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A precise understanding of the CTET exam pattern is the foundation of every effective preparation decision. CTET has a unique structure that differs significantly from other competitive examinations: two separate papers targeting different teaching levels, a 150-question format with no negative marking, equal weightage to pedagogical understanding and subject content, and a distinctive language paper structure that tests both proficiency and teaching methodology. Every aspect of how you distribute preparation time, which topics to prioritise, and how to manage the 150-minute exam should be driven by this structure.
CTET 2026 (22nd Edition) is being conducted by CBSE on September 6, 2026. Paper II will be held from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and Paper I from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The exam follows the same well-established pattern that has been consistent since 2016, with the same marking scheme (+1 per correct, no negative marking), same section weightages, and the same 150-minute duration.
This page covers the complete CTET 2026 exam information: paper-wise structure, section-by-section question distribution, detailed marking scheme, shift timings, language selection rules, Paper II subject specialisation options, question types, time management strategy for the 150-minute paper, and how the CTET pattern compares to state TETs.
Visit the CTET complete guide for the full exam overview, dates, eligibility, cutoff, and all resources.
| Parameter Details | |
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 |
| Edition | 22nd |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Mode | Offline (Pen-and-Paper OMR) |
| Exam Date | September 6, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Backup Date | September 5, 2026 (Saturday) |
| Paper II Timing | 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon |
| Paper I Timing | 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) per paper |
| Total Questions | 150 per paper |
| Total Marks | 150 per paper |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) — 4 options, 1 correct |
| Correct Answer | +1 mark |
| Incorrect Answer | 0 (No negative marking) |
| Unattempted | 0 |
| Languages | 27 |
| Exam Cities | 132 |
| Qualifying Marks | 60% (90/150) General; 55% (82/150) Reserved |
| Certificate Validity | Lifetime |
Paper I is for candidates aspiring to teach primary classes (I to V). It has 5 sections of equal marks (30 each).
| Section Questions Marks Duration (Time Allocation) | |||
| Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) | 30 | 30 | ~30 minutes |
| Language I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 | ~25 minutes |
| Language II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 | ~25 minutes |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | ~35 minutes |
| Environmental Studies (EVS) | 30 | 30 | ~35 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 150 | 150 minutes |
Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP): 30 questions covering child development theories (Piaget, Vygotsky, Kohlberg), inclusive education (RTE Act, learning disabilities), and learning-pedagogy concepts (constructivism, motivation, assessment). CDP is purely conceptual with no subject-specific content.
Language I: Tests proficiency in the candidate's chosen medium of instruction. Includes reading comprehension (prose and poem) and language pedagogy questions. All passages and questions are in the selected language.
Language II: Must be a different language from Language I. Tests communication competency and language pedagogy. The focus is slightly more on language use and teaching methodology.
Mathematics: Class I to V NCERT mathematics content (Number system, basic arithmetic, geometry, measurement, data handling) plus mathematics pedagogy (nature of mathematics, CPA approach, error analysis).
Environmental Studies (EVS): NCERT EVS textbook content for Classes III to V (Looking Around series) covering family, food, shelter, water, plants, animals, and travel. Plus EVS pedagogy covering integrated approach and experiential learning.
Paper II is for candidates aspiring to teach upper primary classes (VI to VIII). It has 4 mandatory sections and one section with a subject specialisation choice.
| Section Questions Marks Notes | |||
| Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) | 30 | 30 | Mandatory for all Paper II candidates |
| Language I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 | Mandatory; chosen medium of instruction |
| Language II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 | Mandatory; different from Language I |
| Mathematics and Science OR Social Studies/Social Science | 60 | 60 | Choose ONE based on subject specialisation |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
The 60-mark section in Paper II is split into two specialisation options:
Option A: Mathematics and Science (60 Questions)
| Sub-Section Questions Marks | ||
| Mathematics Content | 20 | 20 |
| Mathematics Pedagogy | 10 | 10 |
| Science Content | 20 | 20 |
| Science Pedagogy | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 60 | 60 |
For candidates targeting Mathematics and/or Science teaching in Classes VI to VIII.
