Most of the people who adopt teaching as a profession have a desire for teaching work in a government institution.  As part of the educational reforms, a centralized examination has been introduced with a view to fixing certain eligibility criteria for the teachers of central government schools.  

This exam is CTET.  It means Central Teacher Eligibility Test.  Merit certificates are given to the candidates who have secured 60% or more in this examination.  On the basis of this certificate, they become eligible to apply for vacancies in central government schools.  Although these applicants will have to go through the selection process of the schools, on the basis of this examination, they will be considered eligible to apply to these schools.

Where will CTET go? 

 After getting the CTET certificate you become eligible to apply to central government schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kendriya Tibetan Vidyalaya, etc.  Apart from this, you can also apply to the schools coming under the administration of the Union Territories.  

Many private schools also accept CTET.  If the state governments do not want to conduct TET, then they can also call for applications in their government schools on the basis of CTET.  You have a choice of two papers in CTET.  Paper-1 is for those people who want to become a teacher in classes 1 to 5.  

Whereas Paper-2 is for those people who want to become a teacher from class six to eight.  Those wishing to apply at both levels will have to appear in both papers.  The questions are multiple-choice in nature and there is no negative marking.
 

Paper and Qualifications:- 

Candidates desirous of applying for classes I to V will have to appear for Paper-I.  In this paper of one and a half hours, there will be 30-30 multiple choice questions related to Child Development and Teaching Methodology, Language-1, Language-2, Maths, and Environmental Studies.  

Language-I will have questions related to the language of your medium of instruction while Language-II will be a language other than the first language.  In child development and teaching method, questions related to children's mood, teaching them up to 6-11 years Will be  Paper 2 will have to be given for classes 6 to 8.  

There will also be 30 questions related to Child Development and Teaching, Language-1, and Language-2.  Also, aspirants to become a teacher of Mathematics or Science / Social Science will have to attempt 60 questions related to these.  To appear in Paper-1, you must have passed 12th with at least 50% marks.  12th (or equivalent) with at least two years Diploma in Elementary Education or Special Education / Four years B.El.Ed or Graduation and Two Year Elementary Education Diploma.  

To appear in Paper 2, Graduation with two years Diploma in Education / then Graduation with 50% marks and one-year B.Ed / XII (or equivalent) with four years B.Ed / XII with four years BA or B.Sc in Education.  The written examination will be conducted on 28 July 2013.  The last date for online application is 16 April 2013.  You can register for the application at www.cbse.nic.in/welcome.htm.