What is the CTET Exam Process?

The CTET exam process contains the stages shared below- Release of notification Submission of application form CTET admit card Conduct of the exam in offline mode Provisional answer key Declaration of result Final answer key CTET certificate for qualified candidates

What is a good score in CTET?

Candidates who get more than 60 per cent marks in the CTET are good scorers. Those who manage to get over 130 marks are considered as high scorers in the Central Teaching Eligibility Test.

Is CTET a tough exam?

The CTET exam is easy to crack. The difficulty level of the question paper is generally easy to moderate. Candidates should be well prepared in order for the exam.

How to clear CTET without Coaching?

1.1K Students Q&A

Shikha Goyal

Assistant Manager

Updated on Dec 2, 2025 16:46 IST

The authority will conduct the CTET 2026 exam on February 8. It is the 21st edition. The application process is ongoing. The last date to apply is December 18. Candidates have started their preparation. Thousands of candidates clear the exam. Is it possible to prepare for CTET without any coaching. If yes then how. Scroll down for details.

The CTET 21st edition exam will be conducted on February 8. Several candidates may have started their preparation. It is a common question among candidates whether a CBSE CTET exam can be cleared without a coaching institute. This question strikes most of the candidates in their preparation journey. Scroll down to know more about it.

CTET 2026: The CTET 2026 application process is ongoing. The notification was released on November 27. The last date to apply is December 18. The 21st edition exam will be conducted on February 8. It is a time for preparation, to make a strategy and work accordingly. Every year thousands of candidates clear the CBSE CTET exam. A common question that strikes most candidates is can a CTET exam be cleared without a coaching institute. Can we prepare CTET properly without the help of institutes. Is it possible? Scroll down to know about the answer. First, check about the exam overview or highlight.

Table of contents

CTET 2026 Exam Overview
Can a CTET be cleared without Coaching?
CTET Books 2026 for Preparation

CTET 2026 Exam Overview

Candidates must be well-versed in the overview of the CTET exam including the CTET syllabus 2026. Have a look at the overview of the CTET exam pattern and syllabus below:

Particulars	CTET Paper 1 Highlights	CTET Paper 2 Highlights
Exam mode	Offline
Number of subjects/sections	5	4
Names of subjects	Child Development and Pedagogy Language-I Language-II Mathematics Environmental Studies	Child Development and Pedagogy Language-I Language-II Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science
Duration of exam	2 hours 30 minutes
Total questions	150
Type of questions	Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs); 4 options with only 1 correct option
Total marks	150
Marking scheme	+1 for a correct answer, 0 for incorrect answer
Language of CTET question paper	English and Hindi (candidates can write the paper in either of the languages)

Commonly asked questions

Q: How can I start preparation for the CTET exam?

You can start CTET preparation by thoroughly going through the CTET exam pattern and CTET syllabus. The CTET exam pattern makes candidates familiar with the structure of question paper. On the other hand, CTET syllabus makes candidates aware of the topics from which questions are asked in the exam. After going through the exam pattern and syllabus, candidates should ensure studying each topic prescribed by the CBSE in the CTET syllabus.

Q: Which subject holds maximum weightage in CTET exam?

Almost all the sections of the CTET exam hold equal weightage. In CTET Paper 1, all subjects including Child Development and Pedagogy, Language-I, Language-II, Mathematics and Environmental Studies hold equal weightage. However, in CTET Paper 2, the Mathematics & Science and Social Studies/Social Science section holds maximum weightage of 60 marks.

Q: What are the qualifying marks for CTET exam?

The CTET qualifying marks are different for different categories. General category candidates need to obtain a minimum of 60 per cent or above marks in the CTET 2025 exam in order to be considered as a CTET pass. The CTET passing marks for OBC/SC/ST category candidates are 55 per cent. Candidates scoring more than or equal to the qualifying marks are considered CTET qualified. Only those candidates are awarded the CTET Certificate those who secure the minimum qualifying marks. However, a higher CTET score is advantageous in the further teacher recruitment process.

Can a CTET be cleared without Coaching?

Yes. It is possible to clear the CTET exam without the help of coaching. There are several candidates who cleared the exam by doing self-study. But what is important is to follow a proper study pattern, strategy and consistent practice. Or we can say that studying in a disciplined form matters. Candidates can check below some of the methods to achieve a good score in the upcoming CTET exam.

