CSIR NET general aptitude — Part A
The same twenty questions sit in front of every CSIR NET candidate, whatever their subject. You may attempt fifteen, at two marks each — 30 of the paper’s 200 marks, and the only part of it that asks you no mathematics at all.
30marks available
15of 20 attemptable
+2 / −0.5right / wrong
135questions here, 21 free
Why this is the cheapest 30 marks on the paper. Part C is scored all-or-nothing and rewards a term of work on one topic. Part A rewards reading a question precisely, and a candidate who is strong at Part C and casual about Part A is leaving marks that cost far less to earn. Fifteen attempts at two marks is more than the whole of any single subject topic has ever carried.
What Part A covers
The three headings are the ones the official notification uses. What sits under each is our description of what has actually appeared in the questions on this site — useful, and not a quotation from the syllabus.
- Quantitative reasoning and analysis
- Ratios, averages, work and time, speed and distance, percentages, simple data interpretation from a table or chart. Arithmetic rather than mathematics — the difficulty is reading the question precisely, not the calculation.
- Logical and analytical reasoning
- Series, arrangements, statements and conclusions, what must be true against what merely can be. This is where the most marks are lost by candidates who are excellent at mathematics: the answer turns on the exact scope of a word.
- General science and research aptitude
- Everyday scientific reasoning and the conventions of research. Broad, shallow, and not worth deep preparation — but worth not being surprised by.
Part A questions from past papers
67 previous-year Part A questions are transcribed here, each with every option and the correct answer.
Common questions
- What is Part A in the CSIR NET exam?
- Part A is the general aptitude section, common to every CSIR NET subject. It carries 20 questions of which you may attempt 15, at 2 marks each with 0.5 deducted for a wrong answer — 30 of the paper's 200 marks. It tests quantitative reasoning, logical and analytical reasoning, and general science and research aptitude, and needs no subject knowledge.
- How many marks is Part A worth in CSIR NET?
- 30 marks, from 15 attempted questions at 2 marks each. Part B carries 75 and Part C carries 95, for 200 in total.
- Is the CSIR NET Part A syllabus the same for all subjects?
- Yes. Part A is common across Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences and Earth Sciences — the same section for every candidate sitting the paper.
- Is there negative marking in Part A?
- Yes, 0.5 marks are deducted for each wrong answer against 2 for a correct one. That ratio means a question narrowed to two options is worth attempting; a blind guess across four is not.
The marking scheme above is set out in full, with the attempt limits for every part, in the exam pattern guide. Confirm it against the current official notification before your exam.