UGC NET English Syllabus 2025: Paper 2 Syllabus, Topic Wise Points, Exam Pattern & More
University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2025 ( UGC NET )
Exam On - 31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26
The authority announced the NTA UGC NET December session 2025 notification in the form of PDF at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The exam will be conducted from December 31, 2025 to January 7, 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 UGC NET 2025 exam from December 31 to January 7, 2026 for the December session. The subject-wise schedule has not been released yet. It is expected to be announced soon for the NTA UGC NET 2025. 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 parets 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 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.
- 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 UGC NET English Exam?
- UGC NET Syllabus FAQs
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 |
English Paper 1 Syllabus: Section Wise
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
19 Nov '25
17 Nov '25 - 21 Nov '25
21 Nov '25
16 Nov '25 - 23 Nov '25
IBPS Clerk
3 Dec '25 - 6 Dec '25
18 Dec '25
11 Nov '25 - 30 Apr '26
15 Nov '25 - 22 Nov '25
30 Nov '25
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 UGC NET English 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 for the UGC NET English syllabus.
How to Prepare for the UGC NET English Exam?
Here are some tips to prepare for the English 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
UGC NET Syllabus FAQs
Q: What is the syllabus of UGC NET?
- Teaching Aptitude
- Research Aptitude
- Maths
- Reasoning
- Communication
- Data Interpretation
- Environmental Studies, etc.
Q: How to download UGC NET Syllabus
- Go to the official website
- Go to the syllabus section
- Search for the subject
- Click on the link
- PDF will appear for the specific subject
Q: What is the marking scheme for UGC NET Paper 1 and 2?
| UGC NET Paper | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET Paper 1 | 50 | 100 |
| UGC NET Paper 2 | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
Q: What is the paper 2 syllabus for English?
- Drama
- Poetry
- Fiction and Short Story
- Non Fiction Prose
- Language: Basic Concepts, theories and pedagogy, English in Use
- English in India: history, evolution and future
- Cultural Studies
- Literary Criticism
- Literary Theory post World War II
- Research Methods and Materials in English
Q: What is the paper 1 syllabus for UGC NET English?
- Teaching Aptitude
- Research Aptitude
- Reading Comprehension
- Communication
- Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Data Interpretation
- Information and Communication Technology
- People and Environment
- Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
ସରକାର ଏ ମାନଂକୁ free ଛାଡି ଦେଇଛି
F
Beginner-Level 2
Answered a week ago
The NTA opens the UGC NET 2025 Application correction window from November 10 to 12, 2025 at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The Registration process was closed on November 7.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
No. The authority has not released the UGC NET certificate for the December session 2025. The exam is scheduled to be conducted from December 31 to January 7, 2026.
I
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The authority will release the UGC NET certificate on the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in and also on the e-certificate portal at ecertificate.nta.ac.in. Candidates can download it by using their login credentials including the application number and password or date of birth.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
- Visit at ugcnet.nta.nic.in
- Click on the link available for the answer key
- Use application number and password or the application number and date of birth to open the link
- Enter the application number, password/date of birth, and security pin (as shown on the screen)
- Click on Sign In and submit the Chal
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The UGC NET answer key challenge fee per question is INR 200. It is non refundable whether the challenge is accepted or rejected. It can be paid online via debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. Challenges made by the candidates will be verified by the panel of subject experts.
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
It is released by the National Testing Agency NTA a few days after the exam is conducted. The answer key helps candidates in calculating their probable scores and checking the accuracy of their responsesThe details provided on the UGC NET answer key are mentioned below:
- Exam date
- Exam shift
- Exam subjec
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Candiates can check below the steps to download the UGC NET question papers:
- Visit at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
- Click on the answer key & question paper link.
- Login using the required details.
- Download the question paper PDF
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
To give mock test is important. It helps them to find out strengths and weaknesses. regular practice also improves speed, gain confidence, reduce the exam pressure, helps to understand the exam pattern, improves speed, etc.
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Analysis is crucial for a candidate in the NTA NET exam. It helps to strategize the preparation, understand the paper structure, difficulty level, topics asked or high weightage areas, expected cutoff, etc.
K
Contributor-Level 6
UGC NET Notifications
Analysis is crucial for a candidate in the NTA NET exam. It helps to strategize the preparation, understand the paper structure, difficulty level, topics asked or high weightage areas, expected cutoff, etc.