Teaching & NET · Government Exams

CTET 2026 Notification, Exam Date, Paper 1 and Paper 2 Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Free CTET Mock Tests

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test establishes the minimum eligibility to be appointed as a teacher for classes one to eight in central government schools and in schools that recognise it. Paper 1 covers the primary stage, classes one to five; Paper 2 covers the upper primary stage, classes six to eight.

The most useful thing to understand about CTET is what it is really testing. Candidates prepare the content — mathematics, science, social studies — and are then surprised by how much of the paper asks about how children learn, why a particular misconception arises, and what a teacher should do about it. Pedagogy is not a section of this exam so much as its organising principle.

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CTET · checked 19 September 2026

CTET at a glance, from the official notices

The dates, vacancies and rules below are read on the conducting body’s own site and rewritten as each notice appears. The guide beneath carries the full pattern, syllabus, cut-offs and free mock tests.

Free CTET mock testCTET syllabusToday’s current affairs
19September 2026

Checked 19 September 2026

CTET: the facts that matter now

  1. 01

    22nd edition — notified 8 May 2026 as CTET September 2026; applications 11 May – 10 June and a second window 25 August – 1 September 2026…

    Current cycle

  2. 02

    21st edition, 7–8 February 2026: 26,49,129 registered, 23,24,625 appeared, 5,97,061 qualified (25.68 per cent); result 30 March 2026

    Last cycle

  3. 03

    Central Board of Secondary Education (CTET Unit, Dwarka, New Delhi) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, twice a year, under the NCTE…

    Conducted by

  4. 04

    Paper I for classes I–V; Paper II for classes VI–VIII; both if you want eligibility for both stages

    Papers

Notification

CTET notification and key dates

Checked 15 September 2026 on ctet.nic.in and cbse.gov.in. The 22nd edition of CTET was notified on 8 May 2026 as “CTET September 2026”, with the examination fixed for 6 September (and 5 September if numbers required). After the Supreme Court’s review judgment on the TET qualification for serving teachers, CBSE re-opened the application portal from 25 August to 1 September 2026 for candidates who had missed the first window, ran a correction window from 7 to 10 September, and on 14 September 2026 announced the revised examination dates: 12 and 13 December 2026. The examination city and the date allotted to each candidate will be shown on the portal 15 days before the examination and the admit card two days before it.

CTET 2026 — the 22nd edition (December 2026).
EventDate
Public notice8 May 2026
Online application, first window11 May – 10 June 2026 (fee by the same date)
Corrections, first window15 – 18 June 2026
Online application, second window25 August – 1 September 2026 (candidates already registered did not reapply)
Corrections, second window7 – 10 September 2026 (open to both sets of applicants)
City and date allotment15 days before the examination, on the portal
Admit cardTwo days before the examination
Examination12 and 13 December 2026; the shift per candidate is on the admit card
ResultOriginally “by the end of October 2026 (tentatively)”; a revised date will follow the December examination
CTET February 2026 — the 21st edition, held 7–8 February 2026, result 30 March 2026.
PaperRegisteredAppearedQualifiedPass rate
Paper I12,11,61110,65,4103,58,93733.69 per cent
Paper II21,56,45918,67,4283,46,73818.56 per cent
Total26,49,12923,24,6255,97,06125.68 per cent

The February 2026 answer keys and scanned OMR sheets were displayed with a challenge window closing on 15 March 2026, and CBSE offered a calculation sheet and OMR copy for ₹500 until 1 May 2026. Mark sheets and certificates went to DigiLocker. The cycle before it, CTET December 2024, was the 20th edition; CBSE numbers the editions rather than the years, which is why “CTET 2026” covers both the February examination and the one now in December.

What the December shift changes

Nothing in the paper. The information bulletin of May 2026 stands — the same structure, languages, fee and eligibility — and only the date has moved. Candidates who applied in May should keep the same application number and password; those who applied in the August window are in the same examination. Expect the December schedule to follow the usual shape of Paper II in the morning (9:30 a.m. to 12 noon) and Paper I in the afternoon (2:30 to 5 p.m.), confirmed on the admit card.

