CTET Syllabus 2026: Check Paper Wise Detailed Syllabus

In 2026, the CTET exam was held on 7th and 8th February. It is crucial to be well-versed with the CTET syllabus and pattern in advance, so that you can absolutely aim for a strong score. This year, the syllabus for the CTET test was slightly changed to be perfectly aligned with the new NCERT syllabus as per CBSE. For the next year, you must start your preparation early, make a study plan, follow it wholeheartedly, cover the complete syllabus, and attempt as many question papers as possible to ace the test. As there was no negative marking in the CTET exam for 2026, it offers you a good chance to attempt every question.

In this blog, we have broken down the CTET syllabus, exam pattern, and all essential details for aspirants. As CTET is a crucial examination that qualifies you to teach in central government and many private schools across India, serving as a mandatory eligibility exam to become a teacher for classes 1 to 8, you can give it a thorough read.

Key Changes in CTET Exam Syllabus 2026

There were many changes in the CTET 2026 syllabus.  This is because CBSE intends to align the latest NCERT curriculum with the exam and primarily focus on conceptual subjects and application-oriented questioning. Check the points below to understand the latest changes in the syllabus and pattern for the exam in 2026. 

Key changes for 2026

• The new syllabus for 2026 was as per the current NCERT syllabus for classes 6th to 8th. 
• Most of the exam questions were based on testing conceptual abilities. 
• The exam pattern is the same as previous years, with 150 MCQs conducted in an offline format. 
• For 2026, the CTET exam was still divided into two papers. It generally includes Paper 1 for primary teaching and Paper 2 for upper primary teaching.

Also Read: CTET Exam Dates

CTET Exam Syllabus 2026: Paper I And Paper II Overview

There are 2 papers in the exam, namely, Paper 1 for teaching Classes 1 to 5 (Primary), and Paper 2 for teaching Classes 6 to 8 (Elementary / Upper Primary). The complete CTET test is an MCQ-based exam of 150 questions and 150 marks to be conducted under a time duration of 2.5 hours (150 minutes). Check the table below to understand the syllabus of the CTET exam 2026 for both paper types: 

Details	CTET Paper I Overview	CTET Paper II Overview
Mode of Examination	Pen-and-paper format	Pen-and-paper format
Total Sections	5 sections	4 sections
List of Subjects	Child Growth & Teaching Methods First Language Second Language Mathematics Environmental Education	Child Growth & Teaching Methods First Language Second Language Mathematics & Science or Social Studies/Social Sciences
Exam Duration	2 hours and 30 minutes	2 hours and 30 minutes
Total Questions	150	150
Question Format	Objective-type, including 4 answer choices; only one valid option	Objective-type items, including 4 answer choices; only one valid option
Maximum Marks	150	150
Scoring Pattern	+1 mark for every right response No negative marking	+1 mark for every right response No negative marking
Medium of Test	English, Hindi	English, Hindi

CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026: Overview

The following are the important topics for the CTET Paper 1 examination.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Child Development and Pedagogy	Child Development Learning and Pedagogy
Language-I	Comprehension Pedagogy of Language Development
Language-II	Comprehension Pedagogy of Language Development
Mathematics	Geometry Shapes and Spatial Understanding Solids around Us Numbers Addition and Subtraction Multiplication Division
Environmental Studies	Family and FriendsFoodShelterWaterTravel

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026: Overview

Below, we have mentioned some of the important topics for the CTET Paper 2 examination.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Child Development and Pedagogy	Child Development Learning and Pedagogy
Language-I	Comprehension Pedagogy of Language Development
Language-II	Comprehension Pedagogy of Language Development
Mathematics	Number System Algebra Geometry Mensuration
Science	Food Materials Natural Phenomena Natural Resources
Social Studies/Social Sciences	History Geography Social and Political Life Pedagogical Issues

Detailed Subject-Wise CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 

As we have already discussed, an overview of the CTET Paper 1 exam syllabus and pattern, we will now be discussing the important topics to study and focus on in each of the concepts. Check the tables below to understand the topics in CTET Paper 1 in 2026: 

