CTET Eligibility Criteria 2024: Age Limit & Educational Qualifications

Quick Summary:

• To be eligible for the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) exam, candidates must meet different criteria for Paper 1 and Paper 2. For Paper 1 (Primary Stage: Classes I to V), candidates need to have passed the 12th grade with at least 50% marks and hold a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or an equivalent qualification.
• For Paper 2 (Elementary Stage: Classes VI to VIII), candidates should be graduates with at least 50% marks and have a B.Ed degree or an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates can take the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) as many times as needed, which allows them to retake the exam to improve their scores.

Latest CTET Eligibility Criteria

Qualifying for the CTET 2024 (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is essential for aspiring teachers planning to build a career in education. Understanding the eligibility criteria for both the primary and upper primary levels is crucial, especially since significant changes have been made to the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) requirements.

Regarding age restrictions, there is no upper age limit for candidates applying for CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) 2024. However, candidates must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years to be eligible for the exam.

Candidates aiming to teach at the primary level (Class I-V) must have completed or be in the final year of a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or hold a B.Ed or equivalent qualification. For the upper primary level (Class VI-VIII), candidates should have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with at least 50% marks and a B.Ed or be in the final year of their B.Ed program.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) now considers candidates enrolled in a Teacher Training Course (TTC) as “pursuing” and eligible to apply for the CTET exam. However, passing the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is required but does not guarantee recruitment; final eligibility will be verified by the relevant authority, such as Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti or Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

Read More: Subject-wise CTET Syllabus for Paper 1 & Paper 2

CTET Highlights

Here are the major highlights of the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) eligibility:

Particular	Detail
Exam Name	Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET)
Conducting Body	Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Mode of Exam	Offline – Pen and Paper Based
Exam Fees	INR 1,000 for General/OBC INR 500 for SC/ST/PwD
Exam Time	Shift 1: 09:30 am to 12:00 noon Shift 2: 02:00 pm to 04:30 pm
Exam Date	January 21, 2024 December 14, 2024 (and December 15, 2024, if needed)
No. of Papers and Total Marks	Paper-1: 150 marks Paper-2: 150 marks
Total Questions	150 MCQs in each paper
Marking Scheme	+1 for each correct answer No negative marking
Exam Purpose	To determine eligibility for Classes 1 to 8 teacher recruitment
Official Website	https://ctet.nic.in
Helpline No.	011-22240112
Minimum Age	18 years
Maximum Age	No upper age limit
Nationality	Indian citizens only
Validity of Certificate	Lifetime

CTET Exam Pattern

Paper I (for classes I to V)

Subject	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration
Child Development and Pedagogy	30	30	2.5 hours
Language I	30	30
Language II	30	30
Mathematics	30	30
Environmental Studies	30	30
Total	150	150	2.5 hours

Paper II (for classes VI to VIII)

Subject	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration
Child Development and Pedagogy	30	30	2.5 hours
Language I	30	30
Language II	30	30
Mathematics and Science (for Mathematics and Science teachers)	60	60
Social Studies/Social Science (for Social Studies/Social Science teachers)	60	60
Total	150	150	2.5 hours

Key Points

• Type of Questions: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Marking Scheme: +1 mark for each correct answer
• Negative Marking: No negative marking

This structure ensures that candidates are tested on their knowledge and pedagogical skills across various subjects relevant to primary and upper primary teaching levels.

CTET Exam Date 2024

The CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) exam is expected to be held on December 14, 2024. The exact date and schedule regarding the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) application form submission and exam date were announced in the official notification. The complete exam schedule is shared below:

Exam Name	Exam Dates
CTET Notification 2024	September 17, 2024
CTET Application Form 2024	Closed (October 16, 2024)
CTET Exam Date 2024	December 14, 2024

CTET Syllabus

Paper I (for classes I to V)