Overview

What CTET is, and who it suits

CTET is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education to establish eligibility for teaching appointments at the primary and upper primary stages. Candidates take Paper 1 if they intend to teach classes one to five, Paper 2 for classes six to eight, or both if they wish to be eligible for either stage.

It is a qualifying examination. Clearing it gives you a certificate of eligibility; appointment then depends on separate recruitment processes run by central schools, state education departments and private schools that recognise the certificate. Understanding that distinction early prevents a good deal of disappointment.

What each paper covers

  • Paper 1 — classes I to V — child development and pedagogy, two languages, mathematics and environmental studies, each of 30 questions.
  • Paper 2 — classes VI to VIII — child development and pedagogy, two languages, and then either mathematics and science or social studies and social science, at 60 questions for the subject block.
  • Both papers — 150 questions, 150 marks, two and a half hours, with no negative marking.

Eligibility requires a teacher training qualification

CTET eligibility depends on holding or pursuing a recognised teacher education qualification — a diploma in elementary education, a bachelor of elementary education or a bachelor of education, depending on the paper and the candidate’s academic background. The combinations permitted are set out in detail in the notification, and they are not interchangeable.

Eligibility

Who can apply for CTET

The CTET bulletin does not print its own qualification table: it says the minimum qualifications are those notified by the National Council for Teacher Education and points candidates to ncte.gov.in, with a 5 per cent relaxation in the qualifying-examination marks for SC, ST, OBC and differently-abled candidates. The NCTE minimums, as they stand, are summarised below; the recruiting body — KVS, NVS, a UT administration or a school — verifies them at appointment, and being allowed to sit CTET does not mean eligibility has been checked.

Minimum qualifications for the two papers (NCTE, summarised; check ncte.gov.in for your own route).
PaperRoutes
Paper I (classes I–V)Senior secondary with at least 50 per cent and a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (passed or in the final year); or senior secondary with 50 per cent and a four-year B.El.Ed; or senior secondary with 50 per cent and a two-year Diploma in Education (Special Education); or graduation and a two-year D.El.Ed. Graduates with a B.Ed may appear for Paper I subject to the NCTE bridge-course condition.
Paper II (classes VI–VIII)Graduation and a two-year D.El.Ed; or graduation with at least 50 per cent and a B.Ed (passed or appearing); or senior secondary with 50 per cent and a four-year B.El.Ed, B.A./B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed; or graduation with 55 per cent and a three-year integrated B.Ed–M.Ed; or senior secondary with 50 per cent and a four-year B.A./B.Sc.Ed.
Both papersApply for both in one form and pay the both-papers fee; the two papers are on separate shifts.

Other conditions from the bulletin

  • No age limit and no attempt limit — and a qualified candidate may sit again to improve the score.
  • Language choice — two languages must be chosen from the list of 27 — English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Garo, Gujarati, Kannada, Khasi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Mizo, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, Urdu, Bodo, Dogri, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Santhali and Sindhi — and Language II must differ from Language I.
  • PwBD candidates — a scribe and 50 minutes of compensatory time for blindness, both-arm locomotor disability and cerebral palsy under the RPwD Act; the original disability certificate is checked at the centre.
  • One application only — a candidate who submits more than one form is liable to cancellation and debarment.

Who needs CTET and who needs a state TET

CTET is the eligibility test for central-government schools (KVS, NVS, Central Tibetan Schools), schools of the UTs and NCT of Delhi, and for CBSE-affiliated schools under the affiliation bye-laws; unaided private schools may adopt it. Schools of a state government, local bodies and aided schools use that state’s TET, unless the state has chosen not to conduct one and adopts CTET. Many candidates hold both.

Selection process

How CTET selection works

Each stage in order, and what it actually tests.

