CBSE CTET Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 and 2 (Official Syllabus PDF)

Candidates who are preparing or planning to prepare for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2026 exam must understand both the CTET Exam Pattern and subject-wise syllabus before beginning with their preparation.

CTET 2026 Exam Syllabus

CTET is conducted in two papers: Paper 1 for candidates who want to teach Classes 1 to 5, and Paper 2 for candidates who want to teach Classes 6 to 8.

Both papers consist of 150 questions in an offline format with no negative marking. Understanding the CBSE CTET Paper 1 & 2 Syllabus 2026 helps candidates to focus on the relevant topics rather then wasing their time on irrelevant topics while preparing.

CTET 2026 Exam Structure

Particular	Details
Exam Name	Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET)
Exam Level	National-Level Eligibility Test
Papers	Paper 1 and Paper
Mode of Exam	Offline
Type of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions
Total Questions per Paper	150
Total Marks per Paper	150
Duration	2 hour
Negative Marking	No
Languages	English & Hindi
Official website	www.ctet.nic.in

CTET Exam Pattern 2026 (Paper 1 & 2)

Understanding the exam pattern is the first step toward smart preparation. The CTET Exam 2026 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 multiple-choice questions (OMR-based) in each paper.
There will be no negative marking for any incorrect answers.

CTET Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026

CTET Paper-1 is divided into 5 sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I & II, Mathematics, and Environmental Science.

Subjects	Questions	Marks
Child Development and Pedagogy	30	30
Language 1	30	30
Language 2	30	30
Mathematics	30	30
Environmental Studies	30	30
Total	150	150

CTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026

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.

Subjects	Questions	Marks
Child Development and Pedagogy	30	30
Language 1	30	30
Language 2	30	30
Mathematics & Science OR Social Science	60	60
Total	150	150

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What is the CTET Syllabus 2026?

CTET Syllabus 2026 includes two papers.

Paper 1 covers Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies for Primary Level teachers.
Paper 2 covers Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, and either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Science for Upper Primary teachers.

CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026 (Classes 1 to 5 – Primary Stage)

The Paper I exam of CTET is an exam testing a candidate based on their Language I & II, Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics and Environmental Studies. Let’s have a look at the CTET Syllabus 2026 for the Primary Stage (Classes I-V ):

1. Child Development and Pedagogy

CTET Child Development and Pedagogy Syllabus- 30 questions

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

(i) Concept of development and its relationship with learning
(ii) Principles of the development of children
(iii) Influence of Heredity & Environment
(iv) Socialisation processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
(v) Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
(vi) Concepts of child-centred and progressive education
(vii) Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence
(viii) Multi-Dimensional Intelligence
(ix) Language & Thought
(x) Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias, and educational practice.
(xi) Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion, etc.
(xii) Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
(xiii) 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

(i) Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds, including disadvantaged and deprived
(ii) Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, “impairment” etc.
(iii) Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specialised Learner.

c) Learning and Pedagogy – 10 Questions

(i) How children think and learn; how and why children “fail” to achieve success in school performance.
(ii) Basic processes of teaching and learning; children’s strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning.
(iii) Child as a problem solver and a“ scientific investigator”
(iv) Alternative conceptions of learning in children understand children’s “errors” as significant steps in the learning process.
(v) Cognition & Emotions
(vi) Motivation and learning
(vii) Factors contributing to learning – personal & environmental

2. Mathematics

CTET Mathematics Syllabus- 30 questions

a) Content – 15 Questions

(i) Geometry
(ii) Shapes & Spatial Understanding
(iii) Solids around Us
(iv) Numbers
(v) Addition and Subtraction
(vi) Multiplication
(vii) Division
(viii) Measurement
(ix) Weight
(x) Time
(xi) Volume
(xii) Data Handling
(xiii) Patterns
(xiv) Money

b) Pedagogical issues 15 Questions

(i) Nature of Mathematics/ Logical thinking; understanding children’s thinking and reasoning patterns and strategies of making meaning and learning
(ii) Place of Mathematics in Curriculum
(iii) Language of Mathematics
(iv) Community Mathematics
(v) Evaluation through formal and informal methods
(vi) Problems of Teaching
(vii) Error analysis and related aspects of learning and teaching
(viii) Diagnostic and Remedial Teaching

