CTET
Mandatory eligibility certificate for teaching Classes 1-8 in central government schools (Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Army schools) and in many private and state schools that accept CTET.
Eligibility
For Paper I (Classes 1-5): senior secondary with at least 50% marks plus a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or equivalent. For Paper II (Classes 6-8): graduation plus B.Ed, or graduation with 50% plus a recognised teacher-education qualification. There is no upper age limit and no cap on attempts; the CTET certificate is now valid for life.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Exam pattern
Offline (pen-and-paper), multiple-choice test. Paper I (for Classes 1-5) and Paper II (for Classes 6-8) each have 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes; candidates may take one or both papers. Paper I covers Child Development and Pedagogy, two languages, Mathematics and Environmental Studies; Paper II replaces the last two with Mathematics and Science or Social Studies. There is no negative marking. Qualifying requires 60% (90/150); most reserved categories qualify at 55%.
Syllabus at a glance
Child Development and Pedagogy (learning theories, inclusive education, assessment) is central to both papers. Language I and Language II test comprehension and language pedagogy. Paper I adds Mathematics and Environmental Studies up to Class 5 level with their pedagogy; Paper II adds Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science up to Class 8 level, again with heavy weight on how to teach each subject. Content is anchored in NCERT textbooks and NCF principles.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CTET September 2026 exam | 6 Sep 2026 (may extend to 5 Sep if candidate numbers require) | confirmed |
| Admit card release | Early Sep 2026 (a few days before the exam) | expected |
| September 2026 result | Late Sep - Oct 2026 | expected |
| Next session (Feb 2027) notification | Nov 2026 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- CTET Success Master Paper I / Paper II - Arihant Experts
- Child Development and Pedagogy for CTET & STET - Sandeep Kumar (Pearson)
- CTET Previous Years' Solved Papers - Disha Experts
- NCERT textbooks, Classes 1-8 (Maths, EVS, Science, Social Science)
- Wiley's CTET Exam Goalpost (Paper-wise solved papers and practice)
How toppers play it
- There is no negative marking, so attempt all 150 questions — never leave a bubble blank.
- Child Development and Pedagogy plus the pedagogy portions of every subject make up roughly half the paper; prioritise them over pure content revision.
- Solve the last 8-10 official papers: CBSE reuses question styles, especially NCF-based and inclusive-education questions.
- Choose Language I and II strategically (e.g. Hindi + English) and practise unseen-passage speed, as both language sections are comprehension-heavy.
- Target 105+ out of 150, not just the 90-mark cutoff — recruiters such as KVS award weightage to CTET scores.