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Teaching Exams Syllabus 2026: CTET, REET, TET & Teacher Recruitment

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Teaching Exams Syllabus and Exam Scheme 2026 — Original Acadvik Guide

Teaching recruitment includes eligibility tests such as CTET and State TET/REET, as well as separate teacher recruitment examinations for PRT, TGT, PGT and state-government posts. A Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) certificate and a recruitment examination are not always the same thing: qualifying CTET/REET may establish eligibility, while an employer can conduct a separate selection process under its own rules.

Important: paper structure, qualifying marks, language options, subject choices, eligibility and validity rules depend on the latest bulletin and recruitment notification. This page is an original syllabus guide; always verify details with CBSE/CTET, the relevant state board/commission and the recruiting employer.

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1. Main teaching examinations

Exam / recruitment Purpose Typical structure Candidate should verify
CTET Central Teacher Eligibility Test for eligibility for teaching roles covered by applicable rules Paper I (Classes I–V) and Paper II (Classes VI–VIII); candidates may take one or both as eligible Current information bulletin, paper choice, qualifying requirements and eligibility.
REET / Rajasthan TET and other State TETs State-level teacher eligibility for specified school levels Usually separate papers for primary and upper-primary levels State syllabus, language choices, qualifying criteria and certificate rules.
PRT recruitment Primary teacher appointment Recruitment exam and/or selection process prescribed by employer; may use TET eligibility Recruitment-specific syllabus, weightage, interview/demo if any.
TGT recruitment Trained Graduate Teacher for specified school subjects/levels Often subject knowledge plus pedagogy/general sections, as notified Graduation/teacher-training requirements and subject combination.
PGT recruitment Post Graduate Teacher for senior classes Often postgraduate subject knowledge plus teaching aptitude/general sections Postgraduate subject, B.Ed./equivalent and employer-specific rules.
KVS/NVS/DSSSB/state teacher recruitment Posts advertised by the respective employer Recruitment-specific CBT/written exam, followed by stages if prescribed Each employer’s notification; never assume the CTET pattern is the recruitment pattern.

2. CTET exam scheme

CTET has two papers. Paper I is designed for candidates seeking eligibility to teach Classes I–V; Paper II is for Classes VI–VIII. A candidate seeking eligibility for both levels must follow the bulletin’s instructions for appearing in both papers.

Paper Sections Questions Marks Duration
Paper I Child Development & Pedagogy (30), Language I (30), Language II (30), Mathematics (30), Environmental Studies (30) 150 150 2 hours 30 minutes
Paper II Child Development & Pedagogy (30), Language I (30), Language II (30), Mathematics & Science (60) OR Social Studies/Social Science (60) 150 150 2 hours 30 minutes

CTET questions are objective multiple-choice questions. Under the standard CTET scheme, each correct answer earns one mark and there is no negative marking. Candidates should confirm any updated instructions in the current information bulletin. CTET is an eligibility test, not by itself a job appointment or guarantee of selection.

3. Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP)

Child development

  • Concepts of growth and development; principles and stages of child development.
  • Influence of heredity and environment; socialisation and the role of family, peers, school and community.
  • Developmental domains: physical, cognitive, language, emotional and social development.
  • Major perspectives on learning and development; individual differences, intelligence, creativity and learner diversity.
  • Child-centred and progressive education; activity-based and experiential learning.

Inclusive education and special needs

  • Understanding diverse learners and individual learning needs.
  • Children from disadvantaged backgrounds and barriers to participation.
  • Learning difficulties and disabilities; inclusive classroom strategies and appropriate support.
  • Gender, stereotypes, equity and classroom inclusion.

Learning and pedagogy

  • How children think and learn; prior knowledge, misconceptions and conceptual change.
  • Motivation, attention, memory, reasoning and problem-solving.
  • Constructivist learning, classroom interaction and the teacher as facilitator.
  • Assessment for learning versus assessment of learning; diagnostic and formative assessment.
  • Questioning, feedback, remediation, lesson planning and evaluating learning outcomes.

How to prepare: connect each theory to a classroom example. For scenario questions, ask what supports understanding, participation, dignity and independent thinking rather than rote memorisation alone.

4. Language I and Language II

CTET language sections assess comprehension and pedagogical understanding of language learning. Language I is generally the language chosen to focus on proficiency and teaching; Language II must be different from Language I under the bulletin’s rules. The available language options and selection instructions should be checked in the current notice.

  • Reading comprehension: prose/drama and unseen passages, main idea, inference, vocabulary and grammar in context.
  • Language acquisition and learning; principles of language teaching and learning difficulties.
  • Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and their development.
  • Role of grammar in communication and language learning.
  • Teaching materials, multilingual classrooms, remedial teaching and assessment of language proficiency.

5. Paper I: Mathematics and Environmental Studies

Mathematics

  • Primary-level content: numbers, addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, geometry, shapes, spatial understanding, measurement, weight, time, volume, data handling, patterns and money.
  • Mathematics pedagogy: nature of mathematics, logical thinking, children’s strategies and errors, language of mathematics, curriculum, problem-solving and assessment.
  • Teaching methods: concrete materials, activities, examples, diagnostic teaching and remediation.

