NTA UGC NET 2026 Exam Analysis Out for 3 Jan, Check Attempts and Difficulty Level

NTA UGC NET 2026 exam analysis for 3 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 3 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 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 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 Level: Paper 1 was rated moderate, but many students found it lengthy.
Paper Nature: Conceptual questions with a high presence of sequence-based and assertion–reason formats.
Teaching & Research: Mostly theory-based and manageable for prepared candidates.
Logical Reasoning: One of the most time-consuming sections.
Data Interpretation: Reported as easy to moderate and scoring.
Mathematical Reasoning: Basic and easy to attempt.
ICT: Awareness and matching-type questions made it moderate.
People & Environment: Factual with some analytical questions.
Higher Education: Highly scoring, with multiple questions reported.

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	3-4	Easy to Moderate
Research Aptitude	3-4	Moderate
Reading Comprehension	4-5	Easy
Communication	3-4	Moderate
Logical Reasoning	2-3	Moderate to Difficult
Data Interpretation	4-5	Easy to Moderate
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 3 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	Learner-related concepts, Critical Thinking (Basic), HRM – Labour Welfare (Faculty-related question)
II	Research Aptitude	Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Validity (Repeated), Assertion-Reasoning, Propounder-based Question
III	Reading Comprehension	No major difficulty reported
IV	Communication & Media Studies	Hetvabhash (Fallacy-related), Sequence-based Communication/Commission Chronology
V	Logical Reasoning	Indian Logic, Fallacy (Repeated), Square of Opposition, Converse-Obverse-Contraposition, Assertion-Reasoning
VI	Data Interpretation	Pass-Fail Based DI, Ratio-based DI, DI on BA/BSc Data, Overall Easy to Moderate
VII	Mathematical Reasoning	Alphabetical Series (Complex Pattern), Fraction, Percentage, Ratio (Ascending Order), Average, Speed-Average
VIII	Information & Communication Technology (ICT)	LAN-MAN-PAN Chronology, Software, Computer Hardware, ICT Matching Questions, Phishing, Memory-related Questions
IX	People & Environment	Blue Baby Syndrome, Biogas, Greenhouse Gases (Sequence), Wind Mill / Pawan Chakki (Assertion-Reason), NAPCC – 8 Missions, CFC
X	Higher Education System	NEP 2020 (3-4 Questions), GER, Kulpati-Kuladhipati (Chronology), University & Commission Chronology