Stages change between cycles. Confirm the structure in the notification for the cycle you are sitting.
StageFormatWhat it involves
Paper I — classes I to VObjective, 150 questions, 150 marks, 2 hours 30 minutesChild Development and Pedagogy 30, Mathematics 30, Environmental Studies 30, Language I 30 and Language II 30, all compulsory. Pedagogy is tested inside every section, not only in the first.
Paper II — classes VI to VIIIObjective, 150 questions, 150 marks, 2 hours 30 minutesChild Development and Pedagogy 30, Language I 30, Language II 30, and a 60-question block in either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science according to the subject you intend to teach.
Result, mark sheet and eligibility certificatePublished on ctet.nic.in and DigiLockerA score of 60 per cent or more is a TET pass. The mark sheet and the CTET eligibility certificate are uploaded to DigiLocker against the mobile number in the application; the certificate is valid for life and is one of the eligibility conditions for appointment, not an appointment itself.

Application to certificate

How CTET runs, from the online form to the DigiLocker certificate

The steps below follow the CTET September 2026 information bulletin and the notices that moved the examination to December.

The CTET process

  1. Apply online on ctet.nic.in Fill the authentication form (state, ID type, name, date of birth, gender), then the application form, and note the registration number; choose a password of 8–13 characters with upper case, lower case, a digit and a special character. Choose Paper I, Paper II or both, and the two languages. There is no choice of examination city — CBSE allots one of the 132 cities at random and does not entertain change requests.
  2. Upload the photograph and signature and pay Scanned photograph and signature in JPG; the fee by debit or credit card or net banking (₹1,000 or ₹1,200 for General and OBC; ₹500 or ₹600 for SC, ST and PwD; GST extra). The fee is not refunded or carried forward. Print the confirmation page.
  3. Correction window Four days after each closing date (15–18 June and 7–10 September 2026 this cycle); no corrections of any kind afterwards.
  4. City and date intimation, then the admit card Fifteen days before the examination the portal shows the city and the date allotted; the e-admit card with the centre follows two days before the examination. Check the photograph, signature and paper codes against the confirmation page and contact the CTET Unit immediately about any discrepancy.
  5. Examination day Report 120 minutes before the shift — 7:30 a.m. for Paper II (morning) and 12:30 p.m. for Paper I (afternoon) on the September schedule; entry closes at the start time. The paper is answered on an OMR sheet in ballpoint pen; the question paper is bilingual (Hindi and English) except for the language sections.
  6. Answer key, OMR display and challenge The answer key and scanned OMR sheets are displayed for two to three days under a public notice; a challenge costs ₹1,000 per question, non-refundable, and only paid online challenges count. The Board’s decision is final and there is no re-evaluation or re-checking of the result.
  7. Result and certificate The result is published on ctet.nic.in with a public notice (February 2026’s came seven weeks after the examination). The mark sheet and, for those at 60 per cent or above, the CTET eligibility certificate are uploaded to DigiLocker against the mobile number in the form; a calculation sheet or OMR copy can be requested for ₹500 within the notified window.

Exam pattern

CTET exam pattern and marking

The CTET exam pattern below is the structure in the September 2026 information bulletin, unchanged for the December dates: two papers of 150 multiple-choice questions each, one mark a question, no negative marking, two and a half hours. Every question has four options with one most-appropriate answer. Paper I is pitched at the NCERT syllabus for classes I–V and Paper II at classes VI–VIII, but the difficulty and linkages can run up to the secondary stage.

CTET Paper I — classes I to V (primary stage). 150 questions, 150 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes.
SectionQuestionsMarksFocus
Child Development and Pedagogy3030Educational psychology of teaching and learning for ages 6–11: diverse learners, interaction with learners, the qualities of a facilitator
Language I3030Proficiency in the medium of instruction
Language II3030Elements of language, communication and comprehension; must differ from Language I
Mathematics3030Concepts, problem solving and pedagogy of the subject, spread across the class I–V syllabus
Environmental Studies3030Concepts, problem solving and pedagogy, spread across the class I–V syllabus
CTET Paper II — classes VI to VIII (elementary stage). 150 questions, 150 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes.
SectionQuestionsMarksFocus
Child Development and Pedagogy3030Educational psychology for ages 11–14
Language I3030Proficiency in the medium of instruction
Language II3030Elements of language, communication and comprehension
Mathematics and Science, or Social Studies/Social Science6060Chosen by the subject you intend to teach; any other teacher chooses either block
Scoring and schedule.
ItemDetail
Marking+1 per correct answer; no deduction for a wrong or blank answer
Qualifying60 per cent — 90 marks — is a TET pass (NCTE notification of 11 February 2011); concessions for reserved categories are for school managements to give under their reservation policy
MediumBilingual Hindi–English main paper; the language sections in the languages chosen
Shifts (September 2026 bulletin)Paper II 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon; Paper I 2:30 – 5 p.m.; December shifts on the admit card
ModePen-and-paper OMR at centres in 132 cities

