NTA UGC JRF NET Geography Coaching in India

NTA UGC JRF NET Geography Coaching in India

The National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) is an exam taken by students and aspirants across India who wish to pursue a career in lecturing or research in Geography.

The NET exam aims to determine eligibility for lectureship and the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) award to Indian nationals to ensure minimum standards for entrants in the teaching profession and research.

Clearing the NTA UGC NET exam can open up teaching and research opportunities galore. Hence, proper preparation and guidance in coaching are instrumental in cracking this exam. This article explores the need and importance of coaching for NTA UGC NET Geography.

For CSIR NET Life Science Exam Preparation Coaching, contact us at Mantram Study Group, SCO No. 80-81, First Floor, Sector 15-D, Chandigarh (Near Gate No. 2, Panjab University Chandigarh – Contact – 9779797575/ 9463049859)

Importance of Coaching for NTA UGC NET Geography

Geography is a vast subject encompassing sciences, arts, and humanities elements. The UGC NET Geography syllabus is quite dense, ranging from physical and human geography fundamentals to applied geography topics like remote sensing and GIS.

Here are some of how coaching can benefit NTA UGC NET aspirants for Geography:

Concept Clarity: Experienced faculty at coaching institutes help students understand the fundamental concepts of geography thoroughly. This conceptual understanding reflects in students’ ability to tackle the application-based questions asked in the exam.

Exam-Oriented Preparation: Coaching institutes are focused on ensuring that students are well-versed with the exam pattern, weightage of topics, and the level of questions asked. Test series are crafted keeping the actual exam requirements in mind.

Access to Study Resources: From comprehensive study material to mock tests – coaching provides aspirants with all the required resources for exam preparation, thus saving their time and effort. Guidance is provided for the best reference books, study material, and online resources.

Motivation and Guidance: The guidance of mentors and a study group of peers helps aspirants stay motivated. Issues faced during self-study can be resolved through constant support.

Time Management: Proper planning and management of subjects studied through coaching ensures that students make the most of the available time duration and can complete the vast syllabus comfortably.

How to Select the Right NTA UGC NET Geography Coaching?

While choosing an NTA UGC NET Geography coaching institute, make sure to keep the following factors in mind:

• Experience in successfully coaching students for NET Geography and producing ranks
• Exposure to a wide range of practice questions and full coverage of the prescribed syllabus
• Doubt-solving assistance by brilliant faculty through online and offline modes
• Quality study material based on the latest exam pattern and syllabus
• Flexibility in test series attempts and batch timings
• Proper guidance for both papers – I and II
• Access to free trial classes and demos before admission
• Competitive fee structure and installment options
• Excellent student feedback and reviews

In addition to classroom coaching, many of these institutes also offer online courses, video lectures, mock tests, and e-books for NTA UGC NET aspirants.

Conclusion

A focused UGC NET Geography coaching program thus boosts confidence, aids preparation, and develops exam temperament.

Timely joining for coaching ensures that aspirants get sufficient time to immerse themselves in learning steadily without any last-minute pressures.

Investing in quality coaching will translate to success in clearing this examination opens up a world of opportunities.

FAQ

How to start preparing for UGC NET geography?

Understand the Exam Pattern

The first step is to understand the structure and exam pattern thoroughly. UGC NET Geography consists of two papers:

Paper I – General Aptitude: Tests teaching & research aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, etc. through multiple choice questions.

Paper II: Tests only Geography and the chosen sub-topics through descriptive-type questions.

Knowing the types of questions, topics covered and weightage from each section is vital for shaping your preparation strategy.

Analyze the UGC NET Geography Syllabus

The next key aspect is going through the detailed official syllabus prescribed for the exam by UGC. The core syllabus can be broadly divided into:

• Physical Geography – Geomorphology, Climatology, Hydrology, Soils
• Human Geography – Economic, Social, Population, and Settlement Geography
• Regional Geography of India
• Applied Geography – Cartography, GIS, Remote Sensing
• Environmental Geography

See which parts you already grasp well and which sections need more attention.