1. Understand the CTET Exam, Pattern and Syllabus

First and foremost is to understand the CBSE CTET exam. It consists of two papers Paper I for Primary Level, which is for those who want to teach students from Classes 1 to 5 and Paper II for upper primary level for those who want to teach from Classes 6 to 8. To understand the CTET exam pattern 2026 and syllabus of any competitive exam is very important. It gives an idea about the number of questions that can be asked in the examination. It also helps to make a self-study plan. This makes the preparation in a structured way, systematic and simple.

2. Choose the right books and study material

Choosing the right books is really important in the preparation. As studying from the right books for both Paper 1 and 2 makes a difference in the preparation style. Candidates should pick the CTET books which are aligned with the NCERT syllabus, cover all fundamentals, consist of the exam-oriented topics and of course are easy to understand. Make short notes if possible and give mock tests on a regular basis.

3. Make a proper strategy or plan.

It is also important to make a proper study plan and stick to it. Disciplines study is crucial. Candidates can also set daily and weekly targets and try to follow them. It is also recommended that complete those subjects first when you find difficulty and then move to the easier ones. For systematic preparation, dedicate separate time for mock test, learning work and for MCQs. Do frequent revision to retain information as much as possible.

4. Take regular Mock Test and Solve Previous Year Papers

CTET Previous Year Papers will help to know the type of questions asked in the exam and Mock test will help candidates to know about their performance and level of preparation. It is also recommended to attempt at least one full-length CTET mock test 2026 every week. Mark the portions or topics in which improvement is required. Work on it and plan preparation accordingly.

5. Revise all theories and concepts for the last time before the exam.

Candidates after completing the syllabus must schedule their time for revision. Try to revise important theories, memorize the formulas, also try to grasp the fundamental ideas of questions.

6. Stay Positive and Organised.

It is also important to keep study material or notes in an organised way so that at times of quick revision or an exam time candidate should easily study, refer them as required. This will help them to remain focused. Also, CTET preparation 2026 sometimes can be stressful, but it is important to remain positive and maintain a proper growth mindset.

Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away

Enter Mobile Number

Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates

UPSC CAPF

UPSC CAPF 2026 Application Dates

16 Feb '26 - 10 Mar '26

RRB NTPC

LIVE

RRB NTPC...

12 Mar '26

Check live updates

SSC CHSL

SSC CHSL 2025 Tier 2 Exam

31 Mar '26

CDS

CDS 1 Exam 2026

12 Apr '26

NDA

NDA 1 2026 Exam Date

12 Apr '26

SSC CGL

SSC CGL 2026 Application Dates

15 Mar '26 - 15 Apr '26

MAHA TET

MAHA TET 2026 Notification

30 Apr '26 - 31 May '26

IES

UPSC ESE (IES) 2026 Mains Exam Date

21 Jun '26

IBPS

IBPS PO 2026 Prelims Exam

22 Aug '26 - 23 Aug '26

TNPSC Group 4

TNPSC Group 4 2026 Application...

6 Oct '26 - 5 Nov '26

CTET Books 2026 for Preparation

Candidates can check below the CTET books for both paper 1 and 2.

CTET Books for Paper 1

Candidates apart from NCERTs candidates can also refer to the list of best CTET books given below for all subjects of Paper 1.

CTET Book Name	Publisher
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
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
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations, Edition 7	R S Aggarwal
Mathematics Exam Goalpost for CTET & TETs	Wiley Publication
Environmental Studies (EVS) Exam Goalpost for CTET & TETs, Class I-V	Wiley Publication

CTET Books for Paper 2

Candidates apart from Classes 6 to 8 NCERT books can also refer to the list of best CTET books given below for all subjects of Paper 2.

CTET Book Name	Publisher
Child Development and Pedagogy for CTET & TETs (Paper I & II)	Arihant Publication
Study Guide for CTET Paper 2 (Class 6 - 8 Teachers) Social Studies/ Social Science with Past Questions 4th Edition	Disha Publication
CTET & TETs Bhasha Hindi Paper I & II	Arihant Publication
CTET and TETs English Language and Pedagogy (Paper I & II)	Arihant Publication
Success Master CTET (Social Science /Studies) Paper 2 for Class VI-VIII	Arihant Publication