Study Plan (2021)

NTA UGC-NET General Paper-1

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 Study Plan of NTA UGC-NET
General Paper-1 - May 2021

Get to Know Yourself –

1. First, analyse the complete syllabus and previous year question papers of UGC
NET General Paper 1. Make a list of your Strong, Moderate and Weak topics. With
this, you will get an idea where to focus more, while preparing.

2. Self-Analysis – Fix Your Priority in order of their importance

For self-examination, you should divide your Subject Expertise into 3 categories
according to the syllabus such as Strong, Moderate and Weak Topics.

• Strong Category: Easy category covers topics in which you have knowledge about
the topic, and you are confident enough to solve the questions.

• Moderate Category: Moderate category includes topics that require a little

modification and practice.

• Weak Category: Topics that fall into the difficult category which require preparation
from basic level and more practice, mostly your weak area.

This process will give you a proper analysis of your knowledge and will define your start
towards the preparation of General Paper 1.
 3. Based on the Difficulty Quotient and time required to prepare, we have divided the topics
into “Easy” Category and the one which require “Regular Practice”

Easy Require Regular Practice

Teaching Aptitude Comprehension

Research Aptitude Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude

Communication Logical Reasoning
Information and Communication Data Interpretation
Technology (ICT)
People, Development and Environment Higher Education System (With Update
(With Updated Knowledge) Knowledge)

Marks Weightage of General Paper -1 (June 19 to

June 20)

NTA UGC - NET General paper -1 Marks Weightage

12 12 12
10 10 10 10
8 8 8

Note: - Given Marks Distribution is based on Analysis of Previous Session of June

2019, Dec. 2019 & June 2020 Papers of NTA UGC-NET.
 How to Start?

1. Start your preparation from Non-Practical Units (Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude,
Communication, Information and Communication, People, Development and
Environment) as they are less time consuming and scoring.

2. Units like Data Interpretation, Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude,

Comprehension require Recurring Practice of Questions at least twice a week.

3. Give equal importance to all units, as per the analysis of June/Sept. 2020 Exam, 4 to 5
Question will come from each section. But in this session, teaching aptitude consumes
higher weightage among all units.

Know About Units

(Based on Exam Analysis of 2019 & 2020)

1. Teaching Aptitude –
• Average Question – 6 Questions of 12 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Difficult Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Direct Questions
o Statement Based Questions
o Match the Following Based Questions
o Theory Based Questions
o Multiple Correct Options Based (Dec 2019)
• Most Important Subtopics (Easy & Scoring) –

o Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult

learners (Academic, Social, Emotional and Cognitive), Learning
 o Methods of Teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher
centred vs. Learner centred methods. Teaching Levels of teaching
(Memory, Understanding and Reflective)
o Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of evaluation, Evaluation in
Choice Based Credit System in Higher education, Innovations in
Evaluation Systems

2. Research Aptitude-
• Average Question – 6 Questions of 12 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Direct Questions
o Statement Based Questions
o Match the Following Based Questions
o Assertion & Reason Based
o Multiple Correct Options Based (Dec 2019)
• Most Important Subtopics (Easy & Scoring) –
o Research: Types, and Characteristics of Research, Positivism and Post-
Positivism approach to research.
o Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and
Quantitative methods
o Thesis and Article writing: Format and Styles of Referencing.
o Other Topics: Steps of Research, Types of Test, Level of Measurement of
Data, Types of Sampling, Research Ethics.

3. Reading Comprehension –
• Average Question – 5 Questions of 10 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate Level.
• Type of Questions – Theory Based and Direct Questions.
• Most Important Subtopics (Easy & Scoring) –
o All Questions of reading comprehension are directly related from Passage.
o Economical
4. Communication –
• Average Question – 5 Questions of 10 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Difficult Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Direct Questions
o Statement Based
o Match the Following Based
o Multiple Correct Options Based Question (Dec 2019)
• Most Important Subtopics (Easy & Scoring) –
o Effective Communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group
communications, Classroom communication, Barriers to effective
communication
o Mass-Media and Society
o Communication

5. Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude-

• Average Question – 6 Questions of 12 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Conceptual /Code Based
o Numerical Questions
o Statement Based
o Direct Questions
• Most Important Subtopics (Require Regular Practice) –
o Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and
Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.)
o Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.

6. Logical Reasoning-
• Average Question – 4 Questions of 8 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Moderate to Difficult Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Theory Based Questions
o Direct Questions
o Statement Based Questions
 • Most Important Subtopics (Require Regular Practice) –

o Understanding the structure of arguments: Classical square of opposition, Mood

and Figure, Formal and Informal fallacies, Uses of language.
o Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.
o Pramanas, Fallacy, Syllogism, Indian Logics.