Refer to Previous Years’ Question Papers

Solving the last 5 years’ UGC NET question papers should be integral to your preparation routine. Analyzing previous papers gives a sense of frequently asked topics, level of questions, forms of questions, etc. Maintain notes on the kinds of questions you could solve confidently vs the ones you struggled with.

Choose Comprehensive Study Materials

For systematic Geography preparation, choose 2-3 comprehensive books/ study packages that extensively cover the syllabus based on the latest examination patterns with theory, illustrations, case studies, and sufficient practice questions. NCERT textbooks for classes XI and XII provide excellent basics.

Some recommended books for reference are:

• Geography by Savindra Singh
• Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
• Fundamentals of Physical Geography by Majid Husain

Supplement your core prep books with selective readings from Indian and foreign geography journals to enhance conceptual understanding.

Develop a Prep Strategy & Routine

Create an effective study plan at the initial stage by setting weekly and daily goals. Have a realistic timeline for completing individual subjects and revision. A routine ensures you make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.

Allocate sufficient practice time for map markings, model test papers, previous years’ questions, etc. Studying for 4-6 hours daily for 6 months is a good timeline for NET preparation.

Strengthen Your Fundamentals

As the Geography NET syllabus is vast, prioritize strengthening your understanding of the fundamental concepts across physical geography, human geography, and geospatial technology topics.

Mastering the basics is key to applying the knowledge for solving analytical questions asked in the exam. Train your brain to think geographically!

Attempt Mock Tests

Attempting mock tests in a simulated environment at regular intervals is important for exam preparedness. It will indicate your areas of improvement and help analyze weak and strong topics. Thoroughly assess your mistakes and keep refining your test-taking strategy.

Strengthen Current Affairs Knowledge

Read daily news articles relevant to geography – environmental issues, climate change, urbanization, etc. and maintain notes. Brush up on Indian agriculture, trade, industries, population, etc. Current affairs comprise an integral section of Paper I.

Follow a Holistic Preparation Approach

Adopt a multidimensional study approach encompassing self-study, group discussions, coaching guidance, online virtual classes, robust revision to improve retention, and test series. Create study groups to exchange ideas.

Stay motivated by visualizing your goals. Proper planning, commitment, and perseverance will surely lead you to excel in UGC NET.

What is the difficulty level of UGC NET geography?

UGC NET is quite a difficult exam, with only 6% of registered candidates qualifying. In this article, we analyze the difficulty level of specifically clearing the UGC NET Geography paper.

Vast Syllabus

One of the biggest challenges Geography aspirants faces is the vast syllabus they must cover for the exam: physical geography, human geography, geospatial technology, and regional geography.

The UGC NET Geography paper tests aspirants on their conceptual clarity and ability to integrate and apply knowledge logically. For working professionals and those with a background in Geography, mastering his vast syllabus becomes very difficult.

Analytical and Application-Based Questions

The questions asked, especially in Paper II, are not purely theoretical but test applicants on their logical reasoning, analytical abilities, and problem-solving aptitude applied to geographical concepts.

For instance, questions can be scenario/ case study based, requiring one to analyze trends, patterns, and implications by applying geographical principles. More than a strong theoretical base is necessary if one can extrapolate the concepts to respond to searching questions.

Map-Based Questions

One of the toughest question types is map-based, with candidates expected to accurately read, comprehend, and interpret features, symbols of survey toposheets, weather maps, or thematic maps related to vegetation, soil, industries, etc.

It tests aspirants’ cartographic skills and geospatial thinking abilities – from identifying contours and drainage patterns to interpreting complex data sets on choropleth maps.

Even 1 wrong interpretation can lead to losing 1-2 marks, making scoring well in this section difficult.

Current Affairs Application

Especially in Paper I, searching current affairs based multiple choice questions are asked. With geographical knowledge, one must choose the most logical inferences by relating daily news events, data, policies, etc.

