Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) · Eligibility to teach Classes I–VIII in central government and other schools that accept CTET
CTET: Paper I & II Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility, Fee & Mock Tests
CTET is the Teacher Eligibility Test held by CBSE for teachers of Classes I to VIII. It is not a recruitment exam: passing it makes you eligible to apply for teaching posts, such as in KVS, NVS and Delhi government schools. Everything about the test on one page, from the official bulletin.
CTET latest updates
New CTET notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results appear here as soon as they are posted. Browse Govt Jobs →
Important dates
Dates for the next CTET cycle (notification, last date, admit card, exam and result) appear here when they are announced. See the exam calendar →
Check your eligibility
- ✓Paper I — to teach Classes I to VAge no limit
- ✓Paper II — to teach Classes VI to VIIIAge no limit
CTET vacancies
Total, category-wise and post-wise vacancies appear here when the CTET notification is released.
Eligibility and age limit
| Posts | Qualification | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I — to teach Classes I to V | As notified by NCTE. For example, KVS and DSSSB primary teacher posts ask for Senior Secondary (50%) with a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education | No age limit |
| Paper II — to teach Classes VI to VIII | As notified by NCTE. For example, KVS and DSSSB TGT posts ask for a graduate degree (50%) with B.Ed | No age limit |
| Category | Age relaxation |
|---|---|
| All categories | Not applicable: the bulletin sets no age limit |
Age is counted as on the date of the exam (the bulletin sets no age limit).
The CTET bulletin states no age limit. The ages shown are placeholders for the checker, not limits.
Minimum qualifications are those notified by NCTE (ncte.gov.in). Reserved categories get up to 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks of that qualification.
Being allowed to sit CTET does not mean your eligibility has been verified; the recruiting body verifies it.
To teach both levels, take both papers.
Application fee
Selection process
- 1Apply onlineOn ctet.nic.in or cbse.gov.in; exam city is allotted by CBSE
- 2Written testPen-and-paper (OMR) · 150 questions per paper · 2½ hours
- 3Result60% or more to pass · certificate in DigiLocker
CTET exam pattern
Paper I (Classes I–V) 2½ hours · 150 questions · 150 marks · no negative marking
| 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 (Classes VI–VIII) 2½ hours · 150 questions · 150 marks · no negative marking
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science (Maths & Science teachers) or Social Studies / Social Science (Social Studies teachers) | 60 | 60 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Every question is a one-mark MCQ with four options. The main question paper is bilingual (Hindi/English); Language I and II are chosen from the languages listed in the bulletin, and Language II must differ from Language I. Paper I questions follow the NCERT syllabus for Classes I–V, Paper II for Classes VI–VIII.
CTET syllabus
Subject by subject. The number on a topic is how many practice questions we have for it.
Child Development and Pedagogy
Both papers: 30 questionsMathematics (Paper I)
30 questions: 15 content, 15 pedagogyEnvironmental Studies (Paper I)
30 questions: 15 content, 15 pedagogyMathematics and Science (Paper II)
60 questions: 30 eachSocial Studies / Social Science (Paper II)
60 questions: 40 content, 20 pedagogyLanguage I and Language II
Both papers: 30 questions eachCTET cut-offs
Year-wise official cut-offs for every category appear here once they are published.
CTET salary by post
| Level / group | Posts | Pay scale |
|---|---|---|
| None | CTET is an eligibility test. It does not fill any post. | No pay of its own. Pay depends on the teaching post you are later selected for (for example KVS PRT: Level 6, TGT: Level 7). |
CTET has no salary. The KVS/NVS 2025 notice prints Level 6 (₹35,400–1,12,400) for Primary Teachers and Level 7 (₹44,900–1,42,400) for TGTs, where CTET is an essential qualification.
CTET mock tests and previous year papers
Exams with a similar syllabus
Your CTET preparation already covers most of these exams.
CTET articles
Preparation strategy, syllabus breakdowns and cut-off analysis for CTET are on the way. Read the blog →
CTET frequently asked questions
Is CTET a job exam?
No. CTET is an eligibility test. The bulletin says qualifying it does not give a right to recruitment or employment; it is one of the eligibility conditions for appointment. You still have to clear a recruitment exam such as KVS/NVS or DSSSB.
How long is the CTET certificate valid?
For life, for all categories. There is no limit on attempts, and you can sit CTET again to improve your score.
What is the CTET pass mark?
60% or more, as per the NCTE notification of 11-02-2011. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates under their reservation policy.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No. Each of the 150 questions carries one mark and there is no negative marking.
Which paper should I take, Paper I or Paper II?
Paper I if you want to teach Classes I to V, Paper II for Classes VI to VIII. To teach both levels, take both papers.
Is there an age limit for CTET?
The CTET bulletin does not state any age limit. Age limits apply later, in the recruitment notice of the post you apply for.
When is CTET September 2026?
It was scheduled for 6 September 2026. On 25 August 2026 CBSE reopened applications (25 August to 1 September 2026) and said the revised exam date will be announced after the portal closes. A correction window ran from 7 to 10 September 2026. Check ctet.nic.in for the new date.
How many candidates passed CTET February 2026?
CBSE’s result notice of 30 March 2026: in Paper I, 3,58,937 of 10,65,410 who appeared qualified (33.69%); in Paper II, 3,46,738 of 18,67,428 (18.56%).
Sources: CTET September 2026 Information Bulletin · CBSE public notice, CTET September 2026 (08-05-2026) · CBSE public notice reopening applications (25-08-2026) · CBSE public notice, correction window (07-09-2026) · CTET February 2026 result notice (30-03-2026) · KVS & NVS Recruitment Notification 01/2025 (pay levels quoted in the salary note) (checked 14 Sept 2026). Always confirm in the official notice before applying.