EXAM SYLLABUS

CTET Paper-I covers Child Development & Pedagogy, focusing on teaching-learning and child psychology, along with Language-I and Language-II grammar and comprehension skills. It also includes Mathematics (up to class 8) and Environmental Studies (EVS) topics based on the school curriculum. The syllabus emphasizes conceptual clarity and classroom application of teaching principles.

Syllabus for CTET Paper- I (for classes 1 to V) Primary Stage Examination is given below:-

CHILD DEVELOPMENT & PEDAGOGY DETAILED SYLLABUS

The detailed syllabus for Child Development and Pedagogy with Topic description & Topic Example is given below :

EXAM SYLLABUS

CTET Paper-I covers Child Development & Pedagogy, focusing on teaching-learning and child psychology, along with Language-I and Language-II grammar and comprehension skills. It also includes Mathematics (up to class 8) and Environmental Studies (EVS) topics based on the school curriculum. The syllabus emphasizes conceptual clarity and classroom application of teaching principles.

Syllabus for CTET Paper- I (for classes 1 to V) Primary Stage Examination is given below:-

CHILD DEVELOPMENT & PEDAGOGY DETAILED SYLLABUS

The detailed syllabus for Child Development and Pedagogy with Topic description & Topic Example is given below :

Note: The above-mentioned examples are for Illustrative purpose only.

LANGUAGE- I & II DETAILED SYLLABUS

The detailed syllabus for Language- I & II with Topic description & Topic Example is given below:

Note: The above-mentioned examples are for Illustrative purpose only.

MATHEMATICS DETAILED SYLLABUS

The detailed syllabus for Mathematics with Topic description & Topic Example is given below:

Note: The above- mentioned examples are for Illustrative purpose only.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DETAILED SYLLABUS

The detailed syllabus for Environmental Studies with Topic description & Topic Example is given below:

Note: The above-mentioned examples are for Illustrative purpose only.

EXAM PATTERN

Paper- I of CTET Examination consists of five sections containing 30 questions and 30 Marks each summing up to 150 questions and 150 marks respectively. The Total duration for CTET Paper- I Examination is 150 minutes.

The section wise distribution of Questions and Marks is given below :

Note- Both languages (Language- I & Language- II) papers are compulsory. The choice of language for language- I & II should be different.

Nature & Standard of Questions

1. The test items on Child Development and Pedagogy will focus on the educational psychology of teaching and learning relevant to the age group of 6-11 years. They will focus on understanding the characteristics and needs of diverse learners, interaction with learners and the attributes and qualities of a good facilitator of learning.

2. The Test items in Language I will focus on the proficiencies related to the medium of instruction.

3. The Test items in Language II will focus on the elements of language, communication and comprehension abilities.

4. Language II will be a language other than Language I. A candidate may choose any one language as Language I and other as Language II from the available language options and will be required to specify the same in the Confirmation Page.

List of languages and code are as follows

EXAM PATTERN

Paper- I of CTET Examination consists of five sections containing 30 questions and 30 Marks each summing up to 150 questions and 150 marks respectively. The Total duration for CTET Paper- I Examination is 150 minutes.

The section wise distribution of Questions and Marks is given below :

Note- Both languages (Language- I & Language- II) papers are compulsory. The choice of language for language- I & II should be different.

Nature & Standard of Questions

1. The test items on Child Development and Pedagogy will focus on the educational psychology of teaching and learning relevant to the age group of 6-11 years. They will focus on understanding the characteristics and needs of diverse learners, interaction with learners and the attributes and qualities of a good facilitator of learning.

2. The Test items in Language I will focus on the proficiencies related to the medium of instruction.

3. The Test items in Language II will focus on the elements of language, communication and comprehension abilities.

4. Language II will be a language other than Language I. A candidate may choose any one language as Language I and other as Language II from the available language options and will be required to specify the same in the Confirmation Page.

List of languages and code are as follows

5. The Test items in Mathematics and Environmental Studies will focus on the concepts, problem- solving abilities and pedagogical understanding and applications of the subjects. In all these subject areas, the test items will be evenly distributed over different divisions of the syllabus of that subject prescribed for classes I- V by the NCERT.

6. The questions in the test for Paper- I will be based on the topics prescribed in the syllabus of the NCERT for classes I - V but their difficulty standard as well as linkages, could be up to the Secondary stage.

Mode Of Examination

The CTET 2026 exam is conducted in offline mode as a pen-and-paper/OMR-based test

Medium Of Examination

Main question paper shall be Bilingual (Hindi / English Languages).