Child Development and Pedagogy Topics

Find the child development & pedagogy topics in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Included Topics
Child Development (Primary School Child)(15 MCQs)	Understanding how children grow and how their development impacts the learning process. Basic principles that guide a child’s developmental stages. Role of genetics and surroundings in shaping a learner. How children learn through social interactions with teachers, family members, and peers. Theories and viewpoints of Piaget, Kohlberg, and Vygotsky, along with analytical interpretations. Ideas behind learner-focused and modern educational approaches. An analytical view of what intelligence means and how it is defined. Understanding intelligence as a multifaceted and varied ability. Connection between language development and cognitive growth. Gender as a socially created idea: understanding gender expectations, stereotypes, and their impact on teaching. Variations among learners and recognising differences arising from language, culture, caste, gender, community, or religious background. The difference between an assessment that supports learning and an evaluation that measures learning outcomes. Understanding school-level assessments, continuous evaluation systems, and how they function in practice. Designing suitable questions to check learners’ readiness, encouraging deeper thinking, improving classroom learning, and assessing student performance effectively.
Concept of Inclusive Education and Understanding Children with Special Needs(5 MCQs)	Supporting students coming from varied social, economic, and marginalised backgrounds. Understanding and meeting the requirements of learners with academic challenges or developmental limitations. Catering to gifted, imaginative, and differently-abled children with specialised approaches.
Learning and Pedagogy(10 MCQs)	How students process ideas and acquire knowledge, and the reasons some children struggle or fall short in academic achievement. Foundational elements of teaching and learning, the ways children approach studying, learning as a collaborative activity, and the influence of social settings on learning. Viewing the child as an active thinker, problem-solver, and young investigator. Different ways children understand concepts, recognising their mistakes as meaningful stages in their learning journey. Relationship between thinking processes and emotional development. How motivation influences a child’s ability to learn. Various personal and environmental factors that impact learning outcomes.

Language-I Topics

Find the Language-I topics in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Included Topics
Language Comprehension(15 MCQs)	Reading two unseen texts; one may be a prose piece or a drama extract, and the other will be a poem. Questions will assess understanding, interpretation, grammatical knowledge, and overall language skills. The prose passage can be informational, story-based, argumentative, or scientific in nature.
Pedagogy of Language Development(15 MCQs)	How learners pick up and develop a language. Core guidelines and methods used in language instruction. Importance of listening and speaking, the purpose of language, and how children use it as a communication tool. An analytical view of how grammar supports language learning for both spoken and written expression. Difficulties faced while teaching language in mixed-ability classrooms, including linguistic challenges, mistakes, and speech or language disorders. Different components of language skills. Assessing a learner’s command of language through speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities. Use of teaching aids such as textbooks, digital tools, and multilingual classroom resources. Providing corrective instruction to address learning gaps.

Language-II Topics

Find the Language-II topics in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Included Topics
Language Comprehension(15 MCQs)	Two unseen prose extracts will be given, which may be argumentative, literary, story-based, or scientific in nature. The questions will focus on understanding the text, grammar usage, and overall language proficiency.
Pedagogy of Language Development(15 MCQs)	How language is learned and developed by learners. Fundamental methods and approaches used in teaching languages. Importance of speaking and listening, the purpose of language, and how children use it as a communication tool. An analytical view of how grammar supports language learning for both spoken and written communication. Difficulties encountered while teaching language in mixed-ability classrooms, including linguistic challenges, common mistakes, and language-related disorders. Different aspects and components that make up language skills, assessing language understanding and mastery through speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Use of educational resources such as textbooks, digital media, and multilingual classroom materials. Providing corrective instruction to help students overcome language-learning gaps.

Mathematics Topics 

Find the detailed mathematics topics in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Included Topics
Content(15 MCQs)	Basic Geometry Concepts Forms, Figures, and Spatial Awareness 3D Objects in Our Surroundings Number System Fundamentals Concepts of Adding and Taking Away Multiplicative Operations Division Processes Measuring Quantities and Units Understanding Mass Reading and Managing Time Understanding Capacity Organising and Interpreting Data Recognising and Creating Patterns Concepts Related to Money and Currency
Pedagogical Issues(15 MCQs)	Characteristics of Mathematics and logical reasoning; understanding how children think, interpret concepts, and develop strategies to learn and make sense of ideas. Role and importance of Mathematics within the school curriculum. Understanding mathematical terminology and symbolic language. Linking Mathematics with everyday community experiences. Assessing learners using both structured and unstructured evaluation techniques. Challenges faced while teaching mathematical concepts. Identifying and interpreting student mistakes and what they reveal about learning. Using diagnostic methods to spot learning gaps and providing corrective instruction.

Environmental Studies Topics

Find the environmental studies topics in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Included Topics
Content(15 MCQs)	Home and Community: Bonds, Activities, Occupations, Animals, and Plants Nutrition and Eating Habits Homes and Living Spaces Sources and Uses of Water Movement and Transportation Objects We Create and Activities we Perform
Pedagogical Issues(15 MCQs)	Meaning and breadth of Environmental Studies. Importance of EVS and the idea of integrating it with other subjects. Difference between Environmental Studies and Environmental Education. Guiding principles that shape learning in EVS. A range of topics covered and connections with Science and Social Science. Methods used to introduce and explain EVS concepts. Hands-on tasks and interactive activities. Experiments and practical exploration. Classroom discussions and collaborative learning. Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) processes. Learning resources and teaching aids used in EVS. Common challenges faced while teaching EVS.

