CTET · सीटीईटी सिलेबस

CTET Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 & Paper 2 Topic-Wise Guide

CTET syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2 with child development and pedagogy topics, subject-wise breakdown, marks, qualifying score and certificate validity details.

Conducted by: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Eligibility: Senior secondary with D.El.Ed for Paper 1; graduation with B.Ed or equivalent for Paper 2.
Attempts: Unlimited attempts; the certificate is now valid for life.
Negative marking: No negative marking in either paper.
Question paper language: English and Hindi; two language papers are chosen from a listed set.
Last reviewed: 2026

Exam pattern & stages

Stage	Questions	Marks	Duration	Mode
Paper 1 (Classes 1–5)	150	150	150 minutes	Objective (MCQ)
Paper 2 (Classes 6–8)	150	150	150 minutes	Objective (MCQ)

Subject-wise syllabus

Child Development & Pedagogy · बाल विकास एवं शिक्षाशास्त्र

30 questions · 30 marks (both papers)

Concept of development and its relation with learning
Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
Socialisation, individual differences and multiple intelligence
Inclusive education and children with special needs
Learning, motivation and cognition; how children think and learn
Assessment for learning, CCE and framing effective questions

Language 1 & Language 2 · भाषा 1 एवं भाषा 2

30 + 30 questions · 60 marks

Unseen prose and poem comprehension
Grammar and verbal ability of the chosen language
Language learning and acquisition; principles of teaching
Role of listening, speaking, reading and writing
Remedial teaching and evaluating language comprehension

Mathematics · गणित

30 questions (Paper 1) · part of 60 in Paper 2

Number system, place value, operations and factors
Geometry, shapes, spatial understanding and measurement
Data handling, patterns, money, time and volume
Pedagogy: nature of mathematics, community mathematics
Error analysis, remedial teaching and evaluation approaches

Environmental Studies / Science & Social Studies · पर्यावरण अध्ययन / विज्ञान एवं सामाजिक अध्ययन

30 questions (Paper 1) · 60 questions (Paper 2)

Family, friends, food, shelter, water, travel and things we make
Science: food, materials, the living world, moving things, natural phenomena
Social Studies: history, geography, social and political life
Pedagogy: concept and scope of EVS, activity and experimentation
Discussion, CCE, teaching material and problems of teaching

How to cover this syllabus

1Pedagogy carries the largest single weight — study NCERT teacher handbooks and NCF rather than only guidebooks.
2Pick your Language 1 as the language you are strongest in; it is scored on comprehension, not literature depth.
3Read NCERT Classes 1–8 for the content sections; almost every content question is traceable to them.
4Because there is no negative marking, attempt all 150 questions and manage time to one minute per question.
5Practise child psychology case questions — most errors come from applying theorists incorrectly, not from not knowing them.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the qualifying mark for CTET?

General category candidates need 60% (90 out of 150). Reserved categories get relaxation as per the notification.

How long is the CTET certificate valid?

The CTET qualifying certificate is now valid for a lifetime, so you do not need to reappear once you qualify.

Should I attempt Paper 1, Paper 2, or both?

Attempt Paper 1 for Classes 1–5, Paper 2 for Classes 6–8, or both if you hold the eligibility for both levels and want a wider set of vacancies.

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