This page lists CTET previous year question papers for 6 years, 2019 to 2026, with 25 official PDFs (question papers and answer keys). CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and covers Child Development & Pedagogy, Languages and Maths/EVS or Maths-Science/Social Studies. Pick a year below for the paper, answer key and a timed practice plan; confirm dates and pattern on ctet.nic.in.
Explore: Question papers by year · Syllabus & pattern · FAQ
Year-wise question papers
CTET 2026
Latest CTET: date-wise keys for 7 Feb, 8 Feb and 1 Mar 2026.
CTET 2024
Three sessions: January, July and December 2024.
CTET 2023
August 2023 keys for both papers.
CTET 2022
One combined 84-page key for the shift-wise sittings.
CTET 2021
January 2021 and December 2021, with English and Hindi medium keys.
CTET 2019
July and December 2019 keys for both papers.
About CTET
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is conducted by CBSE to certify teachers for central government schools (KVS, NVS), schools in union territories and private schools that accept it. It is also an eligibility base for many state exams. Two papers are offered: Paper I for Classes I to V and Paper II for Classes VI to VIII.
Pattern
| Paper I | Paper II | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 150 | 150 |
| Marks | 150 | 150 |
| Time | 2.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Negative marking | None | None |
| Sections | Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, Environmental Studies (30 each) | Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II (30 each), then Mathematics and Science (60) or Social Studies (60) |
What is official here
CBSE keeps a “previous year final answer key” page on ctet.nic.in. It holds the keys for each session since December 2018. The question paper itself is not released publicly, so the files on this site are keys: they let you check your recorded response, not read the questions. Where a key (such as December 2022) includes question descriptions, that is noted on the year page.
Sessions covered
CTET has run two or three times a year, and some sessions spread over several dates. 2024 had three sessions, 2026 started with three exam dates. See the year pages for each set of files.
How to use the keys
Use the key with the response sheet or recorded response you received. Count your correct answers by section, since there is no negative marking. If a session has multiple sets, use the right set letter. For practice material on the content itself, work from the NCERT books for Mathematics, EVS, Science and Social Studies and practise pedagogy questions from teacher-education texts.
FAQ
Does CBSE publish CTET question papers?
No. CBSE publishes the final answer keys on ctet.nic.in. The question paper is visible only to the candidate. This page hosts the official keys for 2019 to 2026.
What is the CTET pattern?
Each paper has 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks in 2.5 hours, with no negative marking. Paper I is for Classes I to V and Paper II for Classes VI to VIII.
What is the CTET qualifying mark?
60% (90 of 150) for the general category, with 55% for reserved categories, as per the CBSE notice for the exam.
Which CTET paper should I take?
Paper I for teaching Classes I to V and Paper II for Classes VI to VIII. You may take both. Eligibility depends on your qualification, so read the current notice.
Is a CTET certificate valid for life?
Yes, since a 2021 decision CBSE treats the CTET qualifying certificate as valid for life. Earlier certificates were valid for seven years.
What are the sections in Paper II?
Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I and Language II (30 questions each), and either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies (60 questions).
Where to get the official papers
CBSE publishes notices, the information bulletin and the final answer keys on ctet.nic.in (see the previous year final answer key section). The PDFs here are copied from the CBSE-hosted files, and each one links to its source.