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The CTET September 2026 exam is on September 6, 2026. After months of preparation covering CDP theories, NCERT content from Classes I to VIII, and language pedagogy, every preventable exam day error — arriving late, forgetting a document, incorrectly filling the OMR sheet, or misunderstanding the pen requirement — directly costs marks that your preparation deserved to earn.
CTET is unique among major national examinations in one critical logistical respect: CBSE assigns exam cities randomly from 132 cities with no candidate choice and no change facility. Candidates who registered in May 2026 may find themselves assigned a city that requires overnight travel. Planning for this possibility well before September 4, 2026 (admit card release) is essential.
This page provides the complete CTET 2026 exam day guidance: shift timings, mandatory document checklist, OMR sheet filling rules, prohibited items, dress code advisory, biometric verification process, time management strategy for the 150-minute paper, guidance for candidates appearing in both papers on the same day, and a day-before preparation checklist.
All guidance is based on CBSE's official CTET exam day instructions published in the Information Bulletin released May 11, 2026. The 2026 process is expected to be identical to the 2025 pattern.
Visit the CTET complete guide for the full exam overview, dates, eligibility, and all resources.
| Parameter Detail | |
| Exam Date | September 6, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mode | Offline (Pen-and-Paper OMR) |
| Paper II Shift | 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon (Morning) |
| Paper I Shift | 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM (Afternoon) |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) per paper |
| Total Questions | 150 per paper |
| Marking | +1 correct, 0 incorrect (no negative marking) |
| Exam Cities | 132 cities across India |
| Admit Card Release | September 4, 2026 |
| Backup Date | September 5, 2026 (if candidate count increases) |
CTET 2026 is conducted in two shifts on September 6, 2026. Each shift has specific reporting times.
| Shift Paper Exam Timing Recommended Arrival Centre Gate Closes Hall Entry Closes | |||||
| Shift 1 (Morning) | Paper II (Classes VI-VIII) | 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon | By 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 9:15 AM |
| Shift 2 (Afternoon) | Paper I (Classes I-V) | 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM | By 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 2:15 PM |
Candidates appearing in both Paper II (morning) and Paper I (afternoon) have a 2.5-hour gap between shifts (12:00 Noon to 2:30 PM). Use this time to:
Do not travel far between shifts. Many candidates from outside the exam city stay near the centre for the full day.
Gate closure is absolute. Candidates arriving after the gate closes for their shift are denied entry without exception. No alternative arrangement is provided.
Every document below is mandatory. Missing any item may result in denial of entry to the hall.
| Document Specification | |
| CTET 2026 Admit Card (Printed) | Printed on A4 paper; clear and legible; both colour and black-and-white accepted; mobile phone display NOT accepted |
| Original Valid Government-Issued Photo ID | Any ONE of: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence, PAN Card |
| Passport-Size Photographs | 2 recent photographs matching the one uploaded during registration; white background, coloured |
| Blue or Black Ballpoint Pen | For filling the OMR answer sheet; gel pens, pencils, and felt-tip pens are NOT permitted |
The CTET 2026 admit card will be released on September 4, 2026, at ctet.nic.in. Download it using your Registration Number and Password.
Before printing, verify:
Print 2 to 3 copies of the admit card. The invigilator will retain one copy during each shift.
Critical note on city assignment: CBSE assigns exam cities randomly. Check the admit card immediately on September 4 to know your city. If the assigned city requires travel, book accommodation immediately (2 days advance notice is minimum).
| Item Notes | |
| Mobile phones (any type) | Must be deposited outside the centre or left in vehicle |
| Smartwatches and digital watches | All watches with displays |
| Bluetooth earphones or earbuds | Any wireless audio device |
| Calculators | Basic or scientific; none permitted |
| Tablets, laptops | All computing devices |
| USB drives, memory cards | No storage devices |
| Any electronic or recording device | Hidden cameras, digital pens |
| Item Status | |
| Personal stationery (own pens, pencils) | Bring your own blue/black ballpoint pen only |
| Pencils | Not permitted for OMR filling |
| White-out / correction fluid | Strictly prohibited |
| Eraser | Not permitted |
| Rough paper from home | Not allowed; rough sheets provided at centre if needed |
| Books, notes, printed materials | No study material of any kind |
| Item Status | |
| Wristwatches (digital and analog) | Not permitted |
| Large metallic jewellery | May trigger security; avoid |
| Headgear | Not permitted except for religious reasons; face must be visible |
| Tinted spectacles | Not acceptable; plain transparent lenses permitted |
CBSE issued an Advisory on Dress Code and Permissible Items before previous CTET editions. A similar advisory is expected before September 6, 2026.
| Category Guideline | |
| General clothing | Light, comfortable clothing; no specific formal requirement |
| Full-sleeve garments | Permitted but security may check sleeves |
| Footwear | Open footwear preferred; closed shoes permitted but may be inspected |
| Accessories | Minimal; avoid large metallic items |
| Religious dress | Permitted with face clearly visible for biometric |
Practical advice for September: CTET September exams occur during monsoon season. Carry an umbrella or light rain protection. September weather is warm to hot in most Indian cities; lightweight, breathable clothing is recommended.
CTET uses Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets. Understanding how to fill the OMR correctly is critical because errors in OMR filling cannot be corrected once the sheet is submitted.
Question Booklet: A physical booklet containing all 150 questions with 4 options (A, B, C, D) each. The booklet has a unique series code (A, B, C, or D in Paper I; different codes in Paper II).
OMR Answer Sheet: A separate sheet with bubble grids for all 150 questions. Candidates fill the correct bubble for their chosen answer.
Rough Work Section: Many CTET OMR sheets have a rough work section printed on the last page. Use this for all calculations. Do not write on the question booklet or main OMR answer section.