Marking Scheme

Each correct answer carries +1 mark.

There is no negative marking for incorrect answers, and no marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

Each paper (Paper-I and Paper-II) has 150 questions worth 150 marks in total.

Note: +1 for every right answer, 0 for wrong or unattempted.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility requirements vary for candidates applying to teach Classes 1 to 5 and those applying to teach Classes 6 to 8. Below is an overview of the educational qualifications prescribed for each category.

1. Nationality.

2. Age Limit.

3. Educational Qualifications & Relaxations.

4. Validity of Certificate & Number of Attempts.

Nationality

Candidates should be the citizens of India in order to be eligible for CTET Examination.

Age Limit

1. The candidate must be minimum 17 years of age.

2. There is no restriction on Maximum Age limit prescribed by CBSE.

Educational Qualification

The Candidate should have minimum Qualifications for becoming Teacher for Classes I - V:

Primary Level

Candidates must meet any one of the following eligibility conditions:

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in accordance with NCTE Regulations, 2002;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (D.Ed);

or

Must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.

Upper Primary Level

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following criteria:

Must possess a Graduation degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education;

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed);

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 40% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.Ed, as per NCTE regulations;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.A.Ed / B.Sc.Ed or B.A / B.Sc.Ed (4-year integrated programme);

or

Must hold a Graduation degree with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in a 1-year B.Ed programme.

Relaxations

Relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks in the minimum Educational Qualification for eligibility shall be allowed to the candidates belonging to reserved categories, such as SC / ST / OBC / Differently abled.

Note

1. A person who is pursuing any of the

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility requirements vary for candidates applying to teach Classes 1 to 5 and those applying to teach Classes 6 to 8. Below is an overview of the educational qualifications prescribed for each category.

1. Nationality.

2. Age Limit.

3. Educational Qualifications & Relaxations.

4. Validity of Certificate & Number of Attempts.

Nationality

Candidates should be the citizens of India in order to be eligible for CTET Examination.

Age Limit

1. The candidate must be minimum 17 years of age.

2. There is no restriction on Maximum Age limit prescribed by CBSE.

Educational Qualification

The Candidate should have minimum Qualifications for becoming Teacher for Classes I - V:

Primary Level

Candidates must meet any one of the following eligibility conditions:

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in accordance with NCTE Regulations, 2002;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (D.Ed);

or

Must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.

Upper Primary Level

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following criteria:

Must possess a Graduation degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education;

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed);

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 40% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.Ed, as per NCTE regulations;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.A.Ed / B.Sc.Ed or B.A / B.Sc.Ed (4-year integrated programme);

or

Must hold a Graduation degree with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in a 1-year B.Ed programme.

Relaxations

Relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks in the minimum Educational Qualification for eligibility shall be allowed to the candidates belonging to reserved categories, such as SC / ST / OBC / Differently abled.

Note

1. A person who is pursuing any of the teacher education courses (recognized by the th NCTE or the RCI, as the case may be) specified in the NCTE Notification , shall be eligible for appearing in the CTET.

2. The candidate should satisfy his / her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he / she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria. It is to be noted that if a candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that the candidate’s eligibility has been verified. It does not vest any right with the candidate for appointment. The eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency / appointing authority.

Validity Of Certificate & Number Of Attempts

1. The Validity Period of CTET qualifying certificate for appointment will be seven years from the date of declaration of its result for all categories.

2. There is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can take for acquiring a CTET Certificate. A person who has qualified CTET may also appear again for improving his/her score.

Note

It is to be noted that if a candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that the candidate’s eligibility has been verified. It does not vest any right with the candidate for appointment. The eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency / appointing authority. The candidate should satisfy his / her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he/she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria. 

IMPORTANT DATES

The CTET 2026 notification was released by CBSE in October 2025, and the online application process ran from 27 November to 18 December 2025. The CTET 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted on 8 February 2026 in two shifts for Paper-I and Paper-II, while the result is expected in March 2026.

EXAM ANALYSIS 2024

The CTET 2024 exam (both Paper-1 and Paper-2) was generally easy to moderate in difficulty, with most questions being straightforward and syllabus-based. Core sections like Child Development & Pedagogy and Languages were easier, while Maths/Science and Social Studies ranged from moderate to slightly challenging. Most candidates made good attempts around 110–122 questions with high accuracy. Overall, the paper was manageable for well-prepared aspirants, with no major surprises beyond standard CTET topics.

