Are you capable of teaching in a college or a university? There are many ways of judging that — college scores, interviews, aptitude and so on. But the most important yardstick is clearing the National Eligibility Test, or NET as it is popularly known. This examination opens the door to a teaching or research job.

Preparing for NET is no mean task. It entails hard work, thorough knowledge of your subject and the ability to answer questions cogently. It is mandatory for those who want to be lecturers or wish to research under the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) scheme in universities across India. The Delhi-based University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts NET for arts students. It also conducts the exam for science students in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The minimum eligibility is a postgraduate degree with 55 per cent. The exam is held twice a year — usually in June and December. Humanities and social science students can choose their area of specialisation from 93 subjects while science students have an option of five.

There is no upper age limit for lectureship but for JRF, a candidate cannot be above 28 years of age. Also, students have to specifically mention in the application form whether they are applying for lectureship, JRF or both, as rankings and selections are done accordingly.

Top-ranking students selected for JRF are paid a stipend and can take up research work for a prescribed period in any Indian university. JRF is available for five years, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions laid down by the UGC. So be clear about your goals before filling out the NET application form.

“It is a tough exam to crack. Barely five per cent of those who appear clear it,” says Delhi-based career counsellor Pervin Malhotra. So students who wish to sail through should follow a systemic preparatory approach, clearly focusing on areas of specialisation, along with general aptitude.

The examination is conducted in three parts, all on the same day. For students of humanities, Paper I is common, and consists of multiple-choice questions on general topics. Paper II consists of multiple-choice questions in the candidate’s chosen subject. Paper III deals with subjective questions in the chosen subject.

“Paper I usually has questions related to logical reasoning, verbal ability and data interpretation. Students can prepare for this paper from books that are available for general competitive exams,” says Sonia Suchdeva, lecturer, department of economics, Delhi University (DU).

A student has to clear Paper I to be eligible for Paper II. “So don’t take this paper lightly,” says Nidhi Aggarwal, who cleared NET in 2006 and is now a lecturer in DU. She advises students to go back to the basics of their subjects as there may be surprise school-level questions. Paper I also tests students for teaching aptitude and research. “Avoid guesswork as wrong answers carry negative marks,” adds Aggarwal.

Paper III is usually divided into four sections. Candidates have to write a 1,000-word essay that carries 40 marks, answer five analytical or evaluative questions, questions relating to a passage, and those requiring descriptive answers.

Science students have to clear only two papers, though Paper I has two sections, including a computer science segment that checks a student’s basic computer skills. In this section, knowledge of algorithms and computational methods are of significance. The second section has questions to test the candidate’s general awareness of science, aptitude for scientific and quantitative reasoning, and mathematical ability. The questions check a student’s analytical ability and aptitude for research.

Paper II for science students usually consists of 35-40 short-answer questions, requiring descriptive answers. The first question is compulsory and carries 20 marks. Apart from this, a candidate is required to answer a maximum of 12 questions of 15 marks each.

The syllabus for each subject is available on the UGC website. Model questions are also provided with the syllabus, sent by the UGC along with the admit card to the applicants about a month before the examination.

“Studying by yourself is the best way to prepare for the examinations. But students who lack discipline can join a coaching institute that helps them in focusing their approach,” says Suchdeva.

The experts voice a word of caution. “There are coaching institutes in every nook and corner of the city. Join an institute only after checking its credentials and success rate,” suggests Malhotra. “Stay away from fly-by-night operators that may just mislead you,” she adds.

Also, it is helpful if one appears for the exam while in the last year of postgraduation. “This way continuity is not lost. Two to four hours of study daily can help you crack NET,” says Suchdeva.

“NET is not as tough as it is made out to be. Anyone who has a basic understanding of subjects and has studied diligently can clear the exam in one or two attempts,” she adds. Candidates should ideally begin preparing three months ahead of the examination.

You should read the question paper carefully. Students tend to miss out questions that appear after many blank pages — which are provided for the answers. “Twice, I missed a 40-mark essay question owing to my carelessness. Students should first scan the question paper thoroughly,” says Aggarwal, who cleared the examination in her third attempt.

The focus while answering Paper I should be on clearing it. Keep your mind clear when appearing for Paper II in the afternoon session. Leave your thoughts about your performance in Paper I behind so that you are able to focus on Paper II.

Avoid writing very long answers in the subjective paper. “It is advisable that students write descriptive answers in a concise manner. Writing the main points and elaborating a bit is the ideal way to go about it,” says Suchdeva.

Various reference books are available to help you prepare for NET. Syllabi of all the subjects as well as model test papers are available on the official website of the UGC and the CSIR. The UGC also brings out books related to NET that can act as reference guides.

With a disciplined study schedule and good time management, you can walk your way into the corridors of higher learning and teaching.