Option B: Social Studies/Social Science (60 Questions)
| Sub-Section Questions Marks | ||
| History | 15 to 18 | 15 to 18 |
| Geography | 12 to 15 | 12 to 15 |
| Political Science and Governance | 10 to 12 | 10 to 12 |
| Economics | 8 to 10 | 8 to 10 |
| Social Science Pedagogy | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 60 | 60 |
For candidates targeting Social Science, History, Geography, or Civics teaching in Classes VI to VIII.
Which option to choose: Select based on the subject you intend to teach and your graduation background. KVS and NVS verify subject eligibility at appointment; a candidate teaching Mathematics at KVS must have Mathematics in graduation or post-graduation.
| Response Marks | |
| Correct answer | +1 mark |
| Incorrect answer | 0 (no penalty) |
| Unattempted question | 0 |
| Multiple responses to one question | 0 (treated as unattempted in most OMR systems) |
The absence of negative marking is the single most important strategic feature of CTET. Every candidate should attempt all 150 questions without exception. Leaving any question unattempted wastes a free scoring opportunity.
With 150 questions and +1 each, the maximum score is 150. The qualifying score for General category is 90 (60%). Every unattempted question is a direct cost: leaving 10 questions unattempted loses 10 marks — the difference between qualifying at 90 and failing at 80 for a borderline candidate.
CTET exam strategy rule: Always attempt all 150 questions regardless of certainty level.
All 150 questions in both papers are MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) with 4 options and exactly one correct answer. CTET does not have TITA (type-in) questions, match-the-following without options, or descriptive questions.
| Section Question Types | |
| CDP | Scenario-based (classroom situations), theory application, definition-based, RTE Act provisions |
| Language I and II | Reading comprehension (inference, vocabulary, main idea), grammar (fill in the blank, error identification), language pedagogy (method identification, evaluation approach) |
| Mathematics (Paper I and II) | Content: calculation, problem-solving, number-based. Pedagogy: method identification, error analysis, classroom strategy |
| EVS (Paper I) | Content: factual recall from NCERT, picture-based, theme-based. Pedagogy: method identification, activity selection |
| Science (Paper II) | Content: factual from NCERT, concept application. Pedagogy: inquiry-based learning identification |
| Social Science (Paper II) | Content: factual from NCERT History/Geography/Political Science. Pedagogy: teaching strategy |
CTET 2026 is conducted in two shifts on September 6, 2026.
| Shift Paper Exam Timing Recommended Arrival Gate Closes | ||||
| Shift 1 (Morning) | Paper II (Classes VI-VIII) | 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon | By 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| Shift 2 (Afternoon) | Paper I (Classes I-V) | 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM | By 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
Candidates appearing in both papers attend both shifts on the same day. This requires careful planning: the break between Paper II ending (12:00 Noon) and Paper I starting (2:30 PM) is 2.5 hours — sufficient to eat, rest briefly, and prepare mentally for the second paper.
CTET offers 27 languages for the examination medium and for Language I and Language II papers. Understanding the selection rules prevents common errors.
English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Assamese, Bengali, Garo, Gujarati, Kannada, Khasi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Mizo, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, Urdu, and others (27 total as per official bulletin).
Language I: The medium of instruction you intend to use in the classroom. This must be the language in which you will teach your students. Most candidates select Hindi or English.
Language II: Must be different from Language I. This tests your ability to communicate and teach in a second language. It should be a language you are comfortable reading and understanding, not just your best language.
Common mistake: Some candidates select the same language for both Language I and Language II. This is not permitted. Both must be different.
Important for recruitment: KVS and NVS may verify whether your Language I matches the medium of instruction at the school you are posted to. Select Language I based on actual teaching career plans, not just examination comfort.
