UGC-NET Psychology can be a very ambiguous exam. More often than not the first time someone takes the exam they are left scratching their heads and wondering where the question came from. The spontaneous nature of the exam oftentimes can be very overwhelming for the aspirants and particularly for those students who thrive on structure. We at PowerWithin recognize this flaw of this exam and have tried to give the exam some structure. To do so we analyzed the last 5 previous year question papers and tried to understand the trend of the exam. For ease we used the syllabus as an anchor and have tried to understand which units can get you across the finish line. Below we have done a per unit analysis with what we understood from our analysis and a table supporting our data which shows frequency of questions per unit. For the ease of the student we have rated the units on a spectrum of weightage with one end being heavyweight and the other being a lightweight.

Unit 1: Emergence of Psychology

Weightage: lightweight

In the “Emergence of Psychology” unit, questions were consistently asked about the major schools of thought in both Western and Indian psychology. A notable trend is the recurring focus on matching theorists with their respective schools, such as Wundt, Freud, and James. Questions also frequently involve arranging historical milestones or developmental stages in chronological order, such as Erickson’s stages of development or the evolution of psychological schools. Indian psychological thought is another consistent topic, with questions appearing on concepts from Yoga, Buddhism, and Vedanta. In particular questions from Ashtanga Yoga, Chakras of Kundalini, Panch Koshas, and Indian Philosophy can be seen quite frequently. Questions related to the emergence of Psychology in India have been rare in the last 3 NET exams held but it is an important topic nevertheless.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	2	Four founding paths of academic psychology
June 2024	2	Schools of psychology (Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Humanistic)
Dec 2023	2	Psychosocial theory of Development (Erikson), Structuralism
Mar 2023	2	Indian thought about self (Annamaya, Vijnanamaya, etc.), Schools of psychology (Gestalt)
Sep 2022	2	Theorists (Wundt, Freud, James), Western schools (Positivist, Social Constructionist)
Dec 2021	2	Schools of psychology (Behaviorism, Functionalism)
June 2020	3	Branches of philosophy (Ontology), Schools of psychology (Gestalt)

Unit 2: Research Methodology and Statistics

Weightage: Heavy-est weight. (stats is king!)

In the UGC-NET exam this unit consistently features a high number of questions, with a heavy emphasis on statistics. Key areas include identifying and applying different correlation coefficients, such as Product Moment, Biserial, and Phi-coefficient. Hypothesis testing and the characteristics of good hypotheses are also frequently tested. Several questions focus on experimental designs like ANOVA, MANOVA, and factorial designs. Qualitative research methods, especially Phenomenology, Ethnography, and Grounded Theory, have also appeared multiple times, often requiring candidates to arrange steps or match concepts. For any student who aims to qualify for NET and particularly JRF, the preparation for this unit is non-negotiable. Conceptual clarity and practice are key for applied questions. For the last 3 exams the passage questions have been non statistics related, however due to the drastic increase in cutoffs there is a chance that stats and RM based passages might see a comeback.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	6	Non-parametric tests (Kendall’s W, Wilcoxon), Parametric tests (t-Test, Analysis of Variance), Correlation (Product Moment, Biserial, Phi-Coefficient), Factor Analysis, Measurement Scales (Nominal, Ordinal)
June 2024	8	Parametric and non-parametric tests (ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis Test, t-test), Factor analysis, Correlation (Product Moment, Point Biserial, Phi-Coefficient)
Dec 2023	5	Research methods (Retrospective studies, Correlational design) , Statistical tests (Cronbach’s alpha), Measures of dispersion (Standard deviation, Variance)
Mar 2023	8	Statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA) , Reliability and validity (Test-retest, Split-half), Sampling techniques (Cluster sampling) , Factor analysis (Scree-plot, Eigen value)
Sep 2022	8	Statistical tests (MANOVA, t-test), Ethical issues (Confidentiality, Consent) , Qualitative research (Positivist), Measures of dispersion (Range, Quartile deviation), Research purposes
Dec 2021	8	Reliability (Interscorer, Coefficient alpha, K-R), Correlation (Point biserial, Phi-coefficient), Factor analysis, Parametric tests (ANOVA), Sampling (Randomized factorial design)
June 2020	11	Sampling (Quota, Snowball), Statistical analysis (ANOVA, Regression), Validity (Construct, Convergent, Discriminant), Scales of measurement (Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio), Measures of dispersion, Hypothesis characteristics

Unit 3: Psychological Testing

Weightage: Somewhere in the middle but towards the heavy side.

Questions in this unit are generally about the technical aspects of psychometric testing. A recurring theme is the classification of tests and the psychometric properties such as reliability and validity. Candidates are frequently asked to match tests with their key features or the psychologists who developed them. Questions on item analysis, such as item difficulty and discrimination index, are also common. The chronological arrangement of different personality assessment tools has appeared in several papers. Questions related to test batteries in several key areas also appear such as Neuropsychological batteries, Intelligence tests, Personality inventories and even aptitude tests but the frequency of such questions is rather low.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	2	Intelligence tests (Binet and Simon, Wechsler), Personality assessment (Rorschach Inkblot Test, MBTI, MMPI, NEO-PI)
June 2024	4	Intelligence tests (WAIS), Personality assessment (TAT) , Norms (Standard error of measurement), Reliability and validity (Item bias, Multitrait-multimethod design)
Dec 2023	5	Intelligence tests (GATB) , Personality tests (Defense mechanisms, Freud) , Psychometric properties (Reliability, validity), Measurement scales (Ratio)
Mar 2023	5	Aptitude tests (DAT), Neuropsychological tests, Reliability and validity, Measurement scales (Nominal, Ordinal, etc.)
Sep 2022	5	Intelligence tests (Wechsler, Deviation IQ), Aptitude tests, Item characteristics (Difficulty, Discriminability)
Dec 2021	6	Personality tests (TAT, MBTI, MMPI), Measurement scales (Magnitude, Equal intervals, Absolute zero), Item characteristics (Item difficulty)
June 2020	5	Personality tests (MMPI), Attitude scales (Stapel, Semantic differential), Reliability (Coefficient alpha), Standardization (Norms, Validity)

Unit 4: Biological Basis of Behavior

Weightage: Right in the middle.

In the UGC-NET exam, this is one of those units which produces a lot of discriminating questions. Questions in this unit frequently explore the relationship between brain structures, physiological processes, and behavior. A key area is the function of specific brain parts like the amygdala, hypothalamus, and basal ganglia. Genetics and chromosomal disorders are also a regular feature. Another common theme is the physiological response to stress, particularly the HPA axis and the role of hormones. Questions on research methods in physiological psychology, such as invasive and non-invasive techniques, are also asked.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	4	Neurons (Dendrite, Axon) , Genetics (Transcription factor) , Brain structures (Basal ganglia) , Brain convolutions (Gyri, Sulci)
June 2024	4	Chromosomal disorders (Klinefelter’s syndrome) , Neurotransmitters (GABA) , Brain areas (Broca’s area) , Neural anatomy (Myelin sheath)
Dec 2023	4	Brain functions (Neuroplasticity) , Endocrine system (HPA axis, Allostasis) , Nervous system parts (Cranial, Spinal nerves)
Mar 2023	3	Brain structures (Temporal Lobe, Cerebral Aqueduct) , Neurons (Action potential) , Endocrine system (Pituitary gland)
Sep 2022	5	Nervous system structures (Myelin sheath, Limbic system) , Sensation (Retina, Rods, Cones) , EEG waves (NREM sleep)
Dec 2021	6	Brain structures (Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Hippocampus, Cingulate cortex) , Genetics (X chromosomes, Dominant genes) , Neuropsychology (Brain lesions) , Sexual response (Master and Johnson)
June 2020	4	Neurotransmitters (Glutamate) , Hormones (Angiotensin, Leptin) , Brain structures (Neurons, Executive functions)

Unit 5: Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory and Forgetting

Weightage: Heavyweight.

This unit is a major component of the exams. The questions asked tap into the basic understanding and the fundamental nature of these concepts. Questions frequently revolve around classic theories of learning, such as classical and operant conditioning, with a focus on their mechanisms and applications. Memory is another significant topic, covering different types of memory (short-term, long-term, semantic, episodic) and theories of forgetting. Perception questions often test the understanding of Gestalt principles and various perceptual cues. The chronological arrangement of models and concepts within these areas is a common question format.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	6	Attention models (Broadbent’s Filter Model) , Perception (Moon illusion, Size-Distance scaling) , Learning types (Classical, Operant, Observational) , Memory process (Perception, Encoding, Storing, Retrieval)
June 2024	9	Perception (Signal detection theory) , Learning (Reinforcement theory, Classical and Operant conditioning) , Memory (Working memory) , Forgetting
Dec 2023	6	Memory (Declarative, Episodic, Semantic, Flashbulb) , Perceptual constancy , Learning (Classical conditioning, Pavlov) , Forgetting (Repression, Motivated forgetting)
Mar 2023	6	Perception (Stroboscopic motion, Perceptual constancy), Memory (Long-term, Flashbulb), Learning (Classical conditioning, Thorndike), Forgetting
Sep 2022	6	Perception (Gestalt principles), Learning (Classical conditioning), Memory (Implicit, Chunking), Forgetting (Amnesia)
Dec 2021	5	Perception (Visual neglect, Associative agnosia), Memory (False memory, Flashbulb memory), Forgetting (Interference, Retrieval failure, Decay) , Learning (Classical conditioning)
June 2020	8	Learning (Classical conditioning), Motivation (Drive-reduction theory), Memory (Levels-of-processing theory, Information processing model), Perception (Proximity, Closure, Common fate), Forgetting (Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve)

Unit 6: Thinking, Intelligence and Creativity

Weightage: Somewhere in the middle but towards the heavy side.

This unit is a consistent ask in the exam. Questions frequently focus on comparing and contrasting different theories of intelligence and creativity. Subunits related to creative and divergent thinking are prominent, as are questions on problem-solving strategies and common barriers. The PASs model of intelligence by J.P. Das and associates is a recurring topic. Questions often require matching a theorist with their concept or arranging developmental stages chronologically. This unit offers a lot of potential for the test makers to make chronology and order questions.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	4	Thinking (Confirmation bias), Intelligence (Cattell and Horn’s theory, Fluid vs. Crystalized), Problem solving (Algorithm, Heuristic)
June 2024	5	Intelligence theories (Parieto-Frontal integration theory), Creativity (Torrance’s components), Problem solving (Critical thinking steps)
Dec 2023	5	Creativity (Csikszentmihalyi’s steps), Intelligence (Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence), Thinking (Divergent thinking), Theorists (Watson, G.A. Miller)
Mar 2023	5	Thinking (Functional fixedness), Creativity (Divergent thinking), Intelligence (Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory, Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences)
Sep 2022	5	Intelligence (Gardner, Crystallized intelligence), Creativity (Threshold hypothesis), Thinking (Rational thinking), Problem solving (Heuristics)
Dec 2021	5	Creativity (Creative Achievement Questionnaire), Intelligence (Cattell’s fluid and crystallized intelligence, Gardner’s first five elements), Problem solving (Functional fixedness)
June 2020	5	Intelligence (PASS model), Creativity (Divergent thinking), Problem solving (Subgoals, Mental sets)

Unit 7: Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Stress and Coping

Weightage: Heavyweight.

Personality and Motivation are vast topics in themselves and thus this unit is consistently one of the most prominent in the exams. Questions frequently test knowledge of major theories of personality (Freud, Allport), motivation (Maslow, Deci & Ryan), and emotion (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard). A significant number of questions also relate to stress and coping, with a special focus on the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), hardiness, and the HPA axis. Many questions require matching theorists to their concepts or arranging developmental stages chronologically.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	7	Motivation theories (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs), Emotion theories (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard), Stress (General Adaptation Syndrome, Resilience), Personality (Psychoanalytic stages, Freud)
June 2024	11	Personality theories (Freud, Adler, Jung, Skinner), Motivation (Deci and Ryan’s Self-determination theory, Maslow’s hierarchy), Emotion (Cannon-Bard theory), Stress and coping (Hardiness, Richardson’s Resilience model)
Dec 2023	6	Personality (Type A, Freud’s defense mechanisms), Motivation (Maslow’s hierarchy), Emotion (Allostasis, HPA axis), Stress and coping (Work-related stress)
Mar 2023	7	Stress and coping (Psychological stress, Hardiness), Motivation (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs), Personality (Transactional analysis), Emotion theories (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard)
Sep 2022	8	Emotion theories (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer), Stress (General Adaptation Syndrome, HPA axis), Motivation (Hull’s Drive Reduction Theory, Murray’s Theory of Needs), Personality (Allport, Cattell, Eysenck)
Dec 2021	9	Stress (General Adaptation Syndrome), Emotion theories (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard), Motivation (Drive theories, Self-determination theory), Personality (Allport’s proprium, Freud’s psychosexual stages)
June 2020	10	Motivation (Drive reduction theory, Arousal theory, Self-determination theory), Stress and coping (Hardiness), Personality (Allport, Eysenk), Emotion (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard)

Unit 8: Social Psychology

Weightage: Right in the middle.

