Top 10 Tips to Crack UGC NET Exam on First Attempt

NTA conducts UGC NET Exam twice a year to gauge candidates’ eligibility for only or both JRF (Junior Research Fellow) and Assistant Professor positions in colleges and universities in India. There are 2 papers for this exam which makes it comprehensive in nature. Therefore, students or applicants must have a strong preparation strategy to clear the UGC NET exam on the first attempt. The UGC NET 2023 exam is scheduled from the 13th to the 22nd of June, 2023. Candidates must start their revision to score well in the exam.

In this article, let’s learn about the top 5 tips to crack UGC NET exam on the first attempt.

Before that, candidates should know the exam pattern and syllabus in detail. The exam pattern for the UGC NET exam is as follows:

10 Important Tips to Clear UGC NET exam on First Attempt

Analyse important topics in the syllabus

The NET syllabus is extensive and diverse, with 83 subjects. Choose a subject that you wish to pursue or are interested in. Then, thoroughly review the subject’s syllabus and make a list of subjects to begin your preparation with.

Do not go overboard with study material. Keep it to a minimum and concentrate on the most crucial topics in the UGC NET Exam syllabus. Even if there is no negative marking, it is better to prepare for the most crucial topics first and the remainder afterwards. You must design your various strategies based on your strengths and weaknesses. Give your weaknesses greater attention and establish a practice of reviewing all such things.

Choose the right study material

It might be difficult to choose the correct study material for NET exam preparation. However, with the guidance of experts and mentors, you can select the best one. You can contact students who have already taken the NET exam to check which book they used. Check with the toppers or senior students who took the NET Exam to get a sense of their preparation technique. To increase your speed and accuracy, you should make study notes, answer UGC NET previous year question papers, and take NET mock examinations.

Check the list of UGC NET books in the linked article.

Prepare a realistic timetable

Creating a realistic timetable helps you focus on your goals, and it becomes possible to achieve them easily. An unrealistic timetable can lead to unnecessary stress of not completing the planned topics on time. It’s best to gauge your focus limit per day and plan your subjects accordingly.

Here are some tips to prepare a realistic timetable for your UGC NET exam

• Get a calendar and jot down the plan for the day
• Set your priorities
• Take breaks between long study hours
• Ensure to focus equally on all subjects
• Don’t get distracted during study time
• Complete the topic you’ve picked

Make Notes on topics in the syllabus

Making unit-wise notes for UGC NET exam preparation will help you understand the concepts well. Making clear notes help you during the exam revision to quickly go through the concepts in a short period of time. Also, notes are an efficient way to learn and memorise topics that has complex process to be understood. Notes have all relevant information regarding the concept and it makes learning easy.

Practice Previous year questions

Candidates must practice previous year questions to get an idea about the complexity of questions asked in the UGC NET exam. Previous year questions are an effective way to learn about the frequently asked questions and also you get an idea to solve important questions in the least amount of time. Therefore, candidates should always practice last 5 years questions to get an idea about the overall exam. Candidates must also keep the exam pattern in mind while preparing for the UGC NET exam as there can be changes by NTA at times.

Focus on revision diligently

Many candidates take the revision process lightly. But, revision is one of the most important parts of cracking the UGC NET exam on the first attempt. Revision should be defined on the basis of frequency. Aspirants, once ready with one topic, should plan the revision in that same week to strengthen their grasp of the subject. Similarly, revision of the entire subject should be done 15 days before the exam and again during the last week of the exam. It’s best to complete the syllabus on time so that candidates have ample time to revise their concepts effectively.

Take mock tests to analyse your preparation

Mock tests are a very effective way to analyse your preparation and boost your confidence for the upcoming UGC NET exam.

If the thought of full-length fake tests makes you nervous, start with sectional tests. This can also boost your confidence in taking full-length tests. After you have completed the mock tests, you must analyse your performance. Mock exams allow you to assess your degree of preparation for the NET exam. Many candidates practise equally hard, but their exam approach distinguishes their scores in the final UGC NET exam. If you want to crack UGC NET exam in the first attempt, you should attempt numerous mock tests before the exam.

Take enough study breaks to keep your focus level intact

Candidates preparing for UGC NET exam must take breaks in between their study hours to enhance their preparation for the exam. 

Research shows that taking purposeful breaks of 5 to 30 min duration from studying to refresh your brain and body increases your energy, productivity, and ability to focus. 

Here are some ways how you can enhance your productivity with short breaks effectively.

1. Take a stroll for a few minutes 
2. Meditate for a short duration during studies
3. Read a book
4. Stay away from social media during the break
5. Express your creativity to release your stress

Plan your last week before the exam

Candidates must plan their last week of the exam effectively to cover all topics from the syllabus one last time before the exam. Plan your day before the exam and keep all essentials ready for the exam to avoid last-minute hassle. Also, candidates should not take up anything new one week before the exam. This will save them from unnecessary confusion during the exam.

Do not stress or get nervous 1 day before the exam

Candidates should know that the career they are about to pursue takes a lot of grit, and patience with a positive mental attitude.  If candidates have a negative attitude and keep saying that they can’t do it, then it will not help them in learning process or cracking UGC NET in the first attempt. A negative approach will make things difficult. The right mindset will also make you less anxious and you would be able to clear the exam seamlessly.

Cracking the UGC NET exam on the first attempt is possible. It takes a lot of effort, but with practice and proper strategy, it is easy to crack the exam.

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