7. Data Interpretation –
• Average Question – 5 Questions of 10 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Calculation Average Based Questions
o Formula Based Questions Based Questions
o Tabulation Based Questions
o Graph Based Questions
• Most Important Subtopics (Require Regular Practice) –
o Data Interpretation
o Data and Governance
o Graphical Representation (June 2020)

8. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) -

• Average Question – 4 Questions of 8 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Direct Question
o Assertion and Reason Based Questions
o Match the Following Based Questions
o Statement Based Questions.
• Most Important Subtopics (Easy & Scoring) –
o ICT: General abbreviations and terminology
o Digital initiatives in higher education
o Basics of Internet
o Hardware, Language of Computer

9. People, Development and Environment-

• Average Question – 5 Questions of 10 Marks.
 • Level of Difficulty – Easy to Difficult Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Direct Question
o Match the Following Based
o Multiple Correct Option Based (Dec 2019)
o Statement Based Questions.
• Most Important Subtopics (Easy & Scoring) –
o Development and Environment: Millennium development and Sustainable
development goals.
o Environmental Issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water
pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical,
hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its Socio-Economic and Political
dimensions.
o Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change,
International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on
Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance (With
Update)

10. Higher Education System -

• Average Question – 4 Questions of 8 Marks.
• Level of Difficulty – Easy to Moderate Level.
• Type of Questions –
o Direct Questions
o Theory Based Questions
o Multiple Correct Options Based (Dec 2019)
• Most Important Subtopics (Require Regular Practice) –
o Evolution of higher learning and research in Post-Independence India
o Professional, Technical and Skill Based education
o Policies, Governance, and Administration
o Challenge in Higher Education
o Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.
o Structure of the Institutions for Higher Learning and Research in India; Formal
and Distance Education
o Update Knowledge in Higher Education.
 Strategy for Preparing All Units-

1. Go through your Basic Concepts of Mathematics (Ratio & Proportion, Average,

Percentage). Data Interpretation is generally Based on Statistics (Basic mathematics
Concepts from class 10th) so you must focus on statistics part which will help you to
perform well in Data Interpretation.

2. For Higher Education System, Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning

programmes in India section has been added now, do focus on the recent development
schemes in higher education launched by government, and the details of
administrative positions in different Government Bodies like NCERT, MHRD, UGC etc. From
this section more of factual based questions can be asked. You can used flowchart method
to learn and revise this unit.

3. For Information and Communication Technology, Definition, Abbreviations,

Terminology and Basic Internet are very important, so make sure you learn them well.

4. From Teaching Aptitude, Questions will be based on ideal scenario and will check
your decision making and teaching skills. Now some new technically upgraded things
related to Teaching has been added to this section thus you must provide fair amount to
cover this new addition.

5. Reading comprehension generally checks your reading skills and how easily you
understand things. Try to understand all important points and practice accordingly.
 Inside Story by Toppers

• Firstly, Start with Selection of topics you might want to do first (Theoretical Units or
Practical Units) or choose those topics that you think require lot of work & Practice like –
Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning etc.

• To get rid of monotony and exhaustion, you can choose two topics at the time. The Selection
of one theory and one practical topic is advisable. If you do not want to hold off easy
subjects to later time you can choose one easy and one difficult subject.

• Never Memorize a formula blindly. Try to know the concept behind it. Sometimes they twist
the concept in a question so merely memorizing formula can lead to wrong answer.

• First, complete core units (most weighty unit) and then complete easiest units. After that
follow Success Mantra –

Test Analyze Revise

Knowing is one thing but practicing really cements your logic and
increases your speed and skills.

• Give as many mock tests as possible. Feel every test as your final exam and try to score as
much as possible. Learn from your mistakes that which kind of problems you are comfortable
in and which kind of problem takes more of your time.

• Success key-

Student must be solving Question Paper in Following Sequencing -

✓ Theoretical and Direct Question (Include Assertion and Reasoning)
✓ Data Interpretation and Mathematical Reasoning
✓ Comprehension Reading.
 Utilization of Study Material –

Pedagogy Followed by Eduncle.com

LEARN
• Theory Units with Solved
Examples

PRACTICE
• USP - Practice Questions
with Solutions on Each Unit

REVISE
• VSP – Revision Questions
on Combination of 3 Units

TEST
• MSP – Mock Test Papers
with Solutions

ANALYSE
• PSPs – Previous Year Solved
Papers (online format)
1. When you start any topic, always start with the basics, divide the sub-topics over time
intervals and take a break of 10 mins between any subtopics to recall the portion you
studied. This will help you absorb better because it gives your brain time to absorb the
fundamentals and concepts.

