UGC NET Exam Pattern 2024 – NTA Paper Pattern & Marking Scheme
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2024 is an important part of the exam that every applicant must be aware of. It describes the UGC NET exam pattern and marking scheme, including the number of papers, question categories, and exam duration. Understanding the UGC NET 2024 exam pattern is critical for good preparation and success in this competitive exam. The UGC NET 2024 is expected to take place between 10th to 21st June 2024 for the June session. The candidates must also checkout the Syllabus of UGC NET 2024 for better preparation for the exam.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2024 Highlights
| Features | Details |
| Exam mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Test medium | English and Hindi |
| Number of Papers | Paper-I and Paper-II |
| Total questions | 150 questions |
| Type of questions | MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | For each correct response the candidate is awarded 2 marks. |
| Negative Marking | There is no negative marking. |
The UGC NET 2024 exam pattern consists of two papers:
- Paper-I
- Paper-II
Both papers are conducted in a single session with no break in between. The UGC NET 2024 exam aims to evaluate the candidates’ eligibility for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions in various Indian universities and colleges.
The medium of both the Question Papers shall be in English & Hindi only except the language papers.
UGC NET Exam Pattern for Paper 1
This is a general paper meant to assess teaching and research aptitude.It contains 50 multiple-choice questions, out of which candidates must answer 50. The duration of Paper-I is 1 hour (60 minutes). It carries a total of 100 marks. It will consist of topics from Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, Comprehension, Communication, Divergent Thinking, and General Awareness.
The following is the detailed Exam Pattern for UGC NET 2024 Paper-I:-
| UGC NET 2024 Paper-I Sections | Number 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 | 5 | 10 |
| Total | 50 | 100 |
UGC NET Exam Pattern for Paper 2
Paper-II is based on the candidate’s chosen subject and assesses in-depth knowledge. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and all questions are compulsory. When completing the application, candidates must choose from the 83 subjects offered for the UGC NET 2024 Paper 2 exam. It’s essential that candidates opt for the subject they studied at the post-graduate level. In cases where their postgraduate subject is not among the UGC NET 2024 subjects, they can select a related subject from the list.
The duration of Paper-II is 2 hours (120 minutes) and is a total of 200 marks.
| UGC NET 2024 Paper | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| Paper- II | 100 | 200 |
UGC NET Marking Scheme 2024
For each correct response in the UGC NET 2024 the candidate is awarded with 2 marks and there is no negative marking for an incorrect answer or an unanswered question.
In the event that a question in the UGC NET 2024 exam is identified as incorrect, unclear, or has multiple valid answers, only candidates who attempted the question and selected one of the correct answers will receive credit. If a question is declared incorrect and removed, those who attempted it will receive 2 marks.
UGC NET 2024 Selection Criteria
The UGC NET 2024 selection criteria are pivotal in determining the eligibility of candidates for academic and research roles in India. These requirements include meeting the requirements for both Paper-I and Paper-II, attaining a minimum overall score, and following government reservation regulations. Candidates hoping to become assistant professors or junior research fellows, which will help shape their academic and research careers, must be aware of these requirements:-
Step I: The percentage of candidates eligible for Assistant Professor positions, denoted as total slots, is determined as 6% of the total candidates who appeared in both Paper-I and Paper-II of the NET.
Step II: These total slots are then allocated among different categories in accordance with the reservation policy established by the Government of India.
Step III: To be considered for either ‘Junior Research Fellowship and Eligibility for Assistant Professor’ or ‘Assistant Professor’ positions, candidates must participate in both papers and secure a minimum of 40% combined aggregate marks for General/General-EWS candidates and 35% for candidates in reserved categories.
Step IV: The determination of the number of qualified candidates in any subject for a specific category follows a methodology as described below:
| Example: The number of applicants to be declared qualified for Scheduled Caste (SC) category Assistant Professor in the subject of Economics. | Number of candidates belonging to SC category who secure at least 35% aggregate marks in both the papers taken together for SC category for ‘Economics’ (x) Total slots derived for SC category as per Step II (÷) Total number of candidates belonging to SC category over all subjects who secure at least 35% aggregate marks in both the Papers taken together. |
The cumulative percentage of both papers, corresponding to the determined number of slots, establishes the qualifying cutoff for eligibility as an Assistant Professor in the ‘Economics’ subject, specifically for candidates in the SC category. A similar approach is applied to set subject-specific qualifying cutoffs for all categories.
Step V: Candidates who had applied for both ‘Eligibility for JRF & Eligibility for Assistant Professor’ from the total qualified candidates identified in Step IV form the consideration zone for JRF eligibility.
Step VI: The total available slots for JRF are distributed among various categories based on the government’s reservation policy. The allocation of JRF slots by subject and category follows a prescribed procedure:-
| Example: The number of applicants to be certified qualified for both JRF and Assistant Professor positions in the subject of “Economics” for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates | Number of candidates belonging to ST category who have opted for JRF and have qualified for Eligibility for Assistant Professor in the subject ‘Economics’ (x) Total JRF slots available for ST category (÷) Total number of candidates belonging to ST category over all subjects who have opted for JRF and have Qualified for Eligibility for Assistant Professor. |
UGC NET Exam Pattern FAQs
Q What is the UGC NET 2024 exam pattern in terms of the number of papers?
Ans The UGC NET 2024 exam consists of two papers: Paper-I and Paper-II. Paper-I is a general paper assessing teaching and research aptitude, while Paper-II is based on the candidate’s chosen subject.
Q How many questions are there in each paper, and what is the duration?
Ans Paper-I contains 50 multiple-choice questions, and Paper-II has 100 multiple-choice questions. The duration for Paper-I is 1 hour and for Paper-II, it is 2 hours.
Q Is there any negative marking in the UGC NET 2024 exam?
Ans No, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the UGC NET 2024 exam. Candidates are encouraged to attempt all questions.
Q Can I choose any subject for Paper-II, or does it have to be related to my postgraduate discipline?
Ans You should choose the subject that aligns with your postgraduate discipline. However, if your postgraduate subject is not available in the UGC NET 2024 subjects list, you can opt for a related subject from the list.
Conclusion
Two papers, Paper-I and Paper-II, each having a distinct focus and a set number of questions, make up the UGC NET 2024 exam pattern. Negative marking is not used, which encourages candidates to attempt every question. The subject for Paper-II should be chosen from the UGC NET 2024 subjects list in accordance with the candidate’s postgraduate discipline or a relevant field. Candidates who want to succeed in this nationally significant exam must be familiar with the exam format because it lays the groundwork for a fruitful academic and research career in India.
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