CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test, conducted by CBSE) is a written test in two papers: Paper I for teachers of classes I to V and Paper II for teachers of classes VI to VIII. Here’s the shape of it and the topics tested, taken from the CTET information bulletin, with a link to the official CTET website for the current bulletin, with the exact marks and timing.
Paper I (classes I to V)
For a person who intends to be a teacher for classes I to V. Five compulsory sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Language I and Language II.
Paper II (classes VI to VIII)
For a person who intends to be a teacher for classes VI to VIII. Compulsory sections are Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I and Language II, plus either Mathematics and Science (for Mathematics and Science teachers) or Social Studies/Social Science (for Social Studies/Social Science teachers). Any other teacher can take either one.
Both papers
A person who wants to teach both levels, classes I to V and classes VI to VIII, appears in both Paper I and Paper II.
Child Development and Pedagogy
Child development (concept of development and learning, principles of development, heredity and environment, socialisation, Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky, child-centred and progressive education, intelligence and multi-dimensional intelligence, language and thought, gender, individual differences, assessment for and of learning, CCE), inclusive education and children with special needs, and learning and pedagogy (how children think and learn, errors as steps in learning, cognition and emotions, motivation, factors that affect learning). Aimed at the 6-11 age group for Paper I and the 11-14 age group for Paper II.
Mathematics (Paper I)
Content: geometry, shapes and spatial understanding, solids around us, numbers, addition and subtraction, multiplication, division, measurement, weight, time, volume, data handling, patterns and money. Pedagogical issues: nature of mathematics and logical thinking, place of mathematics in the curriculum, language of mathematics, community mathematics, evaluation, problems of teaching, error analysis, and diagnostic and remedial teaching.
Environmental Studies (Paper I)
Content: family and friends (relationships, work and play, animals, plants), food, shelter, water, travel, and things we make and do. Pedagogical issues: concept and scope of EVS, integrated EVS, learning principles, relation to Science and Social Science, approaches, activities, experimentation and practical work, discussion, CCE, teaching aids and problems of teaching.
Mathematics and Science (Paper II)
Mathematics: number system, algebra, geometry, mensuration and data handling, with pedagogical issues. Science: food, materials, the world of the living, moving things, people and ideas, how things work (electric current and circuits, magnets), natural phenomena and natural resources, with pedagogical issues such as the nature of science, approaches, experiments, aids and evaluation.
Social Studies/Social Science (Paper II)
Content from History (from the earliest societies to India after independence), Geography (the earth in the solar system, the globe, air, water, human environment, resources, agriculture) and Social and Political Life (diversity, government, democracy, the Constitution, the judiciary, social justice and the marginalised), plus pedagogical issues such as classroom processes, critical thinking, enquiry, sources, project work and evaluation.
Language I and Language II
Language comprehension (unseen passages with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability) and pedagogy of language development (learning and acquisition, principles of language teaching, listening and speaking, grammar, diverse classrooms, language skills, evaluation, teaching-learning materials and remedial teaching). Language I relates to the medium of instruction and Language II must be a different language; both are chosen from the languages listed in the bulletin.
Questions follow the NCERT syllabus for the relevant classes, and the bulletin points to the NCERT syllabus and textbooks for classes I to VIII for detail. The number of questions, marks, timing and the qualifying percentage are set in each CTET edition’s bulletin; check the information bulletin on the official CTET website.
CTET does not recruit anyone. It is an eligibility test: the CTET certificate is one of the criteria for appointment as a teacher for classes I to VIII in schools where CTET applies. Qualifying does not give a right to recruitment or employment.
Free topic-wise lessons and practice for Child Development and Pedagogy, Language Pedagogy, Mathematics Pedagogy, EVS Pedagogy, Science and Social Studies Pedagogy and Inclusive Education, plus a Mistake Notebook that tracks your weak topics automatically.
Pariksha Saathi