CTET Syllabus 2026: Official Paper 1 & Paper 2 Syllabus PDF Download

The CTET examination is structured into two primary papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is designed for candidates aiming to teach Classes 1 to 5, while Paper 2 is tailored for those aspiring to teach Classes 6 to 8. As one of the most competitive teacher eligibility tests in India, cracking the exam requires a strategic approach. To maximize your chances of success, it is essential to master the detailed CTET syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme. 

CTET Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

To score well in the CTET 2026, scheduled for 6th September 2026, a disciplined preparation strategy is vital. Aligning your study plan with the official CTET Syllabus 2026 is the foundational step toward success. This guide provides comprehensive coverage of the syllabus for both Papers 1 and 2 of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). 

Parameters	Paper 1	Paper 2
Subjects	Child Development and Pedagogy Language-I Language-II Mathematics Environmental Studies	Child Development and Pedagogy Language-I Language-II Mathematics and Science / Social Studies & Social Science
Questions	150	150
Maximum Marks	150	150
Exam Duration	2.5 hours	2.5 hours
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions
Mode of Exam	Offline (OMR-Based)
Marking Scheme	1 mark for each correct answer
Negative Marking	No negative marking for wrong answers

CTET Exam Syllabus 2026

Before diving into the curriculum, candidates should carefully review the official CTET Exam Pattern. Understanding the structure of the test allows you to prioritize high-weightage topics and optimize your study schedule for better results.

• CTET will be conducted in two phases: Paper 1 for Classes 1 to 5 and Paper 2 for Classes 6 to 8.
• There will be 150 MCQs in each paper.
• There will be no negative marking for any incorrect answers.
• For Paper I, the difficulty level will be of the second stage and for Paper II, the difficulty level will be of the senior secondary stage.
• CTET Paper-1 is divided into 5 sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I & II, Mathematics and Environmental Science.
• CTET Paper-2 is divided into four sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I & II, Mathematics/Science, and Social Studies. Students will have the choice between Maths/Science and Social Studies.

Aspiring educators who wish to teach both primary (Classes 1-5) and upper primary (Classes 6-8) levels can appear for both papers in a single cycle. Both exams are conducted on the same day in separate shifts. Explore the detailed subject-wise syllabus below. 

CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026

The CTET Paper I evaluates candidates across five core areas: Language I, Language II, Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies. Here is the comprehensive CTET Syllabus 2026 for the Primary Stage (Classes I-V):

1. Child Development and Pedagogy Syllabus

a) Child Development (Primary School Child): 15 Questions

1. Concept of development and its relationship with learning
2. Principles of the development of children
3. Influence of Heredity & Environment
4. Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
5. Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
6. Concepts of child-centred and progressive education
7. Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence
8. Multi-Dimensional Intelligence
9. Language & Thought
10. Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice
11. Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc.
12. The distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
13. Formulating appropriate questions for assessing readiness levels of learners; for enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and for assessing learner achievement.

b) Concept of Inclusive education and understanding children with special needs: 5 Questions

1. Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds including disadvantaged and deprived
2. Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, ‘impairment’ etc.
3. Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specially abled Learners

c) Learning and Pedagogy: 10 Questions

1. How children think and learn; how and why children ‘fail’ to achieve success in school performance.
2. Basic processes of teaching and learning; children’s strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning.
3. Child as a problem solver and a ‘scientific investigator’
4. Alternative conceptions of learning in children, understanding children’s ‘errors’ as significant steps in the learning process.
5. Cognition & Emotions
6. Motivation and learning
7. Factors contributing to learning - personal & environmental

2. Mathematics Syllabus (30 Questions)

a) Content: 15 Questions

1. Geometry
2. Shapes & Spatial Understanding
3. Solids around Us
4. Numbers
5. Addition and Subtraction
6. Multiplication
7. Division
8. Measurement
9. Weight
10. Time
11. Volume
12. Data Handling
13. Patterns
14. Money

b) Pedagogical issues: 15 Questions

Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking; understanding children’s cognitive patterns, reasoning abilities, and strategies for conceptual learning.

1. Place of Mathematics in Curriculum
2. Language of Mathematics
3. Community Mathematics
4. Valuation through formal and informal methods
5. Problems of Teaching
6. Error analysis and related aspects of learning and teaching
7. Diagnostic and Remedial Teaching

3. Environmental Studies Syllabus  (30 Questions)

a) Content: 15 Questions

I. Family and Friends:

• Relationships
• Work and Play
• Animals
• Plants

II. Food
III. Shelter
IV. Water
V. Travel
VI. Things We Make and Do

b) Pedagogical Issues: 15 Questions

1. Concept and scope of EVS
2. Significance of EVS, integrated EVS
3. Environmental Studies & Environmental Education
4. Learning Principles
5. Scope & relation to Science & Social Science
6. Approaches of presenting concepts
7. Activities
8. Experimentation/Practical Work
9. Discussion
10. CCE
11. Teaching material/Aids
12. Problems

4. Language I Syllabus (30 Questions)

a) Language Comprehension: 15 Questions

Includes two unseen passages (one prose/drama and one poem) featuring questions on comprehension, grammar, and verbal ability (Prose passages may be literary, scientific, narrative, or discursive).

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

1. Learning and acquisition
2. Principles of language Teaching
3. Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
4. A critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form
5. Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
6. Language Skills
7. Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
8. Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom

5. Language 2 Syllabus (30 Questions)

a) Comprehension: 15 Questions

Two unseen prose passages (discursive, literary, narrative, or scientific) assessing comprehension, grammar, and linguistic proficiency.

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

Note: The syllabus for the 'Pedagogy of Language Development' section remains identical for both selected languages.

Language 2 must be different from Language 1. Candidates choose two languages from the list of 20 available options. You cannot select the same language for both categories.

 

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026

The CTET Paper 2 syllabus outlines the subject-specific topics required for the upper primary level. A thorough grasp of the CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 is essential for competitive success. Below are the details categorized by subject. 

 

 

Note: In CTET Paper 2, Mathematics & Science combined contain 60 questions, while Social Studies accounts for 60 questions separately. Candidates must choose between the Mathematics/Science stream or the Social Studies stream.

CTET Syllabus PDF

To further assist your preparation, we have provided a link to the complete CTET Syllabus PDF, covering every topic essential for the CTET 2026 examination. 

Papers	Download PDF
Paper 1	Syllabus PDF
Paper 2	Syllabus PDF

Minimum Qualifying Marks

Category	Pass %	Passing MArks
General	60%	90/150
SC/ST/OBC/PwD	55%	82/150