The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) syllabus is designed to assess the competency of candidates aspiring to become teachers in primary and upper primary schools across India. The CTET exam consists of two papers: Paper-I for teachers of classes I to V and Paper-II for teachers of classes VI to VIII. In both papers, there are five main sections: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I (which could be the medium of instruction), Language II (English or another language), Mathematics, and Environmental Studies for Paper-I, and additionally, Science and Social Studies/Social Science for Paper-II. The syllabus emphasizes the understanding of child psychology, language proficiency, mathematics, and subject knowledge, along with pedagogical aspects of teaching. It is crucial for candidates to thoroughly grasp these topics, as CTET certification is a prerequisite for teaching positions in government schools and institutions across India, ensuring that educators meet the essential criteria for imparting quality education.

CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 2023 (Classes I to V)-Exam Pattern

I. Child Development and Pedagogy Syllabus- 30 Questions

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

• Concept of development and its relationship with learning
• Principles of the development of children
• Influence of Heredity & Environment
• Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
• Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
• Concepts of child-centred and progressive education
• Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence
• Multi-Dimensional Intelligence
• Language & Thought
• Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice
• Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc.
• The distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
• 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

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

c) Learning and Pedagogy: 10 Questions

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

II. Language I Syllabus- 30 Questions

a) Language Comprehension: 15 Questions

Reading two sections that haven’t been seen before, one of which is prose or drama and the other of which is a poem, along with questions about comprehension, inference, grammar, and verbal skills.

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

• Learning and acquisition
• Principles of language Teaching
• Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
• 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
• Language Skills
• Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
• Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
• Remedial Teaching

III. Language II Syllabus- 30 Questions

a) Comprehension: 15 Questions

Two hidden written sections with comprehension, grammar, and verbal skills tests (discussive, literary, narrative, or scientific)

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

• Learning and acquisition
• Principles of language Teaching
• Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
• 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
• Language Skills
• Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
• Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
• Remedial Teaching

IV. Mathematics Syllabus- 30 Questions

a) Content: 15 Questions

• Geometry
• Shapes & Spatial Understanding
• Solids around Us
• Numbers
• Addition and Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Division
• Measurement
• Weight
• Time
• Volume
• Data Handling
• Patterns
• Money

b) Pedagogical issues: 15 Questions

Understanding the nature of mathematics and logical reasoning, as well as children’s thought processes and methods of meaning-making and learning

• Place of Mathematics in Curriculum
• Language of Mathematics
• Community Mathematics
• Valuation through formal and informal methods
• Problems of Teaching
• Error analysis and related aspects of learning and teaching
• Diagnostic and Remedial Teaching

V. Environmental Studies Syllabus- 30 Questions

a) Content: 15 Questions

• Family and Friends:
  • Relationships
  • Work and Play
  • Animals
  • Plants
• Food
• Shelter
• Water
• Travel
• Things We Make and Do

b) Pedagogical Issues: 15 Questions

• Concept and scope of EVS
• Significance of EVS, integrated EVS
• Environmental Studies & Environmental Education
• Learning Principles
• Scope & relation to Science & Social Science
• Approaches of presenting concepts
• Activities
• Experimentation/Practical Work
• Discussion
• CCE
• Teaching material/Aids
• Problems

CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2023 (For Classes VI to VIII) Elementary Stage-Exam Pattern

I. Child Development and Pedagogy Syllabus- 30 Questions

This topic is common in Paper-1 and Paper-2 which is compulsory to be attempted. Through this section, the candidate’s knowledge about Child development and Concept of Inclusive education will be covered. Go through the topics below to understand the syllabus in a clear manner.

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

• Concept of development and its relationship with learning
• Principles of the development of children
• Influence of Heredity & Environment
• Socialization processes: Social world & children (Teacher, Parents, Peers)
• Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky: constructs and critical perspectives
• Concepts of child-centred and progressive education
• Critical perspective of the construct of Intelligence
• Multi-Dimensional Intelligence
• Language & Thought
• Gender as a social construct; gender roles, gender-bias and educational practice
• Individual differences among learners, understanding differences based on diversity of language, caste, gender, community, religion etc.
• The distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
• 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

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

c) Learning and Pedagogy: 10 Questions

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

II. Language I Syllabus- 30 Questions

In the CTET Paper-I and Paper-II, there will be 30 questions to assess the candidate’s proficiency in the language they have chosen.

a) Language Comprehension: 15 Questions

Reading concealed sections that include two passages—one prose or drama and one poem—and verbal and grammar questions about comprehension and inference.

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

• Learning and acquisition
• Principles of language Teaching
• Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
• 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
• Language Skills
• Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
• Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
• Remedial Teaching

III. Language II Syllabus- 30 Questions

The second language examination will check the candidate’s proficiency in the English language. In both Paper-I and Paper-II of the CTET, there will be 30 questions.

a) Comprehension: 15 Questions

Two hidden written sections with comprehension, grammar, and verbal skills tests (discussive, literary, narrative, or scientific)

b) Pedagogy of Language Development: 15 Questions

• Learning and acquisition
• Principles of language Teaching
• Role of listening and speaking; function of language and how children use it as a tool
• 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
• Language Skills
• Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency: speaking, listening, reading and writing
• Teaching-learning materials: Textbook, multi-media materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
• Remedial Teaching

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

The candidates can check the topics to be covered in Mathematics and Science section. The questions of Maths should be attempted with tricks and accuracy. There will be 30 questions from Maths and 30 from Science subject.

(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
• Social Studies/Social Sciences Syllabus- 60 Questions

In this subject, the topics are divided into two parts: One includes History, Geography, Social & Political Life and the Second one includes Pedagogical issues. The ratio of questions will be 40:20 respectively.

I. History

A strong catch on historical events, days, and dates to score good marks in this section. The questions will be asked from the below topics

• 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 Empire
• 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

Though it is difficult for anyone to understand the complete geography of India unless they go deep into it. However, CBSE has included a Geography subject for CTET Paper-II but no worries, you have to prepare only for a few topics that have been provided below.

• 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 section will test the candidate’s knowledge about its surroundings and the topics that a candidate must be knowledgeable about has been listed 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

There will be 20 questions from this section and the motive of this section will be to understand the candidate’s intelligence and presence of mind for Pedagogical issues. The topics that will be covered in this section are mentioned below:

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

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