CTET Exam Timing 2026: Check Paper 1, 2 Shift Timings & Exam Duration

CTET Exam Timing 2026: The CBSE will conduct the CTET 21st Edition exam on February 8, 2026 at various centres across the country in two shifts for Paper 1 and 2. Scroll down to know about the CTET shift timings, exam time, duration, reproting time, etc.

CTET Shift Timings 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the 21st edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) on February 8. The CTET 2026 exam will be conducted in two shifts for Paper 1 and Paper 2. As per the CTET exam time mentioned in the official notification, CTET Paper 1 is conducted in shift 2 from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and CTET Paper 2 is conducted in shift 1 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. The exact timing of the exam is intimated to candidates through the CTET admit card. Besides the CTET timing, the admit card also comprises the CTET reporting time 2026. Candidates need to reach the allotted CTET exam centre as per their reporting time.

The CBSE CTET Paper 1 is for candidates who want to teach Classes 1-5 (Primary Teachers), and CTET Paper 2 is for candidates who want to teach Classes 6-8 (Elementary Teachers). Candidates who wish to teach Classes 1-8 need to take both papers of the CBSE CTET.

CTET Exam Timing 2026

The CTET exam time 2026 is different for Paper 1 and Paper 2. The CTET Paper 1 is conducted in the afternoon shift and CTET Paper 2 is held in the morning shift. Have a look at the CTET paper timing 2026 for both papers below:

• CTET Paper 2 Exam Time - 9:30 am to 12:00 noon
• CTET Paper 1 Exam Time - 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm

The CTET Paper 1 comprises 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from five subjects, namely, Child Development and Pedagogy, Language-I, Language-II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies. On the other hand, CTET Paper 2 consists of four subjects Child Development and Pedagogy, Language-I, Language II, Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Sciences. The CTET exam pattern is different for Paper 1 and Paper 2.

CTET Shift Timings 2026 for Papers 1 & 2

 Candidates can check the CTET paper timing 2026 below, including the reporting time and exam time for Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Note: Candidates will not be permitted to enter the Examination Centre after the commencement of the examination as per the CTET exam time given in their Admit Card. Candidates must bring a copy of their admit card to the exam hall without fail.

Also Read: Last 5 Years Question Papers of CTET: Download Free PDFs

CTET 2026 Exam

The CTET 2026 session is the 21st edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test. Lakhs of candidates are expected to appear for the CTET exam 2026 to obtain the CTET certificate and become eligible for recruitment as Primary or Elementary teachers in centralized schools such as KVS, NVS, etc.

CTET is a national-level eligibility exam conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The CTET exam is conducted every year to determine the eligibility of candidates for appointment as teachers for Classes 1 to 8 in Central Government School such as KVS, NVS, etc. The CBSE is organising the CTET 2026 exam offline in pen and paper mode.

Also Read: CTET Exam Analysis

CTET 2026 Important Topics To Revise in Pedagogy

• Concept of development and learning relationship 
• Principles of the development of children
• Influence of Heredity & Environment
• Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
• Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
• Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice
• Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment; Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE)
• Basic processes of teaching and learning, children's strategies of learning, learning as a social activity, social context of learning
• Motivation and learning
• Factors contributing to learning , personal & environmental 
• Child as a problem solver and a scientific investigator
• Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, ‘impairment’ etc.
• Cognition & Emotions
• Learning and Pedagogy, etc.

CTET Exam Day Guidelines 2026

Have a look at the exam day instructions below to be followed by candidates during the conduct of the CTET examination:

Things & Documents to Carry to the CTET Exam Centre

• CTET admit card 2026 (also known as the hall ticket) is a mandatory document to be carried to the test centre. Candidates not carrying their admit card on the day of the exam will not be allowed to give the paper. In case a candidate forgets to carry his/her admit card to the centre, s/he is advised to take another printout from a nearby cybercafé.
• Along with the admit card, candidates must also carry a valid photo ID proof to the test centre such as a PAN Card, Aadhar Card, Passport, Driving License and Voter ID Card.

Candidates should not carry the following items to the test centre or inside the exam hall:

• Stationery items like books, bits of paper, plastic pouches, calculators, scales, geometry/pencil boxes, writing pads, pen drives, erasers, log tables, electronic pen/scanner, cardboard, etc.
• Communication devices such as mobile phones, Bluetooth, earphones, microphones, pagers, health bands, etc.
• Watch, wristwatch, camera, wallet, goggles, handbags, golden ornaments, etc.
• Any other item which could be used as unfair means and for hiding communication devices/gadgets.

Note: Candidates suffering from diabetes are allowed to carry eatables such as sugar tablets/fruits (like banana/apple/orange) and transparent water bottles to the test centre. However, such candidates are not allowed to carry packed foods like chocolates/candy/sandwiches inside the exam hall.

Read More:

• CTET Syllabus
• How to Crack CTET 2026 on the First Attempt
• CTET 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Documents List, Provisions for PWD Candidates
• CTET CDP (Child Development and Pedagogy) 2025: Syllabus, Topics, Notes, Tips
• CTET Social Science (Paper 2) Syllabus 2026: Topics, Books, Notes, Preparation Tips