The CTET December 2026 exam (the 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test) will be held on December 12 and 13, 2026. It was originally scheduled for September 6, 2026, but CBSE rescheduled it through a public notice dated September 14, 2026. If you applied in the window that closed on September 1, this guide covers the new dates, city intimation slip and admit card timeline, exam pattern, pass marks, a 6-week study plan, exam day rules and what happens after the result.
CTET is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). A CTET pass is required for teaching posts in central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, and it is accepted by many private and state schools. For Kerala candidates, CTET adds to the KTET qualification and opens doors to central school jobs across India.
CTET December 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Original exam date | September 6, 2026 (postponed) |
| Rescheduling notice | September 14, 2026 |
| Application window (reopened) | August 25 to September 1, 2026 (closed) |
| City intimation slip | About 15 days before the exam (expected late November 2026) |
| Admit card | Usually about 2 days before the exam |
| Exam dates | December 12 and 13, 2026 |
| Official website | ctet.nic.in |
CBSE allots the exam city, date and shift for CTET December 2026. Candidates cannot choose the exact date. Your allotted paper, date and centre will appear in the city intimation slip and then on the admit card.
CTET December 2026 Exam Pattern
CTET has two papers. Paper I is for teachers of Classes 1 to 5 and Paper II for Classes 6 to 8. You can write one or both. Each paper has 150 multiple choice questions, carries 150 marks and lasts two and a half hours. The exam is offline on OMR sheets, and there is no negative marking.
Paper I (Primary Stage: Classes 1 to 5)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
Paper II (Elementary Stage: Classes 6 to 8)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I | 30 | 30 |
| Language II | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science, or Social Studies/Social Science | 60 | 60 |
Language I and Language II must be different. Many Kerala candidates choose English and Malayalam, or Malayalam and English, based on their comfort. You choose the languages in the application; they cannot be changed now.
Shift Timings
CTET is usually held in two shifts on each exam day: a morning shift from 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon and an afternoon shift from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Paper I and Paper II are held in different shifts. Check your CTET December 2026 admit card for which paper falls in which shift, because the arrangement can differ from the previous session.
Pass Marks and Certificate Validity
- Pass marks: Candidates need 60% or more (90 out of 150) to pass. School managements and authorities may give concessions to reserved categories as per their policies.
- Validity: The CTET certificate is valid for life, following the decision to extend validity from seven years to lifetime.
- No limit on attempts: You can write CTET again to improve your score.
Passing CTET December 2026 makes you eligible to apply for teacher posts, but it does not guarantee a job. Recruitment is done separately by KVS, NVS, state governments and schools.
How to Download the City Slip and Admit Card
- Visit ctet.nic.in.
- Click the link for the CTET December 2026 city intimation slip or admit card.
- Enter your application number and date of birth.
- Download and print the document.
- Check your name, photo, paper, language choices, date, shift and centre.
Report any error to CBSE immediately using the contact details on the website.
6-Week Study Plan for CTET December 2026
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Child Development and Pedagogy: theories, learning, inclusive education |
| Week 2 | Language I and II: comprehension, grammar, language pedagogy |
| Week 3 | Mathematics content and pedagogy |
| Week 4 | EVS (Paper I) or Science / Social Studies (Paper II) |
| Week 5 | Previous papers and two full mock tests |
| Week 6 | Revision of weak topics, short notes and OMR practice |
Child Development and Pedagogy: The Most Important Section
Child Development and Pedagogy (CDP) appears in both papers and often decides whether a candidate passes. Questions test understanding, not memorisation. For CTET December 2026, focus on:
- Concepts of growth and development, and the role of heredity and environment
- Piaget, Vygotsky and Kohlberg: stages, key ideas and classroom applications
- Learning and how children think: constructivism, errors as part of learning
- Inclusive education: children with special needs, gender issues, socially disadvantaged learners
- Assessment: continuous and comprehensive evaluation, formative and summative assessment
- Motivation, emotions and the role of the teacher in a child-centred classroom
Read each question carefully. CTET often asks what a “progressive teacher” or a “constructivist classroom” would do. The right answer usually respects the child, encourages exploration and avoids punishment or rote learning.
Language Sections: Tips for Kerala Candidates
Each language section has two parts: comprehension passages and language pedagogy. Malayalam-medium candidates should practise reading English passages under time limits. Pedagogy questions in both languages cover topics like language acquisition, the role of listening and speaking, teaching grammar in context, remedial teaching and assessment of language skills. For CTET December 2026, solve at least five previous language sections to understand the style.
