The UGC NET JRF exam was held on January 5, 2026, and students from the Sankalp Institute appeared for the exam. What is shown in this analysis is the way the test was structured with respect to the question types and question distribution, as well as a general understanding of the level of difficulty of the exam, based on the students’ observations of their experiences inside the exam hall.
This review of the experiences of students who appeared for the examination from the Sankalp Institute provides students with an opportunity to develop their understanding of the most commonly tested topics, their relative ease of understanding, and the areas they need to develop further in order to be successful.
The analysis of the questions asked during the UGC NET JRF examination provides candidates with an understanding of the structure of the paper and how to prepare for success in the UGC NET JRF exam. In addition, this analysis allows candidates to understand where they might consider adjusting their study priorities and better plan their use of time during the exam.
If you are planning to appear for the UGC NET JRF exam in the future or are developing a stronger strategy for your upcoming attempts, the examination breakdown presented provides you with valuable insights.
| Paper | Paper Name | Nature | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Teaching and Research Aptitude | Common (All Subjects) | 50 |
| Paper 2 | English | Subject-Specific | 100 |
Total Marks: 300
Exam Mode: CBT (Online)
Negative Marking: No
General Paper On Teaching and Research Aptitude
Paper: UGC NET Paper‑1
Questions: 50 (2 marks each)
Negative Marking: No
Teaching Aptitude
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Learner Characteristics | 2 | Easy |
| Methods of Teaching | 2 | Easy–Moderate |
| Teaching-Learning Materials | 1 | Easy |
| Evaluation & Assessment | 2 | Moderate |
| Teacher Roles & Responsibilities | 1 | Easy |
| Classroom Management | 1 | Easy–Moderate |
Total Avg. Questions: 8–10
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Research Aptitude
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods (Qualitative/Quantitative) | 2 | Moderate |
| Hypothesis & Variables | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Sampling Techniques | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Research Ethics | 1 | Moderate |
| Data Interpretation (Tables/Graphs) | 1 | Moderate |
Total Avg. Questions: 5–6
Difficulty: Moderate
Reading Comprehension
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Unseen Passage – Comprehension | 5 | Easy |
Communication
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Communication | 2 | Easy |
| Non-Verbal Communication | 1 | Easy |
| Communication Barriers | 1–2 | Easy–Moderate |
| Effective Communication Skills | 1 | Easy |
Total Avg. Questions: 4–5
Difficulty: Easy
Mathematical Reasoning & Logical Reasoning
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Number Series | 1–2 | Easy |
| Data Sufficiency | 1–2 | |
| Problem Solving | 2–3 | Easy |
| Coding-Decoding | 1 | Easy |
| Logical Venn Diagrams | 1 | Easy |
Total Avg. Questions: 6–7
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Data Interpretation
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Tables & Charts | 2–3 | Easy |
| Graphs (Bar/Line/Pie) | 2–3 | Easy |
| Case-Based Analysis | 1 | Easy |
Total Avg. Questions: 5
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Fundamentals | 1–2 | Easy |
| Internet & Email | 1 | Easy |
| Software & Hardware | 1–2 | Easy |
| ICT in Education | 1 | Easy–Moderate |
Total Avg. Questions: 5
Difficulty: Easy
People, Development & Environment
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Human Development | 2 | Moderate |
| People & Environment | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Sustainable Development Goals | 1 | Moderate |
| Environment Awareness | 1–2 | Moderate |
Total Avg. Questions: 6–7
Difficulty: Moderate
Higher Education System
| Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Education Policies in India | 1–2 | Moderate |
| University Grants Commission (UGC) | 1 | Moderate |
| Regulatory Framework | 1 | Moderate |
| Quality Assurance in HEI | 1 | Moderate |
Total Avg. Questions: 3–4
Difficulty: Moderate
Paper 1 – Summary
Total Questions: 50Good Attempts: 35–40
Overall Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Teaching Aptitude gives you a good foundation of how the education system works, so that when it comes to teaching at any level you know what you will need to do. Research Methods provide you with knowledge about types of research designs, general research procedures, the ethical decisions you will need to make while designing a study, and other important concepts related to the research process.
The skills required to answer Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation questions help you develop analytical thinking and critical thinking ability. When you develop those skills, you will be able to respond correctly to questions within the allotted time frame.
