The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level qualifying examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to certify the eligibility of candidates for teaching posts in Classes I to VIII across Central Government schools such as KVS, NVS, EMRS, Army schools and other organisations. CTET certification is now valid for a lifetime.

CTET 2026 Overview

Exam Name Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET)
Conducting Body Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Level National
Papers Paper 1 (Classes I-V) & Paper 2 (Classes VI-VIII)
Total Questions 150 MCQs per paper
Total Marks 150 marks per paper
Duration 2 hours 30 minutes
Mode Offline (OMR-based)
Certificate Validity Lifetime

Apply and check official notifications on the CBSE CTET portal:

Visit Official Website: ctet.nic.in

CTET Exam Pattern

Both papers contain 150 objective-type multiple choice questions, each carrying one mark. Candidates can appear for Paper 1, Paper 2, or both depending on the level they wish to teach.

Subject Questions Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy 30 30
Language I 30 30
Language II 30 30
Mathematics / Maths & Science (Paper 2) 30 / 60 30 / 60
EVS / Social Studies (Paper 2) 30 / 60 30 / 60
No Negative Marking: There is no negative marking in CTET. One mark is awarded for each correct answer, so candidates should attempt all 150 questions.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Paper 1 (Classes I-V): Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and a Diploma/Degree in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed / B.El.Ed), or B.Ed as applicable.
  • Paper 2 (Classes VI-VIII): Graduation with at least 50% marks and B.Ed, or equivalent qualifications as per NCTE norms.
  • Relaxation in minimum marks is given to reserved category candidates as per rules.

Qualifying Marks

Category Qualifying % Marks (out of 150)
General 60% 90
OBC / SC / ST 55% 82-83

Previous Year Cut-Off (Indicative)

CTET is a qualifying exam, so the cut-off is the minimum qualifying score rather than a merit rank. The indicative passing marks across recent cycles have remained:

Year General OBC/SC/ST
2025 90 / 150 82 / 150
2024 90 / 150 82 / 150
2023 90 / 150 82 / 150

Note: Some recruiting bodies set higher merit-based cut-offs while using the CTET score for final selection.

Best Books for CTET Preparation

  • Child Development & Pedagogy by Disha Experts / Arihant Experts
  • CTET & TETs Paper 1 & 2 Guide by Wiley / Pearson
  • A Complete Resource for CTET by Sandeep Kumar (Pearson)
  • CTET Mathematics & Pedagogy by R.S. Aggarwal style practice books
  • CTET English/Hindi Language & Pedagogy by Arihant
  • EVS & Pedagogy by Disha Publications
  • NCERT textbooks (Classes I-VIII) for core concepts and pedagogy base
  • Previous year solved papers and full-length mock test series

20 Previous Year MCQs with Answers & Explanations

Practice these previous-year style questions. Click Show Answer under each question to reveal the correct option and explanation.

Q1. According to Piaget, a child in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years) is able to:

  • Think abstractly about hypothetical situations
  • Perform logical operations on concrete objects
  • Use only reflex actions
  • Show object permanence for the first time
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Perform logical operations on concrete objects
In the concrete operational stage children develop logical thinking about concrete events, such as conservation and classification, but abstract reasoning develops later in the formal operational stage.

Q2. The primary purpose of formative assessment is to:

  • Rank students at the end of the term
  • Improve learning during the teaching process
  • Award certificates
  • Eliminate weak students
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Improve learning during the teaching process
Formative assessment is ongoing and diagnostic; it provides feedback to improve teaching and learning rather than to grade or rank learners.

Q3. Lev Vygotsky is best known for the concept of:

  • Conditioned reflex
  • Zone of Proximal Development
  • Stages of moral development
  • Trial and error learning
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Zone of Proximal Development
Vygotsky proposed the ZPD - the gap between what a learner can do alone and what they can achieve with guidance from a more knowledgeable other.

Q4. Inclusive education primarily means:

  • Separate schools for children with disabilities
  • Educating all children together regardless of differences
  • Teaching only gifted children
  • Online education for all
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Educating all children together regardless of differences
Inclusive education integrates children of all abilities and backgrounds in the same classroom with appropriate support.

