By: Umar | Published: 24-10-2026 | Last reviewed: 24-10-2026
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) rewards steady, structured preparation. This guide gives you a 60-day plan in three phases, with a daily schedule, a mock-test routine and section-wise score targets for both Paper 1 (Classes 1–5) and Paper 2 (Classes 6–8). Because the next exam is closer than 60 days away, it also includes a compressed 49-day version.
Date check (24 October 2026): CBSE’s public notice dated 14 September 2026 says the 22nd edition of CTET will be held on 12 and 13 December 2026 [1]. Counting from 24 October, that leaves 49 days. Application windows are reported to have closed, and the exam city slip and admit card dates were reported as 28 November and 10 December [2][3]. Always confirm on ctet.nic.in, because schedules can change.
CTET exam pattern at a glance
| Feature | Paper 1 (Classes 1–5) | Paper 2 (Classes 6–8) |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and marks | 150 MCQs, 150 marks | 150 MCQs, 150 marks |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Negative marking | None | None |
| Sections | Child Development and Pedagogy (30), Language I (30), Language II (30), Mathematics (30), Environmental Studies (30) | Child Development and Pedagogy (30), Language I (30), Language II (30), and either Mathematics and Science (60) or Social Studies/Social Science (60) |
These details match several preparation sites that reproduce the CBSE bulletin [4][5]. Confirm them in the official information bulletin on ctet.nic.in. Qualifying marks are 60% for General candidates (90 of 150) and 55% for reserved categories, usually reported as 82 marks [6]. Because there is no negative marking, answer every question.
Inside the sections: where the marks are
| Section | Split of the 30 questions |
|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | Child development 15, inclusive education and children with special needs 5, learning and pedagogy 10 [7] |
| Language I and Language II | Comprehension 15 + pedagogy of language development 15, in each language [4][7] |
| Paper 1 Mathematics and EVS | Content 15 + pedagogical issues 15, in each subject [7] |
| Paper 2 subjects | Content-heavy; the pedagogy share differs by subject (for example, Mathematics is reported as 20 content + 10 pedagogy). Check the bulletin for each subject [7]. |
This is why the plan gives pedagogy so much time: it makes up a large share of every section.
The 60-day roadmap
Phase 1 builds concepts (Days 1–30), Phase 2 applies them through previous-year questions and practice (Days 31–48), and Phase 3 is for mocks and revision (Days 49–60).
Phase 1: concept building (Days 1–30)
Study 3 to 4 hours a day.
Days 1–10: Child Development and Pedagogy, and languages
- CDP (both papers): Piaget’s cognitive development, Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and the zone of proximal development, Kohlberg’s moral development, inclusive education and special needs, and child-centered and progressive education.
- Languages: language acquisition versus learning (a distinction associated with Stephen Krashen) alongside Chomsky’s view of innate language ability, principles of language teaching, and the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- Daily reading practice: two unseen passages a day. For Language I, one should be prose or drama and one a poem [7].
Days 11–20: subject content
- Paper 1 EVS: NCERT Class 3–5 themes such as family and friends, food, shelter, water, travel, and things we make and do.
- Paper 1 Mathematics: numbers, the four operations, shapes and spatial understanding, measurement, time, money, patterns and data handling.
- Paper 2 Mathematics and Science: NCERT Class 6–8 algebra, geometry, mensuration, food, the living world, magnets and natural phenomena.
- Paper 2 Social Studies: NCERT Class 6–8 history, geography (Earth, solar system, agriculture) and social and political life (the Constitution, democracy).
Days 21–30: subject pedagogy
- EVS and Social Studies pedagogy: primary and secondary sources, field trips, critical thinking and an integrated approach to EVS.
- Mathematics and Science pedagogy: inductive and deductive methods, diagnostic testing, remedial teaching and the nature of logical reasoning.
- Assessment: continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE), formative versus summative assessment (practice assessment MCQs) and teaching-learning materials (TLM).
Note: the 15 pedagogy marks per subject applies to Paper 1. In Paper 2 the weighting differs by subject, so check the bulletin before you divide your time.
Phase 2: previous-year questions and integration (Days 31–48)
Move from reading to applying. A four-hour day could look like this.
| Time | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (1.5 hrs) | Previous-year questions | Solve one chapter-wise set for CDP and languages and study how questions are framed. |
| Afternoon (1.5 hrs) | Subject practice | Solve 30 to 40 MCQs on EVS and Mathematics (Paper 1) or your Paper 2 subject. |
| Evening (1 hr) | Analysis and error log | Write every mistake in an error notebook, especially misread words such as not, except and incorrect, and any pedagogy concept you missed. |
| 4 hrs | Total |
Phase 3: mocks and final revision (Days 49–60)
- Days 49–54, full-length mocks: take a 150-minute mock every alternate day under exam conditions, with no breaks.
