CTET 2026 (22nd edition)
Key facts from the official CBSE bulletin and notices for the 22nd CTET, with a marks calculator.
Calculators
Every tool follows the official rule and links its source.
Key facts
From the CBSE information bulletin and the public notice of 14 September 2026.
| Exam date | 12 and 13 December 2026 (moved from 6 September 2026 by CBSE's notice of 14 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Papers | Paper I for Classes I–V; Paper II for Classes VI–VIII; 150 questions each, 2½ hours |
| Marking | 1 mark per question, no negative marking |
| Pass mark | 60% (90 out of 150); employers may give concessions under their reservation policy |
| Certificate validity | Lifetime; no limit on attempts |
Three things to work out before you apply
What your answer sheet is worth. CTET Paper I (Classes I–V) has 150 questions for 150 marks, with nothing taken off for a wrong answer. CTET Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) has 150 questions for 150 marks, with nothing taken off for a wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks are set by category, and the cut-off for the next stage is decided only after the exam. The marks calculator works the score out section by section from the official answer key.
There is no negative marking, so leave nothing blank. Every question carries one mark and a wrong answer costs nothing, which makes an unanswered question strictly worse than a guess. The pass mark is 60 per cent, meaning 90 of the 150 questions; employers may apply concessions under their own reservation policy, but the certificate itself is issued on the 60 per cent rule.
CTET is a qualifying test, not a ranking one: clearing it does not by itself give a teaching post, and there is no merit list to compare yourself against. The certificate is valid for life and there is no limit on attempts, so a candidate who misses the pass mark can sit the next edition without losing anything.