CTET Exam Pattern 2026: Detailed Paper-Wise Structure, Marking Scheme & PDF Download
CTET Exam Pattern 2026 has now been released along with the notification. Know the latest paper-wise pattern, marking scheme, and subjects, and download the official CTET Exam Pattern 2026 PDF.
Abhishek Kumar28 Nov, 2025
Share
CTET Exam Pattern 2026: The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 notification is now available on the official website. Candidates who are interested can submit their applications online from November 27, 2026, to December 18, 2026. The CTET exam for 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026. The exam is conducted by CBSE twice a year to check the eligibility of candidates for teaching jobs in government schools. It has two papers – Paper 1 for Primary Teachers (Classes 1 to 5) and Paper 2 for Elementary Teachers (Classes 6 to 8).
Paper 1 includes subjects like Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies. Each section has 30 questions, making a total of 150 marks. Paper 2 covers subjects like Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics & Science, or Social Studies.
CTET Exam Pattern 2026
There are two papers in the 2026 CTET exam pattern: Paper 1 for Classes 1–5 and Paper 2 for Classes 6–8. There are 150 multiple-choice questions on both exams, and there is no negative marking. Every paper is of 150 marks and is completed in a single shift. Candidates who seek to apply for teacher recruitment at central government institutions, such KVS and NVS, for Classes 1 through 8 must meet this criteria.
CTET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) released the CTET Exam Pattern 2026 along with the CTET 2026 Notification on 27th November 2025. Here is an overview of the CTET Exam Pattern.
| CTET Exam Pattern 2026 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam Name | CTET 2026 February |
| Post Category | CTET Exam Pattern 2026 |
| Status | Released |
| CTET Notification 2026 | 27th November 2026 |
| CTET Exam Date 2026 | 8th February 2026 |
| Duration | 2.5 hours (for each paper) |
| Type Of Questions | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs |
| Maximum Marks | 150 marks (for each paper) |
| Negative Marking | There is no negative marking. |
| Language | Bilingual (Hindi/English) |
| Official Website | ctet.nic.in |
CTET Exam Pattern 2026 PDF
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the 21st Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) on July 6, 2026 (tentative). The CTET Notification and Application Form were released on 27th November 2025 at ctet.nic.in, along with the CTET Exam Pattern 2026. CTET is held twice a year for candidates aspiring to become teachers. The exam consists of two papers—Paper 1 for Primary Level (Classes 1–5) and Paper 2 for Elementary Level (Classes 6–8).
Candidates can download the CTET Exam Pattern 2026 PDF from the official website to understand the structure, subjects, and marking scheme. The direct link to the exam pattern PDF will be provided below once available.
CTET Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 1
The CTET Paper 1 exam is for candidates who want to become teachers for Classes 1 to 5. It includes five sections covering child development, languages, mathematics, and environmental studies. Below is the detailed exam pattern for CTET Paper 1.
| CTET Exam Pattern for Paper 1 | ||||
| Sections | Topics | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Child Development and Pedagogy |
|
30 | 30 | 2.5 Hours |
| Language I (compulsory) |
|
30 | 30 | |
| Language II (compulsory) |
|
30 | 30 | |
| Mathematics |
|
30 | 30 | |
| Environmental Studies |
|
30 | 30 | |
| Total | 150 | 150 | ||
CTET Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 2
The CTET Exam Pattern Paper 2 consists of four sections. Candidates must select either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies. The total number of questions and the distribution of marks for Paper II are as follows:
| CTET Exam Pattern for Paper 2 | ||||
| Sections | Topics | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Child Development and Pedagogy |
|
30 | 30 | 2.5 Hours |
| Language I (compulsory) |
|
30 | 30 | |
| Language II (compulsory) |
|
30 | 30 | |
| Mathematics, Science OR Social Science |
|
60 | 60 | |
| Total | 150 | 150 | ||
CTET 2026 Marking Scheme
Candidates should know the marking scheme before appearing for the CTET 2026 Exam. It helps them understand how marks are given for correct and incorrect answers. The detailed marking scheme is given below.
| CTET Marking Scheme | |
| Total Marks | 150 marks for each paper. |
| Correct Answers | Candidates will receive one mark for each correct answer. |
| Incorrect Answers | There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. |
| Unattempted Questions | There is no penalty for unattempted questions. |
CTET 2026 Languages
CTET 2026 will be conducted in multiple languages across India. Candidates can choose their preferred language while filling out the application form. The list of available languages with their code numbers is given below.
| CTET 2026 Languages | |||
| CTET Language | Code Number | CTET Language | Code Number |
| English | 1 | Kannada | 11 |
| Hindi | 2 | Khasi | 12 |
| Assamese | 3 | Malayalam | 13 |
| Bengali | 4 | Manipuri | 14 |
| Garo | 5 | Punjabi | 15 |
| Gujarati | 6 | Sanskrit | 16 |
| Kannada | 7 | Tamil | 17 |
| Khasi | 8 | Telugu | 18 |
| Malayalam | 9 | Tibetan | 19 |
| Manipuri | 10 | Urdu | 20 |