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 2 is for upper primary teachers (Classes 6–8). It is a qualifying test, not a recruitment exam: passing it makes you eligible to apply for teaching posts.
ExamForge has 90 free, timed sets for Paper 2. Twenty are full 150-question mock tests, ten for each stream (Mathematics & Science, and Social Studies/Social Science), and the rest are 30-question sets for each section. 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 counts in every paper. Then take full mock tests for your stream: 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 2 is a single objective paper of 150 multiple-choice questions, one mark each, with 2 hours 30 minutes for the whole paper. Child Development and Pedagogy and both languages are compulsory; for the last section you take Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science, depending on the subject you want to teach.
CTET Paper 2 sections for Classes 6–8 teachers
Section
Subject
Questions
Marks
I
Child Development and Pedagogy (compulsory)
30
30
II
Language I (compulsory)
30
30
III
Language II (compulsory)
30
30
IV
Mathematics and Science, or Social Studies/Social Science
60
60
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. Teachers of other subjects can take either stream. Each section mixes content questions with questions on how to teach it, and the pedagogy share is large. Check the information bulletin on ctet.nic.in for the current cycle.
Syllabus
Content questions are set at the Class 6–8 level, but a large share of every section tests teaching: how children learn, and how to teach and assess the subject. ExamForge’s nine subjects map to the sections below.
Child Development and Pedagogy
The educational psychology of teaching and learning for children aged 11 to 14.
Principles of development, heredity and environment
Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky
Child-centred and progressive education
Intelligence, language and thought, gender and individual differences
Inclusive education and children with special needs
Assessment for learning and continuous and comprehensive evaluation
Motivation, learning difficulties and how children think
The main conditions for Paper 2, in short. The CTET information bulletin lists every accepted combination.
Qualification
A graduation degree with a B.Ed. or a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education, or one of the other combinations in the bulletin, such as a four-year integrated B.El.Ed. or B.A./B.Sc.Ed. Candidates in the final year of their teacher training course can also apply.
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 and subject 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.
Practise both languages
The two language sections are 60 marks together. Comprehension passages reward steady reading practice in both languages.
Finish full papers under the clock
Once your basics are in place, take a full 150-minute mock test for your stream 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.
How long is the CTET certificate valid?
For life. Qualified candidates download their certificate from DigiLocker.
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 each on English, Hindi and Child Development and Pedagogy, and 60 on your stream. 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 seven section subjects. Mathematics set 6 has 29 questions and Mathematics & Science Full Test 5 has 149, because one question in each repeated its correct answer as another option and was left out.
Can I practise in Hindi?
Yes. Every question, option and explanation has a Hindi version, and you can switch language during the test.
Mathematics and Science
For Mathematics and Science teachers: 30 questions on each subject, with content and pedagogy.
Number system, algebra, geometry, mensuration and data handling
Nature of mathematics, mathematical language and remedial teaching
Food, materials and the world of the living
Moving things, how things work, natural phenomena and natural resources
Science teaching approaches, experiments, aids and evaluation