CTET
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
📚 TET / Teaching
🇮🇳 National level
● Active
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as an eligibility test for teaching posts. Paper I for candidates who intend to teach classes I to V, and Paper II for classes VI to VIII. A candidate who intends to teach at both levels must sit both papers.
CTET 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Exam name | CTET — Central Teacher Eligibility Test |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Latest cycle | CTET September 2026 — 22nd edition |
| Exam date | 6 September 2026 (Sunday). CBSE has stated that if the number of candidates increases, the examination may also be held on 5 September 2026 (Saturday). |
| Papers | Paper I for candidates who intend to teach classes I to V, and Paper II for classes VI to VIII. A candidate who intends to teach at both levels must sit both papers. |
| Qualification | The minimum qualifications for appearing in CTET are those notified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). CBSE does not restate them in the Information Bulletin — it directs candidates to ncte.gov.in to confirm their eligibility, and holds the candidate personally responsible for applying only if eligible. |
| Application fee | General and OBC (NCL): ₹1,000 for one paper, ₹1,200 for both. SC, ST and Differently Abled: ₹500 for one paper, ₹600 for both. |
| Qualifying marks | A candidate scoring 60% or more is considered TET pass, under NCTE Notification No. 76-4/2010/NCTE/Acad dated 11 February 2011. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates in line with their own reservation policy. |
| Certificate validity | The CTET qualifying certificate is valid for life, for all categories. There is no limit on the number of attempts, and a candidate who has already qualified may sit again to improve their score. |
| Negative marking | No. Every question carries one mark and there is no negative marking. |
| Scale | Conducted in 27 languages across 132 cities |
| Official website | ctet.nic.in |
CTET — the Central Teacher Eligibility Test — is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as an eligibility test for teaching posts. The CTET September 2026 — 22nd edition is on 6 September 2026.
Paper I for candidates who intend to teach classes I to V, and Paper II for classes VI to VIII. A candidate who intends to teach at both levels must sit both papers. Conducted in 27 languages across 132 cities.
CTET exam pattern
Paper I — for classes I to V (Primary Stage)
Duration: two and a half hours.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper II — for classes VI to VIII (Elementary Stage)
Duration: two and a half hours.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science (for Maths and Science teachers) OR Social Studies / Social Science (for Social Studies teachers) | 60 | 60 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
All questions are multiple choice with four alternatives, of which one is most appropriate. Each carries one mark. No. Every question carries one mark and there is no negative marking.
Qualifying marks
A candidate scoring 60% or more is considered TET pass, under NCTE Notification No. 76-4/2010/NCTE/Acad dated 11 February 2011. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates in line with their own reservation policy.
Validity of the certificate
The CTET qualifying certificate is valid for life, for all categories. There is no limit on the number of attempts, and a candidate who has already qualified may sit again to improve their score.
CTET qualifies you to apply — it does not appoint you
The Information Bulletin is explicit: qualifying CTET does not confer a right to recruitment or employment. It is one of the eligibility criteria for appointment. Schools are directed to give weightage to the CTET score during recruitment, but the vacancy itself is filled through a separate process run by the school or its management.
What this qualification is for
Schools of the Central Government — KVS, NVS, Central Tibetan Schools and others — and schools under the administrative control of the Union Territories of Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and the NCT of Delhi. Unaided private schools may also choose to consider CTET.
What is next
CTET September 2026 is on 6 September 2026, with results due by the end of October 2026.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download CTET previous year question papers?
Free PDFs of CTET previous year question papers are on this page — 177 papers, hosted on docs.aglasem.com and downloadable without registration.
When is CTET 2026?
6 September 2026 (Sunday). CBSE has stated that if the number of candidates increases, the examination may also be held on 5 September 2026 (Saturday).
Is the official CTET syllabus available?
Yes — 1 official syllabus document is available to download on this page.
What is the last date to apply for CTET 2026?
10 June 2026 at 23:59, for both the application form and the fee. The application window opened on 11 May 2026.
Does clearing CTET give me a teaching job?
No. A teaching eligibility test qualifies you to apply for teaching posts — it establishes that you meet the required standard. Actual vacancies are filled through a separate recruitment process run by the relevant authority.
What is the CTET application fee?
General and OBC (NCL): ₹1,000 for one paper, ₹1,200 for both. SC, ST and Differently Abled: ₹500 for one paper, ₹600 for both.
Can I choose my CTET exam city?
No. There is no provision to select an examination city in the online application. CBSE allots the city on a random basis and will not accept a change request for any reason.
What are the qualifying marks for CTET?
A candidate scoring 60% or more is considered TET pass, under NCTE Notification No. 76-4/2010/NCTE/Acad dated 11 February 2011. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates in line with their own reservation policy.
How long is the CTET certificate valid?
The CTET qualifying certificate is valid for life, for all categories. There is no limit on the number of attempts, and a candidate who has already qualified may sit again to improve their score.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No. Every question carries one mark and there is no negative marking.
What is the difference between CTET Paper I and Paper II?
Paper I for candidates who intend to teach classes I to V, and Paper II for classes VI to VIII. A candidate who intends to teach at both levels must sit both papers.
Does qualifying CTET guarantee a teaching job?
No. Qualifying CTET does not confer a right to recruitment or employment — it is one of the eligibility criteria for appointment. Schools give weightage to the CTET score, but vacancies are filled through a separate recruitment process.
What qualification is required for CTET?
The minimum qualifications for appearing in CTET are those notified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). CBSE does not restate them in the Information Bulletin — it directs candidates to ncte.gov.in to confirm their eligibility, and holds the candidate personally responsible for applying only if eligible.
When is the CTET result?
By the end of October 2026, tentatively, and is published on ctet.nic.in.
When is the CTET 2026 result?
By the end of October 2026, tentatively, on ctet.nic.in.
Where does CTET apply?
Schools of the Central Government — KVS, NVS, Central Tibetan Schools and others — and schools under the administrative control of the Union Territories of Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and the NCT of Delhi. Unaided private schools may also choose to consider CTET.