Today, we are going to cover a very important topic of discussion – why the CSIR NET exam is the toughest in life sciences but, at the same time, the easiest. As you all know, the CSIR NET exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency, the premier agency in the country for conducting entrance exams in India. They conduct this exam on behalf of CSIR, which is the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. This exam is considered one of the toughest in life sciences, and today, we will investigate the reasons behind it.
We will look into solid reasons why CSIR NET is Tough To Crack But Easy As Well, individually.
Table of Contents
Top Reasons Why CSIR NET Exam is the Toughest in Life Science?
High Competition
The first reason Why CSIR NET is Tough To Crack is high competition. So, if you see, in life sciences, comparatively, the maximum number of graduates pursue a Ph.D. because a Ph.D. is the mainstay if you want to get into research. So, this segment has high competition; more than one lakh people will register for this exam. About 80000 people, more or less, will write this exam, and then only 1500 people will get selected. Now, you can do the math: what is the situation here?
Table 1: CSIR-NET Competition Analysis
| Total Registrations | Candidates Appearing | Candidates Selected |
|---|---|---|
| >1,00,000 | ~80000 | ~1,500 |
Exam Conducted in Two Shifts
Adding to the problem is that this exam, for any other subject, is conducted in one shift, but for CSIR NET Life Sciences, it is conducted in two shifts. So, the question paper is different for both shifts, even though NTA ensures that both are equally difficult. But at the same time, it is not fair.
Advanced Subject Knowledge
The next difficulty is advanced subject knowledge. This is a very important point when we discuss Why CSIR NET is Tough To Crack. If you see the syllabus of the CSIR NET exam, it covers more than 13 master’s syllabuses, which means the exam will test the deep and thorough understanding of various science subjects such as life sciences and biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. So, from my point of view, when you have advanced subject knowledge, most of the students will have advanced subject knowledge of one or two subjects. For example, a biotechnology student will not have a good grasp of botany or zoology, but at the same time, a master’s in zoology will not be good at molecular biology or ecology or methods in biology. So, that adds to the toughness.
Complex Question Format
The next point would be the complex question format. So, if we see, the question format has three parts: Part A, Part B, and Part C. Part C will have paragraph-length questions, so it takes time for the candidate to read, understand, comprehend, and then solve the question. This adds to the problem, and then you have only 180 minutes. So, this exam becomes more of a rejection game than a selection game. And that is where students find it very, very tough.
Comprehensive Syllabus
The next point will be the comprehensive syllabus. The syllabus is quite extensive; it covers a wide range of topics within each subject. Preparing for such a vast syllabus in a limited time is making it very challenging and, at the same time, switching gears during the exam. So, you just solved a question, and now the next question could be from biochemistry or molecular biology. Switching gears between two different subjects becomes a bit difficult for the candidates.
Latest CSIR NET Syllabus Life Science PDF – CSIR NET UNIT Wise Syllabus
Stress and Pressure
The next would obviously be stress and pressure. So, whatever points I told till now, based on that, we already have analyzed that the stress on the candidate in those 180 minutes will be very high, and due to its reputation as a tough exam and the high stakes involved, such as a career in research and academics, this leads to significant stress and pressure on the candidate. This affects the performance, as we all know; when there is high stress and high pressure, the candidate will make wrong decisions, and that is where negative marking will eat up, and yes, that is where another problem is that negative marking is adding to the problem.
Evolving Nature of the Exam
Following that, what we have seen is that this exam has a constantly evolving nature. It’s not that they will ask a fixed number of questions from fixed subjects. Sometimes, the questions will be more from evolution, sometimes more from zoology, and sometimes, there will be more questions from botany. So, that is where the field of sciences and research is constantly evolving. As a result, the exam is also getting updated, including new developments and discoveries, which requires the candidate to stay up to date with the latest in the field.
Now we know the reasons Why CSIR NET is Tough To Crack in Life Science Subjects. Let’s dive into why it’s easy as well at the same time.
TOP Reasons Why the CSIR NET Exam is Easiest at the same time!
Easiest Aspects for Well-Prepared Candidates
Now, we will come to the next aspect, which is what makes this exam, at the same time, the easiest for a well-prepared candidate. First things first: Any well-prepared candidate needs a good mentor. So, if you have a good mentor, your chances of qualifying are the easiest. BioTecNika is one such mentor that helps candidates qualify easily.
Focused Preparation and Exam Structure
The next point would be if you are doing focused preparation. If you clearly understand the exam pattern and syllabus, six months is more than enough; it is easy to qualify and correct. But at the same time, you should also know that CSIR NET has not got any interviews, and then only you qualify. So, for example, in the UPSC exam, you have first to write the prelims, then you have to write the mains exam, then you have to go for the interview, then only you are considered as qualified, but in CSIR NET, you write one exam, and you qualify, and you get a 50,000 rupees fellowship per month from the government. So, this no-interview round makes it easy compared to UPSC or any other exam, so before getting into questions like Why CSIR NET is Tough To Crack or why it is easy, it is very important to look at the overall exam structure & one’s preparation level.
Advantages of Multiple Attempts
Another point is multiple attempts are allowed in the same year. And because of this, more than one attempt is allowed. So, generally, a male candidate who is starting at the age of 22 will be able to write this exam 12 times in the next six years. The same goes for females; they have more attempts, and they can write up to the age of 33. The same goes for OBC and EWS candidates. So, basically, this exam is looking for passionate candidates. So, if you are a passionate candidate with a passion for the subject, it will be easy for you to qualify. But at the same time, you need to have a structured preparation strategy, have to follow a structured and consistent preparation strategy, which will include revisions and practice tests, and this will help you qualify for the exam faster.
Table 2: CSIR-NET Attempts
| Gender/Age Group | Maximum Attempts |
|---|---|
| Male (up to 28 years) | 12 attempts in 6 years |
| Female/OBC/SC/ST (up to 33 years) | More attempts |
CSIR NET June 2024 Exam Dates, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Age Limit, Marking Scheme, Application Dates
Conclusion: Perspective and Preparation
So, in this same article today, we discussed Why CSIR NET is Tough To Crack But Easy As Well. I told you the easy and the difficult aspects of CSIR NET. Now, you have to make a choice how you look at it! But according to me, I believe that every exam will always seem tough unless it has been won. So, you have to have a soldier mentality. You have to know that you have made more than two attempts, five times or ten times, whatever it is. You can always write more than once, prepare with Biotecnika continuously, and you will make it.
Generally, we have seen that the first-time candidates write it for experience; the second time, they make it into the exam easily. But at the same time, you have to remember that this exam can be tough for those who do not take coaching and who do not get help from experienced mentors.
I will put my pen to rest at this time. But I would again strongly recommend that you do not take this exam lightly because it’s a matter of your career. Thank you.
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