CTET Exam Date Out 2026 : Check New Schedule, Eligibility & Full Details

CTET Exam Date Out 2026: Check New Schedule, Eligibility & Full Details

Good news for teaching aspirants across India — the wait is finally over! The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the CTET Exam Date Out 2026 notice, confirming that the 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will be held on 12th and 13th December 2026. This notice was issued on 14th September 2026 by the Director, CTET Unit. Candidates who are preparing for a teaching career in classes I to VIII must keep this date locked in their calendar. As per the official notice, the Examination City allotted to each candidate will be shared on the CTET portal 15 days before the exam, while the Admit Card will be released just two days prior. Since the CTET certificate holds lifetime validity and is one of the mandatory eligibility criteria for teacher recruitment across CBSE-affiliated schools, KVS, NVS and several state boards, this announcement is a big deal for lakhs of B.Ed and D.El.Ed candidates. Read on for everything you need to know — from eligibility and documents to exam pattern and syllabus.

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | Overview

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | Exam Date

The most awaited update is out — CBSE has confirmed the CTET December 2026 exam date as 12th and 13th December 2026, making this the 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test. Unlike earlier cycles, CBSE has now started informing candidates about their examination city well in advance — 15 days before the exam — so aspirants get sufficient time to plan their travel and stay. The e-Admit Card, which carries the exact exam centre address, reporting time, and other essential instructions, will be uploaded on the official CTET portal two days before the test. Candidates are strongly advised to keep checking ctet.nic.in regularly, since CBSE does not send admit cards through post or courier — everything is available only in downloadable digital format.

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | Education Qualification

CTET eligibility is governed by the minimum qualifications notified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), and it differs slightly depending on which paper a candidate wants to appear for.

For Paper I (Classes I to V):

• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, OR
• Senior Secondary with at least 45% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (as per NCTE norms), OR
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, OR
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a 1-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed), OR
• Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed)

For Paper II (Classes VI to VIII):

• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, OR
• Graduation with at least 45% marks and a 1-year B.Ed, OR
• Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) / B.A.Ed / B.Sc.Ed, OR
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a 1-year B.Ed (Special Education)

A candidate who wants to teach both age groups (Classes I–V and VI–VIII) must appear for both Paper I and Paper II. It’s important to remember that being allowed to sit for CTET does not automatically mean your eligibility has been verified — final verification always happens at the time of recruitment by the appointing authority, so candidates should carefully cross-check their qualification before applying.

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | Documents Required

Before you sit for the exam or apply online (once the application link opens), keep the following documents/files ready:

• Valid CTET Admit Card (downloaded from the official portal)
• A valid Photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence, etc. — as mentioned during registration)
• Scanned latest passport-size photograph (JPG/JPEG format, size between 10 KB to 100 KB, dimension 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm)
• Scanned signature (JPG/JPEG format, size between 3 KB to 30 KB, dimension 3.5 cm x 1.5 cm)
• Class 10th Certificate (for confirming Name, Date of Birth, Father’s & Mother’s Name)
• Educational qualification certificates/mark sheets (Graduation, B.Ed, D.El.Ed, etc.)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL), if applicable
• Disability certificate on prescribed UDID proforma, for PwBD/PwD candidates claiming scribe or compensatory time
• A working mobile number and personal email ID, since all CTET alerts are sent only through these two channels

Candidates should also remember that once the examination fee is submitted, personal particulars cannot be edited except during the specific online correction window that CBSE announces separately — so it’s best to double-check every document before final submission.

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | Exam Pattern

CTET is conducted in a completely objective format — all questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options each, and there is no negative marking, which means candidates can attempt every question without the fear of losing marks for a wrong guess.

Paper I (for Classes I to V) — Duration: 2.5 Hours

Paper II (for Classes VI to VIII) — Duration: 2.5 Hours

The question paper is set bilingually in Hindi and English, and candidates get to choose Language I and Language II from a list of 20+ regional languages including Hindi, English, Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati and more. To qualify CTET, a candidate needs to score 60% or above, with a relaxation of up to 5% for SC/ST/OBC and differently-abled candidates as per NCTE guidelines.

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | Exam Syllabus

The CTET syllabus for both papers is based on the NCERT curriculum, but the difficulty level and conceptual linkages can extend up to the secondary or senior secondary stage.

Paper I Syllabus (Classes I–V):

• Child Development & Pedagogy (30 Qs): Child development concepts, theories of Piaget, Kohlberg & Vygotsky, inclusive education, learning & pedagogy for the 6–11 age group
• Mathematics (30 Qs): Geometry, Shapes, Numbers, Addition/Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Measurement, Data Handling, Patterns, Money, and Pedagogical issues of teaching Maths
• Environmental Studies (30 Qs): Family & Friends, Food, Shelter, Water, Travel, and pedagogical concepts of EVS
• Language I & Language II (30+30 Qs): Reading comprehension passages, language pedagogy, grammar, and language acquisition principles

Paper II Syllabus (Classes VI–VIII):

• Child Development & Pedagogy (30 Qs): Same core theory, but focused on the 11–14 age group
• Mathematics & Science (60 Qs) — for candidates opting to teach Maths/Science
• Social Studies/Social Science (60 Qs) — for candidates opting to teach SST, covering History, Geography, and Social & Political Life
• Language I & Language II (30+30 Qs): Comprehension, grammar, and pedagogy of language teaching

Candidates are advised to refer directly to NCERT textbooks from Class I to VIII for the most accurate and detailed topic-wise preparation, since CBSE itself recommends NCERT as the base syllabus source.

CTET Exam Date Out 2026 | FAQ

Q1. What is the CTET Exam Date for December 2026? CBSE has officially announced that the 22nd edition of CTET will be conducted on 12th and 13th December 2026.

Q2. When was the CTET December 2026 notice released? The public notice confirming the CTET exam date was issued on 14th September 2026 by the Director, CTET Unit, CBSE.

Q3. When will the CTET admit card be released? The e-Admit Card will be made available on the official CTET portal two days before the examination.

Q4. When will the exam city be announced? CBSE will inform candidates about their allotted examination city 15 days prior to the exam date.

Q5. Is there negative marking in CTET? No, CTET does not have any negative marking. Each correct answer carries one mark.

Q6. What is the minimum qualifying percentage in CTET? A candidate needs to score at least 60% to be considered as TET Pass, with relaxation for reserved categories as per NCTE norms.

Q7. How long is the CTET certificate valid? The CTET qualifying certificate is valid for a lifetime for all categories.

Q8. Can a candidate appear for both Paper I and Paper II? Yes, candidates who want to teach both Classes I–V and Classes VI–VIII must appear for both papers on the same day, since Paper II is held in the morning and Paper I in the evening.

Q9. Does qualifying CTET guarantee a teaching job? No, qualifying CTET only makes a candidate eligible to apply for teaching posts; it does not confer any automatic right to recruitment or appointment.

Q10. Where can candidates check official updates? All official updates are released only on ctet.nic.in and cbse.gov.in — candidates should avoid relying on unofficial sources.