2. When you complete any topic, practice the solved examples, and make short notes, it
will help you in the last time preparation. Any Unit completion shall be followed by
practicing questions related to unit (i.e., USP). After USP, revise the topics again.
Check your accuracy as well as your speed.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”

3. When you cover any volume (i.e., 3 units) then just revise the short notes and give
a quick practice to solved examples again, without looking at the solution. After that,
Volume Solved Paper shall be tried by allotting it a maximum time of 3 hours.
Assess your score and work on your mistakes & weak topics.
Note: Same method is recommended to follow in all units.

4. Once you are done with the whole syllabus, it is time to assess our true level of
preparation by giving a shot at MSP (Model Solved papers). Revise the short notes and
start practicing Model Solved papers (3 hours for every paper). Check your answers and
calculate your marks to get an idea of your accuracy and speed.

5. Note down your mistakes and next day, revise topics related to mistakes, again try
to solve the questions you were unable to solve.
“Push Yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.”

6. After solving all MSPs, Similar approach shall be followed in PSPs (Previous Year Test
Papers). Compare your marks with cut-off of that year.
Note: While solving PSP, note down the tricks which have been used to solve difficult
questions.

“Smart work always pays better than hard work”.

 Study Flow –

S. No. Units Estimated Time

(Units + USP)
1 Teaching Aptitude 5-7 Hrs.
2 Research Aptitude 5-7 Hrs.
3 Reading Comprehensive 2-3 Hrs.
4 Communication 3-5 Hrs.
5 Logical Reasoning 12 - 15 Hrs.
6 Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude 15 – 20 Hrs.
7 Data Interpretation 12 – 15 Hrs
8 Information and Communication Technology 5 – 7 Hrs
9 People, Development and Environment 5 – 7 Hrs
10 Higher Education System 5 – 7 Hrs
Total Time 69 - 93 Hrs

Note – Now you can plan your daily schedule according to the hours given for a particular
unit and the time available for exam preparation.
 Treasure of Marks -

Units Subtopics Average Average

No. of No. of
Question Marks
Teaching Learner’s Environment and Characteristics, 5 to 6 10 to 12
Aptitude Factor Affecting of Teaching, Level of Questions Marks
Teaching (Reflective), Method of Teaching,
Teaching Support System, SWYAAM Prabha
Research Positivism and Post - Positivistic Approach to 5 to 6 10 to 12
Aptitude Research, Method of Research, Steps of Questions Marks
Research, Thesis and Article writing, Types of
Research, Types of Sampling
Comprehension All Questions of Reading Comprehension are 5 Question 10 Marks
Directly Related from Passage.
Communication Classroom Communication, Barriers of 5 to 6 10 to 12
Effective Communication, Types of Questions Marks
Communication (Listening), Characteristics
of Communication (Good Communicator),
Mass Communication
Mathematical Verbal Reasoning (Conceptual), 5 to 6 10 to 12
Reasoning and Mathematical Aptitude (Time, Speed and Questions Marks
Aptitude Distance, Ratio and Proportionate, Average,
Percentage, Direction, Setting Arrangement,
Coadding and Decoding, Profit and Loss)
Logical Mood and Figure, Evaluating and 4 to 5 8 to 10
Reasoning Distinguishing Deductive and Inductive Question Marks
Reasoning, Pramanas Arthapatti
(Implication), Formal and Informal Fallacies
Data Table Chart & Numerical Questions 5 Question 10 Marks
Interpretation
Information Basics of Internet, General Abbreviation and 4 to 5 8 to 10
and Terminology, Digital Initiatives in Higher Question Marks
Communication Education, ICT and Governess
 Technology
(ICT)
People, Non - Renewal Resources, Natural and 5 to 6 10 to 12
Development Energy Resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Questions Marks
and Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
Environment Development and Environment (Sustainable
Development)
Rio Summit, Kyoto Protocol, Paris
Agreement
Higher Professional, Technical and Skill Based 4 to 5 8 to 10
Education Education, Institutions of Higher Learning Question Marks
System and Education
in Ancient India, Evolution of Higher Learning
and Research in Post -Independence India
(Education Commission in India)

Unit Wise Level of Difficulty (As per June 2020 Analysis)

Unit Name Easy Moderate Tough Grand Total

Communication 2 3 0 5
Data Interpretation 1 3 1 5
Higher Education System 2 1 0 3
Information & Communication Technology 4 0 0 4
Logical Reasoning 0 3 2 5
Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude 2 3 0 5
People, Development and Environment 1 4 0 5
Reading Comprehension 3 2 0 5
Research Aptitude 2 3 0 5
Teaching Aptitude 4 4 0 8
Grand Total 21 26 3 50
 Type of Questions (Detailed Analysis)

Types of Questions No. of Questions No. of Questions

(June - 2020) (DEC - 2019)

Direct Questions 27 30
Choose the Correct Option - 4
Assertion and Reasoning 2 2

Match the Following 3 4

Tabulation / Graph Based 5 10
Statement Based 13 -

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

Then why wait, let us do it – All the best!