CTET is a national level entrance test that is conducted twice a year. The full form of CTET is Central Teacher Eligibility Test. The Central Board of Secondary Education is the authority that organizes the exam. It is an offline mode exam that is conducted for recruiting eligible teachers in government schools. CTET consists of two papers – Paper 1 (From Class I to V) and Paper 2 (From Class VI to VIII).
The CTET Paper 1 comprises 5 subjects & Paper 2 comprises 4 subjects.
Both the papers are 150 minutes in duration and consist of 150 Questions.
CTET 2021 Exam is scheduled on 31st Jan 2021 (Sunday). This article will offer complete guidance regarding this exam if you want to apply for the same in future.
CTET: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Books & Cutoffs
The complete CTET exam guide is mentioned here. If you want to be a teacher with any Government Schools then this exam guide will help you. Mentioned below is the CTET exam pattern, scroll down to know more about it.
CTET Paper 1 & 2 Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Paper 1 (Class I to V) | Paper 2 (Class VI to VIII) |
| Mode of the exam | Offline | Offline |
| Total number of subjects | 5 | 4 |
| Subjects Name | 1. Child Development and Pedagogy 2. Language- I 3. Language- II 4. Environmental Studies. 5. Mathematics | 1. Child Development and Pedagogy. 2. Language- I. 3. Language- II 4. Mathematics and Science, or Social Science/ Social Studies. |
| Time Duration | 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) | 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) |
| Total Number of Questions | 150 | 150 |
| Total Marks | 150 | 150 |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct answer 0 for a negative answer | +1 for every correct answer 0 for a negative answer |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking | No negative marking |
| Languages | English and Hindi | English and Hindi |
CTET Paper 1 (Class I to V) Primary Stage
CTET Paper 1 consists of five papers: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language – I, Language – II, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies. The duration of the exam is 2 hours 30 minutes. It is an offline i.e pen-paper based exam. The marks distribution for Paper 1 is mentioned in the below table:
| Subjects | Maximum Marks | Number of Question |
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language- I | 30 | 30 |
| Language- II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 Marks | 150 Questions |
CTET Paper 2 (Class VI to VIII) Elementary Stage:
CTET Paper 2 consists of four papers: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language-I (Compulsory), Language-II (Compulsory), Mathematics and Science, Social Science or Social Studies.
| Subjects | Maximum Marks | Number of Question |
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language – I (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Language – II (Compulsory) | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science (For Mathematics and Science Teacher) or Social Science / Social Studies (For Social Science and Social Studies Teacher) | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 Marks | 150 Questions |
CTET Syllabus 2021:
The syllabus for CTET 2021 for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are mentioned in the below table:
Paper 1:
| Sections | Sub-Topics |
| Child Development and Pedagogy (Total 30 Questions) | Child Development (15 questions)Concept of Inclusive Education and understanding of Children with special needs (5 questions)Pedagogy and Learning (10 questions) |
| Language- I (Total 30 Questions) | Language Comprehension- Two passages with one drama or prose and one poem with questions from inference, grammar, verbal ability, comprehension (15 questions)Pedagogy of Development of Language (15 questions) |
| Language- II (Total 30 Questions) | Language Comprehension- Two unseen prose passages with questions from grammar, comprehension, and verbal ability (15 questions)Pedagogy of Development of Language (15 questions) |
| Mathematics (Total 30 Questions) | Maths Content- Geometry, Numbers, Weight, Time, Multiplication, Subtraction and Addition, Volume, Patterns, Money, Data Handling, Measurement (15 questions)Pedagogical Issues- Logical thinking/ Nature of Mathematics, Mathematics Language, Community Mathematics, Evaluation. Problems of Teaching, Remedial and Diagnostic Teaching, Error analysis (15 questions) |
