NTA UGC NET 2026 Exam Analysis Out for 2 Jan, Check Attempts and Difficulty Level

NTA UGC NET 2026 exam analysis for 2 January is out. Check Paper 1 and Paper 2 difficulty level, section-wise good attempts, key topics, and expert insights based on student feedback and exam trends.

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The NTA UGC NET 2026 Exam Analysis for 2 January 2026 is now available, as today’s Shift 2 has concluded successfully. Based on real-time student feedback and expert review, Adda247 has released the detailed exam analysis for today’s shift, offering candidates a clear understanding of section-wise difficulty levels, good attempts, and question trends. This analysis is also aligned with previous year UGC NET exam patterns, ensuring aspirants get a reliable and accurate picture of the exam level.

UGC NET 2026 Exam Analysis by Students: Today Highlights

According to the Adda247 UGC NET expert team, today’s Shift 2 paper closely followed the established UGC NET pattern. Most questions were direct, syllabus-oriented, and concept-driven, making the paper approachable for well-prepared candidates.

Overall Difficulty Level: The paper was rated moderate, with a greater emphasis on conceptual understanding than calculations.
Paper Nature: Questions were largely syllabus-oriented and predictable for well-prepared candidates.
Teaching Section: Considered scoring and straightforward by most students.
Research Section: Slightly analytical, requiring conceptual clarity rather than rote learning.
Logical Reasoning: Perceived as the most time-consuming and challenging section.
Data Interpretation: Reported as easy and time-saving, helping candidates increase attempts.
Mathematical Reasoning: Moderate in nature with basic calculations.
ICT Section: Focused more on practical awareness than deep technical knowledge.
Environment Section: Questions were simple and based on general understanding.
Higher Education Section: Mostly factual and trend-based, making it relatively easy.
Communication Section: Direct and fact-based questions were asked.
Reading Comprehension: Passages were easy to read, with only one passage considered slightly lengthy.

NTA UGC NET 2026 Exam Pattern: Overview

The UGC NET examination consists of two papers conducted in a single session:

Paper 1: General Aptitude (50 Questions, 100 Marks)
Paper 2: Subject-Specific (100 Questions, 200 Marks)

Both papers are conducted in CBT mode, with no negative marking. Based on Adda247’s analysis and previous year trends, Paper 1 continues to be scoring, while Paper 2 remains decisive for JRF qualification.

UGC NET 2026 Paper 1 Analysis: Difficulty Level (Shift 2)

The UGC NET 2026 Paper 1 exam for Shift 2 was assessed as easy to moderate in overall difficulty, as per student feedback and expert review. The paper maintained a balanced structure, covering all ten units of the syllabus. Most questions were direct, concept-based, and familiar to candidates who had practised previous year questions. Below is the section-wise difficulty level table to help candidates quickly understand the paper’s overall nature and scoring potential.

Section	Good Attempt	Difficulty Level
Teaching Aptitude	4-5	Easy to Moderate
Research Aptitude	3-4	Moderate
Reading Comprehension	4-5	Easy
Communication	3-4	Easy to Moderate
Logical Reasoning	2-3	Moderate
Data Interpretation	4-5	Easy
Mathematical Reasoning	3-4	Easy to Moderate
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	3-4	Moderate
People & Environment	3-4	Moderate
Higher Education System	4-5	Easy to Moderate

UGC NET 2026 Paper 1 Analysis: Section wise

As per Adda247’s today exam analysis, the UGC NET Paper 1 conducted on 2 January 2026 (Shift 2) was Easy to Moderate in overall difficulty. The paper focused more on conceptual understanding, application-based thinking, and PYQ-aligned topics rather than rote memorisation. All ten units of the syllabus were represented, making the paper balanced and scoring well for well-prepared candidates.

Part	Section	Important Topics Asked (as per Student Feedback)
I	Teaching Aptitude	Bloom’s Taxonomy, Phases of Teaching, Behaviourism Learning Theory, Learner Characteristics, Learner Disability
II	Research Aptitude	Research Design, Types of Research, Correlation Research, Deductive Research, Parametric & Non-Parametric Tests, Types of Sampling, Ethics
III	Reading Comprehension	RC passages (no major difficulty reported)
IV	Communication & Media Studies	Communication Model, Non-verbal Communication, Media Effects, Sequence-based Mass Media Chronology
V	Logical Reasoning	Coding-Decoding, Venn Diagram, Classification of Squares, Western Logic, Indian Logic, Fallacy (Repeated)
VI	Data Interpretation	Data Interpretation sets (Easy)
VII	Mathematical Reasoning	Fractions (Ascending Order), Average, Profit & Loss, Easy Maths Questions
VIII	Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	Memory (RAM, ROM), MAC Address, ICT-based Views, Primary & Secondary Memory
IX	People & Environment	Blue Baby Syndrome, Waste Pollution, Biogas, Earthquake, Tsunami, Richter Scale
X	Higher Education System	NEP 2020, Education Bodies & Objectives, University Chronology

Preparation Insights Based on Today’s Exam Analysis

Candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should:

Conceptual Focus: Most questions were theory-driven; strong understanding of core concepts is essential.
High-Weight Topics: Indian Logic, Validity, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and NEP-related questions appeared repeatedly—prioritize these.
Scoring Sections: Data Interpretation, Reading Comprehension, and Teaching Aptitude were straightforward and time-saving.
Logical & Analytical Skills: Strengthen reasoning abilities to handle challenging questions efficiently.
Practical Awareness: ICT, environment, and policy-based questions tested application over deep theory.
Numerical Practice: Basic calculations in Maths and DI were manageable; regular practice is sufficient.
Chronology & Factual Updates: Focus on policies, media, and higher education timelines for easy scoring.
Time Management: Attempt easy sections first, then moderate to difficult ones for balanced performance.
Revision Strategy: Revisit repeated and conceptual topics for confidence and accuracy.
Mock Practice: Solve previous papers and test series to improve speed and overall preparedness.