Exam📋 CTET 2026 Exam Pattern
Paper 1 & Paper 2 structure, subjects, marks & qualifying cut-offs
CTET 2026 Exam Pattern — Overview
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by CBSE in offline (pen-and-paper, OMR-based) mode. Understanding the exam pattern thoroughly is the first step of smart preparation, because it tells you exactly how many questions come from each subject, how marks are distributed, and how to plan your time in the exam hall.
CTET has two papers. Paper 1 is for candidates who want to become teachers for Classes 1 to 5 (primary level). Paper 2 is for those who want to teach Classes 6 to 8 (upper primary level). If you wish to be eligible to teach any class from 1 to 8, you can appear for both papers in the same session. Both papers follow the same overall structure — 150 questions, 150 marks, 2.5 hours, and no negative marking.
| Feature | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Classes | I–V | VI–VIII |
| Questions | 150 | 150 |
| Marks | 150 | 150 |
| Duration | 2 hr 30 min | 2 hr 30 min |
| Question type | MCQ (4 options) | MCQ (4 options) |
| Negative marking | None | None |
📊 Paper 1 Structure (Classes 1–5)
Paper 1 is divided into five subjects, each carrying exactly 30 marks. Notice that Child Development & Pedagogy and both Language sections together make up 90 of the 150 marks — so pedagogy and language are just as important as your subject knowledge.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies (EVS) | 30 | 30 |
📊 Paper 2 Structure (Classes 6–8)
Paper 2 keeps Child Development & Pedagogy and the two Language sections (30 marks each), but the remaining 60 marks depend on your chosen stream: either Mathematics & Science (for maths/science teachers) or Social Studies/Social Science (for arts teachers).
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Maths & Science OR Social Studies | 60 | 60 |
In Paper 2, EVS is not a separate subject — its topics appear under Science and Social Studies.
✅ Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC (NCL) | 90/150 | 60% |
| SC / ST / PwD | 82/150 | 55% |
🎯 Smart Section-wise Strategy
Because there is no negative marking and every question carries equal weight, your strategy should be to maximise attempts and manage your 150 minutes wisely. Here is how top scorers approach the paper:
- Child Development & Pedagogy (30 marks) — do this first. It is scoring and concept-based. A strong CDP section builds early confidence and banks easy marks.
- Languages (60 marks combined) — your biggest weightage. Comprehension passages are answerable directly from the text, so don't rush them. Language pedagogy questions are highly scoring with a little practice.
- Maths / EVS / Science / Social Studies — pace yourself. Attempt the questions you are sure of first, mark tougher ones, and return to them. Never get stuck on a single hard question.
- Attempt every question. With no negative marking, a thoughtful guess on a question you are unsure about is always better than leaving it blank.
- Time check: roughly 1 minute per question. Keep 15 minutes at the end to fill any remaining bubbles and review your OMR sheet.
📝 Key Rules to Remember
- All questions are objective-type MCQs with four options and a single correct answer.
- Each correct answer earns 1 mark; there is no deduction for wrong answers.
- The exam is offline — you mark answers on an OMR sheet using a ball-point pen.
- Both papers are held on the same day if you have applied for both (Paper 1 and Paper 2 in separate sessions).
- Carry your admit card and a valid photo ID; reach the centre well before the reporting time.
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