Pedagogy is the differentiator

In every section the bulletin describes the questions as testing “concepts, problem solving abilities and pedagogical understanding” — so a third or more of the Mathematics, EVS and language marks turn on how a topic is taught, assessed and remediated rather than on the content itself. Candidates who prepare the subject and skip its pedagogy are the ones who finish in the 45–55 per cent band, below the 60 per cent line.

Study plan

How to prepare for CTET

CTET has no negative marking, a fixed 60 per cent line and a pass rate of a quarter, which makes it a coverage examination: every one of the 150 questions should be attempted, and the target is 100-plus marks so that a weak language section cannot drag the total under 90. The December date gives a full quarter from now.

Twelve-week plan for CTET December 2026 (Paper I or Paper II; add two hours a week for both).
WeeksWorkOutput
1–3Child Development and Pedagogy from an NCERT-aligned text: development, learning theories, inclusive education, assessment; then the pedagogy chapters of the content subjectsNotes on every theorist as a classroom implication, not a biography
4–6Content — NCERT classes I–V (Paper I) or VI–VIII (Paper II) in Mathematics, EVS/Science and Social Science — read for concepts and misconceptionsTopic checklist ticked against the syllabus
7–8Language I and Language II: comprehension passages, grammar, poetry and language pedagogy in both languagesTwo timed 30-question sets per language per week
9–11Previous CTET papers (December 2024, July 2024, February 2026 memory-based) as full 150-question papers in 2 hours 30 minutes, then error analysis by sectionA score log; every paper above 100
12Revision of pedagogy definitions, NCERT diagrams and formula lists; two final mocksAdmit card, ID and OMR practice ready

What experienced CTET candidates do differently

  • They read the NCERT books, not only guides — the content questions are “evenly distributed over the divisions of the NCERT syllabus”, and the diagrams, examples and exercise problems are the question bank.
  • They treat CDP as 60 marks, not 30 — because the pedagogy questions in the other sections draw on the same theory.
  • They do not skip Language II — a weak second language is the commonest reason for a total under 90 in an otherwise good paper.
  • They practise the OMR — a pen-and-paper paper with 150 bubbles in 150 minutes rewards filling the sheet section by section rather than at the end.

Practice on this site

CTET syllabus CTET previous year papers CTET mock tests CTET study material State TET guide

Sources

Official notifications and sources

Checked 15 September 2026 against the CTET public notices and the September 2026 information bulletin on ctet.nic.in and cbse.gov.in. CBSE’s own pages are the authority on dates; the bulletin is the authority on structure, fee and rules.

Official documents

CTET — official portal Public notice: examination dates of the 22nd edition, 12–13 December 2026 (14 September 2026, PDF) Public notice: correction window 7–10 September 2026 (PDF) Public notice: re-opening of applications 25 August – 1 September 2026 (PDF) CTET September 2026 information bulletin (PDF) Public notice: CTET September 2026, 8 May 2026 (PDF) Public notice: CTET February 2026 result, 30 March 2026 (PDF) Public notice: validity of the TET certificate for life (PDF) CBSE — official website

Exam resources

Everything for CTET

Six resource pages, each kept in step with the latest official notification.

CTET SyllabusCTET syllabus — child development and pedagogy, language, mathematics, environmental studies, science and social studies for Papers 1 and 2.CTET Exam PatternCTET exam pattern 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2 sections, questions and marks, the 60 per cent qualifying line, no negative marking, shifts and pass rates.CTET Previous PapersCTET previous year papers — learning the pedagogy question style, which cannot be prepared for from content knowledge alone.CTET Mock TestsFree CTET mock tests — full Paper 1 and Paper 2 practice with no negative marking, scoring and section-wise analysis.CTET PreparationCTET preparation strategy — building pedagogical understanding, covering the content, and planning for a paper with no negative marking.CTET Study MaterialCTET study material — child development and pedagogy, language, mathematics, science and social studies notes at the relevant class levels.