For instance, a question can describe recent urban floods, asking you to pinpoint reasons for increased migration, changing land use patterns, climate change, etc. Answering such questions requires strong general mental ability.

Competition and Success Ratio

Owing to the diverse applications and career opportunities of Geography as a subject, competition in UGC NET has also remarkably increased over the years. In 2021, only 3.40% of total registered candidates cleared the Geography NET, putting it among the least removed subjects.

When competition is so high, the preparation required to score enough to qualify correspondingly increases, adding to the overall difficulty quotient.

Time Management Challenges

Another tricky bit is effectively managing the allotted period, i.e., 2 hours for 100-mark descriptive questions based on varied themes and requiring different thought processes.

Students often lose marks due to the inability to accurately gauge how much to write for sub-questions holding different weights – from the precise 1-mark definitions to the 12-mark case study-type questions. Proper time distribution, along with speed and strategy, thus becomes critical.

Self-Study Difficulties

Geography requires integrated study from textbooks, atlas, news events, and selective research papers to enhance perspectives. Moreover, reference book versions and publication years also matter due to changing geo-political scenarios impacting population, urbanization, etc.

With sufficient guidance, it may be manageable for any student to study such a multidimensional subject via self-study mode alone. Mentorship is vital.

Which book is best for the geography net exam?

Tips for Selecting Best Books

While shortlisting books, keep in mind the following parameters:

• Aligned with the latest NET syllabus and exam pattern
• Lucid presentation of concepts
• Sufficient illustrations and real-world case studies
• Topic-wise division of content for clarity
• Chapter-end practice questions
• Coverage of previous years’ questions
• Accurate and up-to-date content

Best Books for Geography Paper I

Let us first look at the most popular books for preparing Paper I, which tests teaching aptitude, research methodology, and general logical reasoning abilities:

UGC-NET/JRF/SET Teaching and Research Aptitude by Vikas Experts: Comprehensive coverage per latest paper pattern with practice MCQs.

Trueman’s UGC NET SET General Paper I – Teaching & Research Aptitude: Exhaustive theory with section-wise questions.

Best Books for Geography Paper II

When it comes to the geography subject paper, here are handpicked recommendations:

Geography by Savindra Singh: This book is considered the bible for cracking competitive geography exams, including NET and IAS. The content is exam-oriented with practice questions.

Physical Geography by Goh Cheng Leong: A masterpiece reference book with illustrated information on geomorphology, oceanography, cartography, statistics, etc., coupled with practice questions.

An Introduction to Human Geography by Majid Husain: A must-read for human geography topics like economic activities, trade, tourism resources, ecology, etc., explained through examples.

Geography of India by Majid Husain: This book proves invaluable with its simplified and student-friendly presentation for extensive preparation of the Regional Geography of India section.

Best for Map-Based Questions

5. Oriental Geography by Jit Singh: Helps students master map, diagram, and aerial photo-based questions with relevant examples.

Each book complements the other, providing comprehensive coverage of the vast Geography syllabus. Refer to the latest editions whenever possible.

How to crack UGC NET without coaching?

Analyze Previous Years’ Papers

Instead of starting from scratch, analyze the last 5 years’ papers – spot the frequently asked topics, difficulty level of questions, forms of questions across multiple-choice, short and long answers; mark the questions where you faced problems and why, etc. Gradually, solving topic-wise previous papers must become an integral part of your routine. Maintain your performance scorecard to track improvement.

Learn Key Concepts from Comprehensive Books

For systematically building your fundamentals across Paper I and the subject Paper, get hold of 2 core textbooks encompassing the latest syllabus in lucid language with sufficient illustrations, case studies, and practice questions at chapter end. For reference, NCERT textbooks of concerned subjects provide excellent basics as well.

Additionally, invest in selective study material from the market for section-wise preparation, previous year solved papers, etc., but spend on only a few guidebooks as that may lead to confusion due to differences in writing styles. Quality over quantity should be the motto.

