UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 1 & 2, Marking Scheme
UGC NET December 2026 has two papers with 150 MCQs for 300 marks. Paper 1 carries 100 marks and Paper 2 carries 200 marks. The CBT lasts 3 hours without a break, and there is no negative marking.
Amit13 Oct, 2026
The UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 for the December session consists of two papers with 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying a total of 300 marks. Paper 1 contains 50 questions for 100 marks, while Paper 2 contains 100 questions for 200 marks. The examination is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for 3 hours without a break between the papers. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
According to the official UGC NET December 2026 Information Bulletin, all questions are compulsory, and each correct response carries 2 marks. Candidates should understand the paper-wise structure and marking scheme to plan their examination strategy.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026
The UGC NET December 2026 examination consists of two sections: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both sections contain objective-type multiple-choice questions and are conducted in a single three-hour session without a break.
Paper 1 assesses teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness. Paper 2 evaluates the candidate's domain knowledge in the subject selected during the application process.
The examination is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. All questions are compulsory, and candidates receive 2 marks for each correct response. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
| Particulars | UGC NET December 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of papers | 2 |
| Paper 1 questions | 50 |
| Paper 1 marks | 100 |
| Paper 2 questions | 100 |
| Paper 2 marks | 200 |
| Total questions | 150 |
| Total marks | 300 |
| Question type | Objective-type MCQs |
| Exam duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Break between papers | No break |
| Marks per correct answer | 2 marks |
| Negative marking | No |
UGC NET Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026
UGC NET Paper 1 is common to all candidates, irrespective of the subject selected for Paper 2. It is designed to assess teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness.
Paper 1 contains 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions carrying 100 marks. Each correct response carries 2 marks, and no marks are deducted for incorrect answers.
| Paper 1 Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper | General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude |
| Number of questions | 50 |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Marks per correct answer | 2 |
| Question format | Objective-type MCQs |
| Negative marking | No |
Candidates can also check the UGC NET Syllabus 2026 to review the Paper 1 units and subject-wise Paper 2 topics.
| Particulars | UGC NET Paper 1 |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 50 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Question Type | MCQs |
| Marks per Question | 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Questions | All questions are compulsory |
| Purpose | Tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning ability, reading comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness |
Paper 1 is common to all UGC NET candidates, irrespective of the subject selected for Paper 2.
UGC NET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026
UGC NET Paper 2 is the subject-specific section of the examination. Candidates answer questions based on the subject selected during the application process. The paper assesses their knowledge of the chosen discipline.
Paper 2 contains 100 compulsory multiple-choice questions carrying 200 marks. Each correct response earns 2 marks, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Paper 2 Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper | Subject-specific |
| Number of questions | 100 |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Marks per correct answer | 2 |
| Question format | Objective-type MCQs |
| Negative marking | No |
The syllabus for Paper 2 varies by subject. Candidates should refer to the official UGC NET syllabus portal for the prescribed syllabus of their selected subject.
Is UGC NET MCQ Based?
Yes, UGC NET is an MCQ-based examination conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions.
All questions are compulsory, and each correct response carries 2 marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. Candidates should read each question and its available options carefully before selecting an answer.
How Many Papers Are There in UGC NET?
There are two papers in UGC NET: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both are conducted in the same three-hour examination session without a break.
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Paper 1: 50 questions carrying 100 marks; common to all candidates.
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Paper 2: 100 questions carrying 200 marks; based on the subject selected by the candidate.
Together, the two papers contain 150 questions for a maximum of 300 marks.
UGC NET Exam Duration 2026
The total duration of the UGC NET December 2026 examination is 3 hours (180 minutes) for Paper 1 and Paper 2 combined. There is no break between the two papers.
The official Information Bulletin specifies a combined duration rather than separate time limits for Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates should manage their time across both sections within the allotted examination period.
UGC NET Marking Scheme 2026
The UGC NET December 2026 marking scheme awards 2 marks for each correct response. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Response or question status | Marks awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct response | +2 |
| Incorrect response | 0 |
| Unanswered question | 0 |
| Question marked for Review and left unanswered | 0 |
The official Information Bulletin also specifies how marks are awarded if a question has multiple correct options, all options are correct, no option is correct, or a question is found to be incorrect or dropped:
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If more than one option is correct, 2 marks are awarded to candidates who selected any of the correct options.
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If all options are correct, 2 marks are awarded to candidates who attempted the question.
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If no option is correct, or a question is incorrect or dropped, 2 marks are awarded to candidates who attempted it.
Candidates should refer to the official UGC NET December 2026 Notification for the complete marking rules.
UGC NET Total Questions and Marks
The UGC NET examination contains 150 questions for a total of 300 marks. Paper 1 contributes 100 marks, and Paper 2 contributes 200 marks.
| Paper | Questions | Marks per question | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 50 | 2 | 100 |
| Paper 2 | 100 | 2 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | тАФ |
Both papers are compulsory. Candidates should prepare for Paper 1 and their selected Paper 2 subject to cover the complete examination.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026: Key Points to Remember
Candidates preparing for UGC NET December 2026 should remember these key details:
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The examination consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2.
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Paper 1 contains 50 questions for 100 marks.
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Paper 2 contains 100 questions for 200 marks.
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The complete examination contains 150 questions for 300 marks.
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Both papers consist of objective-type multiple-choice questions.
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The examination is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
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The total examination duration is 3 hours (180 minutes).
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There is no break between Paper 1 and Paper 2.
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Each correct response carries 2 marks.
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There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
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All questions are compulsory.
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Paper 1 is common to all candidates, while Paper 2 is based on the subject selected by the candidate.
Candidates should check the official NTA website and Information Bulletin for any subsequent announcements or instructions.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
How many papers are there in UGC NET?
Is UGC NET MCQ based or written?
How many marks is UGC NET Paper 1?
How many marks is UGC NET Paper 2?
Is there negative marking in UGC NET?
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