All set to appear for UGC NET 2020 exam? Check out some important UGC NET preparation tips from past years’ toppers to ace the exam.
UGC NET 2020 exam is just around the corner. Currently, candidates must be in their last leg of UGC NET preparation. With about a week to go for UGC NET exam, it is important for candidates to keep themselves calm and stay focused on the end result.
With a view to help candidates crack UGC NET 2020 exam with flying colours, Shiksha has compiled exam preparation tips from past years’ UGC NET toppers. Candidates are recommended to go through UGC NET topper tips mentioned below to gain more clarity on what they should do to ace their exam preparation.
UGC NET preparation tips by Vivek Sharma: UGC NET 2019 qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
- Analysing the UGC NET syllabus is extremely important
- Solve previous years’ UGC NET question papers to gain idea of the pattern of questions asked in the past few years
- Focus on each unit of the syllabus topic-wise
- Read topics and collect facts. To clear the exam, you need more fact-based knowledge rather than conceptual knowledge.
- Do not hunt for study material but focus on each topic. Too much deep study is not needed, focus more on facts.
- Do not ignore current affairs related to UGC NET syllabus
- Try to remain calm on the day of the exam. Avoid tension and over-excitement.
- Facts play an important role but clear your concepts as well
- Maintain consistency in studies
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Vivek Sharma here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Rajat Sen: UGC NET 2019 qualified for Assistant Professor
- Clearing the UGC NET exam while pursuing master’s is the best approach
- Revision, practice and persistence is the key to success
- Study of at least a couple of hours every day is must
- Start the paper with most easy sections, that is, the ones you are most comfortable with
- Do not panic under any circumstances and if you are appearing for such kind of CBT (computer-based test) for the first time, go to the official website of National Testing Agency (NTA) to make yourself familiar with the whole exam process
- Try not to learn new things, concepts just before or on the previous night of the exam
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Rajat Sen here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Abhinav Pandey: UGC NET 2019 qualified for Assistant Professor
- Refer books such as A Textbook of Historiography by E Sreedharan, Research Methodology by CR Kothari and Trueman's UGC NET/SET General Paper-I to solve UGC NET previous years’ question papers
- Reading bibliography is an important part of UGC NET preparation as it provides in-depth information about the research sources
- Keep yourself motivated. Exercise and yoga are good to maintain tranquility.
- Avoid reading too much and getting overboard
- Be calm and relaxed. There will be questions in the exam, which you may not understand at first, but you figure them out once you apply your logical thinking.
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Abhinav Pandey here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Jeetu Singh: UGC NET 2019 qualified for Assistant Professor
- Go through UGC NET past year question papers to know the type of questions asked in the exam
- Paper-I is scoring and must be exploited to gain maximum marks
- Study extensively rather than intensively. Study more topics rather than completing selected topics in unnecessary detail.
- Devote at least five to six hours a day in preparation
- Solve as many previous year’s UGC NET question papers as possible
UGC NET preparation tips by Puja Sen: UGC NET 2019 qualified for Assistant Professor
- Read the entire UGC NET syllabus
- Keep yourself abreast with general awareness and current affairs
- Start preparing for UGC NET the day you take admission in post-graduation
- Prepare for the exam unit-wise
- Divide your time during the exam carefully
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Puja Sen here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Vivek Mishra: UGC NET 2018 qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
- Focus on both papers equally
- Create your own notes from different books that consist of facts
- Revise whatever you study multiple times
- Solve many UGC NET question papers of past years
- Attempt a lot of UGC NET mock tests as the exam is held in online mode
- Keep yourself motivated
- Avoid reading from too many sources and bulky books
- Make sure that you maintain continuity in your studies in a systematic manner
- Avoid getting over-excited for the exam and try to keep calm
- Read all the questions asked in the exam very carefully
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Vivek Mishra here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Deepak Kumar: UGC NET 2018 qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
- Study a book thoroughly while noting all important facts so that you can memorize them easily
- Do not mug up facts but try to understand them
- Study all the basic books to clear concepts. Thereafter, study all important facts. Lastly, solve past 10 years; UGC NET question papers.
- In case of difficulty I understanding a concept, have discussions with friends and clear your doubts
- Be careful on the books you are referring to for UGC NET preparation
- Study regularly and maintain a positive mindset
- Do not panic, keep calm and read each question carefully
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Deepak Kumar here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Chiranjit Gorai: UGC NET 2018 qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
- Start studying at least four to five hours a day at least three months before the UGC NET exam
- Solve previous year question papers for both the UGC NET papers
- Be consistent with studies
- First complete reading all standard books and then jump to solving previous year question papers
- Make notes along with study to remember topics for a larger duration of time
- Be confident about your preparation
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Chiranjit Gorai here.
UGC NET preparation tips by Ravindra Kumar: UGC NET 2017 qualified for JRF & Assistant Professor
- Set your time table to prepare for both the papers
- Prepare your own notes during study
- Do not allow negative thinking hamper your UGC NET preparation
- Revise topics that you study regularly
- Only study your notes in the last one week before the exam
- Always keep a positive outlook
- Do not forget to solve UGC NET previous years’ question papers
- During the exam, attempt questions that you know the best
- Do not spend too much time on attempting any question in the exam
Read complete UGC NET topper interview of Ravindra Kumar here.
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Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
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 |
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
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 |
C
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
Candidates can chech below the methods to downlaod the UGC NET admit card:
- Go to the ugcnet.nta.nic.in
- Click on the hall ticket link for the exam
- Enter the details asked on the login page- application number, date of birth, and security pin
- Click on the submit button
- Download and save it
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The UGC NET Paper 2 subject specific i.e, Economics, consists of 100 questions worth 2 marks each. The exam will be of 3-hour duration, so there will be no breaks between paper 1 and paper 2. Candidates should cover all significant units of the of the Economics syllabus as mentioned below:
- Micro Econ
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The UGC NET Paper 2 is subject-specific and holds 200 marks for 100 questions. There is no negative marking for the exam. The syllabus for Political Science comprises 10 units and are mentioned below:
- Political Theory
- Political Thought
- Indian Political Thought
- Comparative Political Analysis
- Intern
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The UGC NET 2025 English Syllabus is divided into ten unites as mentioned below:
- 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 Theo
G
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The history syllabus of the UGC NET exam consists of several topics that is, Indian History, Pre-History, Ancient History, Medieval Indian History and Modern India including the National Movement and post independent phase. The history syllabus is divided in to ten units. The topics for the History
K
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The NTA UGC NET exam will be held in an online mode which is a computer based test. The exam will be MCQ based of three hours duration. Paper 1 is common for every students where as Paper 2 will be subject specific.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
The NTA released the UGC NET 2025 exam schedule for the December session at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. On December 31 was the first exam in the first shift from 9 am to 12 pm. Subjects are listed below:
- Law
- Social Work
- Tourism Administration
- Prakrit
- Telugu
- Spanish
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
The NTA released the UGC NET 2025 December session exam schedule subject-wise at ugcnet.nta.nic.in on December 17. The detailed schedule is provided here on this page as well.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Exam On - 31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26

What is the UGC NET exam pattern for Paper 1?