted on January 5 as per the schedule. The detailed schedule is available at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. Less time is left for the exam. Candidates need to do frequent revision and give mock test for practice. The English subject syllabus is designed in such a way to test candidates knowledge and understanding of English literature, language and related subjects. The Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) will be asked in the examination.
Here we have provided the detailed English syllabus so that candidates can make their strategy for the preparation and revision. The syllabus of the English is divided into two parts namely Paper 1 and Paper 2. It consists of 10 units each. Paper 1 is common for all the candidates and Paper 2 is subject specific which access the Literary ability of the candidates.
The NTA UGC NET exam consists of two papers and candidates need to complete it in a duration of three hours. Candidates can check below the exam pattern for both papers.
UGC NET Paper | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
UGC NET Paper 1 | 50 | 100 |
UGC NET Paper 2 | 100 | 200 |
Total | 150 | 300 |
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 |
The University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET exam) is held twice a year in two sessions that is June and December to determine eligibility as an Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship. The English syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme for Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor are discussed in the article.
Also Read:
- English Syllabus: Overview
- English Paper 1 Syllabus: Section Wise
- UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 2: Section Wise
- UGC NET English Syllabus PDF
- UGC NET English Exam Pattern
- UGC NET English Marking Scheme
- English Syllabus: Important Novels List
- How to Prepare for the English Subject in UGC NET?
English Syllabus: Overview
Candidates can check below the highlights:
| Name of Exam |
UGC NET |
| Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Frequency of Exam |
Twice a year |
| Mode of Examination |
Online Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Papers in Exam |
Paper 1 and Paper 2 |
| Total Number of Questions |
Paper 1- 50 questions |
| Total Marks |
300 marks (Paper 1- 100 marks, |
| Time Duration |
3 Hours |
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
4 Feb '26 - 24 Feb '26
28 Feb '26
SBI Clerk
22 Aug '26 - 23 Aug '26
30 Aug '26
31 Aug '26
English Paper 1 Syllabus: Section Wise
Paper 1 comprises ten units that asses the general, reasoning, teaching, and quantitative ability of the candidates. The UGC NET English Paper 1 topic-wise syllabus is given below:
- Research Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
- Communication
- Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- Information and Communication Technology
- People and Environment
- Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration
Also Read:
UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 2: Section Wise
Paper 2 for the English syllabus primarily consists of topics like Drama, Poetry, Fiction, Cultural Studies, English in India, etc. The detailed is provided below:
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 |
| UGC NET English Syllabus Units | UGC NET English Syllabus Section |
|---|---|
| Unit I |
Drama |
| Unit II |
Poetry |
| Unit III |
Fiction and Short Story |
| Unit IV |
Non-Fiction Prose |
| Unit V |
Language: Basic Concepts, theories and pedagogy, English in Use |
| Unit VI |
English in India: history, evolution, and future |
| Unit VII |
Cultural Studies |
| Unit VIII |
Literary Criticism |
| Unit IX |
Literary Theory post World War II |
| Unit X |
Research Methods and Materials in English |
The four starting units in the Paper 2 syllabus are tested through comprehension passages to assess the critical reading, critical thinking, and writing skills of the candidates. These four units cover all the literature in English.
