CTET & State TET Exam Guide

What is CTET and why does it exist?

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level eligibility test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to assess whether a candidate has the knowledge, aptitude and ability required to teach in school. It is a qualification — not a direct appointment — that a candidate must hold before being considered for a teaching post in centrally administered schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NV), as well as many other schools that recognise the certificate.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE Act) made it mandatory for all states and Union Territories to set a minimum standard for teacher recruitment, leading to CTET at the central level and equivalent State TETs at the state level.

Paper I versus Paper II

CTET has two separate papers, each targeting a different school level. A candidate may appear for one or both depending on the class level they wish to teach.

• Paper I — for teaching Classes 1 to 5 (primary level)
• Paper II — for teaching Classes 6 to 8 (upper primary level)
• Candidates who wish to teach both levels must qualify both papers

Eligibility at a glance

Eligibility for each paper is governed by norms set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). In broad terms, Paper I requires a Senior Secondary qualification combined with a recognised teacher-education diploma or degree in elementary education, while Paper II typically requires a graduate qualification combined with a B.Ed degree or an equivalent NCTE-recognised teacher-education qualification.

Exact percentage requirements, recognised diploma/degree titles, and any relaxations for reserved categories are specified in the official CTET notification each cycle. Always verify the current eligibility criteria on ctet.nic.in before applying, as these norms can be updated.

State TETs and how they differ

Every state and Union Territory conducts its own State Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for recruitment to government schools under state jurisdiction. State TETs are typically conducted by the respective State Board of Education or the state government's designated body.

The key practical difference: CTET is valid for centrally administered schools nationwide, whereas a State TET generally qualifies you only for government school posts within that state. Many states require candidates to hold a valid State TET in addition to or instead of CTET for state-government-school posts. If you are targeting a specific state, check whether CTET alone is accepted or whether the state's own TET is required.

Exam day — what to expect

CTET is conducted in offline, pen-and-paper mode using OMR sheets. Each paper consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I and II, and subject-specific content. The exam is typically held across multiple cities on the same day.

Admit cards, centre details, and the official information bulletin — which carries the complete and authoritative eligibility criteria, syllabus, marking scheme and important dates — are published on ctet.nic.in. Since exam-specific details (dates, centre allocation, exact question distribution) are set afresh each cycle, always refer to the current official notification.