Environmental Studies (EVS)

  • Family and friends; relationships, work and play, animals and plants.
  • Food, shelter, water, travel and everyday materials.
  • Local surroundings, health and hygiene, resources and the environment.
  • EVS pedagogy: integrated learning, observation, field visits, discussion, experiments, teaching aids and assessment.

CTET questions often connect content to how a primary-school child understands it. Practise both factual concepts and pedagogy-based classroom situations.

6. Paper II: Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science

Mathematics for upper-primary classes

  • Number system, integers, fractions, decimals, rational numbers and basic operations.
  • Ratio/proportion, percentages and arithmetic applications.
  • Algebra, expressions, simple equations and patterns.
  • Geometry: lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles and symmetry.
  • Mensuration: perimeter, area and volume at the prescribed level.
  • Data handling, graphs and probability concepts where included.
  • Pedagogy: reasoning, mathematical communication, error analysis, problem-solving and assessment.

Science for upper-primary classes

  • Food and nutrition, materials, separation of substances and changes around us.
  • Plants and animals, living organisms, human body, health and disease.
  • Motion, force, work/energy, light, sound, electricity and magnets at the prescribed level.
  • Natural resources, air, water, environment and conservation.
  • Science pedagogy: observation, experimentation, inquiry, laboratory/activity work, scientific attitude and assessment.

Social Studies / Social Science

  • History: early societies, kingdoms and empires, social change, cultural developments, colonialism, the freedom movement and post-independence themes at the prescribed level.
  • Geography: earth and solar system, globe/maps, environment, natural resources, agriculture, settlements, human environment and India/world geography.
  • Social and political life: diversity, government, democracy, local government, Constitution, rights, justice, livelihoods and public institutions.
  • Pedagogy: inquiry, source-based learning, maps, timelines, discussion, critical thinking and assessment.

Always map the final topic list to the official bulletin’s content and pedagogy sections. These subject summaries are a study scaffold, not a verbatim reproduction of every official subheading.

7. REET and other State TET examinations

State TETs often follow a two-paper framework similar to CTET, but states can add regional language, state-specific pedagogy, local curriculum, state GK or other components. Rajasthan candidates should separately check the current REET/State TET notice and the recruitment notification for the actual teacher post.

  • Paper I: CDP, language sections, Mathematics and EVS for primary-level eligibility as specified.
  • Paper II: CDP, language sections and Mathematics/Science or Social Studies for upper-primary eligibility as specified.
  • State-specific content: state language, state history/geography/culture or curriculum-related topics where the official notice prescribes them.
  • Qualifying marks, category concessions, certificate validity and whether TET marks are used in recruitment are determined by the applicable rules.

8. PRT, TGT, PGT and school recruitment examinations

Recruitment exams are not identical to CTET. Depending on the employer and post, they may test subject knowledge, pedagogy, general awareness, reasoning, language, computer knowledge or teaching aptitude. Some recruitment processes may include an interview, demo lesson, skill test or document/eligibility screening; others may not.

PRT

  • Primary-level subject foundations: language, mathematics and EVS.
  • Child development, inclusive education, classroom management and primary pedagogy.
  • Basic educational psychology, assessment and learning outcomes.

TGT

  • Deep knowledge of the advertised school subject at the required graduation level.
  • Subject pedagogy, lesson planning, curriculum, assessment and classroom application.
  • General sections such as reasoning, language or awareness only where the notification includes them.

PGT

  • Subject knowledge at the required postgraduate level.
  • Advanced concepts, application, subject-specific pedagogy and curriculum understanding.
  • General/teaching aptitude sections and interview/demo only where prescribed.

9. Ten-week preparation plan

Weeks Focus Checkpoint
1–2 Choose target paper/post; read bulletin; build CDP and language foundations. Exact syllabus checklist.
3–4 Complete core subject content and pedagogy topics; practise basic MCQs. Topic-wise accuracy record.
5–6 Classroom-scenario questions, inclusion, assessment, language pedagogy and subject practice. First full paper and error log.
7–8 Previous-year-style questions and timed mock papers; revise weak topics. Improving accuracy and completion rate.
9–10 Full mocks, revision cards, official notice check and recruitment-specific preparation. Final readiness checklist.

10. Official resources and Acadvik links

FAQs

Is CTET a teacher recruitment examination?

CTET is an eligibility test. Passing it does not by itself guarantee appointment; candidates must meet recruitment-specific eligibility and selection rules.

Can one CTET paper qualify me for both primary and upper-primary levels?

Paper I relates to Classes I–V and Paper II to Classes VI–VIII. Candidates seeking eligibility for both levels should follow the bulletin’s instructions for taking both papers.

Is REET exactly the same as CTET?

No. The broad pedagogical framework can overlap, but state TETs may differ in syllabus, language options, state-specific content, qualifying rules and certificate provisions.

Is the TGT/PGT syllabus the same as the TET syllabus?

No. A TET tests eligibility and pedagogy at its specified level. Recruitment exams may test deeper subject knowledge and employer-specific components.

Final note: use this page as a structured, original study map. The current official bulletin or recruitment advertisement determines the exact syllabus, question distribution, eligibility, qualifying standards and selection process.