Q5. A child who reverses letters like 'b' and 'd' while reading may have:

  • Dyscalculia
  • Dyslexia
  • Dysgraphia
  • Autism
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disability affecting reading, often involving letter reversals and difficulty decoding words.

Q6. The smallest prime number is:

  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Show Answer
Answer: (c) 2
2 is the smallest prime number and the only even prime, as it has exactly two factors: 1 and itself.

Q7. The value of the place of 7 in 4,756 is:

  • 7
  • 70
  • 700
  • 7000
Show Answer
Answer: (c) 700
The digit 7 is in the hundreds place, so its place value is 7 x 100 = 700.

Q8. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?

  • Coal
  • Petroleum
  • Solar energy
  • Natural gas
Show Answer
Answer: (c) Solar energy
Solar energy is renewable because it is continuously replenished by the sun, unlike fossil fuels.

Q9. The process by which plants make their own food is called:

  • Respiration
  • Photosynthesis
  • Transpiration
  • Digestion
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen.

Q10. Which gas is essential for human respiration?

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Helium
Show Answer
Answer: (c) Oxygen
Humans inhale oxygen for cellular respiration to release energy and exhale carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Q11. The 'language acquisition device' (LAD) was proposed by:

  • B.F. Skinner
  • Noam Chomsky
  • Jean Piaget
  • Albert Bandura
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Noam Chomsky
Chomsky proposed the LAD, an innate biological capacity that enables children to acquire language naturally.

Q12. A teacher using examples from a child's daily life to teach a concept is applying the principle of:

  • Abstract to concrete
  • Known to unknown
  • Complex to simple
  • Whole to part
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Known to unknown
Teaching from the known (familiar experiences) to the unknown helps learners connect new concepts to existing knowledge.

Q13. Intrinsic motivation refers to motivation that comes from:

  • Rewards and prizes
  • Fear of punishment
  • Within the individual
  • Peer pressure
Show Answer
Answer: (c) Within the individual
Intrinsic motivation arises from internal interest or enjoyment in a task rather than external rewards.

Q14. The full form of EVS in primary education is:

  • Environmental Studies
  • Educational Value System
  • Evening Vocational School
  • Environmental Vigilance Service
Show Answer
Answer: (a) Environmental Studies
EVS stands for Environmental Studies, an integrated subject combining science and social studies at the primary level.

Q15. Which number is divisible by both 3 and 4?

  • 14
  • 18
  • 24
  • 20
Show Answer
Answer: (c) 24
24 is divisible by 3 (24/3=8) and by 4 (24/4=6), and therefore by 12 as well.

Q16. Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) emphasises:

  • Only year-end exams
  • Both scholastic and co-scholastic development
  • Memorisation
  • Only sports activities
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Both scholastic and co-scholastic development
CCE assesses the overall development of the child, covering academics as well as life skills, attitudes and values.

Q17. The Right to Education (RTE) Act guarantees free and compulsory education to children aged:

  • 3 to 10 years
  • 6 to 14 years
  • 5 to 12 years
  • 6 to 18 years
Show Answer
Answer: (b) 6 to 14 years
The RTE Act, 2009 provides free and compulsory education to all children between 6 and 14 years of age.

Q18. A good teaching aid should be:

  • Expensive
  • Complex and decorative
  • Simple, clear and relevant
  • Used only by the teacher
Show Answer
Answer: (c) Simple, clear and relevant
Effective teaching aids are simple, accurate and relevant to the lesson, helping learners understand concepts easily.

Q19. The sum of the angles of a triangle is:

  • 90 degrees
  • 180 degrees
  • 270 degrees
  • 360 degrees
Show Answer
Answer: (b) 180 degrees
The interior angles of any triangle always add up to 180 degrees.

Q20. Bloom's Taxonomy classifies learning objectives into which three domains?

  • Physical, mental, social
  • Cognitive, affective, psychomotor
  • Verbal, written, oral
  • Easy, medium, hard
Show Answer
Answer: (b) Cognitive, affective, psychomotor
Bloom's Taxonomy divides educational objectives into cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitudes) and psychomotor (skills) domains.
Disclaimer: The above details are compiled for guidance. Eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus and cut-off may change each cycle. Always verify the latest information from the official CTET notification at ctet.nic.in before applying.

After qualifying CTET, you can apply for these central and state teaching recruitments. Explore more guides on Cosmo Classes: