Exam Pattern
CTET Exam Pattern
Central Teacher Eligibility Test 2026
Five sections of exactly 30 questions, with nothing weighted above anything else. Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Language I and Language II each carry 30 questions and 30 marks, so a weakness anywhere costs the same fifth of the paper. The official paper has a substructure this page does not reproduce: Mathematics and Environmental Studies are each 15 content and 15 pedagogy, both languages 15 comprehension and 15 pedagogy, and Child Development splits three ways. Those divisions are real but are not built as separate sections here. Nothing is deducted, and a minute a question across all 150.
Paper I (Primary Stage)
Official 2026 pattern| Questions | 150 |
| Total marks | 150 |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0 per wrong answer |
| Sections | Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Language I (English), Language II (Hindi) |
| Test | Qs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (English) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II (Hindi) | 30 | 30 |
Timing: Single 150-minute timer for the Full Mock, covering all five sections; no sectional lock.
Official Paper I substructure: Child Development and Pedagogy is 15 Child Development + 5 Inclusive Education/Special Needs + 10 Learning & Pedagogy; Mathematics and Environmental Studies are each 15 content + 15 pedagogy; both languages are each 15 comprehension + 15 pedagogy. This mock keeps the five official section arrays without splitting them into unsupported runtime sub-sections. Language I and Language II are candidate-selected on the actual CTET form and must differ; this Full Mock uses the English (Language I) + Hindi (Language II) pair as its selected combination, not a universal CTET requirement. CBSE postponed the original 6 September 2026 sitting and reopened applications through 1 September 2026; the revised examination date is to be announced.
Official source · checked 1 September 2026The CTET Paper I (Primary Stage) exam pattern is 150 questions carrying 150 marks, to be answered in 150 minutes. That works out to about 60 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 5 sections are Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Language I (English) and Language II (Hindi). All 5 sections carry 30 marks each, so none of them repays disproportionate preparation and a weakness anywhere costs the same. All sections share one composite timer, so you are free to move between them and spend your time where it earns most.
CTET Paper I (Primary Stage) marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 1 mark.
- There is no negative marking, so leaving a question blank can only cost you: an unattempted question and a wrong one score the same zero. Attempt everything.
- Worked example: attempt 120 of the 150 questions and get 90 right and 30 wrong, and you score 90 out of 150.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 60 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free CTET mock test to see where your time actually goes.
CTET exam pattern: frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in CTET?
CTET has no negative marking. An unattempted question always scores zero, so the choice is only ever between guessing and leaving it blank.
How many questions are there in CTET?
CTET has 150 questions. That leaves about 60 seconds per question in CTET.
What are the total marks in CTET?
CTET is out of 150 marks, which works out at 1 mark a question.
How long is the CTET exam?
CTET runs for 150 minutes.
Does CTET have a sectional time limit?
No. CTET runs every section on one composite timer of 150 minutes, so you can move between sections freely and give the slower ones more of your time.