Paper 1 Exam Analysis 2024

Paper 2 Exam Analysis 2024 

EXAM ANALYSIS 2024

The CTET 2024 exam (both Paper-1 and Paper-2) was generally easy to moderate in difficulty, with most questions being straightforward and syllabus-based. Core sections like Child Development & Pedagogy and Languages were easier, while Maths/Science and Social Studies ranged from moderate to slightly challenging. Most candidates made good attempts around 110–122 questions with high accuracy. Overall, the paper was manageable for well-prepared aspirants, with no major surprises beyond standard CTET topics.

Paper 1 Exam Analysis 2024

Paper 2 Exam Analysis 2024 

EXAM ANALYSIS 2023

20 August 2023

CTET Exam 2023 for Paper- I was conducted on August 20, 2023. The CTET Question Paper 2023 consists of 150 questions carrying 150 marks. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. The overall difficulty level of the CTET Exam 2023 for paper- I  was "Easy to Moderate." The subject- wise difficulty level for Paper- I is mentioned in the table below.

Good Attempts:

Check out each subject's good attempts for the paper- I in the table below:

Exam Analysis 2023 for Paper- I: Child Development & Pedagogy:

The difficulty level of the Child Development & Pedagogy paper of the CTET Exam 2023 for Paper- I is Moderate. Check the detailed CTET Exam Analysis 2023 in the table below:

Exam Analysis 2023 for Paper- I:

Language-I:

The difficulty level of the Language- I paper of the CTET Exam 2023 for Paper- I is Easy. Check the detailed CTET Exam Analysis 2023 in the table below:

Language- II

The difficulty level of the Language- II paper of the CTET Exam 2023 for Paper- I is Easy to Moderate. Check the detailed CTET Exam Analysis 2023 in the table below:

Mathematics:

The difficulty level of the Mathematics paper of the CTET Exam 2023 for Paper- I is Easy to Moderate. Check the detailed CTET Exam Analysis 2023 in the table below:

Environment Studies:

The difficulty level of the Environment Studies paper of the CTET Exam 2023 for Paper- I is Easy to Moderate. Check the detailed CTET Exam Analysis 2023 in the table below:

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

STUDY TIPS

Understand the latest CTET syllabus and exam pattern clearly before starting preparation. Give special focus to Child Development & Pedagogy, as it is compulsory and scoring in both papers. Practice previous year questions and full-length mock tests to improve speed and accuracy. Make short notes for daily revision and focus on conceptual clarity rather than rote learning.

1. Focus on your weak areas - With the help of CTET mock tests, you can find your weak areas. Once you are aware of your weak areas, start working on them to convert the same into your strengths. Some candidates make a mistake of skipping the difficult topics or the areas they are weak at all together, which is definitely not a good choice

2. Make notes and revise them regularly - Develop a habit of making short notes when going through the syllabus. These notes help in regular revision of the syllabus. Moreover, these save your time during revision as you just need to go through the important topics instead of the complete chapter again. Regular revision from notes also helps you in remembering the concepts, formulas and important theories.

3. Detailed Knowledge About the National Curriculum Framework (NCF)  -  The principles of the CTET exam are activity- based teaching, child- centered learning, teacher’s appreciation for the children etc which is where NCF 2005 is important which points out the best educational practices in India and the methods of teaching each subject. The CTET exam will consist of several questions based on application- based- classroom- teaching which is where an in- depth knowledge of the NCF 2005 will come to the candidates’ rescue. 

4. Be Confident - Confidence is a must as it can boost your exam preparation. However, aspirants should know the difference between confidence and overconfidence. Maintaining a gap between the two is crucial.

5. Time Management - Time managed is half the job done. Students' success in the exam is directly attached to how well they manage their time. Aspirants should solve the exam paper before time and stay one step ahead. If the candidate finds any question difficult then leave that question or mark that question, and move on to other questions.

6. No Negative Marking - Candidates should note that there is no negative marking in CTET so they should not leave any questions while attempting the paper. First attempt the question in which you feel confident and then attempt the rest of the questions.

6 Month Study Plan

Month 1: Foundation Building

Understand CTET syllabus & exam pattern completely

Start Child Development & Pedagogy (CDP) basics

Begin Language-I (grammar, comprehension)

Daily study: 3–4 hours

Month 2: Core Subjects – Part 1

Continue CDP (learning theories, child psychology)

Start Language-II (grammar + passage practice)

Begin Mathematics / Environmental Studies (Paper-I) OR Maths/Science or Social Studies (Paper-II)

Practice topic-wise MCQs

Month 3: Core Subjects – Part 2

Complete remaining syllabus of Maths/EVS / Maths-Science / SST

Revise CDP & Languages weekly

Start solving previous year questions (PYQs)

Month 4: Full Syllabus Completion

Finish entire syllabus of all subjects

Focus on weak areas

Start section-wise mock tests (2–3 per week)

Month 5: Revision & Practice

First full revision of all subjects

Attempt full-length mock tests (1–2 per week)

Analyze mistakes and improve accuracy

Revise short notes & formulas

Month 6: Final Revision & Exam Readiness

Final revision of CDP, Languages, and core subjects

Practice daily mock tests / PYQs

Focus on time management & accuracy

Revise only notes—no new topics

Important Tips

CDP is most scoring

STUDY TIPS

Understand the latest CTET syllabus and exam pattern clearly before starting preparation. Give special focus to Child Development & Pedagogy, as it is compulsory and scoring in both papers. Practice previous year questions and full-length mock tests to improve speed and accuracy. Make short notes for daily revision and focus on conceptual clarity rather than rote learning.

1. Focus on your weak areas - With the help of CTET mock tests, you can find your weak areas. Once you are aware of your weak areas, start working on them to convert the same into your strengths. Some candidates make a mistake of skipping the difficult topics or the areas they are weak at all together, which is definitely not a good choice

2. Make notes and revise them regularly - Develop a habit of making short notes when going through the syllabus. These notes help in regular revision of the syllabus. Moreover, these save your time during revision as you just need to go through the important topics instead of the complete chapter again. Regular revision from notes also helps you in remembering the concepts, formulas and important theories.

3. Detailed Knowledge About the National Curriculum Framework (NCF)  -  The principles of the CTET exam are activity- based teaching, child- centered learning, teacher’s appreciation for the children etc which is where NCF 2005 is important which points out the best educational practices in India and the methods of teaching each subject. The CTET exam will consist of several questions based on application- based- classroom- teaching which is where an in- depth knowledge of the NCF 2005 will come to the candidates’ rescue. 

4. Be Confident - Confidence is a must as it can boost your exam preparation. However, aspirants should know the difference between confidence and overconfidence. Maintaining a gap between the two is crucial.

5. Time Management - Time managed is half the job done. Students' success in the exam is directly attached to how well they manage their time. Aspirants should solve the exam paper before time and stay one step ahead. If the candidate finds any question difficult then leave that question or mark that question, and move on to other questions.

6. No Negative Marking - Candidates should note that there is no negative marking in CTET so they should not leave any questions while attempting the paper. First attempt the question in which you feel confident and then attempt the rest of the questions.

6 Month Study Plan

Month 1: Foundation Building

Understand CTET syllabus & exam pattern completely

Start Child Development & Pedagogy (CDP) basics

Begin Language-I (grammar, comprehension)

Daily study: 3–4 hours

Month 2: Core Subjects – Part 1

Continue CDP (learning theories, child psychology)

Start Language-II (grammar + passage practice)

Begin Mathematics / Environmental Studies (Paper-I) OR Maths/Science or Social Studies (Paper-II)

Practice topic-wise MCQs

Month 3: Core Subjects – Part 2

Complete remaining syllabus of Maths/EVS / Maths-Science / SST

Revise CDP & Languages weekly

Start solving previous year questions (PYQs)

Month 4: Full Syllabus Completion

Finish entire syllabus of all subjects

Focus on weak areas

Start section-wise mock tests (2–3 per week)

Month 5: Revision & Practice

First full revision of all subjects

Attempt full-length mock tests (1–2 per week)

Analyze mistakes and improve accuracy

Revise short notes & formulas

Month 6: Final Revision & Exam Readiness

Final revision of CDP, Languages, and core subjects

Practice daily mock tests / PYQs

Focus on time management & accuracy

Revise only notes—no new topics

Important Tips

CDP is most scoring—never skip it

Solve CTET previous year papers regularly

Revise weekly to retain concepts

Stay consistent and avoid last-minute stress

3 Month Study Plan

Month 1: Syllabus Completion (Basics)

Understand CTET syllabus & exam pattern

Complete Child Development & Pedagogy (CDP)

Start Language-I & Language-II (grammar + comprehension)

Begin Maths/EVS (Paper-I) or Maths-Science / SST (Paper-II)

Practice topic-wise MCQs daily

Month 2: Syllabus Completion + Practice

Finish remaining core subjects

Solve CTET Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Weekly section-wise mock tests

Revise weak areas regularly

Month 3: Revision & Mock Tests

Complete 2–3 full revisions

Attempt full-length mock tests (2–3 per week)

Analyze mistakes and improve accuracy

Focus on time management and exam strategy

1 Month Study Plan

Week 1: Core Concepts Revision

Revise Child Development & Pedagogy (CDP) completely

Revise Language-I & Language-II (grammar + comprehension)

Go through important formulas / concepts of Maths / EVS / Science / SST

Solve topic-wise MCQs daily

Week 2: Practice & Strengthening

Solve CTET Previous Year Question Papers

Focus on weak topics

Start section-wise mock tests

Revise short notes daily

Week 3: Full-Length Mock Tests

Attempt 3–4 full mock tests

Analyze mistakes and improve accuracy

Revise frequently asked topics

Improve time management

Week 4: Final Revision

Final revision of all subjects

Revise CDP daily

Light practice of MCQs

Avoid new topics and stay calm

OVERVIEW

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 is a national-level examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks in the CTET exam become CTET qualified, making them eligible to apply for teaching positions for Classes I to VIII in schools that accept CTET scores, including schools under the Central Government. The CTET examination is conducted across the country in 20 different languages, ensuring accessibility for candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility requirements vary for candidates applying to teach Classes 1 to 5 and those applying to teach Classes 6 to 8. Below is an overview of the educational qualifications prescribed for each category.

1. Nationality.

2. Age Limit.

3. Educational Qualifications & Relaxations.

4. Validity of Certificate & Number of Attempts.

Nationality

Candidates should be the citizens of India in order to be eligible for CTET Examination.

Age Limit

1. The candidate must be minimum 17 years of age.

2. There is no restriction on Maximum Age limit prescribed by CBSE.

Educational Qualification

The Candidate should have minimum Qualifications for becoming Teacher for Classes I - V:

Primary Level

Candidates must meet any one of the following eligibility conditions:

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in accordance with NCTE Regulations, 2002;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (D.Ed);

or

Must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.

Upper Primary Level

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following criteria:

Must possess a Graduation degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education;

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed);

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 40% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.Ed, as per NCTE regulations;

or

OVERVIEW

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 is a national-level examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks in the CTET exam become CTET qualified, making them eligible to apply for teaching positions for Classes I to VIII in schools that accept CTET scores, including schools under the Central Government. The CTET examination is conducted across the country in 20 different languages, ensuring accessibility for candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The eligibility requirements vary for candidates applying to teach Classes 1 to 5 and those applying to teach Classes 6 to 8. Below is an overview of the educational qualifications prescribed for each category.

1. Nationality.

2. Age Limit.

3. Educational Qualifications & Relaxations.

4. Validity of Certificate & Number of Attempts.

Nationality

Candidates should be the citizens of India in order to be eligible for CTET Examination.

Age Limit

1. The candidate must be minimum 17 years of age.

2. There is no restriction on Maximum Age limit prescribed by CBSE.

Educational Qualification

The Candidate should have minimum Qualifications for becoming Teacher for Classes I - V:

Primary Level

Candidates must meet any one of the following eligibility conditions:

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in accordance with NCTE Regulations, 2002;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (D.Ed);

or

Must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.

Upper Primary Level

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following criteria:

Must possess a Graduation degree and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education;

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed);

or

Must have completed Graduation with at least 40% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.Ed, as per NCTE regulations;

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed);

or

Must have passed Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in the final year of B.A.Ed / B.Sc.Ed or B.A / B.Sc.Ed (4-year integrated programme);

or

Must hold a Graduation degree with at least 50% marks and have passed or be appearing in a 1-year B.Ed programme.

Relaxations

Relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks in the minimum Educational Qualification for eligibility shall be allowed to the candidates belonging to reserved categories, such as SC / ST / OBC / Differently abled.

Note

1. A person who is pursuing any of the teacher education courses (recognized by the th NCTE or the RCI, as the case may be) specified in the NCTE Notification , shall be eligible for appearing in the CTET.

2. The candidate should satisfy his / her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he / she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria. It is to be noted that if a candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that the candidate’s eligibility has been verified. It does not vest any right with the candidate for appointment. The eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency / appointing authority.

Validity Of Certificate & Number Of Attempts

1. The Validity Period of CTET qualifying certificate for appointment will be seven years from the date of declaration of its result for all categories.

2. There is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can take for acquiring a CTET Certificate. A person who has qualified CTET may also appear again for improving his/her score.

