CTET Paper II: exam pattern and preparation strategy
CTET Paper II qualifies a candidate to teach the elementary stage (Classes 6–8). It is compulsory to attempt Child Development & Pedagogy and two Languages (30 each); the fourth part is a chosen 60-mark stream - Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies/Social Science. This platform offers BOTH streams (pick yours in the full-mock card); CDP and the two Languages are shared with Paper I / HTET.
Exam pattern
| Questions | 150 MCQs |
|---|---|
| Duration | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Marking | 1 mark each · no negative marking |
| Validity | Lifetime (as per NEP 2020 / NCTE notification) |
| Conducted by | CBSE on behalf of Ministry of Education |
Subject weightage
- Child Development & Pedagogy: 20%
- Language I (Hindi): 20%
- Language II (English): 20%
- Mathematics & Science (or Social Studies): 40%
Selection process
- Score 60% or above (90+/150) to qualify; 55% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD as per rules.
- Choose the correct fourth part - Maths & Science or Social Studies - based on the teaching post you want.
- Use the CTET certificate to apply for KVS, NVS and other elementary-teacher recruitments.
Marking scheme
Each correct answer awards 1 mark. There is NO negative marking. The Mathematics & Science part carries 60 marks (30 + 30) - the highest-weight single choice - so pick the stream that matches your graduation subject.
Syllabus
Child Development & Pedagogy
30 marks - development & learning of the 11–14 learner, inclusive education, assessment.
- Child Development
- Theories of Learning
- Piaget, Vygotsky & Constructivism
- Inclusive Education
- Assessment & Evaluation
- Intelligence & Creativity
- Motivation & Learning
- Language Development in Children
- Social and Emotional Development
- Learning Difficulties and Special Needs
- Teaching Methods and Classroom Management
Language I (Hindi)
30 marks - Hindi comprehension, grammar and language pedagogy.
- Hindi Grammar (हिंदी व्याकरण)
- Sandhi & Samas (संधि और समास)
- Rasa, Chand & Alankar (रस, छंद और अलंकार)
- Language Pedagogy (भाषा शिक्षण)
- Varn Vichaar (Study of Letters/Sounds)
- Shabd Vichaar (Study of Words)
- Vakya Vichaar (Study of Sentences)
- Muhavare aur Lokoktiyan (Idioms and Proverbs)
Language II (English)
30 marks - English comprehension, grammar and teaching methods.
- Grammar Essentials
- Vocabulary Skills
- Reading and Writing Skills
- Language Teaching Methods
- Parts of Speech
- Tenses
- Comprehension Skills
- Phonics and Pronunciation
Mathematics
30 marks (of the 60-mark Maths & Science paper) - number system, algebra, geometry, mensuration, data handling & maths pedagogy (classes 6–8).
- Number System (Classes 6–8)
- Algebra (Classes 6–8)
- Geometry (Classes 6–8)
- Mensuration (Classes 6–8)
- Ratio, Proportion and Percentage (Classes 6–8)
- Data Handling and Statistics (Classes 6–8)
- Mathematics Pedagogy (Classes 6–8)
Science
30 marks (of the 60-mark Maths & Science paper) - food, materials, the living world, motion, natural phenomena & science pedagogy (classes 6–8).
- The World of the Living
- Food and Nutrition
- Materials
- Moving Things, People and Ideas
- How Things Work
- Natural Phenomena
- Natural Resources
- Science Pedagogy
Social Studies / Social Science
60 marks (Social Studies stream) - History, Geography, Civics (Social & Political Life) & Social Science pedagogy (classes 6–8).
- Ancient India: Sources, Early Cities and Empires
- Medieval and Modern India: Sultans, Mughals and the Freedom Struggle
- The Earth and Our Environment
- Resources: Types, Use and Conservation
- Government, Democracy and Local Self-Government
- The Constitution, Rights and the Judiciary
- Pedagogy of Social Studies
How to prepare
- CDP and both Language sections are identical in skill to Paper I / HTET Level 1 - prepare them once for all three exams.
- The Maths & Science part is upper-primary level (classes 6–8) - harder than Paper I; practise integers, algebra, mensuration and the NCERT science chapters well.
- In both Maths and Science, roughly a third of the questions are pedagogy (how to teach) - do not study only content.
- Take full 150-question mocks in 150 minutes to build the 1-minute-per-question pace.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CTET Paper II exam pattern?
Questions: 150 MCQs. Duration: 150 minutes (2.5 hours). Marking: 1 mark each · no negative marking. Validity: Lifetime (as per NEP 2020 / NCTE notification). Conducted by: CBSE on behalf of Ministry of Education.
How many questions are there in CTET Paper II and how much time is given?
CTET Paper II has 150 MCQs to be attempted in 150 minutes (2.5 hours).
Is there negative marking in CTET Paper II?
Each correct answer awards 1 mark. There is NO negative marking. The Mathematics & Science part carries 60 marks (30 + 30) - the highest-weight single choice - so pick the stream that matches your graduation subject.
What is the syllabus and subject weightage for CTET Paper II?
The paper is weighted roughly as: Child Development & Pedagogy (20%), Language I (Hindi) (20%), Language II (English) (20%), Mathematics & Science (or Social Studies) (40%).
How should I prepare for CTET Paper II?
CDP and both Language sections are identical in skill to Paper I / HTET Level 1 - prepare them once for all three exams.
Can I practise for CTET Paper II online for free?
Yes. Eklavya offers free trilingual (English, Hindi, Hinglish) practice questions, full weighted mock tests with percentile ranking, a daily quiz and study notes for CTET Paper II.