DSSSB PRT syllabus and exam pattern

How the primary teacher exam works

DSSSB runs a single written test for PRT posts. There is no mains and no interview, so the merit list comes straight from this paper, followed by document verification. The test runs on computer and shows each question bilingually, with the obvious exception of the two language parts.

The same board recruits for many other posts, and its general rules are summed up on the DSSSB syllabus page. Teachers aiming at upper classes should look at the DSSSB TGT syllabus.

DSSSB PRT exam pattern table

A correct answer earns 1 and an incorrect one subtracts 0.25. Recent DSSSB notices fix minimum qualifying marks at 40 percent (general and EWS), 35 percent (Delhi OBC) and 30 percent (SC, ST, PwBD); read your cycle's notice for exactly how these are applied.

Section A topics

GK and current affairs

• Current events in India and abroad, sports, awards and books
• History, culture, geography, the Constitution and economy
• Everyday science and scientific developments

Reasoning

• Analogy, odd one out, and number, letter or figure series
• Coding, directions, blood relations and spatial visualisation
• Decision making, judgement and observation based questions

Arithmetic

• Whole numbers, fractions, decimal working, factors and multiples, simplification
• Ratio, percentage, averages, profit and loss with discount, simple and compound interest
• Time, work, distance, mensuration and reading tables and graphs

Hindi

• संज्ञा, सर्वनाम, विशेषण, क्रिया, लिंग, वचन
• उपसर्ग, प्रत्यय, संधि, समास, तत्सम और तद्भव शब्द
• पर्यायवाची, विलोम, मुहावरे, लोकोक्तियाँ, अपठित गद्यांश

English

• Grammar: tenses, voice, narration, articles, prepositions, agreement
• Vocabulary: synonym and antonym pairs, common idioms, one word for a phrase
• Finding errors, ordering jumbled sentences and unseen passages

Section B: teaching methodology

Section B draws on the primary teacher education curriculum set by NCTE, the same ground a D.El.Ed course covers. Expect questions on:

• Child development: growth and development, stages and domains, the role of family, school and peers in socialisation
• Learning and pedagogy: behaviourist, cognitive and constructivist views of learning, factors that affect learning, planning lessons, observing classrooms and giving feedback
• Inclusive education: disability, learners with special needs, guidance and counselling
• School and policy: school leadership and organisation, curriculum principles, the RTE Act and the National Education Policy
• Subject teaching at the primary level: how children learn languages, mathematics and environmental studies, and how to assess them

Weightage and focus areas

Half the marks sit in Section B, so start there. Most of it overlaps with Paper I of the CTET, which you must already have passed to be eligible, so revise your CTET notes on child development and pedagogy first and then deepen them with D.El.Ed textbooks. In Section A, the two language sections and arithmetic are the most scoring; general awareness is the least predictable, so give it a steady 20 minutes a day rather than long sessions.

Ten weeks to exam day

1. Weeks 1 to 3: child development, learning theories and inclusive education.
2. Weeks 4 and 5: school and policy topics, then primary level teaching of languages, maths and EVS.
3. Weeks 6 and 7: maths, reasoning puzzles and grammar in both languages.
4. Week 8: general awareness and Delhi related current affairs.
5. Weeks 9 and 10: timed mock tests and revision of wrong answers.

Since each slip costs a quarter mark, mark an unsure question only once two of its four choices look clearly wrong to you.

Books and official sources

NCERT textbooks for classes 1 to 8 are the best base for arithmetic, EVS and language content. For pedagogy, use the D.El.Ed course books and your CTET Paper I preparation material. Grammar references in Hindi and English cover the language sections. DSSSB publishes notices, syllabi and answer keys on its official website, which is also where applications are filed. The CTET paper 1 syllabus page lists the pedagogy units that overlap most.

DSSSB PRT syllabus in Hindi

डीएसएसएसबी प्राथमिक शिक्षक (पीआरटी) परीक्षा एक चरण की ऑनलाइन परीक्षा है, जिसमें 200 प्रश्न, 200 अंक और 2 घंटे मिलते हैं। खंड ए के पाँच भागों (सामान्य ज्ञान, तर्क, अंकगणित, हिंदी, अंग्रेज़ी) में से हर एक से 20 प्रश्न आते हैं। खंड बी में 100 प्रश्न शिक्षण पद्धति पर होते हैं, जैसे बाल विकास, सीखने के सिद्धांत, समावेशी शिक्षा, शिक्षा का अधिकार कानून और प्राथमिक कक्षाओं में भाषा, गणित व पर्यावरण अध्ययन पढ़ाने के तरीके। ग़लत जवाब देने पर हर बार 0.25 अंक घटाए जाते हैं।