Understand the exam
Exam overview
Central teacher eligibility test under applicable NCTE and recruitment rules; passing does not itself create an appointment.
CTET
EligibilityCertification
Professional
National
Central Teacher Eligibility Test
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
Central teacher eligibility test under applicable NCTE and recruitment rules; passing does not itself create an appointment.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Graduation
The teacher-education qualification required for the paper and teaching level under current NCTE rules. CTET has multiple qualification routes, including combinations involving senior secondary, graduation and approved teacher education. Passing CTET does not guarantee recruitment.
Eligibility to appear is not the same as eligibility to be admitted. Individual institutions add their own criteria on top of the exam's rules.
Overview
What this exam is
The Central Board of Secondary Education's teacher eligibility test, required to be considered for teaching posts in central government schools and recognised widely elsewhere. Paper I is for teaching classes one to five and Paper II for classes six to eight; you may sit both.
Subjects
What the paper tests
Child development and pedagogy, two language papers, and subject content - mathematics and environmental studies for Paper I, and either mathematics and science or social studies for Paper II. The pedagogy component is the largest single block and the one candidates most often underestimate.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
Understand clearly that passing does not create an appointment - it makes you eligible to apply, and recruitment is a separate competitive process. Pedagogy questions are applied rather than factual, asking how a child learns and how you would respond, so reading theory without thinking about a classroom does not work. Subject content is at school level and is the easier half to secure.
AdmissionProcess
Who can take it, and how it runs
Who can appear. D.El.Ed, B.El.Ed or B.Ed depending on the level applied for.
How often. Twice a year.
Format. Computer-based.
Conducted by. Central Board of Secondary Education.
Dates, eligibility and the paper pattern change from year to year. Check the current official notification before you plan around any of this.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does passing CTET get me a teaching job?
No. It establishes eligibility to apply. Recruitment is a separate competitive process run by schools and state or central bodies, and clearing CTET only puts you in the pool of people permitted to compete.
Should I take Paper I, Paper II, or both?
Paper I qualifies you for classes one to five and Paper II for classes six to eight. You may sit both, and doing so widens the posts you can apply for, which is worth the extra preparation for most candidates.
Which part do candidates underestimate?
Child development and pedagogy. It is the largest single block and the questions are applied - they describe a classroom situation and ask what you would do. Reading theory without thinking about real children does not work.
Is CTET accepted by state schools?
Central government schools require it, and many private schools recognise it, but most state government posts require that state's own teacher eligibility test. Check the requirement for the specific system you want to teach in.
What is Central Teacher Eligibility Test used for?
Teaching eligibility for central government schools (KVS, NVS) and many states.
Who is eligible to appear for Central Teacher Eligibility Test?
D.El.Ed, B.El.Ed or B.Ed depending on the level applied for. Confirm this against the current official notification, because eligibility rules are revised between sessions.
How often is Central Teacher Eligibility Test held, and in what format?
Twice a year. Computer-based.
Who conducts Central Teacher Eligibility Test?
Central Board of Secondary Education.