How I cracked UGC NET: Radhika Goel

University of Delhi

When you are a teenager, a school student, the career options like becoming an actor, a lawyer, a doctor or a teacher etc. change with each and every incident in life. The same happened with me. When I was in Class 1, I wanted to become a doctor, but I feared blood. So, my professional aspiration changed. By the time I was in Class 11, somewhere inside me I knew that I wanted to become a lecturer. So, right then and there I started to prepare to become a lecturer. No, I don’t mean I started preparing for lectureship exam. But I started climbing the stairs towards my goal from there.

I took commerce in Class 11 as I planned to do BCom (Hons) from Delhi University. I started my hard work from Class 12 and managed to score 94% and got admission in the top 10 colleges of Delhi University for BCom (Hons). Now was the turn for postgraduation which is must to become a lecturer. I rejected campus placement for further studies. I started preparing for MCom entrance exam of Delhi University. For that I focused on the course books and bought one reference book i.e., R Gupta for MCom entrance preparation. After working hard for about one month, right after the final year exams of BCom (Hons). I managed to secure a seat in regular MCom course of Delhi University. At that time DU offered 350 seats for regular students all over India for MCom programme of which approximately 160 seats belonged to general category and out of that 160, that is, half seats were given to students on merit basis and half on entrance basis. There is tough competition to clear MCom entrance exam and secure a seat through an entrance exam.

My experience of giving UGC NET

MCom went smoothly and I was determined to give UGC National Eligibility Test exam in the 2^nd year of MCom. NET is a national level exam conducted by CBSE which is a must to be a lecturer in any university. It’s not an easy exam. It comprised of 3 papers which candidates have to give in one day (now only two papers will be conducted). Paper 1 and paper 2 are still okay to clear. But paper 3 was not an easy task. I bought all the reference books like Trueman and Upkar but failed to clear paper 3 in my first two attempts. By that time I was almost shattered and my friends suggested that NET was not for me and I should switch to other career options. But my dream to be a lecturer was still intact. In my first two attempts I used to think that clearing NET exam is all luck based which is true in a sense. After two attempts I realised that my luck is not working so I have to work harder this time. I took two compete months and started preparing for NET exam for the third time. I started observing the pattern of paper 2 and paper 3 and realised that the syllabus mentioned for paper 3 was not sufficient for the exam. Paper 3 was summation of all the BCom and MCom syllabus as well as current affairs and deep knowledge in the same field is required. So, I stopped relying on any book, did my syllabus well and then started with previous years’ question paper. I took a lot of help from the internet to cover the syllabus which was reflected through previous years’ question papers but was not mentioned in the syllabus for NET exam.

Finally, I cleared NET exam with the highest marks in paper 3. It was because of my determination and hardwork that I cleared not only NET exam but also secured JRF which is a fellowship award given to the top 1% students. It means getting a handsome stipend to do PhD from a recognised university.

Here I am today, a lecturer in one of the esteemed college of Delhi University. My advice to students is that don’t depend merely on your luck. Keep your determination and hard work high and no one can stop you from achieving success and becoming the one you always dreamt to be.

About the Author:

Radhika Goel completed her BCom and MCom from University of Delhi and currently she is a faculty member of a constituent college of Delhi University.