The teacher exam syllabus in India is built on one shared core: child development and pedagogy, two languages, and the subject you plan to teach, with the subject depth rising as you move from primary classes to senior secondary and college. Learn that core once and it carries you through CTET, your state TET and most school recruitment exams.
This hub explains how the exams connect, compares the main ones in a single table, and suggests an order to prepare in. Each exam has its own page with the full pattern and topic list, starting with the CTET syllabus.
Exam at a glance
Main exam types
Eligibility tests (CTET, state TETs), recruitment exams (KVS, DSSSB, Super TET, REET Mains), college level tests (UGC NET, CSIR NET)Teacher levels
PRT for classes 1 to 5, TGT for classes 6 to 10, PGT for classes 11 and 12Common core
Pedagogy, two languages and the subject you teachCTET format
150 questions, 150 marks, 2.5 hours per paper, no negative markingTET pass mark
60 percent in CTET for general category, with relaxation for reserved categoriesOfficial CTET site
How teaching exams in India connect
Teaching exams fall into four groups, and the group tells you what an exam can do for you.
- Eligibility tests: CTET and state TETs (UPTET, REET, HTET, OTET and others) only make you eligible to apply. Under NCTE rules, a TET pass no longer expires.
- Recruitment exams: KVS and NVS, DSSSB, EMRS, Super TET, REET Mains and UP TGT or PGT fill real posts, often asking for a TET pass first.
- College teaching tests: UGC NET and CSIR NET, for assistant professor posts and JRF.
- Teacher training entrances: B.Ed entrance tests and BSTC (Pre D.El.Ed in Rajasthan).
Teacher exam syllabus compared across the main exams
| Exam | Who it is for | Basic qualification | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTET (CBSE) | Paper 1: classes 1 to 5; Paper 2: classes 6 to 8 | 12th or graduation plus an NCTE approved teacher training course (diploma or degree) | One OMR paper per level, 150 questions |
| State TETs | Teachers in that state's schools | Similar to CTET, set by the state | Usually two levels on the CTET model |
| KVS and NVS | PRT, TGT and PGT in central schools | PRT: 12th with D.El.Ed and CTET Paper 1; TGT: graduation with B.Ed and CTET Paper 2; PGT: master's with B.Ed | Tier 1 screening, a subject Tier 2 and an interview for teaching posts |
| DSSSB | PRT, TGT and PGT in Delhi government schools | Post wise, as in the advertisement | One or two tiers, by post |
| UGC NET (NTA) | Assistant professor and JRF | Master's degree with 55 percent (relaxed for reserved categories) | Paper 1 (50 questions) and Paper 2 (100 questions), 3 hours, no negative marking |
| CSIR NET (NTA) | Science lecturers and JRF | Master's in a science subject | Parts A, B and C in one sitting |
TET syllabus: what Paper 1 and Paper 2 test
Most state TETs copy the CTET structure, so the CTET layout is the best way to understand any TET syllabus. Both papers carry 150 one-mark questions in 2.5 hours, with no negative marking.
| Section | Paper 1 (classes 1 to 5) | Paper 2 (classes 6 to 8) |
|---|---|---|
| Child development and pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| First language | 30 | 30 |
| Second language | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 60 (science with maths, or social studies) |
| Environmental studies | 30 |
The TET exam syllabus for Paper 1 stays close to primary school content: numbers, shapes, measurement, family, food, water, plants and animals, plus how young children learn. Paper 2 moves to upper primary content: algebra, geometry and data in maths; matter, living world and natural phenomena in science; or history, geography and political life in social studies. Every content section also asks how you would teach the topic. Clear both papers if you want classes 1 to 8.
TGT syllabus and PGT syllabus: what rises at higher classes
A Trained Graduate Teacher handles classes 6 to 10; a Post Graduate Teacher handles 11 and 12. Their exams usually have a general layer and a subject layer.
- General section: In the latest combined KVS and NVS recruitment run by CBSE, Tier 1 was a two-hour paper of 100 questions covering reasoning, numerical ability, basic computer literacy, general knowledge and language competency in English and one Indian language.
- Subject section: The TGT exam syllabus covers your subject at graduation level with school depth up to class 10, plus teaching methods. The PGT syllabus goes up to post graduation and pays closer attention to class 11 and 12 NCERT content.
Searching for a TGT syllabus in biology? In states like Uttar Pradesh, the TGT exam lists biology as its own subject, while central schools place it inside TGT science. PGT biology reaches genetics, physiology, ecology and biotechnology at university depth.
