CTET Syllabus 2021: Download PDF & Check Subject-wise Exam Syllabus

The CTET syllabus is the most important component of the study and preparation. It has got a broad syllabus and candidates must prepare each and every topic to score well. Each year, the Central Board Of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts the CTET Exam to recruit candidates for the teacher’s posts. Knowing the syllabus is the first step towards a better preparation for the CTET exam 2021. 

Notably, the CTET 2020 cycle exam has been conducted on 31st January 2021 and the result of the same is expected to be released by the exam conducting authorities in a month.  However, the CTET July 2021 process is soon to begin.

The CBSE is scheduled to release the official notification for the recruitment of candidates for CTET exam 2021. 

  • According to CBSE, questions in CTET Paper 1 will be from the prescribed syllabus of NCERT for class 1 to 5 but difficulty level and linkages could be up to the secondary stage. 
  • For CTET Paper 2, questions will be from the prescribed syllabus of NCERT for class 6 to 8 but difficulty level and linkages could be up to the senior secondary stage. 
  • The syllabus also contains many critical aspects that are given in detail later in this article. 

To know more about the CTET Exam 2021 in detail, please read through the article as we have provided detailed insights of CTET syllabus 2021 and CTET exam pattern 2021.

CTET Syllabus 2021 Paper I

The CTET paper I exam will be conducted for the Primary Stage i.e. from Class I to Class V. The Paper will have questions from Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Environmental Studies and Mathematics. The exam will be for a total of 150 Marks. Read to know the detailed CTET Paper I syllabus given below.

CTET Paper I Syllabus – Child Development and Pedagogy

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-centered 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.
  • 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

Know how to download CTET Admit Card

CTET Paper I Syllabus – Language I 

a) Language Comprehension – 15 Questions

  • Reading unseen passages – two passages one prose or drama and one poem with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability (Prose passage may be literary, scientific, narrative or discursive)

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
  • 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

Know how to download CTET Result

CTET Paper I Syllabus – Language – II

a) Comprehension – 15 Questions

Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with question on comprehension, grammar and verbal ability

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
  • 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

Know more about CTET selection process here

CTET Paper I Syllabus – Mathematics

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

  • Nature of Mathematics/Logical thinking; understanding children’s thinking and reasoning patterns and strategies of making meaning and learning
  • Place of Mathematics in Curriculum
  • Language of Mathematics
  • Community Mathematics
  • Evaluation through formal and informal methods
  • Problems of Teaching
  • Error analysis and related aspects of learning and teaching
  • Diagnostic and Remedial Teaching

CTET Paper I Syllabus – Environmental Studies

a) Content

  • Family and Friends:
  • Food
  • Shelter
  • Water
  • Travel
  • Things We Make and Do

b) Pedagogical Issues

  • 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 I Syllabus 2021 with Topic-wise Weightage 

Given below is the detailed topic-wise weightage of all the topics from different sections of CTET Paper I.

SectionsTopicsNo. of Qs
Child Development and PedagogyDevelopment of a Primary School Child
Concept of Inclusive education and understanding children with special needs
Learning and Pedagogy
15
5
10
Language 1 and Language 2 (30 Questions each)Language Comprehension
Pedagogy of Language Development
15
15
MathematicsContent (numbers, solving simple equations, algebra, geometry patterns, time, measurement, data handling, solids, data handling, etc.)
Pedagogical issues
15

15
Environmental StudiesContent (environment, food, shelter, water, family, and friends, etc.)
Pedagogical Issues
15
15

CTET Syllabus Paper II

The CTET Paper II Syllabus will have Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Maths & Science and Social Studies/Social Science as sections. The exam will be of 150 marks and the questions asked will be of elementary stage level.

CTET Paper II Syllabus – Child Development and Pedagogy

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-centered 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’
  • 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

CTET Paper II Syllabus – Language I

a) Language Comprehension – 15 Questions

  • Reading unseen passages – two passages one prose or drama and one poem with questions on comprehension, inference, grammar and verbal ability (Prose passage may be literary, scientific, narrative or discursive)

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, multimedia materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
  • Remedial Teaching

CTET Paper II Syllabus – Language – II 

a) Comprehension – 15 Questions

  • Two unseen prose passages (discursive or literary or narrative or scientific) with a question on comprehension, grammar, and verbal ability

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, multimedia materials, multilingual resource of the classroom
  • Remedial Teaching

