What Changed with NTA in UGC NET for Dec 2018

What changed with arrival of NTA in UGC NET for Dec 2018

How Will NTA Change the UGC NET Exam? A Clear Guide for Students

With the introduction of the National Testing Agency (NTA), many UGC NET aspirants are asking questions like:
“Is the study material updated?”
“Will the exam pattern change?”
“Will the paper become tougher?”

Let’s understand what actually changes — and what does not.

Is there any change in the UGC NET syllabus?
No. The syllabus remains exactly the same.

Is there any change in the type or difficulty level of questions?
No. The nature of questions remains unchanged.

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So, what has really changed? What should students focus on?

Every exam ultimately depends on two factors:

1. How much you know (Knowledge)

2. How you perform on the exam day (Strategy)

Earlier, students had more than enough time. For example, Paper-3 had 150 minutes for 75 questions. Most students easily finished it early. Time or stress management barely mattered.

But now the exam has changed. You need to solve 100 questions in 120 minutes, giving you just about one minute per question.

This means both knowledge and speed are important.
You must learn when to skip. If a question looks confusing or lengthy, skip it within 15–20 seconds. This “fast skipping” technique takes practice but is essential.

Even with average preparation, if you identify and attempt all the easy questions first, your chances of qualifying go up significantly. Avoid the common mistake of not reaching all questions — ensure you complete the full paper in the first 90 minutes.

Use the remaining time to attempt the difficult ones. Since there is no negative marking, attempt everything smartly using elimination.
Eliminate one option = 33% chance
Eliminate two options = 50% chance

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Impact of Moving from Offline to Online Exam

UGC NET has shifted from paper-based to online mode. In our experience at Human Peritus:

• Online mode is excellent for assessment and practice tests

• But learning is still faster with pen-and-paper
  (highlighting, underlining, making quick notes helps retention)

Use online mock tests only to get comfortable with the interface.
For learning concepts, stick to traditional methods.

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Is the content you need to study still the same?

Yes.
No topic has been added or removed.
You MUST continue solving previous year papers — including the old Paper-3 — because many concepts get repeated, and trends remain highly useful.

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Final Word

Overall, nothing major has changed with NTA.
Keep your preparation strong, focus on speed, practice skipping, revise PYQs — and continue your preparation with confidence.

All the best for your exam!