- Days 55–58, error log and high-yield revision: revisit your error notebook, then revise Piaget, Vygotsky and Kohlberg, the principles of NCF 2005 and NEP 2020, Bloom’s taxonomy and CCE tools.
- Days 59–60, OMR practice and rest: practice filling an OMR sheet to avoid shading errors, skim your formula sheet and short notes, and sleep well.
A time split for your mock tests
This is a suggested split, not an official one. It deliberately leaves 15 minutes to transfer answers to the OMR sheet and review.
| Block | Minutes |
|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 25 |
| Language I | 25 |
| Language II | 25 |
| Subject block (60 questions) | 60 |
| OMR transfer and review | 15 |
| Total | 150 |
Section-wise target scores
A realistic target is 111 out of 150 (74%). That is well above the 90-mark General cut-off and the reserved-category cut-off, and it leaves room for a bad section.
| Section | Questions | Target | Key focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 25+ | Theories, inclusive education, child-centered learning |
| Language I | 30 | 22+ | Unseen passages, language pedagogy |
| Language II | 30 | 22+ | Comprehension, grammar in context, four language skills |
| Mathematics and EVS (Paper 1) or your Paper 2 subject | 60 | 42+ | NCERT concepts and subject pedagogy |
| Total | 150 | 111 |
Targets are a guide, not an official benchmark. Raise or lower them after your first two mocks.
If you only have 49 days: the compressed plan
If your exam is on 12 or 13 December 2026, shorten Phase 1 and keep the other two phases intact. This version is a suggested adaptation of the plan above.
| Phase | Days | Change from the 60-day plan |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: concepts | Days 1–19 | CDP and languages Days 1–6, subject content Days 7–12, subject pedagogy Days 13–19. |
| Phase 2: PYQs and practice | Days 20–37 | Same daily routine as above. |
| Phase 3: mocks and revision | Days 38–49 | Same: mocks every alternate day, error-log revision, then OMR practice and rest. |
| 49 days |
Study longer each day in Phase 1 if you can, and skip topics you already know well. Do not skip mock tests.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Ignoring pedagogy because content feels more urgent. | Pedagogy is a large share of every section, so study it daily. |
| Leaving questions blank. | There is no negative marking, so guess when unsure. |
| Only reading, never practicing. | Move to previous-year questions by Phase 2 and review every error. |
| Skipping timed mocks. | Take them under exam conditions with an OMR sheet. |
| Relying on memory for the exam date and pattern. | Check ctet.nic.in and the information bulletin regularly. |
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No. Each correct answer earns one mark and wrong answers carry no penalty [4].
What score do I need to qualify?
General category candidates need 60% (90 of 150). Reserved categories need 55%, usually reported as 82 marks [6].
Should I take Paper 1, Paper 2 or both?
Paper 1 is for teaching Classes 1–5 and Paper 2 for Classes 6–8. Check the eligibility conditions in the information bulletin for the level you want to teach.
Are NCERT books enough?
NCERT textbooks for Classes 1–8 are the base for the content sections, but you also need dedicated practice for pedagogy and previous-year questions.
Conclusion
Follow the phases in order, keep an error notebook and take full mocks under exam conditions. Whether you have 60 days or 49, consistency matters more than long hours. Good luck with your preparation.
Practice on DocMCQs
Test what you have learned with these free MCQ collections:
- Instructional Planning and Teaching Strategies MCQs: lesson planning, 5E model and teaching strategies.
- Bloom’s Taxonomy MCQs: a frequent pedagogy topic.
- Assessment and Evaluation MCQs: formative versus summative assessment and evaluation concepts.
- All Pedagogy MCQs.
References
- CBSE. Public notice F. No. CBSE/CTET/2026, 14 September 2026, “Conduct of 22nd Edition of Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET)” (copy hosted by a third party: PDF). Official source: ctet.nic.in.
- Careers360 and Prepp reports on the 12–13 December 2026 schedule and the earlier 6 September date: Careers360; Prepp.
- Testbook. CTET revised exam date 2026 (city slip and admit card dates as reported). testbook.com.
- AglaSem. CTET exam pattern 2026. career.aglasem.com.
- Physics Wallah. CTET exam pattern 2026. pw.live.
- Physics Wallah. CTET qualifying marks 2026. pw.live.
- JRF Adda. CTET exam pattern 2026 (section-wise breakdown). jrfadda.com.
These are secondary sources that reproduce CBSE’s information bulletin. Confirm all dates, patterns and cut-offs on ctet.nic.in before you rely on them.