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 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 |
Commonly asked questions
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 |
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:
| 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.
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
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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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