English (Subject Code – 30)
Paper: UGC NET Paper‑2Negative Marking: No
Nature: Conceptual + factual + theory‑oriented
Overall Difficulty Trend: Moderate
Unit 1: History Of English Literature
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Old English Period (Beowulf, Caedmon) | 1–2 | Difficult |
| Middle English Period | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Geoffrey Chaucer | 3–4 | Moderate |
| Renaissance & Humanism | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Elizabethan Age (Drama & Poetry) | 4–5 | Moderate |
| Jacobean Age | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Restoration Period | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Neo‑classical Age | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Romantic Age | 4–5 | Easy–Moderate |
| Victorian Age | 4–5 | Moderate |
| Modern Period (1900–1950) | 4–5 | Moderate |
| Post‑modern Period | 2–3 | Moderate |
Strategy Note: Period + author‑work matching questions are frequent.
Unit 2: Poetry
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphysical Poetry (Donne, Herbert) | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Cavalier Poets | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Neo‑classical Poetry (Pope, Dryden) | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Romantic Poetry (Wordsworth–Keats) | 3–4 | Easy–Moderate |
| Victorian Poetry (Tennyson, Browning) | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Modern Poetry (Yeats, Eliot, Auden) | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Post‑modern Poetry | 1–2 | Moderate |
Unit 3: Drama
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Greek Influence on Drama | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Shakespearean Tragedy | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Shakespearean Comedy | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Shakespearean History Plays | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Jacobean Drama (Webster) | 2–3 | Moderate |
| Restoration Drama | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Modern Drama (Ibsen, Shaw) | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Theatre of the Absurd | 1–2 | Moderate |
Unit 4: Fiction & Prose
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| 18th Century Novel | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Victorian Novel | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Modern Novel | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Stream of Consciousness | 0–1 | Moderate |
| Essays & Prose Writers | 0–1 | Easy–Moderate |
Unit 5: American Literature
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| American Poetry | 3–4 | Easy–Moderate |
| American Novel | 3–4 | Easy–Moderate |
| American Drama | 2–3 | Easy |
| American Literary Movements | 2–3 | Moderate |
Unit 6: Indian Writing In English
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Early Indian English Writers | 2–3 | Easy |
| Indian English Poetry | 2–3 | Easy |
| Indian English Fiction | 2–3 | Easy–Moderate |
| Postcolonial Themes | 2–3 | Moderate |
Unit 7: Literary Theory & Criticism
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Classical Criticism (Plato, Aristotle) | 1–2 | Difficult |
| Structuralism | 1–2 | Difficult |
| Post‑Structuralism | 1–2 | Difficult |
| Marxism | 2–3 | Difficult |
| Feminism | 1–2 | Moderate |
| Postcolonial Theory | 1–2 | Difficult |
| New Historicism | 1–2 | Difficult |
| Reader‑Response Theory | 1–2 | Moderate |
JRF Focus Area: Literary Theory contributes 10-15 questions cumulatively.
Unit 8: Linguistics
| Micro Topic | Avg. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Phonetics & IPA | 1–2 | Easy |
| Phonology | 1–2 | Easy |
| Morphology | 0–1 | Easy |
| Syntax | 1–2 | Easy |
| Semantics | 0–2 | Difficult |
| Pragmatics | 0–1 | Difficult |
| Sociolinguistics | 0–1 | Moderate |
Overall Question Distribution (Out Of 100)
Literature History + Genres: 50-60Theory & Criticism: 15-20
Linguistics: 10–15
Expected CutOff
| Category | Assistant Professor | JRF |
|---|---|---|
| General | 165–170 | 185–190 |
| OBC | 155–160 | 175–180 |
| SC | 135–140 | 150–155 |
| ST | 135–140 | 150–155 |
| EWS | 155–160 | 175–180 |
Students who sat for the NET JRF exams on January 5, 2026, will be able to review their performance using the chart shown above. The chart provides information about the types of questions asked, the number of questions, the estimated level of difficulty, and the likely cut-off marks. After reviewing all the questions on this chart, students will be able to compare their attempts to the trends identified in the chart and assess their strengths and weaknesses. By understanding the relative weight and difficulty of the various topics, students will also have a clearer picture of how well they performed against other test takers and against the standards expected of a candidate. This type of analysis can help students forecast their future results and develop strategies to better prepare for subsequent test attempts.