CTET and TET Guide — Teacher Eligibility Test

If you want to become a government school teacher in India, passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is mandatory. The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by CBSE at the national level, while each state conducts its own State TET (STET) for state government school recruitment.

This guide covers everything about CTET and state TETs — eligibility, exam pattern, preparation strategy, and how to apply.

What is TET?

Following the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 and NCTE guidelines, all candidates who wish to teach in government schools (Class 1-8) must qualify TET. There are two levels:

• Paper 1: For teaching Class 1-5 (Primary level)
• Paper 2: For teaching Class 6-8 (Upper Primary/Elementary level)

You can appear for both papers if you want to be eligible for both levels.

CTET vs State TET

Important: CTET is accepted for recruitment in Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), Navodaya Vidyalaya (NVS), Army Schools, and some state government schools. Many states accept both CTET and their own state TET.

CTET Eligibility

For Paper 1 (Class 1-5 Teaching)

You must meet ONE of these criteria:

1. Senior Secondary (12th) with at least 50% marks + 2-year D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education)
2. Senior Secondary (12th) with at least 50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed
3. Senior Secondary (12th) with at least 50% marks + 2-year D.Ed (Special Education)
4. Graduation + 2-year D.El.Ed (or appearing in final year)

For Paper 2 (Class 6-8 Teaching)

You must meet ONE of these criteria:

1. Graduation with at least 50% + 2-year B.Ed
2. Graduation with at least 50% + 2-year D.El.Ed
3. B.A./B.Sc.Ed (4-year integrated course)
4. B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed (4-year course) with at least 50%
5. Graduation with at least 50% + 1-year B.Ed (as per NCTE norms)

Relaxation: SC/ST candidates need 45% in graduation/12th instead of 50%.

Age limit: There is no upper age limit for CTET.

CTET Exam Pattern

Paper 1 (Class 1-5)

• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• No negative marking
• Qualifying marks: 60% (90/150) for General, 55% for OBC/SC/ST

Paper 2 (Class 6-8)

• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• No negative marking
• Choose Maths/Science (for Maths/Science teachers) or Social Studies (for Social Studies teachers)

Major State TETs

How to Apply for CTET

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Go to ctet.nic.in when the notification is released (usually published in newspapers and the CBSE website).

Step 2: Register

1. Click on "Apply Online"
2. Fill in basic details — name, date of birth, email, phone
3. Get Registration Number and password

Step 3: Fill Application Form

1. Log in with registration number
2. Fill personal and educational details
3. Select Paper 1, Paper 2, or Both
4. Choose exam city preferences (3 choices)
5. Select language for Language 1 and Language 2

Step 4: Upload Photo and Signature

• Photo: 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, JPEG, 10-100 KB
• Signature: JPEG, 3-30 KB

Step 5: Pay Fee and Submit

• General/OBC: ₹1,000 (one paper), ₹1,200 (both papers)
• SC/ST/PwD: ₹500 (one paper), ₹600 (both papers)
• Payment: Debit/credit card, net banking, UPI

For general application tips, see our guide on applying for government jobs online.

Preparation Strategy

Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP)

This is the most important section — common to both papers.

Key topics:

1. Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
2. Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory
3. Kohlberg's Moral Development
4. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory
5. Inclusive education, learning disabilities
6. NCF 2005 (National Curriculum Framework)
7. Assessment and evaluation methods
8. Motivation and learning

Recommended: NCERT books on Educational Psychology, Arihant CTET CDP book

Language 1 and Language 2

• Language 1 tests pedagogy of language teaching + comprehension
• Language 2 also tests comprehension + pedagogy
• Language 1 should be the medium of instruction; Language 2 can be any other listed language
• Practice reading comprehension passages
• Study language acquisition vs language learning concepts

Mathematics (Paper 1 and Paper 2)

Paper 1 (Primary level): Basic arithmetic, geometry, patterns, data handling — focus on NCERT Class 1-5 level Paper 2 (Upper Primary): Algebra, geometry, statistics, number system — NCERT Class 6-8 level

Also study mathematics pedagogy: how children learn maths, common errors, teaching methods.

Environmental Studies (Paper 1 only)

Based on NCERT EVS for Class 3-5. Topics include:

• Family, food, shelter, water, travel
• Plants, animals, environment
• Social issues — gender, caste, disability

Science and Social Studies (Paper 2)

• Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology at NCERT Class 6-8 level + Science pedagogy
• Social Studies: History, Geography, Civics, Economics at NCERT Class 6-8 level + SS pedagogy

Recommended Books

After Qualifying CTET

Qualifying CTET alone does not guarantee a teaching job. You need to:

1. Apply for teaching vacancies — KVS, NVS, Army Schools, or state government schools
2. KVS recruitment: Separate exam conducted by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
3. NVS recruitment: Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti conducts its own recruitment
4. State schools: Apply through state education department when vacancies are announced
5. Super TET (UP): Uttar Pradesh requires Super TET after UPTET/CTET for final selection

Salary of Government Teachers

Salaries include basic pay; take-home varies with DA, HRA, and city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CTET valid for life?

Yes, from 2021 onwards, CTET qualification is valid for a lifetime. Earlier it was valid for 7 years. You can also re-appear to improve your score.

Can I become a teacher without B.Ed?

For Class 1-5 (Primary), B.Ed is not mandatory — D.El.Ed is the minimum requirement. For Class 6-8 (Upper Primary), B.Ed or D.El.Ed is required. For Class 9-12, B.Ed is mandatory.

Is CTET enough to get a government teaching job?

No, CTET is only an eligibility criterion. You still need to apply and qualify separate recruitment exams conducted by KVS, NVS, state education departments, etc.

Can I appear for CTET if I am in the final year of B.Ed?

Yes, candidates appearing in the final year of B.Ed/D.El.Ed can appear for CTET. However, they must complete the course before the final appointment.

What is the difference between TGT and PGT?

TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher) teaches Class 6-10 and requires graduation + B.Ed. PGT (Post Graduate Teacher) teaches Class 11-12 and requires post-graduation + B.Ed.

How many times can I attempt CTET?

There is no limit on the number of attempts. You can appear as many times as you want to qualify or improve your score.

Teaching is a noble and stable career with good work-life balance. Qualify CTET first, then apply for teaching positions in KVS, NVS, or state schools. Check out SSC exam guide and state PSC guide for other government career options.