CTET Exam Pattern 2025: Paper I and Paper II Syllabus, Marks and Qualifying Criteria
Complete CTET exam pattern covering Paper I for Classes 1-5 and Paper II for Classes 6-8, 150 questions each, no negative marking, qualifying marks, and subject-wise syllabus.
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is conducted by CBSE for certifying teachers in Central Government schools — primarily Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Central Tibetan Schools, and NER schools. The certificate is also accepted by many states for their state government teaching posts.
What makes CTET preparation different from most competitive exams is the absence of negative marking and the equal weight given to Child Development and Pedagogy across both papers. Many candidates don't take the pedagogy section seriously — that's a mistake.
Two Papers, Two Teaching Levels
| Aspect | Paper I | Paper II |
|---|---|---|
| Target class | Class 1 to 5 (Primary) | Class 6 to 8 (Upper Primary) |
| Questions | 150 | 150 |
| Marks | 150 | 150 |
| Duration | 2.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Negative marking | None | None |
| Qualifying marks (General) | 90/150 (60%) | 90/150 (60%) |
| Qualifying marks (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) | 82/150 (55%) | 82/150 (55%) |
Paper I — Primary Level (Classes 1–5)
Structure
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Child Development and Pedagogy (30 questions)
This section tests understanding of how children learn, grow, and develop — not just content knowledge.
- Development of child (age 6–11): Physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional development
- Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development
- Vygotsky's theory: Zone of Proximal Development, scaffolding
- Learning and its theories: Behaviourism (Thorndike, Pavlov, Skinner), Constructivism
- How children learn: motivation, role of play, observation, imitation
- Concept of inclusion — teaching children with special needs
- Learning difficulties: dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum
- Assessment for learning: formative vs summative, portfolio assessment
- Right to Education Act 2009 (RTE Act): key provisions
- Gender as a social construct, gender-sensitive pedagogy
- Multilingualism in classroom
Language I — Compulsory (30 questions)
Language I is the medium of instruction chosen by the candidate (Hindi, English, or any of the 22 scheduled languages notified for CTET).
- Reading comprehension: two unseen passages (one prose, one poem)
- Language development pedagogy: language acquisition vs language learning
- Principles of language teaching
- Role of listening and speaking
- Teaching language to diverse classroom
- Challenges of teaching language in a multilingual context
- Error analysis, remediation
- Grammar questions in context (not isolated rules)
- Verbal ability: synonyms, antonyms, fill in blanks
Language II — Compulsory (30 questions)
A different language from Language I, chosen by the candidate (usually English if Language I is Hindi, or vice versa).
Content structure is similar to Language I but focuses on:
- Unseen reading comprehension
- Principles of language learning (for Language II, i.e., second language acquisition)
- Grammar usage in context
- Language skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening
Mathematics (30 questions)
- Content knowledge (20 questions): Number system, addition/subtraction of large numbers, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, shapes, patterns, measurement, time, weight, volume, data handling
- Pedagogy (10 questions): Nature of mathematics, place of mathematics in curriculum, community mathematics, language of mathematics, error analysis in math learning
Environmental Studies (30 questions)
- Content knowledge (20 questions): Family and friends (relationships, work and play, animals, plants), food, shelter, water, travel, things we make and do
- Pedagogy (10 questions): Concept and scope of EVS, significance of EVS, environmental studies and environmental education, approaches to teaching EVS, integration of EVS with other subjects, activities, discussion, experimentation
Paper II — Upper Primary Level (Classes 6–8)
Structure
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics & Science (for Maths/Science teacher) OR Social Studies (for Social Studies teacher) | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Child Development and Pedagogy — Paper II (30 questions)
Same broad areas as Paper I but focused on age group 11–14 years:
- Adolescent development: physical, cognitive, emotional changes
- Jean Piaget — formal operational stage
- Abstract reasoning and problem-solving development
- Motivation theories (intrinsic/extrinsic, Maslow's hierarchy)
- Identity formation, peer influence
- Inclusive education — mainstreaming, gifted children
- Assessment: continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE)
- Teaching-learning process: constructivist approach at secondary level
Language I and Language II — Paper II
Same structure as Paper I but the comprehension passages and language tasks are slightly more complex, appropriate for upper primary teacher eligibility.
Mathematics and Science — For Science/Math Teachers (60 questions)
Mathematics (30 questions)Content topics:
- Number system, fractions, rational numbers, powers and exponents
- Algebra: algebraic expressions, linear equations, polynomials
- Ratio and proportion, percentages, profit and loss
- Geometry: lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles
- Mensuration: area and volume of 2D and 3D shapes
- Data handling: mean, median, mode, probability basics
- Coordinate geometry (introduction level)
Pedagogy (5 questions within Math): Problem-solving approach, math anxiety, error analysis. Science (30 questions)
Content topics:
- Food: crops, food production, storage, microorganisms
- Materials: everyday materials, acids, bases, salts, metals and non-metals, fibers
- Living world: cell structure, plant and animal tissues, reproduction, nutrition, diseases
- Moving things, electricity, magnetism, light
- Natural phenomena: weather, water cycle, earthquakes, soil
- Human body: circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous systems
Pedagogy (5 questions): Nature and structure of sciences, scientific method, teaching of science.
Social Studies — For Social Studies Teachers (60 questions)
History: From earliest societies to present, focusing on medieval India, colonial period, freedom struggle, Constitution-making. Geography: Resource and development, agriculture, minerals and energy resources, manufacturing industries, environment. Political Science / Civics: Indian polity, government structure, democracy, gender issues, development and livelihood. Economics: Money and credit, globalization, consumer rights. Social and Political Life: Democracy, diversity, government.Pedagogy (10 questions within Social Studies): Sources, projects, activities, critical pedagogy approach.
Validity of CTET Certificate
The CTET certificate was made lifetime valid in 2021 (earlier it was valid for 7 years). This means once you qualify, you don't need to appear again for renewal.
However, having a CTET certificate alone doesn't guarantee a teaching job. It's a minimum eligibility criterion — actual recruitment depends on state-level or central school recruitment processes.