Detailed Subject-Wise CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 

CTET Paper 2 is slightly different from the Paper 1 exam syllabus and structure. Check the tables below to know about what topics are covered under the CTET syllabus for paper 2, primarily used as an eligibility for upper primary teaching. 

Child Development and Pedagogy Topics

Find the Child Development and Pedagogy topics for Paper 2 in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Child Development (Elementary School Child)(15 MCQs)	Understanding child development and how it influences the learning process. Foundational principles that guide children’s growth and development. Impact of genetics and surroundings on a child’s progress. How children learn through interactions within their social environment, such as teachers, parents, and peers. Key ideas and analytical viewpoints from Piaget, Kohlberg, and Vygotsky. Philosophies behind learner-focused and modern educational approaches. Analytical view of what “intelligence” means as a concept. Understanding intelligence as a varied, multi-layered ability. Relationship between thinking and language development. Gender as a socially formed idea: understanding stereotypes, gender expectations, and their implications in education. Recognising learner diversity and differences based on language, caste, gender, culture, community, or religion. The difference between assessments that guide learning and assessments that measure outcomes. Understanding School-Based Assessment and the System of Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE). Creating tasks to judge learners’ preparedness, promoting deeper thinking, supporting effective classroom learning, and measuring student performance.
Concept of Inclusive Education and Understanding Children with Special Needs(5 MCQs)	Supporting students from varied socio-economic and marginalised backgrounds. Recognising and meeting the needs of learners with academic challenges or developmental disabilities. Providing suitable guidance for gifted, imaginative, and differently-abled children.
Learning and Pedagogy(10 MCQs)	How children process information and acquire knowledge, and the reasons some students struggle to perform well academically. Fundamental aspects of teaching and learning, the strategies children use to learn, viewing learning as a social process, and understanding the role of social surroundings. Seeing the child as an active thinker, problem-solver, and young explorer. Different ways children form ideas, with their mistakes seen as meaningful milestones in their learning journey. Connection between cognitive processes and emotional development. How motivation influences a child’s willingness and ability to learn. Various personal and environmental factors that shape learning outcomes.

Language-I Topics

Find the Language – I topics for Paper 2 in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Language Comprehension(15 MCQs)	Reading two unseen texts; one may be a prose piece or dramatic extract, and the other will be a poem. The questions will test understanding, interpretation, grammar skills, and overall language ability. The prose passage may be narrative, argumentative, scientific, or literary in style.
Pedagogy of Language Development(15 MCQs)	How learners absorb and develop language naturally. Core rules and methods that guide effective language instruction. Importance of listening and speaking, the purpose language serves, and how children use it as a communication tool. An analytical understanding of how grammar supports language development in both spoken and written forms. Difficulties faced when teaching language in mixed-ability classrooms, including common mistakes, language barriers, and disorders. Various components that make up the overall language ability. Assessing a student’s language understanding through listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Use of educational resources: textbooks, digital media, and multilingual classroom tools. Providing corrective support to help students overcome language-learning challenges.

Language-II Topics

Find the Language-II topics for Paper 2 in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Language Comprehension(15 MCQs)	Two unseen prose passages, whether discursive, literary, narrative, or scientific; will be given, followed by questions that assess comprehension, grammar skills, and verbal ability.
Pedagogy of Language Development(15 MCQs)	Understanding how language is learned and acquired. Key principles involved in effective language teaching. Importance of listening and speaking, and how children use language as a tool. A critical view of grammar’s role in helping learners communicate ideas orally and in writing. Difficulties faced in teaching language in diverse classrooms, including linguistic challenges, mistakes, and disorders. Different language skills. Assessing proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Use of teaching and learning resources such as textbooks, multimedia tools, and multilingual classroom materials. Providing remedial language support.