| Environmental Studies (Total 30 Questions) | Environmental Studies Content- Friends and Family, Food, Shelter, Water, Travel (15 questions)Pedagogical Issues- Scope and Concept of Environmental Studies, Significance of Environmental Studies, Relation and Scope of Science and Social Science, Environmental Education and Environmental Studies, Principles of Learning, Activities, Fieldwork (15 questions) |
Paper 2:
| Sections | Sub- Topics |
| Child Development and Pedagogy (Total 30 Questions) | Child Development (Elementary School Child) (15 questions)Concept of Inclusive Education and understanding of Children with special needs (5 questions)Pedagogy and Learning (10 questions) |
| Language- I (Compulsory) Total 30 Questions | Language Comprehension- Two passages with one drama or prose and one poem with questions from inference, grammar, verbal ability, comprehension (15 questions)Pedagogy of Development of Language (15 questions) |
| Language- II (Compulsory) Total 30 Questions | Comprehension- Two unseen prose passages with questions from grammar, comprehension, and verbal ability (15 questions)Pedagogy of Development of Language (15 questions) |
| Mathematics and Science (Total 60 questions) | Mathematics Content: Number System, Algebra, Geometry (20 questions)Pedagogical Issues- Logical thinking/ Nature of Mathematics, Mathematics Language, Community Mathematics, Evaluation, Problem of Teaching, Remedial Teaching (10 questions) |
| Science Content: Materials, Food, World of Living, Natural Resources, Natural Phenomena. (20 questions)Pedagogical issues- Structure and Nature of Science, Aims, and Objectives of Natural Science, Appreciating and Understanding Science, Integrated Approaches, Method of Science, Innovation, Cognitive or affective Evaluation, Remedial Teaching (10 questions) | |
| Social Studies/ Social Science (Total 60 questions) | Social Content: History, Geography, Social and Political Life (40 questions)Pedagogical issues- Nature and Concept of Social Studies / Social Science, Classroom Activities, Processes, and discourse, Empirical or Inquiry Evidence, Developing Critical thinking, Primary and Secondary Sources, Project Work, Evaluation (20 questions) |
CTET Best Books for 2021:
The name of the best book for preparation are mentioned in the below table along with the name of the authors:
Recommended Book For Paper 1: (Class I to V)
| Name of the Books | Name of the Authors |
| CTET Paper 1 Success Master | Arihant Publication |
| CTET and TETs “Child Development and Pedagogy” (Paper 1 and II) | Arihant Publication |
| English Language and Pedagogy (Paper I and II) | Arihant Publication |
| A Complete Resource for CTET: Language and Pedagogy (Paper I) | Pearson Publication, Geeta Sahni |
| Environmental Studies and Pedagogy | Arihant Experts for Environmental Studies |
Recommended Book For Paper 2: (Class VI to VIII)
| Name of the Book | Name of the Authors |
| CTET and TETs “Child Development and Pedagogy” (Paper 1 and II) | Arihant Publication |
| English Language and Pedagogy (Paper I and II) | Arihant Publication |
| CTET Paper 2 Success Master (Social Studies/ Social Science) | Arihant Publication |
| Success Master for CTET Maths and Science, Paper-II | Arihant Publication |
| Previous Year Papers for CTET and TETs (2011-2018) | Arihant Publication |
CTET Cut Off: Previous Year’s Cutoffs
The cutoff for Central Teacher Eligibility Test is released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) after the declaration of its result. The CTET cut-off is the minimum marks required to qualify for the exam. The expected cutoffs are given in the below table:
| Category | Cut-Offs |
| General Category | 87-90 |
| Other Backward Class (OBC) | 82-87 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 78-83 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 78-83 |
The cutoff for 2019 is mentioned in the below table:
| Category | Cutoffs |
| General Category | 90 |
| Other Backward Class (OBC) | 82.5 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 82.5 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 82.5 |
Through this article, the candidates will get to know the complete exam guide i.e. the exam pattern, syllabus, best book for preparation, previous and expected cut-off marks for Central Teacher Eligibility Test. While we wish all the luck to the ones who will be appearing for the exam on 31st January 2021.