Questions from this unit frequently address concepts of social influence, conformity, and compliance, often mentioning classical studies like Milgram’s. Group dynamics, including stages of group development (Tuckman’s model) and phenomena like social loafing and groupthink, are consistently tested. Intergroup relations are also a key theme, with questions on theories such as Realistic Conflict Theory and Social Identity Theory.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	3	Social influence (Reciprocity), Group dynamics (Group development stages), Intergroup relations (Social competition hypothesis)
June 2024	5	Social influence (Persuasion, Compliance), Group dynamics (Conflict), Social identity theory, Aggression (Indirect aggression)
Dec 2023	5	Intergroup relations (Realistic conflict theory), Group dynamics (Tuckman’s stages), Social influence (Conformity), Aggression (Statutory rape)
Mar 2023	5	Social influence (Compliance, Conformity, Milgram’s study), Group dynamics (Social loafing, Brainstorming), Intergroup relations (Attitude change, Cognitive dissonance)
Sep 2022	5	Intergroup relations (Realistic conflict theory, Social identity theory, Relative deprivation), Aggression (Sensation seeking, Social dilemmas), Group dynamics (Social loafing, Group think)
Dec 2021	5	Social influence (Door-in-the-Face technique, That’s-not-all technique), Intergroup relations (Realistic conflict theory, Social identity theory), Prejudice and discrimination (Stigmatization, Tokenism)
June 2020	8	Social influence (Attitude change, Persuasion, Compliance), Group dynamics (Conflict, Negotiation), Intergroup relations (Social Identity Theory, Social Comparison), Aggression (Aggression types)

Unit 9: Human Development and Interventions

Weightage: Right in the middle.

This unit covers developmental theories and therapeutic interventions. Questions frequently ask for the chronological order of developmental stages as proposed by theorists like Piaget, Erikson, and Kohlberg. The application of different therapies, such as Humanistic, Cognitive-Behavioral (REBT), and Gestalt, is also a key area. Case studies are often used to test the understanding of these concepts. Sometimes you can also see questions from psychopathology but those are mostly surface level and infrequent.

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	4	Development stages (Erickson’s stages), Counseling (Goals of humanistic therapy), Therapies (Systematic desensitization) , Social-cognitive domain theory
June 2024	3	Cognitive development (Piaget’s stages), Therapies (Adlerian therapy), Counseling (Egan’s developmental model)
Dec 2023	5	Cognitive development (Piaget’s stages), Developmental stages (Erikson’s stages), Psychopathology (Panic disorder), Psychotherapies (Solution-focused brief therapy)
Mar 2023	5	Developmental stages (Infants’ reflexes), Cognitive development (Piaget’s stages), Psychopathology (Chromosomal disorders), Psychotherapies (Play therapy, REBT)
Sep 2022	5	Developmental stages (Piaget’s milestones), Psychotherapies (Rogerian approach, Logotherapy), Psychopathology (Aphasia, Autism)
Dec 2021	5	Developmental stages (Piaget’s stages, Kohlberg’s morality) , Psychotherapies (Transactional analysis, REBT), Counseling (Ethics)
June 2020	8	Developmental stages (Piaget’s stages, language development), Psychopathology (Panic disorder), Psychotherapies (Cognitive therapy, EMDR)

Unit 10: Emerging Areas

Weightage: Lightweight.

This unit, titled “Emerging Areas”, has a varied but consistent presence in the exams. It frequently includes questions on health psychology, particularly on health behaviors, chronic diseases, and stress. Concepts of wellbeing and self-growth, such as mindfulness, resilience, and the PERMA model, are often tested. Questions on peace psychology focus on topics like conflict resolution and aggression. Topics like cyberbullying and gender issues are also represented, highlighting their relevance in contemporary psychology. 

Exam	Total Questions	Subunits Covered Most
June 2025	3	Wellbeing (Psychological wellbeing), Cyber bullying, Peace
June 2024	3	Health psychology (Health protective behaviors), Wellbeing (Positive emotions, Broaden-and-Build model), Yoga (literary works)
Dec 2023	3	Health psychology (Cardiovascular system diseases), Wellbeing (Emotional intelligence, Goleman), Acculturation
Mar 2023	5	Health (Health risk behaviour, Hypertension, Matarazzo’s claims), Peace psychology (Conflict, Competition), Wellbeing (Seligman’s theory of happiness)
Sep 2022	5	Health (Health promoting behaviors, Stressors), Wellbeing (Mindfulness), Gender (Glass Cliff), Peace psychology (Non-violence, Gandhi and Patanjali)
Dec 2021	5	Health (Health protective behaviors), Peace psychology (Social dilemmas), Wellbeing (Flow, Character strengths)
June 2020	5	Health (Health behaviors, Health habit), Peace psychology (Conflict, Social dilemmas), Wellbeing (Psychological wellbeing, PERMA model)

Conclusion

To conclude our analysis we would like to acknowledge the fact that the UGC-NET Psychology exam is in shambles right now. We are sure our sentiment resonates with educators and students alike. We at PowerWithin are committed to make quality the consistent state of affairs in the discipline of psychology and the exam lacks that per se. The only advice we would like to give the aspirants is to practice a lot because oftentimes the UGC NET exam becomes the exam about figuring out which is least likely of all the wrong options instead of which is the correct one.