State TETs
State-level counterparts of CTET: qualifying them makes you eligible for government school teaching posts in that state for Classes I–VIII (and Classes IX–XII via State Eligibility Tests such as Bihar STET), ahead of separate state recruitment exams.
Eligibility
Eligibility mirrors CTET under National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) norms: Paper I (Classes I–V) needs senior secondary with 50% plus D.El.Ed or equivalent, and Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) needs graduation plus B.Ed or equivalent. Secondary-level tests such as Bihar STET require graduation or postgraduation with B.Ed for Classes IX–XII. The TET itself usually has no upper age limit, though state domicile and age rules apply at the later recruitment stage. TET certificates are now valid for life per NCTE's 2021 direction.
Age limit: Generally 18 upwards with no upper limit for the TET itself; upper age limits apply at the recruitment stage and vary by state
Exam pattern
Most state TETs copy the CTET template: two pen-and-paper OMR papers of 150 multiple-choice questions and 150 marks each, 2.5 hours per paper, generally with no negative marking. Paper I covers Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP), two languages, Mathematics and Environmental Studies; Paper II swaps in Mathematics–Science or Social Studies. Qualifying is 60% (about 55% with reserved-category relaxation). State variations exist — regional-language papers are often compulsory, and Bihar STET is a 150-question Computer-Based Test per subject for secondary and senior-secondary levels.
Syllabus at a glance
CDP, language pedagogy and NCERT/State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Classes I–VIII content form the core, as in CTET. States overlay their own elements: state SCERT textbook content, compulsory regional language sections (e.g. Marathi for MAHA TET, Tamil for TNTET), and state-specific general knowledge in some tests. Secondary-level STETs test the concerned subject at graduation/postgraduation depth plus teaching aptitude.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| UPTET 2026 provisional answer key (exam held 2–4 July 2026) | Second half of Jul 2026 | expected |
| UPTET 2026 result | Aug 2026 | expected |
| MAHA TET 2026 rescheduled exam (28 June paper cancelled after leak) | New date awaited | tba |
| HTET 2026 result (exam held 4–5 July 2026) | Aug 2026 | expected |
| Bihar STET 2026 notification | Sept 2026 | expected |
| Next REET (Rajasthan) eligibility test | TBA (last held Feb 2025) | tba |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- A Complete Resource for CTET: Child Development and Pedagogy — Sandeep Kumar (Pearson)
- CTET & TETs Success Master series — Arihant Experts
- Child Development & Pedagogy for CTET & TETs — Himanshi Singh (Adda247)
- State-specific TET guides and solved papers — Youth Competition Times / Arihant (UPTET, REET, MAHA TET, etc.)
- NCERT and state SCERT textbooks, Classes I–VIII
How toppers play it
- CTET preparation transfers about 80% — the delta is your state's SCERT textbook content, compulsory regional-language paper and state general knowledge, so audit the official state syllabus first rather than assuming CTET parity.
- Most state TETs have no negative marking: attempt all 150 questions, and bank the language-comprehension passages early as guaranteed marks.
- Remember the TET is only a gate — recruitment is a separate exam (e.g. Bihar's BPSC Teacher Recruitment, UP's supervisory recruitment tests), so aim well above the 60% qualifying line because several states weigh TET scores in final selection.
- Track only official portals for dates: state TETs are prone to postponements and paper-leak reschedules (MAHA TET's June 2026 paper was cancelled after a leak), and coaching-site rumours run weeks ahead of reality.
- If eligible, take both CTET and your state TET — CTET opens central schools (KVS/NVS) and many states accept it, while the state TET is often mandatory for state recruitment; the syllabi overlap makes the second attempt cheap.