Five ways to crack UGC NET-JRF in the first attempt

The National Eligibility Test (NET) and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) examination of the University Grants Commission (UGC) is counted among the country's most prestigious and difficult examinations. Lakhs of candidates sit it every year with the dream of becoming professors or building a career in research. Students often feel that cracking JRF takes several years of effort, but with the right strategy, an accurate timetable and discipline, it is entirely possible to clear the examination in the very first attempt.

First, understand the entire syllabus and make a plan. The syllabus is the first step to success in any examination. The UGC NET examination is divided into two parts, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Before beginning preparation, study the syllabus of both papers closely.

Paper 1 is the same for everyone. It covers subjects such as teaching aptitude, research aptitude, logical reasoning and data interpretation. Paper 2 is your main subject, the one in which you did your postgraduation. After going through the syllabus, make a list of your strong and weak subjects so that you can give more time to the weak ones.

Second, draw up a study plan of six to eight hours a day. To succeed in the first attempt, at least six to eight hours of regular study every day are necessary. Divide this time so that both papers get full attention. The mind is at its freshest in the morning, so spend the first three to four hours of the day understanding the difficult topics of your main subject. After that, set aside two to three hours in the afternoon or evening for Paper 2. During study, take a short break of 10 to 15 minutes after every two hours so that the mind does not tire and focus is maintained.

Third, do not take Paper 1 lightly. Many students remain immersed only in their main subject, that is Paper 2, and underestimate Paper 1. This mistake can prove costly, because Paper 1 plays a big role in crossing the JRF cut-off. The paper has 50 questions, and with the right strategy you can score well in it. Pay special attention to scoring chapters such as teaching and research aptitude. Practise mathematical reasoning and data interpretation for half an hour every day. This paper can lift your overall rank considerably.

Fourth, build the habit of making short notes and revising. Merely reading through the preparation is not enough; it is also necessary to remember what has been read. For this, make short notes of every important point, definition and theory as you study. In the last days before the examination, these notes prove to be a sure remedy for quick revision. Keep at least one day a week, such as Sunday, solely for revision. Go over everything you have studied during the week once on this day so that the concepts settle firmly in the mind.

Fifth, practise with previous years' papers and mock tests. Time management is the biggest challenge in the UGC NET JRF examination. Candidates have to solve a total of 150 questions across both papers on a computer screen in three hours. To practise this, be sure to solve the question papers of the past five to seven years. This gives a correct idea of the changing pattern of the examination and the level of the questions. In addition, make it a habit to take online mock tests at least twice a week. Mock tests show how many questions you can solve correctly in the stipulated time and what your speed is like.