Securing a top rank in UGC NET is a dream for thousands of aspirants, but achieving an All India Rank 9 (AIR-9) requires consistency, the right resources, repeated revision, and a strategy that suits your individual learning style.
Snigdha Sharma from Delhi achieved this remarkable feat in UGC NET Sociology after improving her preparation strategy in her second attempt. Her journey is particularly inspiring because she was simultaneously preparing for Civil Services and relied heavily on IGNOU study material, self-made notes, PYQs, repeated revision, and JRF Adda’s Marathon videos.
In her testimonial, Snigdha openly shared what changed in her second attempt, how JRF Adda supported her preparation, and why active learning and regular self-testing became important parts of her strategy.
Meet Snigdha Sharma – UGC NET Sociology AIR-9
Snigdha is from Delhi and completed her graduation in Psychology. She later pursued her B.Ed. from MDU and completed her Master’s from IGNOU in 2023.
UGC NET was her second attempt. After not getting the desired result in her first attempt, she analysed her preparation and realised that simply having study material was not enough. She needed to revise her existing notes multiple times and actively test her knowledge.
She explained:
“Material wise I didn’t quite add up things because most of the things were up to the mark. My notes were very full-fledged. I took a lot of time in making my notes, so what I did was I started my repeated revisions.”
This shift towards revision and active recall became one of the most important changes in her preparation.
What Changed in Snigdha’s Second Attempt?
Rather than continuously collecting new books and study materials, Snigdha focused on strengthening what she had already studied.
She set small daily revision targets, such as completing 20–30 pages, and followed them consistently.
“Every day I used to decide that, okay, I have to complete this much, 20 pages, 30 pages.”
Her approach was not about rushing through a large number of pages. Instead, she focused on understanding and retaining what she had already prepared.
This helped her avoid one of the common problems faced by aspirants—continuously adding new resources without giving enough time to revision.
How JRF Adda Helped Snigdha in Her UGC NET Preparation
JRF Adda’s YouTube content and Marathon videos became an important part of Snigdha’s preparation, particularly during revision.
Once she had completed her study material, she started watching JRF Adda’s Marathon videos regularly.
“When my material was complete I started with your Marathon videos. I’ll watch two-three videos every day.”
But Snigdha did not simply watch the videos passively. She used them as a tool for active recall and self-testing.
Whenever a question or concept appeared in the video, she tried to answer it mentally before listening to the explanation.
“I used to just scroll and open any video and I used to test myself, not just passively watching the video but I used to properly answer as you would repeat things, I would answer it in my mind.”
This technique helped her identify concepts that she knew well and areas where she still had doubts.
She also made additional notes whenever she encountered a new term or concept.
“Whenever I used to watch your videos I would start making notes out of that, some new term that you said, some new term that was there in options of the question.”
For Snigdha, JRF Adda’s videos therefore became more than just lectures. They became a revision and self-evaluation tool.
Snigdha’s Strategy: IGNOU Material as the Primary Source
Interestingly, Snigdha did not rely on a large collection of classic books for Sociology preparation.
Her primary source was IGNOU material, which was especially relevant because she had completed her Master’s from IGNOU.
She shared:
“I solely relied on IGNOU material because my MA was from IGNOU.”
She first went through the syllabus and then systematically studied the IGNOU material. She spent around one and a half months creating notes from it.
“I took almost one and a half month to just make notes out of that. So my notes are purely IGNOU based.”
Because she was also preparing for Civil Services, she did not have unlimited time to follow multiple sources. Instead, she chose a focused resource strategy and strengthened it through revision and practice.
The Power of Self-Made Notes
One of the strongest aspects of Snigdha’s preparation was her emphasis on making her own notes.
She believed that writing information down helped her retain it for longer.
Her advice to aspirants was simple:
“Take time and in your way start making pointers, start making notes because I feel when you make notes, it like you kind of remember it for longer time.”
This approach also helped her integrate information from different sources. When she came across a new term in a JRF Adda video or in a question option, she would research it and add relevant information to her notes.
How She Used JRF Adda Marathon Videos Effectively
Snigdha’s approach to video lectures offers an important lesson for UGC NET aspirants.
Instead of watching videos in the background, she actively participated in them.
Her method was:
- Watch the question or concept.
- Try to answer it herself.
- Listen to the explanation.
- Identify mistakes or doubts.
- Make notes of new concepts.
- Revise those notes later.
She specifically highlighted the importance of active learning.
“You can’t memorize anything by just watching video passively. It’s better to do it actively.”
This made JRF Adda’s Marathon sessions a regular part of her revision routine.
PYQs Were an Important Part of Her Preparation
Snigdha also emphasised the importance of solving previous-year questions.
She incorporated PYQs into her preparation to understand the type of questions asked and to test her preparation.
Her strategy was not limited to simply checking the correct answer. She used questions as a way to identify concepts that required further study.
For Paper 1, she solved around 40–50 PYQs, which helped her understand where her preparation stood.
She also highlighted the importance of regularly testing yourself:
“Regularly test yourself, that is very important. PYQs are very important.”
This is one of the key lessons from her AIR-9 journey: preparation should not only involve studying; it should also involve continuous self-evaluation.
Her Paper 1 Strategy
Snigdha followed a relatively selective strategy for Paper 1 because she already had a strong background in some areas.
She did not spend excessive time studying bulky material for every topic.
For topics where she needed additional help, she used concise resources, videos, and PYQs.
