The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the provisional answer key and response sheet for the UGC NET December 2024 session. Candidates who appeared for the examination in January 2025 can now access these documents on the official NTA website: [https://exams.nta.ac.in/](https://exams.nta.ac.in/).  

Steps to Download the Answer Key and Response Sheet:  

1. Visit the official NTA Exams portal: [https://exams.nta.ac.in/](https://exams.nta.ac.in/).  
2. Click on the 'University Grants Commission (UGC)-NET' section.  
3. Locate and select the link titled 'Answer Key & Response Sheet for UGC NET December 2024'.  
4. Log in using your Application Number and Date of Birth.  
5. Once logged in, you will find options to view and download both the 'Answer Key' and 'Response Sheet'.  

The provisional answer key contains the correct responses to all multiple-choice questions, while the response sheet displays the answers recorded by the candidate during the examination. These tools enable candidates to estimate their tentative scores and assess their performance.  

Challenging the Provisional Answer Key:  

Candidates who find discrepancies or have objections to any answers in the provisional key can raise challenges. The window for submitting objections is open for a specified period, typically around five days from the release date. To challenge an answer:  

1. Log in to the NTA Exams portal as described above.  
2. Select the option to challenge the answer key.  
3. For each question you wish to challenge, a non-refundable fee of ₹200/- per question is applicable. Payment can be made through various online modes provided on the portal.  

After the objection window closes, subject matter experts will review the challenges. If any objections are found to be valid, the answer key will be revised accordingly. The final results will be prepared based on this updated answer key. Candidates will not receive individual notifications about the acceptance or rejection of their challenges. The final answer key, as determined by the experts, will be considered conclusive.  

Score Evaluation:  

The UGC NET December 2024 examination comprises two papers:  

- Paper 1: 50 multiple-choice questions, each worth 2 marks.  
- Paper 2: 100 multiple-choice questions, each worth 2 marks.  

There is no negative marking in this examination. To calculate your tentative score:  

1. Count the number of correct responses in both papers.  
2. Multiply the total number of correct answers by 2.  

For example, if a candidate has 80 correct responses across both papers, their tentative score would be 80 x 2 = 160 marks.  

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official NTA website for updates regarding the final answer key and result announcements.