The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to assess eligibility for teaching Classes I to VIII. The CTET 2026 syllabus is divided into Paper I for candidates who intend to teach Classes I to V and Paper II for candidates who intend to teach Classes VI to VIII. Both papers test Child Development and Pedagogy, two languages and subject-specific knowledge with a focus on teaching methods. This guide summarises the syllabus and exam pattern for the 22nd edition of CTET. Candidates must verify the latest schedule and instructions on the official CTET website before the examination.
CTET 2026 Syllabus: Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|
| Exam | Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), 22nd edition |
| Conducting body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Purpose | Teacher eligibility for Classes I to VIII |
| Paper I | Primary stage, Classes I to V |
| Paper II | Upper-primary stage, Classes VI to VIII |
| Total questions | 150 in each paper |
| Total marks | 150 in each paper |
| Question type | Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) |
| Official website | ctet.nic.in |
CTET 2026 Exam Date and Latest Update
CBSE's official CTET website lists notices and the September 2026 information bulletin for the 22nd edition. A revised examination-date notice is listed in the official documents section. Candidates should open that notice directly to confirm the latest date, shift and reporting instructions because earlier September schedule information was revised. Do not rely on an old exam date reproduced on third-party websites.
CTET Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026
Paper I is for candidates who plan to teach Classes I to V. It contains five compulsory sections, with 30 questions in each section.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
CTET Paper 1 Subject-Wise Syllabus
1. Child Development and Pedagogy
- Concept of development and its relationship with learning.
- Principles of child development and the influence of heredity and environment.
- Socialisation processes and the role of family, teachers and peers.
- Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: key ideas and educational implications.
- Child-centred and progressive education.
- Concept of intelligence, multiple dimensions of intelligence and critical perspectives.
- Language and thought, gender as a social construct and individual differences.
- Assessment for learning, assessment of learning and school-based assessment.
- Inclusive education, children from diverse backgrounds and understanding learning difficulties.
- How children think and learn, motivation, cognition and factors affecting learning.
2. Language I
- Language comprehension through unseen passages.
- Reading comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability.
- Principles of language teaching and learning.
- Listening and speaking skills and their role in language development.
- Teaching-learning materials, classroom resources and language assessment.
- Remedial teaching and common language-learning challenges.
3. Language II
- Comprehension of unseen prose passages, including questions on grammar and verbal ability.
- Language acquisition and principles of language learning.
- Developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
- Role of grammar in communication and language learning.
- Challenges in a multilingual classroom and language difficulties.
- Evaluation of language proficiency and remedial teaching.
Language II must be different from Language I. Candidates choose languages from the options made available in the official information bulletin.
4. Mathematics
- Geometry and basic geometrical concepts.
- Shapes and spatial understanding.
- Solids around us.
- Numbers and number operations.
- Basic arithmetic, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
- Measurement, weight, time and volume.
- Data handling and patterns.
- Money and everyday mathematical applications.
- Nature of mathematics, logical thinking and the language of mathematics.
- Community mathematics, evaluation, error analysis and remedial teaching.
5. Environmental Studies
- Family and friends, relationships, work and play.
- Animals and plants.
- Food, water and shelter.
- Travel and transport.
- Things we make and do.
- Environmental studies as an integrated subject and its scope.
- Learning principles, activities, experiments and discussion.
- Environmental education, teaching materials and classroom activities.
- Assessment, common learning problems and remedial approaches.
CTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026
Paper II is for candidates who intend to teach Classes VI to VIII. Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I and Language II are compulsory. Candidates must choose either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science according to their subject preference and eligibility.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science OR Social Studies/Social Science | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
CTET Paper 2 Subject-Wise Syllabus
1. Child Development and Pedagogy
- Child development for the age group 11 to 14 years.
- Principles of development and the relationship between development and learning.
- Influence of heredity, environment, socialisation and individual differences.
- Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky and their educational implications.
- Inclusive education and understanding children with diverse learning needs.
- Learning processes, cognition, motivation, thinking and problem-solving.
- Assessment, classroom interaction and learner-centred teaching approaches.
