What is CTET?
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by CBSE on behalf of the Central Government. Under the Right to Education rules, a person must pass a Teacher Eligibility Test to be eligible for appointment as a teacher for Classes I to VIII. CTET is the central version of this test.
CTET applies to central government schools such as KVS, NVS and Central Tibetan Schools, and to schools under certain union territories. Unaided private schools may also accept it, and CBSE-affiliated schools require CTET or a state TET for teachers of Classes I to VIII. Passing CTET makes you eligible; it is not a job offer.
How often is CTET held, and in what mode?
CBSE announces each CTET edition through its own notice rather than a fixed calendar. In 2026 there are two editions: the 21st was held in February 2026 and its result was declared on 30 March 2026. As per CBSE's public notice dated 14 September 2026, the 22nd edition will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026. The exam is offline: you mark answers on an OMR sheet with a blue or black ball point pen.
Papers, pattern and pass mark
| Paper | For teachers of | Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Classes I to V | Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, Environmental Studies (30 each) |
| Paper II | Classes VI to VIII | Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II (30 each) and either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies (60) |
Each paper has 150 multiple choice questions of one mark each, lasts two and a half hours and has no negative marking. To teach both levels, you must take both papers. A score of 60 percent or more is a pass. School managements may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates as per their reservation policy.
Eligibility and certificate
The minimum qualifications are those set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), and the CTET bulletin tells candidates to check them on the NCTE website. The certificate is valid for life for all categories, and there is no limit on the number of attempts. You may also sit again to improve your score. Mark sheets and certificates are issued digitally in DigiLocker.
Fee and application
Applications are made online only, on ctet.nic.in or cbse.gov.in, during the window given in each notice. In the September 2026 bulletin, the fee for General and OBC (NCL) candidates was Rs 1,000 for one paper and Rs 1,200 for both papers. For SC, ST and differently abled candidates it was Rs 500 and Rs 600. Bank GST is charged extra, and fees are not refunded. You do not choose the exam city; CBSE allots it.
CTET guides on HindiScope
- Topics and marks for every section are in our CTET syllabus for Paper I and Paper II .
- The city slip, admit card timeline and exam-day rules are covered in the CTET admit card guide .
- How to view your OMR sheet, check the key and challenge an answer is explained on the CTET answer key page .
Related exams
If you want to teach in colleges later, you will need a master's degree; many central universities admit through CUET PG . After that, the UGC NET exam decides eligibility for Assistant Professor posts and the Junior Research Fellowship.
HindiScope is not an official site; confirm every detail on ctet.nic.in.