CTET Paper II Syllabus – Mathematics and Science

i) Mathematics 30 Questions

a) Content 20 Question

  • Number System
  • Knowing our Numbers
  • Playing with Numbers
  • Whole Numbers
  • Negative Numbers and Integers
  • Fractions
  • Algebra
  • Introduction to Algebra
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • vGeometry
  • 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

  • Food
  • Sources of food
  • Components of food
  • Cleaning food
  • Materials
  • Materials of daily use
  • The World of the Living
  • Moving Things People and Ideas
  • How things work
  • Electric current and circuits
  • Magnets
  • Natural Phenomena
  • 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

CTET Paper II Syllabus – Social Studies/Social Sciences

a) Content 40 Questions

  • History
  • 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
  • Geography
  • 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
  • Social and Political Life
  • 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 20 Questions

  • 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

CTET Paper II Syllabus 2021 with Topic-wise Weightage 

SectionsTopicsQuestions
Child Development and PedagogyDevelopment of an Elementary School Child15
Concept of Inclusive education and understanding children with special needs5
Learning and Pedagogy10
Language 1 and Language 2 (30 questions each)Language Comprehension15
Pedagogy of Language Development15
Mathematics and ScienceMathematics Number system, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Data Handling Pedagogical issues20
Pedagogical issues10
Science Food, Materials, The world of the living, Moving things, people and ideas, How things work, Natural phenomena and resources20
Pedagogical issues10
Social StudiesHistory, Geography, Social and Political Life40
Pedagogical issues20

CTET Exam Pattern Paper 1

The CTET Exam Pattern should be understood by every candidate who wants to seriously prepare for the CTET exam 2021. So, we have provided the CTET Exam Pattern. 

  • The Paper I will have 5 sections having 30 questions each. 
  • The total number of questions asked will be 150 of 1 mark each.
SectionNo. of QsMax Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy(compulsory)3030
Language I (compulsory)3030
Language II (compulsory)3030
Mathematics3030
Environmental Studies3030
Total150150

CTET Exam Pattern Paper 2

SectionNo. of QsMax Marks
Child Development & Pedagogy(compulsory)3030
Language I (compulsory)3030
Language II (compulsory)3030
Mathematics and Science (for Mathematics and Science teacher)6060
Social Studies/Social Science (for Social Studies/Social Science teacher)6060
Total150150
Check out other TET Syllabus from the links Below
UPTET SyllabusBihar TET Syllabus
REET SyllabusDSSSB Syllabus

CTET Books for Preparation – Paper I

There are two papers mainly for the CTET exam 2021 which are Paper 1 and Paper 2. It’s very important to know the best books for each paper. 

Books for Preparation of Paper I examination.

SubjectBooksAuthorPublisherFeatures
Child Development and PedagogyA Complete Resource for CTET: Child Development and PedagogySundeep KumarPearsonA Complete Resource for CTET: Child Development and Pedagogy is one of the best books where you can find all the topics required for the CTET 2021 examination.
CTET & TETs Child Development & Pedagogy (Paper I & II)Arihant ExpertsArihantCTET & TETs Child Development & Pedagogy (Paper I & II) by Arihant is one of the best books for Child Development and Pedagogy for Paper I and II. This book has 16 chapters and you can also get the previous years question papers.
EnglishCTET English & Pedagogy (Paper I & II)Geeta SahniPearsonThis is one of the best books which provides a comprehensive understanding about the concerns, theories and concepts associated with English Language teaching.
CTET & TETs English Language Paper I & IIArihant ExpertsArihantThis book mainly focuses on 3 sectors – Grammar, Unseen Prose, Poem and Pedagogy. You can find the previous year question papers.
HindiHindi Bhasha Evam Shikshashastra CTET & TETs (Paper I & II)Arihant ExpertsArihantHindi Bhasha Evam Shikshashastra CTET & TETs (Paper I & II) by Arihant Experts which is one of the best books if you choose your Language as Hindi. You can get the previous year unsolved question papers, model papers, example questions etc.
Wiley’s Hindi Exam Goalpost for CTET and TETsDT Editorial ServicesWileyThis book enriches your skills in Hindi. You can go through all the concepts of the Hindi Language.
MathematicsMathematics & Pedagogy for Class I-V Arihant ExpertsArihantThis book has solved previous year question papers. This book has concepts like Mathematics, Number System, LCM and HCF, Fraction etc.
A Complete Resources for CTET: Mathematics and PedagogyHaneet GandhiPearsonA Complete Resources for CTET: Mathematics and Pedagogy is one of the best books for the Paper I. You can find the concepts required for Class I – V and helps you to gain the mathematics concepts required for I – V.
Environmental ScienceCTET & TETs Environmental Studies & PedagogyArihant ExpertsArihantThis book has 1000 Multi Choice Questions on Environmental Science. You can get 5 practice sets of question papers. 
Environmental Studies (EVS)Wiley ExpertsWileyEnvironmental Studies (EVS) is one of the best books where you can find the syllabus required for the CTET Paper I examination.

