CTET

Overview

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national eligibility test for people who want to teach classes I to VIII. The Ministry of Education has given the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) the job of running it. Under the Right to Education framework, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) made passing a Teacher Eligibility Test one of the minimum qualifications for teachers at this level.

CTET applies to Central Government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Central Tibetan Schools, and to schools run by certain Union Territories. Unaided private schools may choose to accept it. CBSE-affiliated schools must hire teachers for classes I to VIII who have passed CTET or a State TET run under NCTE guidelines. State Government and aided schools normally use their own State TET, but a state that does not run one can accept CTET.

Passing CTET makes you eligible for a teaching job. It does not give you a right to a job.

Who can apply

CBSE does not set its own eligibility rules. It follows the minimum qualifications notified by NCTE and the recruitment rules of the relevant government, KVS or NVS. Before you apply, check your qualification against the NCTE regulations on the NCTE website.

• You are responsible for checking that you are eligible. Being allowed to sit the test does not mean your eligibility has been verified. The recruiting authority checks it when you are hired.

• NCTE allows candidates from reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC and differently abled) up to 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks of the minimum educational qualification.

Levels or stages

CTET has two papers. Take the one that matches the classes you want to teach, or take both.

• Paper I is for teaching classes I to V (primary stage).

• Paper II is for teaching classes VI to VIII (elementary stage).

Exam pattern

Every question is multiple choice with four options. Each question carries one mark, and wrong answers do not lose marks. Each paper lasts two and a half hours. The main question paper is in both Hindi and English. The September 2026 bulletin describes a pen-and-paper exam with an OMR answer sheet.

Paper I (classes I to V)

Paper II (classes VI to VIII)

In Paper II, Mathematics and Science teachers take the Mathematics and Science section, with 30 marks for each subject. Social Studies teachers take the Social Studies section. Teachers of any other subject can take either one.

Language I and Language II must be different. You choose both from the list of languages in the bulletin.

Syllabus

• Child Development and Pedagogy covers the psychology of teaching and learning for the age group you will teach: 6 to 11 years for Paper I, 11 to 14 years for Paper II. It also covers how to support learners with different needs.

• Language I tests how well you know the language you will teach in. Language II tests language elements, communication and comprehension.

• Subject sections test concepts, problem solving and how you would teach each topic. They follow the NCERT syllabus for classes I to V (Paper I) or VI to VIII (Paper II). Questions can be as hard as secondary level for Paper I and senior secondary level for Paper II.

The full topic-wise syllabus is in the appendix of the information bulletin.

Passing criteria and results

Under the NCTE rules, you pass if you score 60% or more. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates in line with their reservation policies, and they are told to give weightage to CTET scores when recruiting.

CBSE publishes answer keys for a short challenge window. Each challenge costs Rs 1,000 per question and is refunded if the challenge is accepted. Every candidate gets a mark sheet, and candidates who pass also get an eligibility certificate. Both are issued digitally through DigiLocker.

Validity

A CTET certificate is valid for life for all categories. You can take CTET as many times as you like, and you can take it again after passing to improve your score.

Important dates

• For the September 2026 cycle (22nd edition), online applications ran from 11 May to 10 June 2026. The bulletin first set the exam for 6 September 2026.

• A CBSE public notice dated 14 September 2026 says the 22nd edition will now be held on 12 and 13 December 2026. Your exam city and date will be shown on the CTET portal 15 days before the exam, and admit cards will be available two days before it.

Always check the latest public notices on the CTET website.

Fees

For the September 2026 cycle (22nd edition):

Banks add GST on top of these amounts. Fees are not refunded.

How to apply

1. Read the information bulletin on the CTET website.

2. Fill in the online application form.

3. Upload a scanned photograph and signature in the required size and format.

4. Pay the fee online by debit card, credit card or net banking.

5. Print the confirmation page.

You cannot choose your exam city. CBSE allots it at random and will not change it. The correction window for application details is offered only once.

Preparation tips

• Plan your study around the syllabus appendix in the bulletin and the NCERT textbooks for the classes your paper covers.

• Practise answering questions about how you would teach a topic, not just about the facts. The subject sections test teaching understanding as well as content.

• Download previous years' question papers and answer keys from the CTET website to get used to the question style.

• Attempt every question, because wrong answers do not lose marks.

FAQs