The UGC NET is a national-level computer-based test in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine the eligibility of the aspirants for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) post or Assistant Professor post in Indian universities and colleges.

If you’re preparing for the UGC NET exam, it is essential to understand the exam deeply and use the study materials for the exam. In this blog, we’ll further discuss the smart ways of using the study materials, such as the NTA UGC NET Mock Test and the UGC NET previous question paper, to increase the chances of success. 

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Must Read: Best Time Management Techniques for UGC NET Exam

Using Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for Preparation Assessment

The UGC NET exam is one of the toughest and most highly competitive exams, requiring a well-structured preparation strategy. One of the most effective preparation strategies is to use the UGC NET previous question papers. Here are some effective preparation assessments:

• Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus.
• Analysing the performance and focusing on the weak areas.
• Focusing on the repeated questions that have maximum chances.
• Revising regularly and tracking the progress.
• Using the UGC NET previous question papers as a last-minute revision tool.

The Strategic Role of Mock Tests

For cracking the UGC NET exam, strategic planning and effective time management are required. The UGC NET Mock Testis the key strategy for the preparation of the UGC NET exam.

The mock test replicates the real examination features, such as:

• Helps to understand the exam pattern.
• It gives the real-time exam experience.
• Helps in finding the strengths and weaknesses.
• Beneficial for improving time management.
• It helps to reduce the stress for the exams.

Understanding the Exam Structure

The UGC NET exam consists of objective-type questions. The exam pattern for NET is given below:

1.  It consists of two papers: 

Paper 1: It is a common paper for all the candidates that includes 10 units, which focuses on the general aptitude, teaching aptitude, research aptitude, reasoning, ICT, etc.

Paper 2: This is generally the domain paper based on the candidate’s chosen discipline.

2.  The questions in both papers in this exam consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

3.  The total number of questions in this exam is 150 from both papers. Paper 1 consists of 50 questions, and Paper 2 consists of 100 questions available in both Hindi and English.

4.  Each correct answer is worth 2 marks. It doesn’t include any negative marking for the incorrect answers or for the unattempted questions.

Are You a teacher? For Latest Updated FREE UGC NET Specimen Sample Books for Teachers- Click Here

Conclusion: From Practice To Performance -The Final Transition

To crack the UGC NET exam, depending only on theoretical knowledge is not enough. Integrating with the Mock tests and PYQs is the cornerstone for smart preparation.

You can start practicing today with UGC NET previous question papers available at the Oswaal360 portal, along with other UGC NET Exam 2026 books. Oswaal360 provides UGC NET Mock Test free samples to practice. These books help you with a well-structured learning experience, practice questions, expert guidance, and mock test papers to get a real-time exam experience. So, practice, revise, take the UGC NET course online, analyze your performance, and polish it to succeed in the exam.