The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level eligibility examination administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Mandated under the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, CTET establishes standardized benchmarks for teacher quality, pedagogy, and child psychology across the nation's foundational schooling system.
Conducting Authority & Examination Structure
CBSE conducts CTET bi-annually (typically in July and December). The examination consists of two distinct papers:
- Paper I: For candidates intending to teach Classes I to V (Primary Stage).
- Paper II: For candidates intending to teach Classes VI to VIII (Elementary / Upper Primary Stage).
- Candidates who fulfill the academic and professional prerequisites for both stages may sit for both Paper I and Paper II on the same day.
CTET Exam Pattern & Subject Structure
Both papers consist of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying 150 marks with a test duration of 150 minutes (2.5 hours). There is NO negative marking in CTET:
Paper I Pattern (Classes I to V):
- Child Development and Pedagogy (Compulsory): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Language I (Compulsory): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Language II (Compulsory): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Mathematics: 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Environmental Studies (EVS): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Total: 150 Questions | 150 Marks
Paper II Pattern (Classes VI to VIII):
- Child Development and Pedagogy (Compulsory): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Language I (Compulsory): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Language II (Compulsory): 30 Qs / 30 Marks
- Subject Choice (Choose either A or B):
- For Mathematics & Science Teachers: 60 Qs / 60 Marks
- For Social Studies / Social Science Teachers: 60 Qs / 60 Marks
- Total: 150 Questions | 150 Marks
Qualifying Marks & Certificate Validity
CTET is strictly an Eligibility Test, not a competitive recruitment examination with vacancy-based merit lists:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentage | Required Passing Marks (Out of 150) |
|---|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) / EWS | 60% | 90 Marks |
| OBC / SC / ST / PwBD | 55% | 82 Marks |
Lifetime Certificate Validity:
In accordance with directives issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the CTET qualifying certificate remains valid for a LIFETIME from the date of result declaration.
There is no restriction on the number of attempts; a qualified candidate may appear again to improve their score.
Crucial Clarification: CTET Does NOT Guarantee a Job
A common misconception among aspiring educators is that clearing CTET directly earns an appointment as a government teacher:
Clearing CTET merely qualifies you to APPLY for government teaching vacancies. It does NOT automatically award a teaching appointment.
Once you obtain your CTET certificate, you must independently monitor, apply for, and clear the competitive recruitment examinations and interviews conducted by individual employing agencies:
- Central Government Schools: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), Central Tibetan Schools (CTSA).
- Union Territory Schools: Directorate of Education, Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB), Chandigarh Administration.
- Unaided Private Schools: Thousands of CBSE-affiliated private schools mandate CTET qualification for hiring.
- State Governments: Several state governments (including Bihar BPSC TRE, Haryana, etc.) accept CTET scores in lieu of their state-level Teacher Eligibility Tests (STET).
Explore active teaching vacancies in the CTET Notification Update, check the BPSC TRE 4.0 Recruitment, and read CTET Eligibility Criteria.