CTET Selection Process 2026, Detailed Exam Procedure & Written

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi, conducts the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) twice a year to assess candidates who aspire to teach in government schools. With the CTET Exam 2026 scheduled for 8 February 2026, many candidates are eager to understand the CTET Selection Process 2026. The selection process is based solely on performance in the written examination, where candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed for their category.

Qualifying CTET confirms a candidate’s eligibility to teach Classes I to VIII, but it does not guarantee a job. Final appointments depend on separate recruitment notifications released by schools or government bodies such as KVS, NVS, and state education departments. To prepare effectively, candidates should clearly understand each stage of the selection process and ensure they meet all eligibility and qualifying criteria for CTET 2026.

CTET Selection Process

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a qualifying examination that determines a candidate’s eligibility for government teaching jobs across India. The CTET 2026 exam is scheduled for 7 and 8 February 2026 and aims to assess candidates’ teaching aptitude and subject knowledge for Classes I to VIII. To qualify, candidates from the general category must score at least 60% marks in the written exam, while reserved category candidates are required to secure a minimum of 55%.

Clearing CTET does not ensure a direct appointment. Instead, it makes candidates eligible to apply for teaching positions in institutions such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and other central and state government schools. The CTET 2026 selection process includes verification of eligibility, performance in the written examination, and compliance with recruitment rules issued by the respective appointing authorities. This structured process helps aspirants move closer to a stable and rewarding teaching career.

CTET Admit Card 2026 – Click to Download

CTET Selection Process 2026: Highlights

The CTET Selection Process 2026 is a key part of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at the national level. CTET is held twice a year in offline mode. Candidates can attempt the exam in either English or Hindi, making it accessible to a wide range of aspirants.

One of the biggest advantages of qualifying CTET is that the certificate is valid for a lifetime. All official notifications, updates, and exam-related details are released on the CBSE CTET website, ctet.nic.in. To help candidates understand the process clearly, we have shared all important facts related to the CTET Selection Process 2026 in the table below.

CTET Notification 2026 OUT – Click to Check

CTET Selection Process 2026

Here, some general rules to be eligible for the CTET Exam are listed below.

• Candidates have to qualify CTET written exam.
• To qualify for the written exam, candidates should score a minimum of 60% or above.
• Candidates must also meet the minimum eligibility criteria on the basis of qualifying the CTET paper.
• Persons belonging to SC/ST, OBC, differently-abled persons, etc. may get concessions from some schools as per their reservation policy.
• Candidates have to go through the complete selection procedure of the govt authority which conducts the written examination for the respective teaching posts
• Candidates who do not qualify for the CTET exam can appear for it again as many times as they want

Steps For CTET Selection Process

Candidates need to understand the CTET Selection Process sequence-wise. Here we are sharing the steps to crack the CTET Exam 2026 given below.

• Fill out the Application Form: First, candidates need to fill out the CTET Online Application Form from the official website.  Candidates can apply for CTET Paper 1 or Paper 2 or both paper
• Correction In Application Form: CBSE has opened the CTET Online Application form correction window for a short span of time. During this window, the candidate may review their form and make required changes in the application form
• CTET Admit Card: After completing the CTET Form Filling Process, CBSE has released the CTET Admit Card. Candidates can download the CTET admit card from the official website of the exam (ctet.nic.in) by using their application number and password/date of birth.
• CTET Answer Key:  After concluding the CTET Exam, CBSE released the CTET Provisional Answer Key and also opened the CTET Answer Correction window. CBSE releases answer keys in two phases – provisional and final.
• CTET Result:  CTET result is declared on the official website – ctet.nic.in. Candidates can check their results by using their roll number for the exam.
• CTET Score Card: The CTET mark sheet or CTET Certificate is issued to all candidates who appear for the exam in the Digi locker platform. The CTET certificate is now valid for a lifetime

CTET 2026 Certificate Validity

• The validity of the CTET qualifying certificate has been extended from seven years to a lifetime for all categories.
• There is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can make to acquire a CTET certificate.
• The already qualified candidates may appear again to improve their scores.

CTET 2026 Exam Structure

 There are two papers for CTET i.e Paper 1 and Paper 2.

• Paper 1 is meant to recruit the teachers for classes from 1st to 5^th.
• Paper 2 is meant to recruit the teachers for classes 6^th to 8^th.
• All questions asked in the CTET exam are Multiple Choice Questions(MCQ) with four alternatives out of which one answer is most appropriate.
• Each question carries 1 mark.
• There is no negative marking in CTET Exam.
• There is a total of 150 questions.
• These 150 questions are divided into 5 sections. (Child pedagogy, Language 1, Language 2, Pedagogy 1, Pedagogy 2)
• Each section consists of 30 questions.
• All the sections are mandatory.
• The time allotted to attempt 150 questions is 2hr 30 minutes.

Note: A person who intends to be a teacher for both the levels (classes 1^st to 5^th and classes 6^th to 8^th) will have to appear for both papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2).

CTET 2026 Exam Structure For Paper 1

The CTET 2026 Paper 1 is designed for candidates aspiring to teach Classes 1 to 5. While the questions are framed based on the NCERT syllabus for Classes 1 to 5, their difficulty level may extend to the secondary stage. The paper comprises 150 questions distributed across five sections, with each question carrying one mark, totalling 150 marks. Candidates are given 150 minutes to complete the exam.

The subjects include: Child Development and Pedagogy (30 marks), focusing on understanding diverse learners, child psychology, and effective facilitation; Language I and II (30 marks each), evaluating language proficiency, communication, and pedagogical understanding; Mathematics (30 marks), emphasizing problem-solving, conceptual clarity, and pedagogy; and Environmental Studies (30 marks), which assesses awareness of human-environment interactions and real-world application. Each section tests both subject knowledge and pedagogical approach, ensuring candidates are well-prepared for foundational teaching roles.

CTET Previous Year Question Paper

CTET 2026 Exam Structure for Paper 2

The CTET 2026 Paper 2 is tailored for candidates aspiring to teach Classes 6 to 8. The questions are drawn from the NCERT syllabus for Classes 6 to 8, though the difficulty level may reach up to the senior secondary stage. The paper comprises 150 questions, each carrying one mark, totaling 150 marks, with a duration of 150 minutes.

It includes the following sections: Child Development and Pedagogy (30 marks), focusing on understanding diverse learners, child psychology, and teaching methodologies; Language I and Language II (30 marks each), assessing proficiency in the medium of instruction, communication skills, and pedagogical understanding; and Mathematics and Science or Social Studies and Social Science (60 marks), emphasizing conceptual clarity, problem-solving, and subject-specific pedagogy. This structure ensures a comprehensive evaluation of both subject knowledge and teaching aptitude.

(A candidate may choose any one language as Language 1 and another as Language 2 from the available language options and will be required to specify the same in the Confirmation Page. Language 2 will be a language other than Language 1)

Language of the CTET Question Paper

The language for the question paper for the CTET Exam is bilingual (two languages). Each question is given in two languages. CTET Exam. The CTET Exam has held in the following Languages: So, we providing other languages CTET Previous Year Question Papers:

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