CTET 2026
Central Teacher Eligibility Test — Complete Official Handbook: Notification, Syllabus, Age Eligibility, Salary Hierarchy & Cut-Off Analysis.
CTET & UPTET 2026 Score Normalization & Representation Guide: How Shift Variations Impact Cut-offs
With UPESSC opening representation submissions until 10 September 2026, learn how shift difficulty affects qualifying scores and how to file formal representations.
Official CTET Portals & Candidate Document Preparation
SarkariPaper strictly directs aspirants to primary government commission portals for online registration, fee payment, and official corrigenda. Use our client-side tools below to prepare required photo and signature dimensions before applying.
CTET 2026 Overview
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is the benchmark national certification exam conducted twice every year by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to certify minimum teacher quality standards for appointments in Central Government schools (Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Central Tibetan Schools) and schools under Union Territory administrations.
CTET 2026 encompasses two test papers: Paper 1 for candidates intending to teach Classes 1 to 5 (Primary Stage) and Paper 2 for candidates aspiring to teach Classes 6 to 8 (Elementary / Upper Primary Stage). Candidates can opt to appear for both papers in a single examination cycle.
CTET is strictly an eligibility certification and does not guarantee direct employment. Qualifying candidates receive an official DigiLocker-issued CTET Certificate which holds lifetime validity. General category candidates must score at least 60% (90 marks out of 150), while reserved category candidates require 55% (82.5 marks) to successfully clear the examination.
CTET 2026 Important Dates
| Notification Release | 1 September 2026 |
| Application Opens | 1 September 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | 15 December 2026 |
| Official Website | https://ctet.nic.in |
CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
Paper 1: 12th + 2-year D.El.Ed OR Graduation + B.Ed. Paper 2: Graduation + B.Ed OR 12th + 4-year B.El.Ed
Age Limit
18–35 years (as on 1st January 2026)
No upper age limit officially, but individual recruitment notifications may set age limits
Nationality
Indian Citizen
Check Your CTET Eligibility
Official Norms: No upper age limit officially, but individual recruitment notifications may set age limits
CTET Selection Process
Paper 1 or Paper 2 — Computer Based Test: 150 marks, 2.5 hours
Certificate issued to candidates scoring 60% or above (55% for SC/ST/PwD)
CTET Exam Pattern 2026
Paper 1 (Classes 1–5)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Paper 2 (Classes 6–8)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development & Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
CTET Syllabus 2026
Full Syllabus →Child Development & Pedagogy
Language I & II
Mathematics
Environmental Studies / Social Studies
Download the complete CTET topic-wise syllabus PDF →Premium (₹199/yr)
CTET Posts — Which is Best?
CTET offers 2+ posts across different departments. Here's a comparison to help you decide your target post before filling the form.
| Post | Salary | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Primary Teacher (PRT) TGT Equivalent TOP PICK | ₹35,000 – ₹50,000 | medium |
Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) TGT | ₹45,000 – ₹60,000 | medium |
CTET Salary Structure
Salary varies based on post, city tier (X/Y/Z) for HRA, and DA rate. Figures above are indicative for 2026 DA rates.
CTET Cut-off Marks & Predictor
All Cut-offs →Check Your Selection Probability
Input your raw marks & shift details for instant normalized score estimate and category rank band prediction.
CTET 2025 Tier 1 Cut-off
CTET 2024 Tier 1 Cut-off
Cut-offs vary by post. Detailed post-wise cut-offs (2015–2026) available withSarkariPaper Premium →
CTET Preparation Strategy
Phase 1: Pedagogy Focus (Month 1–2)
- ›Study Child Development & Pedagogy thoroughly — 30 marks
- ›Read NCERT textbooks for your subject
- ›Practice previous year CTET papers
- ›Focus on EVS for Paper 1
Phase 2: Mock Tests (Month 3)
- ›Attempt full Paper 1/2 mocks under 2.5 hours
- ›Target 100+ marks for safe qualification
- ›Revise language pedagogy concepts
- ›No negative marking — attempt all questions
CTET Frequently Asked Questions
What is CTET eligibility?▼
Is CTET certificate valid for lifetime?▼
What is CTET passing marks?▼
Is CTET mandatory for government teaching?▼
Can I appear for both CTET papers?▼
Priya Sharma
✓ Verified ExpertSenior Banking & Teaching Exam Analyst · 7+ Years in Banking & Teaching Exam Research
Priya is a seasoned exam analyst with over 7 years of experience analyzing banking, insurance, and national teaching examinations. She specializes in syllabus deconstruction, score normalization trends, and IBPS, SBI, and CTET cut-off projections.