Use only blue or black ballpoint pen. This is non-negotiable. Pencil marks are not reliably read by OMR scanners. Gel pens may smear. Felt-tip markers may bleed through. Standard ballpoint pens produce clean marks that OMR machines read accurately.
Fill bubbles completely and darkly. Half-filled or lightly filled bubbles may not register. Fill the entire circle for your chosen option.
Do not use correction fluid or eraser. No mechanism exists to reverse a filled bubble correctly. If you change your mind, clearly cancel the wrong bubble by marking an X through it and fill the correct bubble. However, excessive corrections in one question space may cause scanning confusion.
Fill the series/set code correctly. Your question booklet will have a series code (A, B, C, or D). Fill this in the designated OMR section. Filling the wrong series code can cause your answers to be evaluated against the wrong answer key.
Fill candidate details first. Before the exam clock starts, fill all required personal information: Registration Number, Roll Number, Centre Number, and Series Code. Doing this after the exam begins wastes valuable answering time.
Since there is no negative marking, fill all 150 bubbles. Even if you are completely unsure about a question, always fill one option. Leaving a bubble empty costs you a potential +1 mark for free.
Arrive at the centre. For Shift 1 (Paper II, 9:30 AM start), be at the centre by 8:00 AM. Show your printed admit card at the outer gate to confirm you are at the correct centre.
Document verification (first checkpoint): Invigilator checks your admit card and original photo ID. Your admit card is stamped or signed.
Photograph pasting: Paste one passport-size photograph in the designated box on the attendance sheet. Sign the attendance sheet.
Biometric verification: Fingerprint impression and/or live photograph capture at the hall entry. This typically takes 30 to 60 seconds per candidate but queues can form during peak entry periods.
Seated at desk. The invigilator distributes OMR sheets before the exam begins. Fill all candidate details (Registration Number, Series Code) during this pre-exam period.
Question booklets distributed. Verify: the booklet is complete (no missing pages), the series code on the booklet matches what you filled on the OMR, and the paper is the correct paper (Paper I or II based on shift).
If any discrepancy is found, inform the invigilator immediately before the exam begins.
At 9:30 AM (Shift 1) or 2:30 PM (Shift 2), the invigilator announces the exam start. Begin with your planned strategy.
| Order Section Recommended Time Reason | |||
| 1st | EVS | 18 to 22 minutes | Easiest section; direct NCERT; bank easy marks first |
| 2nd | Language I | 22 to 26 minutes | RC-based; familiar language; moderate speed |
| 3rd | Language II | 20 to 24 minutes | Similar to Language I; slightly faster for most |
| 4th | CDP | 25 to 30 minutes | Conceptual; needs careful reading of scenarios |
| 5th | Mathematics | 28 to 35 minutes | Most time-consuming; calculation questions |
| Review | All sections | 5 to 10 minutes | Verify all 150 bubbles are filled |
| Order Section Recommended Time Reason | |||
| 1st | Language I | 22 to 26 minutes | Start with familiar language |
| 2nd | Language II | 20 to 24 minutes | |
| 3rd | CDP | 25 to 30 minutes | Conceptual; needs focus |
| 4th | Social Science OR Maths-Science | 50 to 58 minutes | Largest section; most varied |
| Review | All sections | 5 to 10 minutes | Verify all 150 bubbles are filled |
Since there is no negative marking:
| Task Details | |
| Print admit card | 2 to 3 clear A4 printouts; verify centre address on the slip |
| Confirm centre location | Open Google Maps; confirm exact address; check route and travel time |
| Plan departure time | For Shift 1: arrive by 8:00 AM; deduct travel time and add 30-minute buffer |
| Book accommodation | If the assigned city requires overnight stay, book in advance |
| Keep photo ID ready | Original Aadhaar or Passport in a safe location |
| Prepare 2 photographs | Matching the registration photograph; white background |
| Keep 2 blue/black ballpoint pens | Buy new pens; test ink flow |
| Pack transparent water bottle | Plain water only |
| Light revision only | CDP key theories summary; NCERT chapter highlights; no new content |
| No full mock tests | Do not attempt a full 150-question mock the evening before |
| Sleep by 10:00 PM | For Shift 1 (9:30 AM exam): wake at 6:00 AM; need 8 hours sleep |
| Set 2 to 3 alarms | Do not rely on a single alarm |
| Eat properly | Have dinner and breakfast (for Shift 1); have lunch between shifts if appearing in both |
Q1. Can I show the admit card on my mobile phone at the CTET centre? No. A printed copy is mandatory. Digital display on a mobile is not accepted, and mobile phones are prohibited inside the centre.
Q2. What pen should I use for CTET OMR? Only blue or black ballpoint pen. Do not bring pencils, gel pens, or felt-tip pens. Ballpoint pens produce marks that OMR scanners read most reliably.
Q3. Is there a break between Paper II and Paper I for candidates appearing in both? There is a 2.5-hour gap between Paper II ending at 12:00 Noon and Paper I starting at 2:30 PM. This is not an official break; CBSE does not manage this inter-shift period. Candidates must manage their own meals, rest, and movement.
Q4. What happens if I make a mistake filling the OMR sheet? Cancel the wrong bubble clearly (mark X through it) and fill the correct bubble. Do not use correction fluid or eraser. Excessive corrections may cause scanning issues; aim to fill carefully on the first attempt.
Q5. Will rough sheets be provided at the CTET centre? Many CTET OMR sheets have a printed rough work section. The centre may or may not provide separate rough sheets. Use only the rough section on the OMR or sheets provided by the invigilator; do not use personal paper.
Q6. Can I leave the exam hall early? CBSE's standard instruction is that candidates should not leave during the first 90 minutes of the exam. Check the 2026 Information Bulletin for the specific early departure policy.