CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern, Subject-wise Topics & PDF

 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) administers the CTET exam biannually to certify teacher eligibility for Central Government schools, including KVS and NVS. CTET Paper 2 is designed for candidates aiming to teach classes VI to VIII. Understanding the detailed, subject-wise syllabus is essential for candidates to build an effective and result-oriented preparation strategy. 

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

The CTET 2026 syllabus evaluates a candidate's grasp of educational theory, instructional methodology, and subject mastery relevant to the upper primary level. The Paper 2 curriculum encompasses Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, and a choice between Mathematics & Science or Social Studies & Social Science.

CTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026

The CTET Paper 2 exam pattern details the question distribution, marking scheme, and overall structure. The examination consists of 150 objective-type (MCQ) questions, totaling 150 marks. Review the key exam highlights provided below to understand the test structure.

CTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026
Type of Questions	Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Number of Subjects	Child Development and Pedagogy Language-I Language-II Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science
Total No. of Questions	150
Total Marks	150
Time Duration	2.5 hours
Marking Scheme	1 mark for each correct answer
Negative Marking	No
Language of Paper	English and Hindi (candidates can write the paper in either of the languages)

CTET September Notification 2026 Out - Click to Check 

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026

Candidates planning to take the CTET 2026 Paper 2 should thoroughly review the official CTET Syllabus detailed in the sections below.

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus For Class 6 to 8 (Elementary Stage)

The CTET Paper 2 assessment evaluates competencies in Language I & II, Child Development and Pedagogy, and either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies. Below is the breakdown of the syllabus for the Elementary Stage (Classes VI-VIII):

I. Child Development and Pedagogy: 30 Questions (30 Marks)
II. Language 1 (Compulsory): 30 Questions (30 Marks)
III. Language 2 (Compulsory): 30 Questions (30 Marks)
IV. Mathematics & Science / Social Studies & Social Science: 60 Questions (60 Marks) 

1. Child Development and Pedagogy Syllabus- 30 Questions

This mandatory section appears in both Paper 1 and Paper 2. It assesses your expertise in child development and inclusive educational practices. Use the following topics to guide your study.

a) Child Development (Elementary School Child): 15 Questions

1. Concept of development and its relationship with learning
2. Principles of the development of children
3. Influence of Heredity & Environment
4. Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
5. Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
6. Concepts of child-centred and progressive education
7. Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence
8. Multi-Dimensional Intelligence
9. Language & Thought
10. Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice
11. Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc.
12. The distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
13. Formulating appropriate questions for assessing readiness levels of learners; for enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and for assessing learner achievement.

b) Concept of Inclusive education and understanding children with special needs: 5 Questions

1. Addressing learners from diverse backgrounds including disadvantaged and deprived
2. Addressing the needs of children with learning difficulties, ‘impairment’ etc.
3. Addressing the Talented, Creative, Specially abled Learners

c) Learning and Pedagogy: 10 Questions

1. How children think and learn; how and why children ‘fail’ to achieve success in school performance.
2. Basic processes of teaching and learning; children’s strategies of learning; learning as a social activity; social context of learning.
3. Child as a problem solver and a ‘scientific investigator’
4. Alternative conceptions of learning in children, understanding children’s ‘errors’ as significant steps in the learning process.
5. Cognition & Emotions
6. Motivation and learning
7. Factors contributing to learning – personal & environmental

2. Language I Syllabus- 30 Questions

To assess proficiency in your chosen language, the paper includes 30 questions on language comprehension and pedagogy.

a) Language Comprehension: 15 Questions

Includes reading unseen passages (one prose/drama and one poem) testing comprehension, grammar, and verbal ability.

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

1. Learning and acquisition
2. Principles of language Teaching
3. Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
4. A critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form; Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
5. Language Skills
6. Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
7. Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resources of the classroom
8. Remedial Teaching

3. Language II Syllabus- 30 Questions

The second language section focuses on your command of the language, consisting of 30 total questions across comprehension and pedagogy.

a) Comprehension: 15 Questions

Features two unseen prose passages—discursive, literary, narrative, or scientific—evaluating comprehension and linguistic skills.