Note: 

It is to be noted that if a candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that the candidate’s eligibility has been verified. It does not vest any right with the candidate for appointment. The eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency / appointing authority. The candidate should satisfy his / her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he/she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria. 

EXAM PATTERN

The CTET 2026 exam, conducted by CBSE in offline mode, consists of two papers (Paper-I for Classes 1–5 and Paper-II for Classes 6–8), each having 150 multiple-choice questions worth 150 marks with a duration of 2 hours 30 minutes and no negative marking. Paper-I covers five sections, while Paper-II includes core subjects plus either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science depending on the teaching specialization.

Paper I

Paper- I of CTET Examination consists of five sections containing 30 questions and 30 Marks each summing up to 150 questions and 150 marks respectively. The Total duration for CTET Paper- I Examination is 150 minutes.

The section wise distribution of Questions and Marks is given below :

Paper II

Paper- II of CTET Examination consists of five sections out of which candidates need to attempt four sections. Total number of questions are 150 and total marks are also 150. The Total duration for CTET Paper- II Examination is 150 minutes.

The section wise distribution of Questions and Marks is given below :

 Note- Both languages (Language- I & Language- II) papers are compulsory. The choice of language for language- I & II should be different.

Nature & Standard of Questions

1. The test items on Child Development and Pedagogy will focus on educational psychology of teaching and learning relevant to the age group of 6-11 years. They will focus on understanding the characteristics and needs of diverse learners, interaction with learners and the attributes and qualities of a good facilitator of learning.

2. The Test items in Language I will focus on the proficiencies related to the medium of instruction.

3. The Test items in Language II will focus on the elements of language, communication and comprehension abilities.

4. Language II will be a language other than Language I. A candidate may choose any one language as Language I and other as Language II from the available language options and will be required to specify the same in the Confirmation Page

List of languages and code are as follows

5. The Test items in Mathematics and Environmental Studies will focus on the concepts, problem solving abilities and pedagogical understanding and applications of the subjects. In all these subject areas, the test items will be evenly distributed over different divisions of the syllabus of that subject prescribed for classes I-V by the NCERT.

6. The questions in the test for Paper I will be based on the topics prescribed in syllabus of the NCERT for classes I - V but their difficulty standard as well as linkages, could be up to the Secondary stage. 

Mode Of Examination

The CTET 2026 exam is conducted in offline mode as a pen-and-paper/OMR-based test

Medium Of Examination

Main question paper shall be Bilingual (Hindi / English Languages).

Marking Scheme

Each correct answer carries +1 mark.

There is no negative marking for incorrect answers, and no marks are deducted for unanswered questions.

Each paper (Paper-I and Paper-II) has 150 questions worth 150 marks in total.

Note: +1 for every right answer, 0 for wrong or unattempted.

EXAM SYLLABUS

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) syllabus is based on the official Information Bulletin for the February 2026 exam. It covers two papers: Paper I (for teaching Classes I to V) and Paper II (for teaching Classes VI to VIII). Each paper has 150 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), with 1 mark per question and no negative marking. The syllabus focuses on child development, pedagogy, and subject-specific content aligned with NCERT topics for the respective classes. Questions test conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and pedagogical application.

Note: While the syllabus outlines key topics, the questions are based on the NCERT-prescribed syllabus for Classes I-V (Paper I) and VI-VIII (Paper II). Difficulty may extend up to secondary level for linkages. For the most granular class-wise details, refer to NCERT textbooks.

Paper I: Primary Stage (Classes I to V)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Total: 150 MCQs, 150 Marks

Sections

Child Development and Pedagogy (30 MCQs, 30 Marks)

a) Child Development (Primary School Child) (15 MCQs):

Concept of development and its relationship with learning

Principles of the development of children

Influence of Heredity & Environment

Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)

Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives

Concepts of child-centered and progressive education

Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence

Multi-Dimensional Intelligence

Language & Thought

Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice

Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc.

Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice

Formulating appropriate questions for assessing readiness levels of learners; for enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and for assessing learner achievement.

b) Concept of Inclusive Education and Understanding Children with Special Needs (5 MCQs):

Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds including disadvantaged and deprived

Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, 'impairment' etc.

Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specially abled Learners

c) Learning and Pedagogy (10 MCQs):

How children think and learn; how and why children 'fail' to achieve success in school performance.

Basic processes of teaching and learning; children's strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning.

Child as a problem solver and a 'scientific investigator'

Alternative conceptions of learning in children, understanding children's 'errors' as significant steps in the learning process.

Cognition & Emotions

Motivation and learning

Factors contributing to learning - personal & environmental