1 hour ago
3
ARTICLE AD BOX
UGC NET December 2025 marking scheme and exam pattern explained
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is all set to conduct the University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) for the December 2025 cycle in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. As per the official schedule, the examinations will be held in the first week of December 2025, covering both Paper I and Paper II in a single session.
The test remains one of the most significant national-level assessments for determining eligibility for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) across Indian universities. With thousands of postgraduate aspirants expected to appear, understanding the detailed marking scheme, paper structure, and updated syllabus becomes essential for effective preparation ahead of the upcoming examinations.
UGC NET exam structure at a glance
The UGC NET test comprises two papers conducted in a single three-hour session (180 minutes) with no break in between.
- Paper I: General Teaching and Research Aptitude (common for all candidates)
- Paper II: Subject-specific knowledge based on the discipline chosen by the candidate
Both papers use objective Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and must be fully attempted by every candidate.
UGC NET Paper I: Teaching and research aptitude
Paper I tests core competencies that are essential for higher education pedagogy and research activity. It focuses on cognitive, analytical, and communication skills rather than any single academic discipline.
Exam Details:
- Total Questions: 50
- Total Marks: 100
- Marks per Question: 2
- Duration: Part of the combined 3 hours
- Negative Marking: None
The syllabus for UGC NET paper 1 is highlighted below:
- Teaching Aptitude: Methods of teaching, learner characteristics, evaluation systems.
- Research Aptitude: Steps of research, thesis and article writing, research ethics.
- Comprehension: Understanding and interpreting written passages.
- Communication: Effective communication, barriers, mass media and society.
- Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude: Basics of ratios, percentages, averages, series, codes.
- Logical Reasoning: Analogies, structure of arguments, inference.
- Data Interpretation: Charts, tables, graphs, classification of data.
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Fundamentals of computing, internet, ICT in governance and education.
- People, Development and Environment: Human-environment interaction, natural hazards, environmental protection frameworks.
- Higher Education System: Policies, governance, evolution of higher learning institutions.
This breadth ensures candidates are tested on analytical and contextual understanding, rather than narrow subject knowledge.
UGC NET Paper II: Subject-specific knowledge
The UGC NET Paper II is designed to assess depth of understanding in the candidate’s chosen subject. There are over 80 subjects available, covering fields from Commerce and Economics to History, Education, Psychology, Computer Science, and Hindu Studies. Exam Details:
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Marks per Question: 2
- Duration: Part of the combined 3 hours
- Negative Marking: None
The syllabus for Paper II is postgraduate-level subject content, tailored to each discipline. Aspirants should consult the official UGC NET syllabus PDF available on the UGC/ NTA websites to download the subject-wise detailed list. Candidates appearing for the UGC NET examination can access subject-specific syllabus PDF by clicking on the link here.
UGC NET marking scheme explained
As per the official examination bulletin released by NTA, the marking scheme for UGC NET exam is as follows:
- For each correct response: +2 marks
- For each incorrect response or unanswered questions: 0 marks
- No negative marking for wrong answers
Additionally, candidates will be credited for questions subsequently identified as incorrect or ambiguous by the NTA, as per official protocols.With this format, there is no penalty for guessing, which encourages complete attempts and strategic time management.
Medium of the test
Candidates can choose English or Hindi as the medium for both papers, except for certain language subjects where translations are irrelevant. In case of any discrepancy in translation, the English version will be considered final.
Next steps for candidates
With the exam dates approaching, candidates should note that the complete syllabus for all 83 UGC NET subjects, detailed exam pattern, and marking scheme have been released on the official NTA website (ugcnet.nta.ac.in). NTA has also confirmed that the December 2025 cycle will follow the standard two-paper, 300-mark CBT format with no negative marking. Aspirants are advised to download the latest syllabus PDFs, review past years’ question papers, and track updates exclusively through the NTA portal to avoid misinformation.
English (US) ·