The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is run by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and is the eligibility test for teachers in central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas. Paper 1 is for primary teachers (Classes 1–5). It is a qualifying test, not a recruitment exam: passing it makes you eligible to apply for teaching posts.
ExamForge has 60 free, timed sets for Paper 1. Ten are full 150-question mock tests, and the rest are 30-question sets for each of the five sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I (Hindi), Language II (English), Mathematics and Environmental Studies. Every question is in English and Hindi, and each one comes with an explanation after you submit. Your first three sets need no signup.
Build your basics with the section sets first, starting with Child Development and Pedagogy because it is the heart of the paper. Then take full mock tests: they give you 150 minutes for 150 questions, the same as the real paper, and like CTET they do not deduct marks for wrong answers.
Exam pattern
Paper 1 is a single objective paper of 150 multiple-choice questions, one mark each, with 2 hours 30 minutes for the whole paper. All five sections are compulsory and carry 30 questions each.
CTET Paper 1 sections for Classes 1–5 teachers
Section
Subject
Questions
Marks
I
Child Development and Pedagogy
30
30
II
Language I
30
30
III
Language II
30
30
IV
Mathematics
30
30
V
Environmental Studies
30
30
Total
2 hours 30 minutes for the whole paper
150
150
Marking scheme
Marks per response
Response
Marks
Correct answer
+1
Wrong answer
0
Not attempted
0
Language I and Language II must be different languages, chosen from the languages CBSE offers. Mathematics and Environmental Studies each mix content questions with questions on how to teach the subject. Check the information bulletin on ctet.nic.in for the current cycle.
Syllabus
Content questions are set at the Class 1–5 level, but a large share of every section tests teaching: how young children learn, and how to teach and assess each subject. ExamForge’s six subjects map to the sections below.
Child Development and Pedagogy
The educational psychology of teaching and learning for children aged 6 to 11.
Principles of development, heredity and environment
Socialisation, and Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky
Child-centred and progressive education
Intelligence, language and thought, gender and individual differences
Inclusive education, learning difficulties and children with special needs
Assessment for learning and continuous and comprehensive evaluation
How children think and learn, motivation and the role of the teacher
The main conditions for Paper 1, in short. The CTET information bulletin lists every accepted combination.
Qualification
Senior Secondary (Class 12) with at least 50% marks and a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education or a four-year B.El.Ed., or graduation with a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education. Candidates in the final year of their course can also apply. Recent bulletins do not accept a B.Ed. for Paper 1, so check the current bulletin.
Age
CTET sets no upper age limit. Age limits for jobs are set by each employer.
Attempts
There is no limit on the number of attempts, and you can sit again to improve your score.
Selection process
How the final merit is decided
Pass mark
You qualify with 60% or more: at least 90 of the 150 marks. Employing schools and governments may give concessions to SC, ST, OBC and differently abled candidates under their own rules.
Certificate
Qualified candidates get a CTET eligibility certificate, issued through DigiLocker, and it stays valid for life.
After CTET
The certificate makes you eligible to apply; it does not guarantee a job. Posts are filled through each employer’s own recruitment, such as KVS or NVS.
Preparation tips
Answer every question
There is no negative marking, so never leave a bubble empty. Rule out what you can and make your best guess on the rest.
Master pedagogy
Child Development and Pedagogy is 30 marks on its own, and pedagogy questions also appear in the language, Mathematics and EVS sections. Learn the theorists and the ideas behind child-centred teaching.
Read the question as a teacher
Many questions describe a classroom situation. The expected answer is usually the one that encourages the child, includes everyone and builds understanding, not the one that punishes or drills.
Do not skip EVS pedagogy
EVS questions are as much about how to teach the subject as about the facts. Know why EVS is taught as one integrated subject at the primary level.
Finish full papers under the clock
Once your basics are in place, take a full 150-minute mock test every few days to build stamina and timing.
Common questions
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No. Each correct answer gets one mark and a wrong answer costs nothing. ExamForge scores CTET sets the same way.
What are the qualifying marks?
60% or more, which is 90 out of 150. Employers may give reserved-category candidates a concession under their own rules.
What is the difference between Paper 1 and Paper 2?
Paper 1 is for teachers of Classes 1–5 and has Mathematics and Environmental Studies as its subject sections. Paper 2 is for Classes 6–8 and has Mathematics and Science or Social Studies instead. To teach both levels you take both papers.
When is the next CTET?
CBSE usually holds CTET twice a year and announces each cycle on ctet.nic.in. Check the official site for the current date and admit cards.
How are the ExamForge sets structured?
Full mock tests have 150 questions and a 150-minute timer, 30 on each section, though the sections come in a different order from the real paper. There are also 10 sets of 30 questions with 30 minutes for each of the five sections. Mathematics set 5 has 29 questions and Full Test 5 has 149, because one question in each repeated its correct answer as another option and was left out.