UGC NET English Syllabus PDF
The link for English Syllabus is provided on this page. The aspirants can download the English Syllabus directly through the given link. The soft copy of the syllabus will help the aspirants check it offline. Download the English Syllabus pdf through the link
UGC NET English Syllabus PDF: Download Here
Also Read: UGC NET Political Science Syllabus
UGC NET English Exam Pattern
The detailed exam pattern of the English exam is given below in the table. The NTA UGC NET exam pattern will help the candidates to understand the nature of the exam:
| UGC NET Paper |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 |
50 |
100 |
| Paper 2 |
100 |
200 |
| Total |
150 |
300 |
UGC NET English Marking Scheme
The Commission does not follow any negative marking scheme. The candidates are awarded +2 marks for every correct answer whereas no marks is deducted for incorrect answer or unanswered question. The candidates can check the marking scheme below:
| Marking Parameters |
Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
| Correct answer |
+2 |
| Incorrect answer |
0 |
| Un-attempted question |
0 |
English Syllabus: Important Novels List
The candidates always search for the list of the novels from which the questions are frequently asked in the exam. We have provided some of the important English novels in the table below:
| English Literature Important Novels | |
|---|---|
| Novel | Author |
| The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) | John Bunyan |
| Robinson Crusoe(1719) | Daniel Defoe |
| Gulliver’s Travels (1726) | Jonathan Swift |
| Clarissa (1748) | Samuel Richardson |
| Tom Jones (1749) | Henry Fielding |
| The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759) | Laurence Sterne |
| Emma (1816) | Jane Austen |
| Frankenstein (1818) | Mary Shelley |
| Nightmare Abbey (1818) | Thomas Love Peacock |
| The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) | Edgar Allan Poe |
| Sybil (1845) | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Jane Eyre (1847) | Charlotte Brontë |
| Wuthering Heights (1847) | Emily Brontë |
| Vanity Fair (1848) | William Thackeray |
| David Copperfield (1850) | Charles Dickens |
| The Scarlet Letter (1850) | Nathaniel Hawthorne |
| Moby-Dick (1851) | Herman Melville |
| Middlemarch (1871-2) | George Eliot |
| Three Men in a Boat (1889) | Jerome K Jerome |
| Ulysses (1922) | James Joyce |
| The Rainbow (1915) | DH Lawrence |
Note: These novels are only few novels from which questions are asked in the exam. The candidates cannot completely depend on these list of novels for the preparation, The candidates have to read other novels too from every literature as there is no fixed syllabus.
How to Prepare for the English Subject in UGC NET?
Candidates can take help from the below mentioned points related to the preparation of the English subject for the exam. The candidates can strategise their plan of study according to the tips to cover the English Syllabus:
- Make a detailed study plan and revise the syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2
- Solve the mock test on a regular basis to curate your accuracy and speed
- Take frequent breaks to relax and calm your body and mind
- Give attention to Paper 1 other than your specialised Paper as its marks are considered while making the merit list
- All the 10 units are revised thoroughly as the questions are from each section
- Focus on the mock tests as they will increase the skills in time management
Read More: UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
After clearing the UGC NET exam, candidates have lot of opportunities to give their best in the research perspective. They can become assistant professor, pursue lectureship or get JRF. They can start working on their Ph.D. They can also set up their laboratory and recruit people for work. They can
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
The UGC NET 2026 June session result will be released after the conduction of an exam. It is expected that it will be declared in the last week of July or first week of August 2026.
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
It is important to understand the core concept of the subject while preparing for the UGC NET exam. Generally, around 6 months with dedicated hard work is sufficient to crack the UGC NET exam as per the experts. It is also recommended to study for around three to four hours daily. Consistent revisio
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
The overall difficulty level of the UGC NET exam vary as per the subject and from one exam cycle to another. In General as per the subject expert, the overall difficulty level of the UGC NET exam is considered to be of moderate level. The exam test the candidates knowledge, comprehension, analytical
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
UGC NET is conducted at national level by the National Testing Agency for those candidates who want to become assistant professor or researcher. It is important for a candidate to meet the eligibility criteria including the education qualification, age limits, etc. which vary depending on whether th
I
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
The UGC NET exam has two papers namely Paper 1 and Paper 2. The duration of an exam is three hours. Paper 1 is common for all the candidates and Paper 2 is subject-specific. In Paper 1, total questions asked are 50 and in Paper 2, total questions asked are 100. Questions asked in the form of MCQs. P
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
The UGC NET June session 2026 exam date has not been released yet. It will be announced along with the notification. The NTA conducts the UGC NET exam in two sessions, namely June and December.
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
No the registrations for the UGC NET are not open for MDSU Ajmer PhD admissions for the academic year 2026. The December session of UGC NET for 2026 admissions is already over.
However, the registrations for the June session are yet to begin. Candidates interested in MDSU Ajmer PhD admissions need to
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, UGC-NET is a mandatory entrance exam for MDSU Ajmer PhD admissions. All candidates who are eligible for MDSU Ajmer PhD course must appear for the UGC-NET as well as participate in the interview round to gain admissions. The selection of candidates will be based on their UGC-NET score.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No, UGC NET is not a mandatory entrance exam for NIT Srinagar PhD admissions. Candidates can also appear in the GATE as well to qualify for admissions to the NIT Srinagar PhD course.
However, candidates who are applying through a ME/MTech score are required to appear for the national level NIT Srinag
S
Contributor-Level 10
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.