1. Child Development and Pedagogy
   • Child Development (Primary School Child): Understanding the development and its relationship with learning, principles of child development, and the influence of heredity and environment.
   • Concepts of Inclusive Education and Understanding Children with Special Needs: Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, impairment, etc.
   • Learning and Pedagogy: How children think and learn; why children fail to achieve success in school performance.
2. Language I
   • Language Comprehension: Reading unseen passages – two passages one prose or drama and one poem with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar, and verbal ability.
   • Pedagogy of Language Development: Learning and acquisition, principles of language teaching, role of listening and speaking, the function of grammar in learning a language.
3. Language II
   • Comprehension: Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with questions on comprehension, grammar, and verbal ability.
   • Pedagogy of Language Development: Same as Language I but in a second language.
4. Mathematics
   • Content: Geometry, shapes and spatial understanding, numbers, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, measurement, data handling.
   • Pedagogical Issues: Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking; understanding children’s thinking and reasoning patterns and strategies of making meaning and learning.
5. Environmental Studies
   • Content: Family and Friends, Food, Shelter, Water, Travel, Things We Make and Do.
   • Pedagogical Issues: Concept and scope of EVS, significance of EVS integrated EVS, environmental studies & environmental education, learning principles, scope & relation to science & social science.

Paper II (for classes VI to VIII)

1. Child Development and Pedagogy
   • Child Development (Elementary School Child): Concept of development and its relationship with learning, principles of the development of children, influence of heredity & environment.
   • Concepts of Inclusive Education and Understanding Children with Special Needs: Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds including disadvantaged and deprived.
   • Learning and Pedagogy: How children think and learn; why children fail to achieve success in school performance.
2. Language I and II
   • Similar to Paper I but with a focus on higher-level comprehension and pedagogy.
3. Mathematics and Science (for Mathematics and Science teachers)
   • Mathematics: Number system, algebra, geometry, mensuration, data handling.
   • Science: Food, materials, the world of the living, moving things, people and ideas, how things work, natural phenomena, natural resources.
   • Pedagogical Issues: Nature of Mathematics/Science, understanding children’s thinking and reasoning patterns, and strategies of making meaning and learning.
4. Social Studies/Social Science (for Social Studies/Social Science teachers)
   • Content: History, geography, social and political life.
   • Pedagogical Issues: Concept and nature of social science/social studies, classroom processes, activities, and discourse, developing critical thinking, problems of teaching social science/social studies.

Each paper consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), with each question carrying one mark. There is no negative marking, so it’s a good idea to attempt all questions!

How to fill CTET online form 2024?

• Visit the official website- ctet.nic.in
• Click on the ‘Apply for CTET Dec 2024’ link.
• Click on ‘New Registration’.
• Go through the details, click on acknowledgement and proceed.
• Register by filling in the required details.
• Fill out the application form- personal information, contact details and educational details.
• Upload the documents required like photograph and signature.
• Pay the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) application fee.
• Submit and save the confirmation page.

CTET Age Limit and Nationality

Candidates must be Indian citizens to be considered for the CTET 2024 exam. The CTET eligibility says that the exam has no minimum age limit. Students can retake the exam as often as possible to raise their CTET scores.

Check out the nationality and age limit criteria below:

• Minimum Age: 18 years
• Maximum Age: No upper age limit
• Indian Citizenship: Candidates must be Indian citizens
• Retakes: Unlimited attempts allowed to improve scoresizens.

Read More: Top CTET Books 2024 for Successful Preparation (Paper 1 & 2)

CTET Eligibility Criteria 2024

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rescheduled the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) December 2024 exam. Originally set for December 1, 2024, the exam will now be held on December 15, 2024, due to administrative reasons

For the General category, Candidates who score 60% marks in the examination will be considered qualified. There will be a 5% relaxation of the qualifying marks in the minimum Educational Qualification for you if you belong to SC/ST/OBC/Person with Disabilities category.

There is no negative marking for a wrong attempted question. 