Mathematics and EVS / Science / Social Studies
About half the questions in these sections test content at the school level, and half test pedagogy. For Mathematics, revise number system, geometry, measurement, data handling and patterns, along with ideas like using concrete materials and understanding children’s errors. For EVS, focus on family, food, water, shelter, travel and things we make and do, as well as the integrated, activity-based nature of EVS teaching. Paper II candidates should revise NCERT textbooks of Classes 6 to 8 for Science or Social Studies.
Exam Day Rules for CTET December 2026
- Reach the centre early. Gates usually close before the exam starts, and late entry is not allowed.
- Carry the printed admit card and an original photo ID.
- Use only a blue or black ballpoint pen as instructed for the OMR sheet.
- Do not carry mobile phones, calculators, smart watches or written material.
- Fill the OMR sheet carefully: roll number, test booklet code and bubbles must be correct.
- Do not fold or damage the OMR sheet.
Common Mistakes in CTET
- Studying only content, not pedagogy. Pedagogy questions carry heavy weight in every section.
- Skipping questions. There is no negative marking in CTET December 2026, so answer all 150 questions.
- Wrong language strategy. Spend more time on the weaker language section in revision.
- OMR errors. Practise filling OMR sheets at home to avoid mistakes under pressure.
- Not reading the full question. Many CDP questions turn on a single word such as “not”, “best” or “most appropriate”.
After the Exam: Answer Key and Result
CBSE usually publishes a provisional answer key and allows candidates to challenge answers online for a fee. The final result is declared on ctet.nic.in, and successful candidates can download their mark sheet and eligibility certificate through DigiLocker. Based on past sessions, results have generally come out within six to eight weeks of the exam, so CTET December 2026 results may be expected in early 2027, subject to CBSE’s schedule.
CTET vs KTET
| Point | CTET | KTET |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | CBSE | Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan |
| Valid for | Central schools (KVS, NVS) and many others across India | Kerala government and aided schools |
| Levels | Paper I (Classes 1-5), Paper II (6-8) | Categories I to IV, up to High School |
| Validity | Lifetime | As per Kerala rules |
Many Kerala teacher aspirants write both. KTET is also being held in November 2026; read our KTET Hall Ticket 2026 guide for its dates.
Teaching Jobs After CTET December 2026
Once you pass, you can apply for several types of teaching jobs:
- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS): Primary Teacher (PRT) needs Paper I; Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) needs Paper II, along with other qualifications.
- Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS): TGT and other posts, as per their recruitment rules.
- Central government and defence schools: Army Public Schools and other central institutions often prefer or require CTET.
- Private CBSE schools: Many CBSE schools in Kerala and the Gulf ask for CTET for elementary teaching posts.
Watch for KVS and NVS recruitment notifications, which usually ask for CTET scores. A good score in CTET December 2026 can also help in shortlisting where schools consider marks.
Eligibility Reminder
Since you have already applied, this is just a reminder for document verification later. For Paper I, candidates generally need Senior Secondary (Plus Two) with at least 50% marks and a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), or equivalent qualifications listed by NCTE. For Paper II, candidates generally need a graduation degree and a two-year D.El.Ed, or graduation with at least 50% marks and a B.Ed, among other routes. Final-year D.El.Ed and B.Ed students can also appear. Keep your mark sheets and certificates ready for future recruitment.
Important Theories to Revise
A quick list of theorists and ideas that commonly appear in CTET December 2026 preparation materials:
- Jean Piaget: sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational and formal operational stages; schema, assimilation, accommodation.
- Lev Vygotsky: zone of proximal development, scaffolding, the role of language and social interaction.
- Lawrence Kohlberg: pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional moral reasoning.
- Howard Gardner: multiple intelligences and their classroom use.
- Behaviourism vs constructivism: rewards and reinforcement versus active knowledge construction.
- Policies: Right to Education Act 2009, National Curriculum Framework, National Education Policy 2020 and the focus on foundational literacy and numeracy.
How to Use Previous Papers
Previous CTET papers are the best guide to the style of CTET December 2026. Follow this method:
- Solve a full paper in 150 minutes on an OMR sheet.
- Check answers and mark each mistake as a concept gap, misreading or guess.