3. Environmental Studies

CTET Paper 1 Enviornmental Studies- 30 questions

a) Content – 15 Questions

(i) Family and Friends : Relationships, Work and Play, Animals and Plants
(ii) Food
(iii) Shelter
(iv) Water
(v) Travel
(vi) Things We Make and Do

b) Pedagogical Issues – 15 Questions

(i) Concept and scope of EVS
(ii) Significance of EVS, integrated EVS
(iii) Environmental Studies & Environmental Education
(iv) Learning Principles
(v) Scope & relation to Science & Social Science
(vi) Approaches of presenting concepts
(vii) Activities
(viii) Experimentation/Practical Work
(ix) Discussion
(x) CCE
(xi) Teaching material/Aids
(xii) Problems

4. Language 1

CTET Paper 1 Language 1 Syllabus- 30 questions

a) Language Comprehension – 15 Questions

Reading unseen passages – two passages one prose or drama and one poem with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability (Prose passage may be literary, scientific, narrative or discursive)

b) Pedagogy of Language Development – 15 Questions

(i) Learning and acquisition
(ii) Principles of language Teaching
(iii) Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
(iv) Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form
(v) Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
(vi) Language Skills
(vii) Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
(viii) Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multi lingual resource of the classroom
(ix) Remedial Teaching

5. Language 2

CTET Paper 1 Language 2 Syllabus- 30 questions

a) Comprehension – 15 Questions

Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with question on comprehension, grammar and verbal ability

b) Pedagogy of Language Development – 15 Questions

(i) Learning and acquisition
(ii) Principles of language Teaching
(iii) Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
(iv) Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form;
(v) Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
(vi) Language Skills
(vii) Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
(viii) Teaching – learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
(ix) Remedial Teaching

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 (Classes 6 to 8 – Upper Primary Stage)

The CTET Paper 2 Syllabus includes subject-wise topics from which questions are asked in the CTET Paper 2 exam. A clear understanding of the CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 helps candidates effectively excel in the exam. Here we have provided the subject-wise syllabus.

1. Child Development and Pedagogy – 30 Questions

a) Child Development (Elementary School Child) – 15 Questions

(i) Concept of development and its relationship with learning
(ii) Principles of the development of children
(iii) Influence of Heredity & Environment
(iv) Socialisation processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
(v) Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
(vi) Concepts of child-centred and progressive education
(vii) Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence
(viii) Multi-Dimensional Intelligence
(ix) Language & Thought
(x) Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice. Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion, etc.
(xi) Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
(xii) 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

(i) Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds, including disadvantaged and deprived
(ii) Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, ‘impairment’, etc.
(iii) Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specially abled Learners

c) Learning and Pedagogy – 10 Questions

(i) How children think and learn; how and why children ‘fail’ to achieve success in school performance.
(ii) Basic processes of teaching and learning; children’s strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning.
(iii) Child as a problem solver and a ‘scientific investigator’
(iv) Alternative conceptions of learning in children, understanding children’s ‘errors’ as significant steps in the learning process.
(v) Cognition & Emotions
(vi) Motivation and learning
(vii) Factors contributing to learning – personal & environmental

2. Language 1 – 30 Questions

a) Language Comprehension – 15 Questions

b) Pedagogy of Language Development – 15 Questions

(i) Learning and acquisition
(ii) Principles of language Teaching
(iii) Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
(iv) Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form
(v) Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
(vi) Language Skills
(vii) Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
(viii) Teaching- learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
(ix) Remedial Teaching

3. Language 2 – 30 Questions

a) Comprehension – 15 Questions

Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with question on comprehension, grammar and verbal ability

b) Pedagogy of Language Development – 15 Questions

(i) Learning and acquisition
(ii) Principles of language Teaching
(iii) Role of listening and speaking; function of language, and how children use it as a tool
(iv) Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form;
(v) Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
(vi) Language Skills
(vii) Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
(viii) Teaching – learning materials: Textbook, multimedia materials, multilingual resources of the classroom
(ix) Remedial Teaching