With 150 questions in 150 minutes, the average time per question is exactly 60 seconds. However, different sections have vastly different time requirements.
| Section Recommended Time Rationale | ||
| CDP (30 questions) | 25 to 30 minutes | Conceptual; most questions answerable in 40-50 seconds |
| Language I (30 questions) | 25 to 30 minutes | RC passages take longer; 2 passages approximately |
| Language II (30 questions) | 20 to 25 minutes | Slightly faster than Language I for most candidates |
| Mathematics (30 questions) | 30 to 35 minutes | Calculation questions may take 90 to 120 seconds |
| EVS (30 questions) | 20 to 25 minutes | Factual recall; most answers come quickly from NCERT |
| Review and remaining questions | 5 to 10 minutes | Final check; attempt any unattempted questions |
| Section Recommended Time Rationale | ||
| CDP (30 questions) | 25 to 30 minutes | Same as Paper I CDP |
| Language I (30 questions) | 25 to 30 minutes | RC-heavy; similar to Paper I |
| Language II (30 questions) | 20 to 25 minutes | Same as Paper I |
| Maths-Science OR Social Science (60 questions) | 50 to 60 minutes | Content + pedagogy; content can vary in speed |
| Review | 5 to 10 minutes | Final attempt sweep |
Because there is no negative marking:
Since every question is worth exactly +1, spending 4 minutes on one difficult CDP question while leaving 3 EVS questions unattempted is a net loss of 2 marks. Speed through easier questions first; use remaining time for harder ones.
| Feature 2016 to 2019 2021 to 2023 2024 2025 2026 | |||||
| Total Questions | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Total Marks | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Duration | 150 minutes | 150 minutes | 150 minutes | 150 minutes | 150 minutes |
| Negative Marking | No | No | No | No | No |
| CDP Questions | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Subject Section Paper I | 60 (Maths 30, EVS 30) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Subject Section Paper II | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Mode | Offline OMR | Offline OMR | Offline OMR | Offline OMR | Offline OMR |
The CTET pattern has been completely stable since 2016. This is excellent for 2026 and 2027 preparation: previous year papers from any year since 2016 are directly relevant to the current pattern.
| Feature CTET UPTET HTET REET | ||||
| Questions | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Marks | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Duration | 150 minutes | 150 minutes | 150 minutes | 150 minutes |
| CDP Questions | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Negative Marking | No | No | -0.25 or No | No |
| Mode | Offline | Offline | Offline | Offline |
| Conducting Body | CBSE | UP Government | Haryana Board | Rajasthan Board |
The basic structure of CTET and most state TETs is similar, making CTET preparation largely transferable to state TET preparation. The primary difference is in the specific syllabus scope (CTET has a broader national scope) and some state TETs have negative marking.
The best practice resources for CTET 2026 pattern familiarity:
Previous Year Papers (2016 to 2025): Since the pattern is identical, all years' papers are fully relevant. Focus on CDP questions across all years — these reveal the exact question style for theory application and scenario-based questions.
Section-Wise Timed Practice: Practice each section under its allocated time (30 minutes for CDP, 25 minutes for Language papers, 30 minutes for Mathematics, 20 minutes for EVS). This builds section-specific speed and accuracy.
Full Paper Mocks Under 150-Minute Timer: Replicate the exact exam condition: 150 questions, 150 minutes, attempt all, OMR format. Visit the CTET Test Series page for structured mock practice options.
Q1. How many questions are in CTET 2026? 150 questions per paper (Paper I and Paper II each have 150 questions carrying 150 marks).
Q2. Is there negative marking in CTET 2026? No. There is absolutely no negative marking in either Paper I or Paper II. Candidates should attempt all 150 questions.
Q3. How long is the CTET examination? 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) per paper. Paper II is in the morning shift and Paper I in the afternoon shift on September 6, 2026.
Q4. What is the question type in CTET? All questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with 4 options and one correct answer. There are no descriptive or subjective questions.
Q5. Can I appear in both Paper I and Paper II on the same day? Yes. Paper II is from 9:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and Paper I is from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Both are on September 6, 2026, with a 2.5-hour gap between them.
Q6. How many languages are available for CTET 2026? CTET 2026 is available in 27 languages for the examination medium and Language paper selection.
Q7. What is the marking scheme for CTET 2026? +1 for every correct answer. 0 for incorrect answers (no penalty). 0 for unattempted questions.