UGC NET December 2025 Updated: Marking scheme, paper wise exam pattern explained

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to conduct the UGC NET December 2025 test in a computer-based mode soon. This test is a very important eligibility test for those candidates who want to be an Assistant Professor or get a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The examination is going to be held in December 2025. It will have the existing two-paper format which is conducted in a single uninterrupted session.

Millions‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ of students with a desire to pursue a master's degree are getting ready for their exam. 

Under these circumstances, it is of utmost importance to know the paper pattern, syllabus and marking scheme thoroughly for the final hour of ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌preparation.

How the UGC NET December 2025 exam will be conducted 

The UGC NET test is done as one continuous three-hour test without a break between the papers. Candidates have to answer both parts which are mandatory. The questions in both are multiple-choice. 

Paper I is about general aptitude for teaching and research, whereas Paper II contains questions on a specific subject chosen by the candidate.

Paper I: General Teaching and Research Aptitude

Paper I is a single test for all the candidates irrespective of the subjects they have studied. The test assesses the candidate's logical reasoning skills, analytical thinking, communication ability and knowledge of the higher education system rather than academic specialization. 

Important points of Paper I:

• Number of questions: 50
• Maximum marks: 100
• Marks per question: 2
• Question type: MCQs
• Negative marking: No

The syllabus covers a vast range of skills from teaching-learning processes, research basics, reading comprehension, communication skills, mathematical and logical reasoning, data interpretation, ICT applications, environmental awareness and higher education governance in India. The questions are so formed as to test the candidate's grasp of the academic context and research-based thinking.

Paper II: Subject-based assessment

The second paper of the exam is a knowledge test of the postgraduate subject matter level that the candidate has chosen. The candidates may select any one of the 80+ subjects from humanities, social sciences, commerce, sciences, education and language studies, etc.

Structure of Paper II:

• Number of questions: 100
• Maximum marks: 200
• Marks per question: 2
• Question type: MCQs
• Negative marking: No

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ course content for each subject varies and it is taken from the postgraduate curriculum. Candidates are advised to visit the official UGC NET or NTA website,download the subject-wise syllabus PDFs in order to have the right information for their ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌preparation.

Marking scheme and scoring rules 

The December 2025 UGC NET assessment system is very simple: 

• Correct answer: +2 points 
• Incorrect answer: No deduction
• Unattempted question: No points

Most‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ importantly, negative marking is not there, i.e., the candidates may answer all the questions without any fear of losing marks.

In case any question is found to be incorrect or ambiguous, NTA will settle the matter according to its official resolution policy and give the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌marks.

Language options for the UGC NET exam

The‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ candidates might choose either English or Hindi for the language of the question paper except the language-specific subjects. In case of any discrepancy between the translations, the English version will be ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌binding.

What candidates should focus on now

Aspirants now have to focus on revision of the updated syllabus, solve old question papers and get acquainted with CBT navigation as the exam window is nearing. The NTA has assured that the December 2025 cycle will have a 2-paper format of 300 marks with no negative marking. 

All the official notifications, syllabus documents, and exam-related updates will only be posted on ugcnet.nta.ac.in. Candidates are advised not to depend on other sources so that they do not get confused or receive wrong ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌information.