Related

More Teaching & NET preparation

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Questions

CTET — FAQs

How much of CTET is pedagogy?

More than most candidates expect. Child development and pedagogy is a compulsory 30-question section in both papers, and every content section — language, mathematics, environmental studies, science, social studies — carries its own pedagogical component asking how a concept should be taught, why learners make particular errors, and how a teacher should respond. Across the whole paper, pedagogical understanding is worth considerably more than any single content subject, which is why subject graduates sometimes struggle with a paper on their own subject.

Does clearing CTET get me a teaching job?

No. CTET is a qualifying examination that establishes your eligibility to be appointed as a teacher; it is not itself a recruitment. Appointment requires applying separately to recruiting bodies — central schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, state education departments, and private schools that recognise the certificate — each of which runs its own selection process, frequently with its own examination and interview.

What is the CTET 2026 exam date?

The 22nd edition of CTET will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026, under a CBSE public notice of 14 September 2026. It was first notified on 8 May 2026 for 6 September, then postponed after the application window was re-opened from 25 August to 1 September 2026 on the Supreme Court’s review judgment on TET qualifications. Each candidate’s city and date are shown on ctet.nic.in 15 days before the examination and the admit card two days before it.

What is the CTET exam pattern?

Two papers of 150 multiple-choice questions and 150 marks each in 2 hours 30 minutes, one mark a question and no negative marking. Paper I (classes I–V): Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies, 30 questions each. Paper II (classes VI–VIII): CDP, Language I and Language II at 30 each, plus 60 questions in Mathematics and Science or in Social Studies. The main paper is bilingual Hindi–English.

What are the CTET qualifying marks?

60 per cent — 90 out of 150 — is a TET pass under the NCTE notification of 11 February 2011, for all categories in the CTET result itself. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently-abled candidates under their own reservation policy at recruitment, which is why 55 per cent is often quoted for reserved categories. The certificate is valid for life and there is no limit on attempts.

How many candidates passed CTET February 2026?

5,97,061 of the 23,24,625 who appeared — 25.68 per cent. Paper I: 10,65,410 appeared and 3,58,937 qualified (33.69 per cent). Paper II: 18,67,428 appeared and 3,46,738 qualified (18.56 per cent). The result was declared on 30 March 2026 and the certificates went to DigiLocker.

Who is eligible for CTET?

Anyone who holds, or is in the final year of, the NCTE minimum qualification for the stage: broadly senior secondary with 50 per cent plus a two-year D.El.Ed or four-year B.El.Ed for Paper I, and graduation with a B.Ed or D.El.Ed (or a four-year integrated degree) for Paper II, with 5 per cent relaxation in the qualifying-examination marks for reserved categories. There is no age limit. The bulletin points candidates to ncte.gov.in for the exact routes, and the appointing body verifies eligibility at recruitment.

What is the CTET application fee?

₹1,000 for one paper and ₹1,200 for both for General and OBC-NCL candidates; ₹500 and ₹600 for SC, ST and differently-abled candidates; GST is charged extra by the bank. The fee is paid online by card or net banking and is not refunded or adjusted for a later CTET.

Is CTET valid for life, and can I reappear?

Yes. Since the NCTE amendment of June 2021 the CTET qualifying certificate is valid for life for all categories; earlier certificates with a seven-year validity are treated the same way without reissue. There is no restriction on attempts, and a candidate who has already qualified may appear again to improve the score.

Are there free CTET mock tests?

Yes. The free CTET mock tests here follow the 2026 pattern — 150 questions per paper with the 30/30/30/30/30 split for Paper I and the 60-mark subject block for Paper II, in 2 hours 30 minutes, with no negative marking — and report a section-wise score against the 90-mark line. Use the previous-year papers first, then the mocks in the final month before the December examination.

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