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The NTA UGC NET Exam Analysis 2026 for 5 January 2026 is now available, as today’s Shift 1 has concluded successfully. Based on real-time student feedback and expert review, Adda247 has released a detailed exam analysis for today’s shift, providing candidates with a clear understanding of section-wise difficulty levels, good attempts, and question trends. This analysis is also aligned with the previous year UGC NET exam patterns, ensuring aspirants get a reliable and accurate picture of the exam level.
UGC NET Exam Analysis 2026 by Students: Today Highlights
According to the Adda247 UGC NET expert team, today’s Shift 1 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 paper was Easy to Moderate as reported by most students.
- Questions were concept-based, testing understanding rather than memory.
- Assertion–Reason and Match the Following questions appeared frequently.
- Several sections included direct and scoring questions, helping balance time.
- Numerical questions were manageable with basic calculation skills.
- Data-based questions were clear and not calculation-heavy.
- Logical questions required careful interpretation rather than lengthy solving.
- Many questions followed a repetitive pattern from previous years.
- Students found the paper balanced across sections with no unexpected surprises.
- Proper time management allowed good attempts within the given duration.
- UGC NET Answer Key 2026 Out – Click to Download
- UGC NET Result 2025 Out – Click to Download
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 1)
The UGC NET 2026 Paper 1 exam for Shift 1 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 | 6-8 | Easy to Moderate |
| Research Aptitude | 5-7 | Moderate |
| Reading Comprehension | 5 | Easy |
| Communication | 6-8 | Easy to Moderate |
| Logical Reasoning | 5-7 | Moderate |
| Data Interpretation | 4-5 | Moderate |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 5-6 | Moderate |
| Information & Communication Technology (ICT) | 6-8 | Easy to Moderate |
| People & Environment | 5-7 | Moderate |
| Higher Education System | 4-6 | Moderate |
UGC NET 2026 Paper 1 Analysis: Section-wise
As per Adda247’s today’s exam analysis, the UGC NET Paper 1 conducted on 5 January 2026 (Shift 1) 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 | Functions and Types of Evaluation (Match the Following), Formative & Summative Evaluation, P-Value, Assertion-Reason questions, Ancient Universities (Nalanda-Takshila match), Teaching-Learning Process |
| II | Research Aptitude | Research Methodology, Research Hypothesis & Null Hypothesis, P-Value, Statistics-based question, Research Evaluation Concepts |
| III | Reading Comprehension | RC passages were direct and fact-based, no tricky vocabulary, questions were straightforward |
| IV | Communication & Media Studies | Communication Models (Aristotle, 5W Model – Chronology), Mass Media, TV Channel Series, News Agencies & Sources, Barriers of Communication |
| V | Logical Reasoning | Square of Opposition, Fallacies, Indian Logic, Assertion-Reason, Coding-Decoding, Number Series (2, 6, 12, 20, ?, 42), Alphabet-based Question |
| VI | Data Interpretation | Table-based DI, Percentage Calculation, DI considered easier compared to previous shifts |
| VII | Mathematical Reasoning | Speed & Distance, CI & SI, Speed-based Problems, Gaseous State (Basic Numerical), Binary-Octal Conversion |
| VIII | Information & Communication Technology (ICT) | Number System, Binary-Octal, RAM & ROM, CPU, Generation of Computers, MS Excel (Short Cut Keys), Networking Devices, Full Forms |
| IX | People & Environment | Environment Protection Act (Chronology), Greenhouse Gases (GHG), Ozone Protocol, Ethanol, Coal Formation (Stages & Longest Period), Earth Development Stage |
| X | Higher Education System | NAAC-UGC Sequence, Universities Matching, History of Coal Information (Education-linked), Governance-related factual questions |
Preparation Insights Based on Today’s Exam Analysis
Candidates appearing in upcoming shifts should:
- Focus on conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization.
- Practice assertion–reason questions regularly to improve accuracy.
- Match-the-following type questions should be attempted with careful elimination.
- Time management is crucial, as several questions were lengthy but solvable.
- Accuracy matters more than attempting maximum questions.
- Numerical questions require clarity of basic formulas and quick calculation.
- Speed-based questions can be scoring with regular practice.
- Analytical thinking helped in solving moderate-level reasoning questions.
- Regular revision improves confidence in static and theoretical areas.
- Attempt easy and familiar questions first to maximize overall score.
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