17 Sep ’24 – 16 Oct ’24	CTET Application Dates
21 Oct ’24 – 25 Oct ’24	CTET Form Correction
15 Dec ’24 (in case any unforeseen circumstances require)	CTET 2024 Exam Date

CTET Eligibility: Educational Qualifications

For the December session of CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) 2024, CBSE has introduced an additional eligibility criterion. Candidates with a Postgraduate degree and a minimum of 55% marks who have also completed a three-year integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. program from an NCTE-recognized university are eligible to apply. These candidates will be considered for teaching positions in Grades 1 to 5. However, it is required that they complete a six-month Elementary Education Bridge Course within two years of their employment as teachers.

CTET Educational Qualification for Paper 1 (Primary Level)

Here are the details for the required Paper 1 qualifications for CTET:

• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education or a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, following NCTE regulations.
• Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a B.Ed. qualification. Candidates in this category must enroll in a six-month Bridge Course in Elementary Education, approved by the NCTE, within two years of their appointment as primary teachers.
• Additionally, Postgraduate candidates who have completed a three-year integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. program with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade are also eligible.

CTET Educational Qualification for Paper 2 (Upper Primary Level)

Here are the details for the required Paper 2 qualifications for CTET(Central Teacher Eligibility Test):

• B.A./B.Sc. Ed. or B.A. Ed./B.Sc. Ed. with at least 50% marks, and passed or appearing in the final year of a four-year degree in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and passing or appearing in the final year of a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and a one-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or B.Ed (Special Education) degree. For this category, candidates must have at least 50% marks in their B.Ed program.
• Graduation with at least 45% marks and passing or appearing in a one-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) program, following NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) guidelines.
• Candidates who have completed a B.Ed program recognized by the NCTE are eligible to apply for CTET.
• Postgraduate candidates who have completed a three-year integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed. program with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade are also eligible.

Read More: CTET Application Form 2024: Key Dates, Eligibility, Documents Required and Latest Notification

CTET Eligibility: Reservation Criteria

Candidates who meet the minimum score requirement as per CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) eligibility are considered qualified. General category candidates must score at least 60% of the total marks to qualify. For reserved categories, including Scheduled Tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC), Other Backward Class (OBC), and Differently Abled, there is a 5% relaxation, meaning these candidates need to score at least 55%.

General category candidates scoring 60% or more will be deemed qualified. Additionally, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers, which benefits all candidates.

Category	Cut-Off score
For General	90 marks
Other Reserved Category	82 marks

CTET Eligibility: Number of Attempts

The CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) eligibility is relatively flexible compared to other exams, with the key advantage being the lack of restrictions on the number of attempts. Candidates can take the CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) as many times as needed, which allows them to retake the exam to improve their scores if desired. This flexibility is beneficial, especially for candidates aiming to enhance their performance and secure a higher score.

Read More: CTET Previous Years’ Question Papers

CTET Eligibility: Points to Remember

Students should thoroughly review the Central Teacher Eligibility Test eligibility criteria, including age limits and category requirements, before applying. It is the responsibility of the recruiting authority to verify the applicant’s eligibility. Candidates must ensure they meet all eligibility requirements to avoid personal liability. This article has addressed the key points of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test exam eligibility comprehensively.

Best CTET Books

When preparing for the CTET(Central Teacher Eligibility Test) exam, there is a wide array of books available in the market. It’s essential to choose the most effective and highly recommended resources for your study. Additionally, reviewing NCERT textbooks from Classes 6 to 12 is crucial for solidifying your understanding of the concepts. Below is a table listing the recommended section-wise books for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test exam.

CTET Exam Preparation Book Name	Publisher/Author Name
Child Development and Pedagogy for CTET & TETs (Paper I & II)	Arihant Publication
CTET & TETs Bhasha Hindi Paper I & II	Arihant Publication
CTET and TETs English Language and Pedagogy (Paper I & II)	Arihant Publication
A Complete Resource for CTET (Language I): English and Pedagogy	Geeta Sahni (Author), Pearson Publication
Environmental Studies (EVS) Exam Goalpost for CTET & TETs, Class I-V	Wiley Publication
Success Master CTET (Social Science/Studies) Paper 2 for Class VI-VIII	Arihant Publication

How to Clear CTET Exam in First Attempt?