Mathematics Topics

Find the mathematics topics for Paper 2 in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Content(20 MCQs)	Concepts of the number system Understanding and working with numbers Exploring number patterns Whole numbers Integers and negative numbers Fractional values Basics of algebra Introduction to algebraic expressions Ratios and proportions Fundamentals of geometry Basic 2-D geometric concepts Identifying simple shape in both 2-D and 3-D Symmetry and reflections Geometric constructions using ruler, protractor, and compass Measuring shapes and figures (mensuration) Collecting and interpreting data
Pedagogical Issues(10 MCQs)	The nature of mathematics and logical reasoning Importance of mathematics in the school curriculum Mathematical language and expressions Using mathematics in real-life community situations Assessment and evaluation in mathematics Providing remedial support in math learning Challenges faced in teaching mathematics

Science Topics

Find the Science topics for Paper 2 in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Content(20 MCQs)	Food and its types. Various origins of food items. Nutrients and their components. Methods of keeping food clean and safe. Materials and their everyday uses. Living organisms and their environment.  Movement of objects, people, and ideas.  Basic working principles of different things: Electricity, circuits, and their functions.  Understanding magnets and their properties. Natural events and their causes. Resources found in nature.
Pedagogical issues(10 MCQs)	Essence and structure of scientific disciplines. Aims and significance of teaching. Natural Science Building comprehension and appreciation of scientific ideas. Instructional strategies, including integrated teaching approaches. Application of observation, experiments, and discovery-based methods. Fostering ingenuity and innovative thinking. Utilisation of textbooks, learning aids, and instructional resources. Evaluation covering cognitive, motor, and emotional domains. Difficulties faced in the teaching and learning of science. Offering remedial assistance whenever required.

Social Studies/ Social Sciences Topics

Find the Social Studies/ Social Sciences topics for Paper 2 in the table below.

CTET Subjects	Topics Included
Content(40 MCQs)	History The study of when, where, and how events unfolded. Life in the earliest human communities. The beginnings of farming and herding practices. The rise of the first urban centres. Formation of early political states. Emergence of new philosophical and religious ideas. The establishment of the first great empire. Interactions with faraway regions. Shifts in political structures over time. Advancements in culture and scientific knowledge. The rise of new rulers and regional kingdoms. The era of the Delhi Sultans. Architectural developments through different periods. The expansion and consolidation of empires. Transformations within society. Growth of distinct regional traditions. The rise of Company rule in India. Everyday life in rural areas. Impact of colonialism on tribal groups. The uprising of 1857 to 58. Women’s role in reform movements. Efforts to question and reform caste practices. The growth of nationalism. Developments in India after gaining independence. Geography Understanding geography as both a social science and a natural science. Earth’s place within the solar system. Representation of the world through the globe. A holistic view of the environment, natural and human-made. Composition and importance of the atmosphere. Water bodies and their significance. Human settlements, transportation, and communication networks. Types of resources: both natural and human-made. Agricultural practices and their importance. Social and Political Life Understanding social diversity. Structure and functioning of government. Role and functioning of local administrative bodies. How people earn their livelihood. Concept and principles of democracy. Functions of state-level government. Role and impact of media. Exploring gender roles and inequalities. Understanding the Constitution. Working of parliamentary institutions. The role of the judiciary. Ensuring social justice and supporting marginalised groups.
Pedagogical issues(20 MCQs)	Understanding the meaning and characteristics of Social Science and Social Studies. Classroom interactions, learning tasks, and academic discussions. Cultivating analytical and critical thinking skills. Using inquiry-based approaches and factual evidence. Challenges faced in teaching Social Science/Social Studies. Utilising primary and secondary sources of information. Conducting project-based learning activities. Methods of assessing learners’ understanding and progress.

Best Preparation Books for the CTET Exam Syllabus

The following are the best books to prepare for the CTET exam syllabus.

Best Books	Publication
Child Development and Pedagogy for CTET & TETs (Paper I & II)	Arihant Publication
Success Master CTET Paper I (Class I-V)	Arihant Publication
CTET & TETs Bhasha Hindi Paper I & II	Arihant Publication
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations, Edition 7	R S Aggarwal
Environmental Studies (EVS) Exam Goalpost for CTET & TETs, Class I-V	Wiley Publication

Also Read: CTET Result

How to prepare for the upcoming CTET exam? 

It is crucial for aspirants to prepare for the CTET exam correctly using different study materials and the exam syllabus to avoid any unnecessary mistakes. Check the points below to understand some of the tips and strategies that can help you to prepare for the exam: 

• Check the exam syllabus and bifurcate the concepts into strong and weak topics. Now, focus on the weak ones first and then revise the strong concepts. 
• Start your CTET prep with Child Development & Pedagogy, as it is one of the most scoring and important subjects in the exam. Focus on learning theories, inclusive education, and assessment techniques. 
• Practice comprehension, grammar, writing, and also read about language pedagogy for the Language I & II section.  
• To attempt subject-based sections, including Maths / Science / Social Studies, you must follow the latest NCERT syllabus and curriculum. 
• Practising with the sample papers and mock tests daily is often beneficial in preparing for the exam. As you need to attempt 150 questions in 2.5 hours, it means that you require enough practice to build speed as well as accuracy.

FAQs 

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