UGC NET English Syllabus 2025: Paper 2 Syllabus, Topic Wise Points, Exam Pattern & More

University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2025 ( UGC NET )

Shikha
Shikha Goyal
Assistant Manager
Updated on May 1, 2025 15:58 IST

The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the UGC NET 2025 June notification. A detailed schedule has not been released yet. The UGC NET 2025 June exam will be conducted from June 21 to June 30, 2025 (tentatively). Candidates can check below in detail the UGC NET English syllabus. Also, download it through the PDF link provided on the page.

UGC NET English Syllabus, UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 1, UGC NET English Syllabus Paper 2

UGC NET English Syllabus @ugcnet.nta.ac.in

UGC NET English Syllabus 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the UGC NET 2024 June session exam tentatively from June 21 to June 30, 2025. The UGC NET 2025 Subject-Wise schedule has not been released yet. This article discusses the UGC NET English literature syllabus in detail. Candidates preparing for the UGC NET exam can check the detailed UGC NET English syllabus 2025 and curate their preparation strategy for the upcoming exam. The UGC NET English syllabus is divided into parts Paper 1 & Paper 2 and comprises 10 units each. UGC NET Paper 1 is common for every candidate taking the exam, whereas Paper 2 is designed to assess the Literary ability of the candidates.

The UGC NET exam is conducted twice a year to determine eligibility as an Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship. The UGC NET English syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme for UGC NET English Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor are discussed in the article. 

Q:   How many units are there in the UGC NET 2025 Ayurveda Biology subject?
Table of content
  • UGC NET 2025 English Syllabus: Overview
  • UGC NET 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
  • UGC NET English Syllabus: Important Novels List
  • How to Prepare for the UGC NET English Exam?
  • UGC NET Syllabus FAQs
View More

UGC NET 2025 English Syllabus: Overview  

The candidates can check the UGC NET English syllabus 2025 in the table given below:

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  
Paper 2- 100 questions  

Total Marks  

300 marks (Paper 1- 100 marks, 
Paper 2- 200 marks) 

Time Duration 

3 Hours  

UGC NET 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:

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  • 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 UGC NET English syllabus primarily consists of topics like Drama, Poetry, Fiction, Cultural Studies, English in India, etc. The detailed syllabus for the UGC NET English is given 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 UGC NET 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 UGC NET English Syllabus is provided on this page. The UGC NET aspirants can download the UGC NET English Syllabus directly through the given link. The soft copy of the UGC NET syllabus will help the aspirants check the syllabus offline. Download the UGC NET English Syllabus pdf through the link  

UGC NET English Syllabus PDF: Download Here 

 Also Read:

UGC NET English Exam Pattern

The detailed exam pattern of the UGC NET English exam is given below in the table. The UGC NET exam pattern will help the candidates to understand the nature of the UGC NET 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 UGC NET 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:

UGC NET Marking Parameters

Marks Allotted 

Correct answer

+2

Incorrect answer

0

Un-attempted question

0

UGC NET English Syllabus: Important Novels List

The candidates always search for the list of the novels from which the questions are frequently asked in the UGC NET English exam. We have provided some of the important English novels for the UGC NET English exam 2025 in the table below:

English Literature Important Novels for UGC NET Exam
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 UGC NET English exam. The candidates can strategise their plan of study according to the tips to cover the UGC NET 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?

A: The syllabus for the UGC NET exam includes all the topics that candidates need to prepare for Paper 1 and 2. Candidates need to refer the UGC NET syllabus to appear for the examination. The list of topics that is asked in the UGC NET Paper 1 exam has been given below for the candidates:
  • Teaching Aptitude 
  • Research Aptitude 
  • Maths 
  • Reasoning 
  • Communication 
  • Data Interpretation 
  • Environmental Studies, etc.

Q: How to download UGC NET Syllabus

A: You can check the UGC NET syllabus on the official website of the exam - ugcnet.nta.nic.in. To check the syllabus the steps has been given below for the candidates:
  • 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
Or,  Click on the direct link for the  UGC NET Syllabus

Q: What is the marking scheme for UGC NET Paper 1 and 2?

A: In UGC NET exam, two marks are awarded for each correct answer in Paper 1 and 2. There is no negative marking in the exam for wrong answers marked by the candidates. The UGC NET exam pattern has been given below for the candidates:
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?

A: The paper 2 syllabus for UGC NET paper 2 English has been given below for the candidates:
  • 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?

A: The UGC NET Paper 1 syllabus for English has been given below for the candidates:
  • 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  
About the Author
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Shikha Goyal
Assistant Manager
Shikha Goyal is an author with expertise in various domains, especially engineering. She has postgraduate degrees in Mathematics as well as Mass Communication and Journalism. She has devoted her life to helping stud Read Full Bio
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Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered 3 days ago

The Commission is expected to soon release the UGC NET notification for the December session in the form of PDF. It will be released at ugcnet.nta.ac.in.

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

Answered 2 months ago

The UGC NET 2025 December session exam will be conducted online in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode at various centress across the country. The exam is administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and candidates must select their answers on a computer screen during the allotted time for each par

...Read more

J

Jasleen Jain

Contributor-Level 6