CTET certifies eligibility to teach in central government schools and in many state and private schools. Paper 1 is for candidates who intend to teach Classes I–V, Paper 2 for Classes VI–VIII. Both papers are 150 multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes with no negative marking. In Paper 2 a candidate chooses either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies / Social Science for the 60-mark subject block.
| Conducting body | Central Board of Secondary Education |
|---|---|
| Papers | Paper 1 (Classes I–V), Paper 2 (Classes VI–VIII) |
| Questions | 150 per paper |
| Marks | 150 per paper (1 mark each) |
| Duration | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Negative marking | None |
| Mode | Online, multiple choice |
| Medium | English and Hindi |
| Official website | ctet.nic.in |
Each phase has to be cleared before the next one opens.
Phase 1
Choose Paper 1 (Classes I–V) or Paper 2 (Classes VI–VIII), or both
Phase 2
Qualify with the prescribed cut-off to receive the CTET certificate
Both papers run to 150 questions of one mark each over 150 minutes, with no negative marking and question papers set in English and Hindi.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 | — |
| Language I | 30 | 30 | — |
| Language II | 30 | 30 | — |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | — |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 | — |
| Total | 150 | 150 | 150 minutes |
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 | — |
| Language I | 30 | 30 | — |
| Language II | 30 | 30 | — |
| Mathematics and Science OR Social Studies / Social Science | 60 | 60 | — |
| Total | 150 | 150 | 150 minutes |
Candidates choose one subject block: Mathematics and Science (for maths and science teachers) or Social Studies / Social Science (for social science teachers).
Reading the syllabus tells you what is examinable; previous year papers tell you how it is actually asked. Every CTET paper on AI Test Planet runs in a real exam interface with worked solutions and a topic-wise breakdown of where you lost marks.
No. Both papers award one mark per correct answer with no deduction for wrong answers, so there is no reason to leave a question unattempted.
40 questions come from content — history, geography, and social and political life — and 20 from pedagogical issues.
The NCERT textbooks for Classes VI to VIII cover every theme in the content section. The difficulty of individual questions can, however, reach senior secondary level.
Yes. Paper 1 qualifies you to teach Classes I–V and Paper 2 Classes VI–VIII. A candidate who wants to teach across both stages can sit both papers.
Yes, both papers are set in English and Hindi, with Language I and Language II chosen by the candidate.
The UP state TET on the same two-paper pattern — 150 questions each, no negative marking.
View syllabusUP trained graduate teacher posts — subject papers in Hindi and English.
View syllabusUP assistant teacher recruitment, open to CTET-qualified candidates.
View syllabusDelhi TGT posts recruit largely from the CTET-qualified pool.
View syllabusCBSE CTET information bulletin (exam pattern for Paper 1 and Paper 2) and the CTET Paper 2 Social Science syllabus, content and pedagogy sections.
Last verified on 13 August 2026.Commissions revise patterns between cycles — confirm anything decisive against the current notification on ctet.nic.in.