4. Mathematics and Science – 60 Questions

Mathematics – 30 Questions

a) Content – 20 Questions

1. Number System
(i) Knowing our Numbers
(ii) Playing with Numbers
(iii) Whole Numbers
(iv) Negative Numbers and Integers
(v) Fractions

2. Algebra
(i) Introduction to Algebra
(ii) Ratio and Proportion

3. Geometry
(i) Basic geometrical ideas (2D)
(ii) Understanding Elementary Shapes (2D and 3D)
(iii) Symmetry: (reflection)
(iv) Construction (using Straight edge Scale, protractor, compasses)
(v) Mensuration
(vi) Data handling

b) Pedagogical issues – 10 Questions

(i) Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking
(ii) Place of Mathematics in Curriculum
(iii) Language of Mathematics
(iv) Community Mathematics
(v) Evaluation
(vi) Remedial Teaching
(vii) Problem of Teaching

5. Science – 30 Questions

a) Content – 20 Questions

1. Food
(i) Sources of food
(ii) Components of food
(iii) Cleaning food

2. Materials
(i) Materials of daily use

3. The World of the Living

4. Moving Things People and Ideas

5. How things work
(i) Electric current and circuits
(ii) Magnets

6. Natural Phenomena

7. Natural Resources

b) Pedagogical issues – 10 Questions

(i) Nature & Structure of Sciences
(ii) Natural Science/Aims & objectives
(iii) Understanding & Appreciating Science
(iv) Approaches/Integrated Approach
(v) Observation/Experiment/Discovery (Method of Science)
(vi) Innovation
(vii) Text Material/Aids
(viii) Evaluation – cognitive/psychomotor/affective
(ix) Problems
(x) Remedial Teaching

6. Social Studies/Social Sciences – 60 Questions

a) Content – 40 Questions

1. History
(i) When, Where and How
(ii) The Earliest Societies
(iii) The First Farmers and Herders
(iv) The First Cities
(v) Early States
(vi) New Ideas
(vii) The First Empire
(viii) Contacts with Distant lands
(ix) Political Developments
(x) Culture and Science
(xi) New Kings and Kingdoms
(xii) Sultans of Delhi
(xiii) Architecture
(xiv) Creation of an Empire
(xv) Social Change
(xvi) Regional Cultures
(xvii) The Establishment of Company Power
(xviii) Rural Life and Society
(xix) Colonialism and Tribal Societies
(xx) The Revolt of 1857-58
(xxi) Women and reform
(xxii) Challenging the Caste System
(xxiii) The Nationalist Movement
(xxiv) India After Independence

2. Geography
(i) Geography as a social study and as a science
(ii) Planet: Earth in the solar system
(ii) Globe
(iv) Environment in its totality: natural and human environment o Air
(v) Water
(vi) Human Environment: settlement, transport and communication
(vii) Resources: Types-Natural and Human
(viii) Agriculture

3. Social and Political Life
(i) Diversity
(ii) Government
(iii) Local Government
(iv) Making a Living
(v) Democracy
(vi) State Government
(vii) Understanding Media
(viii) Unpacking Gender
(ix) The Constitution
(x) Parliamentary Government
(xi) The Judiciary
(xii) Social Justice and the Marginalised

b) Pedagogical issues

(i) Concept & Nature of Social Science/Social Studies
(ii) Class Room Processes, activities and discourse
(iii) Developing Critical thinking
(iv) Enquiry/Empirical Evidence
(v) Problems of teaching Social Science/Social Studies
(vi) Sources – Primary & Secondary
(vii) Projects Work
(viii) Evaluation

CBSE CTET Syllabus 2026 PDF

The Central Board of Secondary Education has officially released the CBSE CTET Syllabus 2026 for both Paper 1 and 2. For the candidate’s ease, we have also shared the detailed CTET Syllabus PDF, which consists of all topics to be covered for the CTET 2026 Exam.