Refer to Robust Online Learning Resources

With free lectures from renowned universities and academies on platforms like YouTube, SWAYAM, NPTEL, etc., utilizing these effectively can make a dramatic positive difference in your learning retention and application potential for analytical questions.

Additionally, join Telegram or Facebook groups created specifically for paper discussions, tips, and building your peer network, who can also guide you whenever you are stuck. Stay active in these groups by clarifying each other’s doubts.

Practice Writing Answers within Word Limits

One common mistake students make is wasting too much time elaborating definitions or lengthy introductions, thereby losing the balance of content coverage.

Hence, from the beginning, start practicing answer writing daily within prescribed word limits for each type of question – 150 words, 250 words, 500 words. Stick alarm reminders until this becomes a habit!

Attempt Mock Tests in a Simulated Environment

Please pay attention to the power of mock tests, for they accurately reveal your actual standing, preparation level, and topic-wise weaknesses so that quick corrective actions can be taken, like revising weak areas, giving more tests, etc.

Hence, solve previous and sample papers in 3-hour slots like the real exam while adhering to UGC NET exam day rules to check readiness.

Stay Motivated, Consistent, Organized

Self-doubt and procrastination are inevitabilities in such long, lonely journeys with no one monitoring your efforts daily.

So, devise ways to stay self-motivated via affirmations, a vision board, scheduling rewards for milestones achieved, planning short breaks, etc.

Consistency in following the timetable is critical, so set daily targets. Stay organized with all material easily accessible to avoid last minute search frenzy!

We thus explored key result-oriented strategies to prepare smartly for UGC NET even without enrolling for coaching. By following an exam-oriented approach fueled with self-motivation and consistency, qualifying NET through self-study is possible if efforts are channelized correctly.

Is 3 months enough for net preparation?

With merely a 5-6% success ratio, proper planning and management of preparation timelines play a crucial role. In this article, we analyze if starting UGC NET preparation 3 months before the exam date is enough to qualify.

Challenges with Limited Time Duration

In an ideal scenario, 6 to 12 months is recommended by experts for stepping up one’s scorecard gradually through mock tests, revising weak topics, etc.

Since the NET syllabus is so vast, with 2 papers testing different competencies, covering all subjects comprehensively within 3 months and simultaneously solving the previous year’s questions seems extremely rushed.

Candidates must spend their time wisely browsing multiple books with limited time, without knowing the Paper’s difficulty level and identifying stronger areas, blind preparation risks going off-track.

The 3 months duration is enough for revising selectively if one has completed the fundamental study process earlier of reading prescribed textbooks multiple times and solving topic/chapter wise previous papers over the past year.

Ways to Prepare Smartly for UGC NET in 3 Months

However, if due to job academic commitments, you only have the final 3 months before NTA NET to focus solely on preparation, crack the NET exam through smart approaches like:

Invest the first 10 days just analyzing the previous 5 years’ papers, identifying frequently asked topics, changes in difficulty level/forms of questions over the years, etc.

• For Paper, I refer to just 1 comprehensive book while focusing maximum energy on the subject. Paper.
• Solve only the past 5 years’ subject papers moving year/topic-wise, tracking performance improvements.
• Categorize topics into Confident, Manageable, and Weak for selectively focused revision.
• Practice writing answers to a variety of questions but with clear word limits so no time waste
• Instead of reading too many books, rely more on limited but relevant, credible online material.
• Give 1 mock test every alternate day in 3 hr. slots to build speed, accuracy, and temperament.
• Join Telegram/Facebook groups to connect with peers for paper discussions, tips
• Balance consistency with smart breaks to avoid burnout.

The Key Aspect is Your Current Knowledge Level

A lot also comes down to your existing grip over core concepts since school/graduation before opting for a career shift through NET. For working professionals, starting preparation now for the June/Dec attempt may prove extremely uphill unless backed by strong basics or coaching support.

Whereas, M.A. Geography final semester students writing their NET immediately after exams through selective revisions may have a higher probability of success even within 3 months if their graduation study is fresh.

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