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

1. Learning and acquisition
2. Principles of language Teaching
3. Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
4. A critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form; Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom; language difficulties, errors and disorders
5. Language Skills
6. Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
7. Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
8. Remedial Teaching

4. (A) Mathematics and Science Syllabus- 60 Questions

Prepare for the Mathematics and Science section by focusing on accuracy and problem-solving techniques. This section contains 60 questions total, split equally between the two subjects.

(i) Mathematics: 30 Questions

a) Content: 20 Questions

• Number System
• Knowing our Numbers
• Playing with Numbers
• Whole Numbers
• Negative Numbers and Integers
• Fractions
• Algebra
• Introduction to Algebra
• Ratio and Proportion
• Geometry
• Basic geometrical ideas (2-D)
• Understanding Elementary Shapes (2-D and 3-D)
• Symmetry: (reflection)
• Construction (using Straight edge Scale, protractor, compasses)
• Mensuration
• Data handling

b) Pedagogical issues: 10 Questions

• Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking
• Place of Mathematics in Curriculum
• Language of Mathematics
• Community Mathematics
• Evaluation
• Remedial Teaching
• Problem of Teaching

(ii) Science: 30 Questions

a) Content: 20 Questions

I. Food

• Sources of food
• Components of food
• Cleaning food

II. Materials

• Materials of daily use

III. The World of the Living

IV. Moving Things People and Ideas

V. How things work

• Electric current and circuits
• Magnets

VI. Natural Phenomena

VII. Natural Resources

b) Pedagogical issues: 10 Questions

• Nature & Structure of Sciences
• Natural Science/Aims & objectives
• Understanding & Appreciating Science
• Approaches/Integrated Approach
• Observation/Experiment/Discovery (Method of Science)
• Innovation
• Text Material/Aids
• Evaluation – cognitive/psychomotor/affective
• Problems
• Remedial Teaching

5. Social Studies/Social Sciences Syllabus- 60 Questions

This section is divided into History, Geography, and Social & Political Life, complemented by pedagogical issues in a 40:20 ratio.

I. History

A strong grasp of historical timelines, key events, and personalities is vital for high scores in this section.

• When, Where and How
• The Earliest Societies
• The First Farmers and Herders
• The First Cities
• Early States
• New Ideas
• The First Empire
• Contacts with Distant lands
• Political Developments
• Culture and Science
• New Kings and Kingdoms
• Sultans of Delhi
• Architecture
• Creation of an Empir
• Social Change
• Regional Cultures
• The Establishment of Company Power
• Rural Life and Society
• Colonialism and Tribal Societies
• The Revolt of 1857-58
• Women and reform
• Challenging the Caste System
• The Nationalist Movement
• India After Independence

II. Geography

While geography is vast, the CTET syllabus focuses on specific topics. Review the essential chapters to streamline your preparation.

• Geography as a social study and as a science
• Planet: Earth in the solar system
• Globe
• Environment in its totality: natural and human environment
• Air
• Water
• Human Environment: settlement, transport and communication
• Resources: Types-Natural and Human
• Agriculture

III. Social and Political Life

This component tests your understanding of civic structures and environmental awareness. Key topics are provided below.

• Diversity
• Government
• Local Government
• Making a Living
• Democracy
• State Government
• Understanding Media
• Unpacking Gender
• The Constitution
• Parliamentary Government
• The Judiciary
• Social Justice and the Marginalised

b) Pedagogical issues

Consisting of 20 questions, this section evaluates your pedagogical aptitude and instructional decision-making. Essential topics are listed below.

• Concept & Nature of Social Science/Social Studies
• Class Room Processes, activities and discourse
• Developing Critical thinking
• Inquiry/Empirical Evidence
• Problems of Teaching Social Science/Social Studies
• Sources – Primary & Secondary
• Projects Work
• Evaluation

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 PDF

Candidates should be well-versed in the requirements for each section. Use the link below to download the comprehensive CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 PDF for your reference.

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026 PDF - Click to Download