OverviewCTET at a glance
Conducting body
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Papers
Paper 1 — to teach Classes 1 to 5; Paper 2 — to teach Classes 6 to 8. Candidates aiming to teach Classes 1 to 8 appear for both papers.
Question type
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each carrying 1 mark. No negative marking.
Total questions & marks
150 questions, 150 marks per paper.
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) per paper.
Mode
Offline pen-and-paper (OMR) test.
Certificate validity
Lifetime, for all categories.
PatternCTET Exam Pattern — Paper 1 and Paper 2
Paper 1 (Classes 1–5)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (medium of instruction) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies (EVS) | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper 2 (Classes 6–8)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics & Science (maths/science teacher) OR Social Studies/Social Science (social science teacher) | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper 1Paper 1 Syllabus (Classes 1–5)
Child Development & Pedagogy
Development of the child (6–11 years), influence of heredity and environment, concepts of learning and pedagogy, inclusive education, learning and motivation, assessment.
Language I & II
Reading comprehension (prose and verse) plus pedagogy of language development — learning and acquisition, language skills, teaching-learning materials and remedial teaching.
Mathematics
Numbers, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, measurement, money, geometry, data handling, patterns — and the pedagogy of mathematics at the primary level.
Environmental Studies (EVS)
Family and friends, food, shelter, water, travel, things we make and do — plus EVS pedagogy: concept and scope, significance, learning principles and activities.
Paper 2Paper 2 Syllabus (Classes 6–8)
Child Development & Pedagogy
Development of the adolescent learner (11–14 years), learning theories, inclusive education and children with special needs, and assessment for learning.
Language I & II
Comprehension passages plus pedagogy of language — principles of language teaching, role of grammar, language skills, evaluating language ability and remedial teaching.
Mathematics & Science (60 marks)
For maths/science teachers: upper-primary maths (number system, algebra, geometry, mensuration, data handling) and science (food, materials, the living world, moving things, electricity and magnetism, natural phenomena and resources), with their pedagogy.
Social Studies / Social Science (60 marks)
For social science teachers: History, Geography, Social and Political Life — plus the pedagogy of social science.
PracticeSection-wise practice (with answers & explanations)
Child Development & Pedagogy (CDP)
Most weighted shared section — appears in both papers. CDP revision notes → Practice CDP MCQs →
Environmental Studies (EVS) pedagogy
Mathematics pedagogy
Language pedagogy (Language I & II)
Appears in both papers (60 marks). Language pedagogy notes → English language MCQs →
Science pedagogy (Paper 2)
All sections, mixed practice
ResultQualifying marks & validity
Qualifying marks
A minimum of 60% — that is, 90 out of 150 marks — is needed to qualify.
Category relaxation
SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates usually get a relaxation as per CBSE and government norms (commonly a lower qualifying percentage).
Number of attempts
No limit — a person may appear any number of times to acquire or improve the certificate.
Validity
The CTET certificate is valid for a lifetime.
EligibilityWho can apply
Paper 1 (Classes 1–5)
Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (or equivalent), or a Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) — candidates in the final year of these courses may also apply.
Paper 2 (Classes 6–8)
Graduation with a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, or Graduation with at least 50% and a B.Ed (or equivalent) — again, final-year candidates of the qualifying course may also apply.
StrategyHow to prepare for CTET
1. Master Child Development & Pedagogy first
CDP carries 30 marks in both papers and is the most scoring section — strong CDP can lift your whole score.
2. Practice MCQs daily with explanations
CTET rewards application, not rote learning. Solve topic-wise MCQs and read each explanation. Start free practice →
3. Revise NCERT up to Class 8
The subject sections (Maths, EVS, Science, Social Studies) are pitched at the NCERT Class 1–8 level, so the school textbooks are your core source.
4. Attempt full mock tests
Build speed and accuracy for 150 questions in 150 minutes; since there is no negative marking, attempt every question.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the CTET exam pattern?
- Two papers, each with 150 MCQs for 150 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes, with no negative marking. Paper 1 is for Classes 1–5 and Paper 2 for Classes 6–8.
- What are the CTET qualifying marks?
- At least 60% — 90 out of 150 marks. Reserved categories get a relaxation as per CBSE and government norms.
- Is there negative marking in CTET?
- No. There is no negative marking, so attempt every question.
- How long is the CTET certificate valid?
- It is valid for a lifetime, and there is no limit on the number of attempts.
This page summarises the CTET syllabus and exam pattern for quick revision. Marks distribution, qualifying criteria and validity follow CBSE's CTET framework; always confirm the latest details and dates from the official CTET notification before applying. In Tamil Nadu? See the TNTET syllabus & exam pattern.