College teaching: UGC NET and CSIR NET
With a master's degree in hand or in its final year, NET opens assistant professor posts and fellowships. UGC NET Paper 1 (50 questions, 100 marks) tests teaching and research aptitude, reasoning and related units; Paper 2 (100 questions, 200 marks) tests your subject. Both run in one 3 hour sitting without negative marking. Recent notices cap JRF age at 30; assistant professor has no upper limit.
CSIR NET, for the sciences, has Part A on general aptitude and Parts B and C on the subject, with negative marking in several parts. Read the UGC NET syllabus and the CSIR NET syllabus pages for the units.
A smart order to prepare for teaching exams
- Begin with pedagogy. It shows up in CTET, every state TET and most recruitment papers.
- Fix your two languages. Pick ones you read fast; comprehension carries many marks.
- Take CTET or your state TET. It is the gate for PRT and TGT posts.
- Add the recruitment layer. Reasoning, numerical ability, general awareness and computer basics for KVS, DSSSB or state exams.
- Deepen the subject. Graduation level content for TGT, post graduation for PGT and NET.
Use past papers at every step. The CTET previous papers page shows how pedagogy questions are framed, and the CTET cut off page explains the pass marks.
Teaching exam pages to start with
- CTET Paper 1 syllabus: primary level sections and EVS topics.
- CTET Paper 2 syllabus: the science and maths or social studies choice.
- CTET eligibility: degree and diploma combinations NCTE accepts.
- UPTET syllabus: Uttar Pradesh's eligibility test.
- Super TET syllabus: UP's recruitment test for primary teachers.
- REET syllabus: Rajasthan's eligibility test, with REET Mains level 2 for recruitment.
- HTET syllabus: Haryana's test with PRT, TGT and PGT levels.
- KVS PRT, KVS TGT and KVS PGT: post wise papers.
- DSSSB TGT and DSSSB PRT: Delhi school posts.
- UP TGT and UP PGT: secondary school posts in Uttar Pradesh.
- EMRS syllabus: Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
- UGC NET Paper 1: the ten units common to all subjects.
- UGC NET eligibility and UGC NET cut off.
- B.Ed entrance syllabus and BSTC syllabus: entry into teacher training.
TET syllabus in Hindi
This short TET exam syllabus in Hindi sums up the two papers.
शिक्षक पात्रता परीक्षा के दो स्तर हैं। प्राथमिक स्तर यानी कक्षा 1 से 5 पढ़ाने वालों के लिए पहला पेपर, और उच्च प्राथमिक यानी कक्षा 6 से 8 के लिए दूसरा पेपर। हर पेपर में 150 सवाल पूछे जाते हैं और नकारात्मक अंकन नहीं है। शिक्षण विधि, दो भाषाएँ और विषय ज्ञान इसकी नींव हैं। पहले पेपर में गणित तथा परिवेश से जुड़े सवाल रहते हैं, जबकि दूसरे पेपर में अभ्यर्थी विज्ञान गणित या सामाजिक विज्ञान चुनता है। टीजीटी और पीजीटी भर्ती में विषय की गहराई बढ़ जाती है।
For the TGT syllabus in Hindi or the PGT syllabus in Hindi, use the Hindi version of the recruiting board's own notice, since subject lists differ by state.
Books for the TET exam syllabus
A good TET exam syllabus book list begins with free official material. NCERT textbooks for classes 1 to 8 cover content, while the National Curriculum Framework and the Right to Education Act explain the thinking behind pedagogy questions. Notes from your teacher training course on learning theories and inclusive classrooms fill the gaps. TGT and PGT aspirants add university textbooks in their subject.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TET syllabus the same in every state?
The structure is similar because state TETs follow the national framework set by NCTE, with two papers covering pedagogy, two languages and content. Language options, some topics and pass rules differ, so use your state's own notification.
What is the difference between TGT and PGT?
A TGT teaches classes 6 to 10 and needs a graduation in the subject with B.Ed. A PGT teaches classes 11 and 12 and needs a master's degree in the subject with B.Ed. The PGT subject paper is deeper and closer to university level.
Do I need CTET to apply for KVS posts?
For PRT and TGT posts in KVS, a pass in the matching CTET paper has been an essential condition: Paper 1 for PRT and Paper 2 for TGT. PGT posts have not required CTET. Confirm this in the current recruitment notice.
Which teaching exam should I attempt first?
Holding a teaching diploma or degree? Start with CTET or your state TET, since recruitment exams for school posts usually ask for it. If you hold a master's degree and want college teaching, UGC NET or CSIR NET is the first step.
Is there negative marking in teacher exams?
CTET and UGC NET have no negative marking. Many recruitment exams do, and the deduction differs, so read the marking rules in the notification before deciding how many questions to attempt.