CTET Syllabus 2026: Paper 1 and Paper 2 Exam Pattern
Complete CTET syllabus 2026 with Paper 1 and Paper 2 exam pattern, section-wise question counts, Child Development and Pedagogy weightage, marking and qualifying marks.
On this page
- CTET Syllabus 2026: What You Need to Know First
- What is the CTET 2026 exam pattern?
- What is the CTET Paper 1 syllabus?
- Section-wise Paper 1 weightage
- What is the CTET Paper 2 syllabus?
- Section-wise Paper 2 weightage
- What is in Child Development and Pedagogy?
- How is CTET marked and what are the qualifying marks?
- How should you use the CTET syllabus to prepare?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related reading
- References and Official Sources
CTET Syllabus 2026: What You Need to Know First
The CTET syllabus 2026 is built around two independent papers that each carry 150 objective questions for 150 marks in 150 minutes, with +1 for every correct answer and no negative marking. The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and it is an eligibility test, not a direct recruitment, so clearing it earns you a certificate that is valid for a lifetime. Paper I qualifies you to teach classes 1 to 5 (primary) and Paper II qualifies you to teach classes 6 to 8 (elementary). A candidate can take Paper I, Paper II, or both, depending on which level they want to teach.
This guide breaks down the full syllabus and exam pattern section by section, with the exact question counts inside each section drawn from our analysis of CTET 2019 to 2024 papers. The September 2026 session exam, originally set for 6 September 2026, was postponed by CBSE (notice dated 25 August 2026), and the CBSE public notice dated 14 September 2026 has now fixed the 22nd edition of CTET for 12 and 13 December 2026. City intimation is expected about 27 November 2026 and the admit card about 10 December 2026, both derived from that notice rather than separately published dates, so use the weightage below to plan a focused 4 to 6 week revision as of September 2026.
What is the CTET 2026 exam pattern?
Each CTET paper has 150 multiple choice questions carrying 150 marks, to be attempted in 150 minutes (2.5 hours). You get +1 for every correct answer, 0 for wrong answers and 0 for blanks, which means there is no negative marking in CTET. The exam is held in offline OMR pen-and-paper mode, and every non-language section is bilingual (English and Hindi), so you read each question in both languages.
Paper I has 5 sections of 30 questions each; Paper II has 4 sections, three of 30 questions plus one combined subject block of 60 questions. Both papers are qualifying at 60% (90 out of 150), relaxed to 55% (82 out of 150) for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates as per CBSE norms, though states and institutes may set their own cutoff.
What is the CTET Paper 1 syllabus?
The CTET Paper 1 syllabus has five compulsory sections of 30 questions each, for a total of 150 questions: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies. Paper I is aimed at primary teaching (classes 1 to 5), so Mathematics and EVS stay at primary level, and both content and teaching pedagogy are tested in every subject.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (medium of instruction, e.g. English) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (a different language, e.g. Hindi) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies (EVS) | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Section-wise Paper 1 weightage
Across the CTET 2019 to 2024 papers we analysed, the mix inside each section is stable:
- Language I (English): reading comprehension carries 12 to 15 questions and language pedagogy another 12 to 15, so treat the pedagogy of teaching English as a scoring subject, not an afterthought.
- Mathematics: content (number, arithmetic, geometry, measurement, data handling) is 18 to 22 questions and mathematics pedagogy is 8 to 12, including error analysis and how children learn maths.
- Environmental Studies (EVS): content across the six themes (family, food, shelter, water, travel and things we do) is 18 to 22 questions and EVS pedagogy is 8 to 12.
- Language II (Hindi): the same shape as Language I, with unseen passage comprehension and language teaching pedagogy dominating.
What is the CTET Paper 2 syllabus?
The CTET Paper 2 syllabus has Child Development and Pedagogy (30), Language I (30) and Language II (30) exactly as in Paper I, plus one 60-question subject block. A Mathematics and Science teacher answers Mathematics and Science (60), while a Social Studies teacher answers Social Studies and Social Sciences (60). You pick one of the two based on the subject you intend to teach, so Paper II always totals 150 questions.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (medium of instruction) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (a different language) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science OR Social Studies and Social Sciences | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Section-wise Paper 2 weightage
In the 60-question subject block, our analysis of CTET 2019 to 2024 papers shows:
- Science: content is 20 to 22 questions and science pedagogy is 8 to 10, so the elementary science content still carries most of the weight.
