UGC NET Exam: Common Mistakes to Avoid on Test Day

Making mistakes is part of life, and learning from them is an art. However, if you could learn from others’ mistakes, you could be the smartest in your hive. Similarly, the UGC NET is an impactful exam, and lakhs of students appear in it every year. According to Jagran Josh (2024), 11,21,222 students registered for the UGC NET 2024 exam in June. Of this, 6,84,224 students appeared in the exam. Besides, only 1,70,734 students could secure the above cut-off marks.

While many students left no stone unturned to prepare efficiently for the exam, most people couldn’t manage to appear in the exam due to unpredictable circumstances. However, regrets are felt the most when some tiny and careless mistakes become why you miss out on your only opportunity. We have observed numerous scenarios of common mistakes that students often make on their exam days. This blog lists the common mistakes to avoid on exam day. Moreover, you would discover practical tips to do your best in the UGC NET exam 2025.

What is a UGC NET Exam? Take a Quick Overview

The UGC, or University Grants Commission, is a regulatory body that conducts the annual UGC NET exam. The National Eligibility Test, popularly known as NET, is one of India’s prestigious and competitive exams. NTA, the National Testing Agency, organises this exam twice a year on behalf of UGC. However, the exam is generally conducted in June and December, per past trends.

Furthermore, the exam is conducted in two shifts, morning and evening. Sometimes, the schedules slip away slightly more due to unavoidable conditions. Qualifying for this exam could be your way to secure a position as an assistant professor and junior research fellowship (JRF) in different universities nationwide.

UGC NET Exam 2025: Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

This year, the UGC NET exam 2025 was scheduled to be conducted on January 15, 2025, in various institutions all over India. However, due to the cultural and harvest festivals of Makar Sankranti, Bihu, and Pongal on January 15, the exam dates have been postponed to a new schedule. However, the dates from January 2 to January 10, 2025, have remained unaffected. Besides, the UGC NET conducted on January 16 would face no hindrances. Here are the newly revised dates for the UGC NET January 15, 2025 exam.

Please note that you must regularly check the official websites of NTA and UGC to get updated notifications on revised admit card dates.

Also Read: Ultimate Study Plan for UGC NET: 1 Month Preparation Guide

UGC NET Exam: 11 Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Exam Day

Although there are various mistakes that students make during their preparation, the most regretful mistakes were made on the UGC NET exam day. Here are the top common mistakes to avoid on the exam day. Considering them earlier could be a great help to you and could lessen your burden before the exam. So, let’s swiftly go through them:

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  Not checking your essential documents, such as your Aadhar card, admit card, photographs, and voter ID, if necessary, before exam day.
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  Losing your essential documents right before the exam.
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  Going to the exam without learning about any special and readily-made notification from authority.
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  Not getting proper or adequate sleep the day before the exam.
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  Putting too much stress on eyes through continuous screening with phone or PC. It could cause a headache during the exam.
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  Not carrying a pencil, eraser, and a pen (in case).
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  Avoiding the pre-exam instructions by the invigilators and on the first page of the exam.
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  Careless planning of schedules to attempt each section or no planning at all.
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  Attempting all questions one by one instead of focusing on the priority ones with more weight that you are confident with.
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  No flag questions for reviewing and making changes in the leftover time.
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  Marking the circles vaguely, in case of an OMR sheet exam.

Also Read: 7 Practical Tips to Stay Calm and Focused During Stressful Exams

UGC NET Exam: 12 Tips to Overcome Common Exam Day Mistakes

The common mistakes that students often make on the day of their exams are mentioned above. However, there could be many reasons for these mistakes. Overthinking and overstress, including carelessness, are common reasons for these mistakes. However, overconfidence could result in errors like not listening and reading instructions. Here, you must be sure to avoid all these reasons. Besides, no mistake is irreversible with proper guidance and solutions. Here are several top tips that you could consider to avoid making common mistakes on the exam day:

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  Taking adequate 7-8 hours of sleep before the exam day.
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  Gathering the essential documents, such as the Aadhar card, admit card, photographs, and other ID proof, if necessary, at a place. It would save searching time for each document.
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  Carrying the documents in a file bag to avoid losing them.
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  Keep yourself away from phones and monitor screens to prevent stress on your eyes and headaches.
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  Learning about the up-to-date (hours before) notifications made by the authorities on the exam day.
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  You must carry a pen, pencil, eraser, and ruler in every exam. You could leave them outside the room in the exam hall if not needed.
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  You must carefully listen and read the exam instructions given by invigilators and on exam papers.
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  Always plan your schedule per your practice during mock tests and PYPs.
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  Ensure giving each section a sufficient yet quick portion of time.
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  Mark the questions flagged in case of doubt and review them in the leftover time.
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  Attempt the questions according to their weight in the marking scheme.
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  In the case of an OMR sheet, you must mark the circles dark and carefully.

Also Read: Tips for Improving your CGPA: Strategies for Success

Top 5 UGC NET Exam Preparation Tips for Last Week

A week before your UGC NET exam matters the most in your entire exam preparation. This may be the phase when you apply all your practices and knowledge to a final piece. Practically, it’s right before your final performance. Here, you only have the opportunity to perform what you have learnt and not add new creativity. Here are the top 5 UGC NET exam preparation tips for the last week.

1. Focussing on Mindful Learning

A week isn’t enough to develop competitive exam strategies. It would require a time investment, which could distract your focus from revision. You must practice mindful learning to apply the knowledge you have gathered in months of practice. Here, you must revise the priority topics instead of starting new ones.

2. Adhering to Your Schedules

Sticking to your schedules is a way to be consistent. It would help you prepare with timely practice without making you stressed. Make sure to prepare your schedules for different exam sections.

3. Prioritising Breaks

Taking short breaks helps you refresh your mind and body. Avoiding them could lead you to stress, anxiety, and physical health issues such as arm and shoulder strain and neck or back pain. You must take breaks to keep your health intact before the exam.

4. Clarifying the Misconceptions

You must ensure that you do not have any doubt regarding any concept or topic. Clarifying doubts with friends, mentors, or online is necessary before the exam. Having doubts about a specific topic could mislead your mind and raise doubts in others, similar to negative thinking attracting negativity.

5. Keep Calm and Positive, Confidence Coming Soon

Staying positive enhances self-confidence. Having confidence during exams is crucial not to doubt your strategies. You could practice mindfulness, yoga, chanting, or light sports activities like cycling and jogging in the early morning to avoid rush traffic hours.

Logging Out

The UGC NET exam is one of the most competitive exams in India and is run by central government authorities. Being a national-level exam, it has considerable value among citizens of India. The exam awards you the appointments for assistant professor and JRF positions. It also provides you with PhD degree admission into top universities nationwide. Learners across the nation prepare for years to qualify for the exam. Unfortunately, some tiny mistakes often become the reason for disqualification in the exam for many.

Considering the practical tips mentioned in the blog, you could prepare better for your exam. Furthermore, many students often make the mistakes mentioned here. If you don’t want to miss your one-in-a-million opportunity to qualify for the exam, you must avoid making the same mistakes as others. After all, learning from others’ mistakes is the best you can do not to doubt your determination.