2. Language I and Language II
- Unseen prose passages and comprehension.
- Grammar, vocabulary, inference and verbal ability.
- Language acquisition and principles of language teaching.
- Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
- Multilingual classrooms, language difficulties and remedial teaching.
- Teaching-learning materials, assessment and evaluation.
3. Mathematics
- Number system, knowing our numbers and playing with numbers.
- Integers, fractions and decimals.
- Algebra, ratio and proportion.
- Geometry, basic geometrical ideas and understanding elementary shapes.
- Symmetry, construction and practical geometry.
- Mensuration and data handling.
- Mathematics pedagogy, reasoning, problem-solving and evaluation.
4. Science
- Food and its sources, components of food and cleaning food.
- Materials, materials of daily use and properties of substances.
- The world of living organisms and their surroundings.
- Moving things, people and ideas; motion and measurement.
- How things work, electric current, circuits, magnets and simple devices.
- Natural phenomena and natural resources.
- Science as a discipline, observation, experimentation and discovery.
- Innovation, teaching aids, practical work, evaluation and remedial teaching.
5. Social Studies and Social Science
- History: early societies, the first cities, early states, new ideas, kingdoms, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal period, regional cultures, colonialism, the freedom movement and India after independence.
- Geography: Earth and the solar system, globe, environment, air, water, resources, agriculture, human environment and settlement.
- Social and Political Life: diversity, government, local government, democracy, state government, media, gender, Constitution, Parliament, judiciary and social justice.
- Social science pedagogy, classroom discussion, critical thinking, sources, projects and assessment.
CTET Languages
The CTET information bulletin provides a list of examination languages. Candidates should check the current bulletin for the complete list and select Language I and Language II carefully. Language II must be different from Language I. The official portal includes the bulletin and language-related instructions.
CTET Marking Scheme and Qualifying Marks
Each paper contains 150 questions for 150 marks. Candidates should check the current information bulletin for the applicable qualifying criteria and category-related provisions. CTET qualification is an eligibility condition and does not by itself guarantee appointment as a teacher. Recruitment authorities may prescribe additional eligibility requirements and selection procedures.
How to Prepare for CTET 2026
- Download the official information bulletin and compare every topic with your preparation plan.
- Choose Paper I, Paper II or both according to the teaching level and eligibility requirements.
- Study Child Development and Pedagogy consistently, with attention to classroom application.
- Practise comprehension and teaching methodology for both language sections.
- Revise NCERT topics relevant to the primary or upper-primary level.
- For Paper II, prepare either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science as selected.
- Attempt previous question papers and timed mock tests.
- Review incorrect answers and revise pedagogy concepts instead of memorising answers alone.
Important CTET Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CTET 2026 syllabus?
The syllabus covers Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II and subject-specific sections. Paper I includes Mathematics and Environmental Studies, while Paper II includes Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science.
How many questions are there in each CTET paper?
Each paper has 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks.
Can I appear for both CTET Paper 1 and Paper 2?
Candidates may apply for both papers if they meet the relevant eligibility conditions stated in the official information bulletin.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
The CTET scheme described in the information bulletin does not deduct marks for incorrect answers. Always verify the current bulletin for the examination you are taking.
Is Language II the same as Language I?
No. Language II must be different from Language I.
Where can I download the official CTET syllabus?
Visit the CTET official website, open the Information Bulletin section and download the bulletin for the relevant edition. The detailed syllabus is included in the bulletin.
Does passing CTET guarantee a teaching job?
No. CTET is an eligibility test. Candidates must separately meet the recruitment rules and selection requirements of the school or appointing authority.
Disclaimer
This article is a study guide based on the CTET syllabus structure and official information bulletin. The CBSE information bulletin and subsequent public notices are authoritative for the final syllabus, examination date, eligibility, language options, qualifying criteria and examination instructions. Candidates should check the latest official notice before the examination.
Related Videos
CTET Feb 2026 - CDP Latest Syllabus for Paper 1,2 by Himanshi Singh
CTET Syllabus 2026 | CTET Paper 1 and Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 | CTET Syllabus 2026 Odia