- Social Studies (60): History accounts for roughly 18 to 22 questions, Geography roughly 14 to 18, Civics roughly 14 to 18, and Social Studies pedagogy roughly 8 to 12.
- Mathematics (in the Maths and Science track): shares the 60-question block with Science and is set at elementary (classes 6 to 8) level rather than primary.
What is in Child Development and Pedagogy?
Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) is 30 questions in both papers and is the section that decides most results, because content subjects are easier to score and CDP is where scores separate. Across the CTET 2019 to 2024 papers we analysed, learning theories from Piaget, Vygotsky and Kohlberg account for 8 to 10 of the 30 questions, inclusive education and children with special needs for 4 to 6, and assessment and evaluation (CCE, assessment for learning) for 3 to 5.
The rest of the CDP section covers intelligence, language and thought, motivation, cognition and emotion (5 to 7 questions) and gender, socialization, individual differences and progressive education (4 to 6 questions). Because CDP repeats across Paper I and Paper II, mastering the theorists and inclusive education gives you a return on both papers if you attempt both.
How is CTET marked and what are the qualifying marks?
CTET marking is simple: +1 for each correct answer, 0 for a wrong answer and 0 for a blank, so there is no negative marking and you should attempt every question. To qualify, you need 60% (90 out of 150), relaxed to 55% (82 out of 150) for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates as per CBSE, though recruiting states and institutes can apply their own higher cutoffs.
The CTET certificate is valid for a lifetime across all categories, so once you clear it you can keep using it to apply for teaching posts in KVS, NVS, central government schools and the many states and private schools that accept CTET. Remember that CTET itself has no interview: it establishes eligibility, and recruitment happens through separate hiring processes. For the timeline and documents, see our CTET 2026 exam date and admit card guide.
How should you use the CTET syllabus to prepare?
Turn the weightage above into a 4 to 6 week plan: give Child Development and Pedagogy the most daily time because it is 30 questions of the most predictable, high-yield content, then rotate the content-heavy subjects (Mathematics and EVS for Paper I, or your chosen 60-mark block for Paper II) so no subject goes cold. Because there is no negative marking, your job is coverage and accuracy, so aim to answer all 150 questions.
Do not neglect the pedagogy inside every subject: teaching methods, error analysis and how children learn are 8 to 15 questions per subject and are easier to score than tricky content. Pair the syllabus with timed practice: attempt section-wise sets first to fix weak topics, then full 150-question mocks that mirror the real 150-minute paper. Practise CTET Paper 1 and Paper 2 mock tests on Quiz4Exam, and build your revision around our CTET preparation strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common CTET syllabus 2026 questions are collected below and mirror the detailed sections above.
Related reading
- CTET 2026 complete strategy guide
- CTET 2026 exam date, notification and admit card
- CTET eligibility and qualifying marks
References and Official Sources
Always confirm the latest exam dates, pattern and syllabus on the official website.
What is the CTET syllabus 2026?
The CTET syllabus 2026 covers two papers of 150 questions each. Paper I (classes 1 to 5) has Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies, each 30 questions. Paper II (classes 6 to 8) has Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II and a 60-question block of either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies.
What is the difference between CTET Paper 1 and Paper 2?
CTET Paper I is for candidates who want to teach primary classes 1 to 5 and has five sections of 30 questions: CDP, Language I, Language II, Mathematics and EVS. Paper II is for classes 6 to 8 and replaces Mathematics and EVS with one 60-question block, either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies. You may take Paper I, Paper II, or both.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No, there is no negative marking in CTET. You get +1 for every correct answer, 0 for a wrong answer and 0 for a blank in both Paper I and Paper II. Because nothing is deducted for wrong answers, you should attempt all 150 questions rather than leaving any blank. The exam is offline OMR pen-and-paper mode.
How many questions are there in CTET?
Each CTET paper has 150 multiple choice questions carrying 150 marks, to be attempted in 150 minutes. Paper I has 5 sections of 30 questions each, while Paper II has 3 sections of 30 questions plus one combined 60-question subject block. A candidate who takes both papers answers 300 questions in total across two 2.5-hour sittings.
What is the CTET Child Development and Pedagogy syllabus?
CTET Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) is 30 questions in both papers and covers child development and learning theories (Piaget, Vygotsky, Kohlberg), inclusive education and children with special needs, assessment and evaluation, intelligence, motivation, and individual differences. In our analysis of CTET 2019 to 2024 papers, learning theories alone carry 8 to 10 of the 30 questions.