She shared:
“For Paper 1, I’ll be very honest, I didn’t study for it very hard because I had a background in that field.”
She solved around 40–50 PYQs and used them to identify areas that needed additional attention.
For topics such as teaching aptitude and research methods, she referred to specific resources and videos rather than trying to read extensive material.
She also specifically appreciated Aditi Ma’am’s Paper 1 videos, especially for research-related topics.
“For Paper 1 also Aditi Ma’s videos were very helpful. Few topics, the research topic and few other topics were very confusing for me, so I watched her videos.”
One of the Biggest Lessons: Don’t Follow Someone Else’s Strategy Blindly
Snigdha strongly believes that there is no single preparation strategy that works for every aspirant.
This was one of the most important messages she shared with other UGC NET aspirants.
“Everybody’s strategy is different and everybody’s pattern is different.”
She advised aspirants to first understand their own learning style.
Are you a quick learner? Do you need more time? Can you perform under pressure? Do you need a longer preparation period?
According to Snigdha, the answers to these questions should determine your study plan.
“You have to realize first what kind of pattern and what kind of schedule suits you.”
Her own strategy worked because she knew that she needed sufficient time to plan, study and revise.
Snigdha’s Message for UGC NET Aspirants
Snigdha’s journey was not about last-minute preparation. She knew that she needed time to build confidence.
She explained:
“I’m not a person who can study at the last moment, maybe a month before also, and start reading and everything and be confident about it. I need a lot of time to plan to go about it.”
Therefore, she encouraged aspirants to understand their own pace instead of comparing their preparation with others.
If you need more time, start early. If you are comfortable handling pressure, your strategy may look different.
The key is to build a preparation plan that is realistic for you.
From Disappointment to AIR-9
Snigdha’s first attempt was particularly difficult for her because she had invested significant effort but did not qualify as she had hoped.
She had been preparing for government service examinations for a long time and had always been academically strong. When things did not work out initially, she had to rethink her goals.
She eventually realised that Sociology was not simply a backup option for her. It was something she genuinely enjoyed.
“I started thinking about something which is not just a backup, which is also very close to my heart, which I would enjoy doing.”
That realisation gave her a stronger sense of purpose.
After her first attempt, she decided that she wanted to clear the examination and continued working towards that goal.
Her second attempt ultimately resulted in an outstanding All India Rank 9.
Snigdha’s Five Key Lessons for UGC NET Aspirants
Based on her experience, Snigdha highlighted several principles that can help aspirants prepare more effectively:
1. Understand Your Own Strategy
Do not blindly copy another topper’s timetable or study pattern. First understand your own learning speed and capacity.
2. Make Your Own Notes
Writing information in your own words can help improve retention and make revision easier.
3. Revise Repeatedly
Instead of constantly adding new material, revise what you have already studied multiple times.
4. Use PYQs to Test Yourself
Previous-year questions can help you understand the examination pattern and identify your weak areas.
5. Study Actively
Whether you are reading a book or watching a video, actively recall the information instead of consuming it passively.
Snigdha’s Final Advice: Trust Yourself
Snigdha ended her interaction with a message that every UGC NET aspirant can take inspiration from.
“Just trust yourself. Everybody’s journey is different and everybody’s strategy is different.”
She also reminded aspirants that a strategy that worked for one person may not necessarily work for another.
The key is to understand yourself, choose the right resources, revise consistently and test yourself regularly.
Snigdha’s Appreciation for JRF Adda
Snigdha also shared a personal appreciation for the way JRF Adda’s educators teach and interact with students.
She particularly appreciated the calm and encouraging teaching style:
“I just love the way you teach.”
She further added:
“You are so calm with everything, even if someone is not answering correct… you would very sweetly and very calmly point it out and explain everything.”
For Snigdha, this supportive learning environment made the preparation experience more comfortable and engaging.
Conclusion
Snigdha Sharma’s journey from a second-attempt aspirant to UGC NET Sociology AIR-9 shows that success does not always come from studying more books or collecting more resources.
Her preparation was built around a focused approach: IGNOU material, self-made notes, repeated revision, PYQs, active recall, and JRF Adda’s Marathon videos.
Most importantly, she understood her own learning style and created a strategy around it.
Her story is a reminder to every UGC NET aspirant that there is no shortcut or universal timetable. Find what works for you, stay consistent, revise what you study, test yourself regularly, and most importantly, trust your own journey.
Snigdha’s AIR-9 success is not just a rank; it is an example of how a focused and personalised preparation strategy can turn a second attempt into a remarkable achievement.
JRF Adda Topper Snigdha Sharma UGC NET AIR-9 Testimonial FAQs
Snigdha Sharma is a UGC NET Sociology qualifier from Delhi who secured All India Rank 9 (AIR-9) on her second attempt. She completed her Master's from IGNOU in 2023.
Snigdha used JRF Adda's Marathon videos mainly for revision and self-testing. She watched two to three videos regularly and actively answered questions in her mind instead of watching passively.
Snigdha primarily relied on IGNOU study material. She spent around one and a half months making her own notes from the material and then focused on revision and practice.
She followed repeated revision with small daily targets, such as completing 20–30 pages a day. She also used JRF Adda Marathon videos, self-made notes and PYQs to reinforce her preparation.
Snigdha advised aspirants to trust themselves, understand their own learning style, make notes, revise regularly, solve PYQs and actively test themselves. She stressed that every aspirant's strategy and preparation pattern can be different.