Every year, over 2.5 million candidates take the CTET exam, according to last year’s statistics. To successfully pass this exam, a well-structured and dedicated study plan is essential. Here are some valuable tips to help you ace the CTET exam on your first try:

1. Develop a solid study schedule.
2. Stay consistent in your preparation efforts.
3. Pinpoint your weak spots and focus on the crucial topics.
4. Utilize the best CTET preparation books available.
5. Ensure you review NCERT books for a strong conceptual foundation.
6. Practice with previous years’ CTET papers and take regular mock tests.

CTET Salary Structure

Absolutely! Here’s a comprehensive overview of the salary structure for various teaching roles under CTET:

Primary Teachers (PRT)

• Basic Pay: Ranges from ₹35,000 to ₹37,000 monthly
• Grade Pay: ₹4,200
• Total Gross Salary: Roughly ₹42,000 to ₹45,000 per month, inclusive of allowances

Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT)

• Basic Pay: Between ₹43,000 and ₹46,000 per month
• Grade Pay: ₹4,600
• Total Gross Salary: Approximately ₹50,000 to ₹55,000 monthly, including allowances

Post Graduate Teachers (PGT)

• Basic Pay: From ₹48,000 to ₹50,000 per month
• Grade Pay: ₹4,800
• Total Gross Salary: Estimated at ₹55,000 to ₹60,000 per month, with allowances included

Allowances and Benefits

Teachers who qualify for CTET also enjoy a variety of allowances, such as:

• House Rent Allowance (HRA): Varies according to city classification (X, Y, Z)
• Travel Allowance (TA)
• Dearness Allowance (DA): Recently raised to 42%

These elements collectively contribute to a highly appealing compensation package for CTET-qualified educators.

CTET Preparation Tips 2024

Preparing for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test exam demands a well-thought-out strategy and dedicated effort. Here are some effective tips to help you gear up:

General Preparation Tips

1. Grasp the Exam Format: Get to know the layout of both Paper I and Paper II. Understanding the number of questions, subjects involved, and time limits is essential.
2. Develop a Study Schedule: Create a practical and well-balanced study timetable. Dedicate specific time slots for each subject and adhere to your schedule.
3. Select Quality Resources: Opt for the best study materials. NCERT books are particularly recommended for their thorough coverage of the syllabus.
4. Take Effective Notes: While studying, jot down concise notes. Emphasize key points and review them frequently.
5. Practice with Past Papers: Work through previous years’ papers to familiarize yourself with question formats and difficulty levels. This practice will also aid in time management during the exam.
6. Engage in Mock Tests: Regularly participate in mock exams to evaluate your preparation. Review your results and focus on areas that need improvement.
7. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of any updates regarding the exam format or syllabus by frequently checking the official CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) website.

Subject-Specific Tips

Child Development and Pedagogy

• Dive into theories of child development, learning methodologies, and educational psychology.
• Familiarize yourself with inclusive education concepts and the needs of special children.

Language I and II

• Enhance your grammar, comprehension, and overall language proficiency.
• Practice reading comprehension exercises and respond to related questions.

Mathematics

• Solidify your foundational knowledge and engage in regular problem-solving practice.
• Concentrate on key areas such as number systems, geometry, and arithmetic.

Environmental Studies

• Explore topics in science, social studies, and environmental education.
• Grasp the concepts and their real-world applications.

Additional Tips

• Prioritize Your Health: Maintain a balanced lifestyle with a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.
• Cultivate Positivity: Keep a positive attitude and stay motivated throughout your study journey.
• Join Study Groups: Collaborate with fellow students to share insights and resources.

Conclusion

To qualify for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), candidates must fulfill certain educational and age requirements. For those aiming for the Primary Stage (Classes 1 to 5), they should have completed their Senior Secondary education with a minimum of 50% marks and either have finished or be in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed). For the Upper Primary Stage (Classes 6 to 8), candidates are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree and have either completed or be in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education or a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)