The UP PGT History exam is one of the most sought-after teaching recruitment tests in Uttar Pradesh. Conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Service Selection Board (UPSESSB), this exam attracts thousands of aspirants who dream of becoming a Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) in History. To clear this competitive exam, one of the smartest strategies is to practice and analyze the UP PGT History Previous Year Paper.
In this detailed guide, you will get everything you need – download links for previous year papers, exam pattern, topic-wise analysis, preparation strategy, and recommended books.
UP PGT History Exam Pattern Overview
1. Written Examination (Offline Mode)
- Total Questions: 125 (Multiple Choice Questions – MCQs)
- Marks per Question: 3.4 marks
- Total Marks for Written Exam: 425 marks
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- Negative Marking: None — answers are not penalized for incorrect responses
2. Interview Round
- Marks: 50 marks
- Weightage: Approximately 10% of overall marks
3. Special Qualification Round
- Marks: 25 marks
- Qualifier: Academic distinctions like M.Ed., Ph.D., B.Ed., or achievements in National Level Sports, etc.
- Weightage: Around 5% of total marks
4. Overall Selection Framework
- Total Marks (All Components): 500
- Written Exam: 425 marks (85%)
- Interview: 50 marks (10%)
- Special Qualification: 25 marks (5%)
Download UP PGT History Previous Year Paper PDF
If you are preparing for the upcoming exam, then solving the UP PGT History Previous Year Paper is the smartest way to boost your preparation. These papers not only help in understanding the real exam pattern but also highlight the important topics that are frequently repeated. By practicing them regularly, candidates can improve their accuracy, speed, and confidence for the final exam. For easy access, you can Download UP PGT History Previous Year Paper PDF and start practicing chapter-wise questions of Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and World History
Year-Wise Trend Analysis of UP PGT History Papers
The UP PGT History exam follows a stable pattern of 125 MCQs (425 marks, 120 minutes, no negative marking). Analysis of the last two available papers (2019 & 2021) shows a clear trend.
- Ancient & Modern Indian History dominate the paper, covering more than half of the questions.
- Medieval History holds a moderate share, with focus on Mughal administration and Bhakti-Sufi movements.
- World History carries the least weight but often includes scoring questions on the Renaissance, French Revolution, World Wars, and Cold War.
Important Topics for UP PGT History Exam
Ancient Indian History
- Indus Valley Civilization
- Vedic Period (Early & Later Vedic texts)
- Buddhism & Jainism (Teachings, Councils)
- Mauryan Empire (Ashoka’s administration, Arthashastra)
- Gupta Period (Art, Culture, Economy, Science)
⚔️ Medieval Indian History
- Delhi Sultanate (Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Lodis)
- Bhakti & Sufi Movements
- Mughal Empire (Akbar’s administration, Mansabdari system, Culture & Architecture)
- Vijayanagar & Bahmani Kingdoms
🇮🇳 Modern Indian History
- Advent of Europeans & Expansion of British Power
- Revolt of 1857 (Causes, Nature, Consequences)
- Indian National Movement (Moderates, Extremists, Gandhian Era)
- Social Reform Movements (Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Jyotiba Phule, Dayanand Saraswati)
- Independence & Partition of India (Mountbatten Plan, Role of Leaders)
🌍 World History
- Renaissance & Reformation
- French Revolution & Industrial Revolution
- American War of Independence
- Russian Revolution (1917)
- First & Second World Wars
- Cold War, UNO & Non-Aligned Movement
👉 These topics are repeatedly asked in PYQs and carry maximum weightage. Focusing on them along with PYQs will give a solid edge in the exam.
Best Books for UP PGT History Preparation
NCERT History (Class 6–12) – Strong base & direct questions
- Covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India in a simple language.
- Direct questions from NCERT lines are often asked in exams.
- Best for concept clarity and building a foundation.
📗 Ancient India by R.S. Sharma – Best for Ancient History
- Detailed explanation of Indus Valley, Vedic Age, Mauryan, and Gupta periods.
- Focuses on socio-economic and cultural aspects.
- Trusted reference book for UPSC, NET, and PGT level exams.
📙 Medieval India by Satish Chandra – Detailed coverage for Medieval period
- Comprehensive coverage of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire.
- Explains administrative systems, economy, and cultural developments.
- Essential for understanding Bhakti and Sufi movements.
📕 Modern India by Bipan Chandra – Standard book for Freedom Struggle
- Authoritative book on the Indian National Movement.
- Covers 1857 Revolt, Congress, Gandhian Era, and Partition in detail.
- Recommended by toppers for conceptual clarity.
📒 Spectrum’s Modern History – For quick revision
- Summarized version of Modern Indian History.
- Easy-to-read format with timelines, events, and leaders.
- Best book for last-minute preparation and revision.
📓 Lucent’s GK (History section) – For factual questions
- Compact coverage of factual history like dates, dynasties, and battles.
- Useful for quick MCQ practice and memory-based questions.
- Ideal companion for PYQ solving and test practice.
UP PGT History Cutoff Marks
Cut-off marks in the UP PGT History exam decide the qualifying benchmark for candidates. Since the exam is highly competitive, the cut-off varies each year depending on the number of applicants, difficulty of the paper, and available vacancies. Unfortunately, UPSESSB does not always release subject-wise cut-off data publicly for every year. Still, we can look at the available figures and trends.
- 2022 2019 & 2024 – Subject-wise cut-off for History has not been officially published yet.
Cutoff of 2016
Category | Cutoff (Girls) |
General | 409.0 marks |
OBC | 373.6 marks |
SC / ST / Boys | Data not available |
FAQs on UP PGT History Previous Year Paper
Q1. Why should I practice UP PGT History previous year papers?
Practicing previous year papers helps you understand the exam pattern, question types, and important topics. It also improves speed, accuracy, and confidence before the actual exam.
Q2. From where can I download UP PGT History previous year papers?
You can easily download UP PGT History Previous Year Papers PDF and practice them chapter-wise for better preparation.
Q3. What is the exam pattern of UP PGT History
The written exam has 125 MCQs, carrying 3.4 marks each (total 425 marks). The duration is 120 minutes, and there is no negative marking.
Q4.. Which sections carry the highest weightage in History papers?
Based on past papers, Ancient History and Modern Indian History carry the maximum weightage, followed by Medieval and World History.
Conclusion of UP PGT History Previous Year Paper
The UP PGT History Previous Year Papers are one of the most effective tools for exam preparation. They not only reveal the actual exam pattern and question style but also highlight the most important areas like Ancient India, Modern India, Medieval History, and selective World History. By solving these papers regularly, aspirants can improve their accuracy, build confidence, and identify their weak areas. Along with NCERTs and standard reference books, PYQs act as a roadmap for success.
Therefore, if you are serious about clearing the exam, make sure to practice as many UP PGT History Previous Year Paper as possible and align your preparation with the recurring trends.