- For every pedagogy mistake, write the correct principle in one line in a notebook.
- Revise that notebook every two or three days.
After five or six papers, the notebook becomes your most valuable revision tool for CTET December 2026.
Time Management in the Exam
You have 150 minutes for 150 questions. A simple approach:
- Start with your strongest section to build confidence.
- Spend no more than one minute on any question in the first round.
- Mark doubtful questions in the booklet and return to them later.
- Keep the last 10 minutes to check OMR bubbles and answer any remaining questions.
Writing Both Papers
Many candidates appear for both Paper I and Paper II in CTET December 2026. If you are doing both, they will be in different shifts and possibly on different days. Plan your rest and meals between shifts, and revise the paper-specific sections (EVS for Paper I, Maths and Science or Social Studies for Paper II) the evening before each paper. Child Development and Pedagogy and language preparation help in both papers, so writing both is efficient if you are eligible.
Staying Motivated
The postponement from September to December can make it hard to keep momentum. Set weekly targets, join a study group with other CTET December 2026 aspirants, and track your mock test scores. Seeing steady improvement keeps motivation high until exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is CTET December 2026?
The exam will be held on December 12 and 13, 2026, after being rescheduled from September 6, 2026.
Can I still apply for CTET December 2026?
No. The application window, which reopened from August 25 to September 1, 2026, has closed. Watch for the next CTET notification.
When will the admit card be released?
The city intimation slip is expected about 15 days before the exam, and the admit card about two days before, on ctet.nic.in.
What are the pass marks?
60% (90 out of 150). Reserved categories may get concessions according to the policies of the recruiting authorities.
Is the CTET certificate valid for life?
Yes. The CTET certificate now has lifetime validity.
Is there negative marking?
No. Attempt every question.
Checklist for the Final Week
- Download and print the city slip and admit card as soon as they are released.
- Check the date, shift and paper on the admit card for CTET December 2026.
- Visit or locate your exam centre on a map a day before.
- Keep two blue or black ballpoint pens, a photo ID and the admit card in a transparent pouch.
- Revise only short notes: theorists, key pedagogy principles and formulas.
- Sleep early the night before and eat a light breakfast.
Why CTET Matters for Kerala Candidates
Kerala has many qualified teachers, and competition for state government and aided school posts is strong. CTET widens your options beyond Kerala. Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas operate across the country, including in Kerala districts, and many CBSE schools in the state and in Gulf countries prefer CTET-qualified teachers. A pass in CTET December 2026, along with KTET, gives you a stronger profile for both state and central opportunities.
Plan Your Next Steps Now
While you wait for the result, prepare for the next stage. Update your CV with your qualifications and teaching practice experience, collect experience certificates from schools where you have worked, and follow official recruitment portals for KVS, NVS and state teacher posts. Many recruitments open soon after CTET results, and candidates who are ready with documents can apply quickly. If you plan to teach in a CBSE school abroad, research the requirements of schools in your target country early.
Finally, remember that CTET can be attempted again if needed, and the certificate is valid for life once you pass. Give CTET December 2026 your best effort, and keep learning regardless of the outcome.
Quick Recap
- Exam dates: December 12 and 13, 2026 (rescheduled from September 6).
- City slip about 15 days before; admit card about 2 days before.
- Each paper: 150 questions, 150 marks, two and a half hours, OMR based.
- No negative marking; pass mark 60% (90/150).
- Certificate valid for life once you pass.
- Child Development and Pedagogy is common to both papers and needs the most attention.
Use this recap as a final checklist in the days before CTET December 2026.
We wish every candidate the very best.
A Note on Fake Notices
Around every CTET session, fake notices about date changes, results or “guaranteed pass” coaching spread on social media and messaging apps. Rely only on ctet.nic.in and official CBSE announcements. Never pay anyone who promises to increase your marks or provide question papers in advance. Such claims are scams, and engaging with them can lead to disqualification.
Final Word
With the new dates of December 12 and 13, CTET December 2026 candidates have extra preparation time. Use it to strengthen Child Development and Pedagogy, practise both language sections and take full mock tests on OMR sheets. Download your city slip and admit card as soon as they are released and check every detail. For more teacher exam updates, including KTET and Kerala SET, visit our Teacher Exams section.
Disclaimer: Dates are based on the CBSE notice and reports available on November 1, 2026. Zayan is not an official website. Always confirm details on ctet.nic.in.