CTET Books for Preparation – Paper II

SubjectBooksAuthorPublisherFeatures
Child Development and PedagogyA Complete Resource for CTET: Child Development and PedagogySundeep KumarPearsonA Complete Resource for CTET: Child Development and Pedagogy is one of the best books where you can find all the topics required for the CTET 2021 examination.
CTET & TETs Child Development & Pedagogy (Paper I & II)Arihant ExpertsArihantCTET & TETs Child Development & Pedagogy (Paper I & II) by Arihant is one of the best books for Child Development and Pedagogy for Paper I and II. This book has 16 chapters and you can also get the previous years question papers.
EnglishCTET English & Pedagogy (Paper I & II)Geeta SahniPearsonThis is one of the best books which provides a comprehensive understanding about the concerns, theories and concepts associated with English Language teaching.
CTET & TETs English Language Paper I & IIArihant ExpertsArihantThis book mainly focuses on 3 sectors – Grammar, Unseen Prose, Poem and Pedagogy. You can find the previous year question papers.
HindiHindi Bhasha Evam Shikshashastra CTET & TETs (Paper I & II)Arihant ExpertsArihantHindi Bhasha Evam Shikshashastra CTET & TETs (Paper I & II) by Arihant Experts which is one of the best books if you choose your Language as Hindi. You can get the previous year unsolved question papers, model papers, example questions etc.
Wiley’s Hindi Exam Goalpost for CTET and TETsDT Editorial ServicesWileyThis book enriches your skills in Hindi. You can go through all the concepts of the Hindi Language.
MathematicsCTET & TETs for Class VI-VIII Mathematics & PedagogyArihant ExpertsArihantThis book helps you to gain more practical knowledge on the Mathematics Concepts. You can get unsolved example problems, solved previous year question papers, many example problems.
Mathematics and Science for CTET 2021 Paper IIHankeet Gandhi and Yukti SharmaPearsonMathematics and Science for CTET 2021 Paper II is one of the best books where you can learn concepts like Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Comparative Study etc.
ScienceCTET Science and PedologyYukti SharmaPeasonThis book has two sections. unit 1 of the book discusses the concept of EVS at the primary level.The second section of the book looks at science and its pedagogy.
CTET Success Master Maths & Science Paper-II Arihant ExpertsArihantYou can find many unsolved questions, previous year question papers etc in this book. You can find the concepts of science, technology etc.
CTET Success Master ScienceArihant ExpertsArihantThis book is prepared based on NCERT concepts. Where you can find previous year solved questions. More than 3000 MCQ are present in this book.
Social StudiesWiley’s CTET Exam Goalpost, Paper-II, Social Studies / Social Science, Class VI-VIIIWiley ExpertsWileyWiley’s CTET Exam Goalpost, Paper-II, Social Studies / Social Science, Class VI-VIII  Is of the best books which helps you to learn complete concepts required for CTET Social Science Paper II.
CTET Success Master Paper-II Teacher Selection for Class VI-VIII Social Studies/Science 2021Arihant ExpertsArihantCTET Success Master for Paper II published by Arihant is focused study material completely based on NCERT Books. You can find more than 3000 CQ questions.

CTET Preparation Tips

CTET is an examination which is attempted by millions of aspirants. The candidates must have a rigorous practice to crack the CTET exam 2021. Below are the preparation tips to crack the examination.

  • The candidates must prepare a study plan according to the strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you are strong at science and weak in mathematics allot more number of days for mathematics. Accordingly prepare a study plan. It helps you to cover the complete syllabus required for the examination.
  • The candidates must know the detailed CTET syllabus so that the candidate can cover all the topics without missing any important topics relevant for the exam.
  • Attempt more number of mock tests. It improves your confidence and gives you the report of your performance.
  • Go through the previous year questions papers to analyze the weightage of each topic, difficulty level of the examination etc.

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