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CTET 2021: Tips and Strategies to Prepare for CTET Exam

Each year a lot of aspirants come forward to prepare academically for a career in teaching. The only eligibility criteria for becoming a qualified and certified teacher is by appearing for CTET exams, i.e., the Central Teaching Eligibility Test, which is administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education of India.

CTET is a national-level eligibility test conducted twice a year. This entrance exam is bilingual, which gives candidates the option of choosing either Hindi or English as their language. Before 2021, the examination was conducted online. But CTET 2021, the 15th edition of this exam, will be conducted online. In fact, from this year, this entrance exam will be conducted online. The goal is to get aspiring teachers accustomed to digital technology.

What are the eligibility criteria for CTET?

CTET exams are conducted in two phases: Paper I and Paper II. Candidates who aspire to teach the primary section can apply for Paper I, and those who wish to teach the elementary section can apply for Paper II. Aspirants who teach both sections, i.e., from classes 1 to 8, can apply for both, Paper I and Paper II.

The eligibility criteria for CTET are very diverse and both papers require different qualifications.

CTET Educational Requirements for Paper I

Each candidate must have passed their 12th grade with a minimum of 45% or 50% marks.

The candidates with a minimum of 45% marks should also have the following further qualifications:

  • They should have passed or are currently in the final year exam of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education, in accordance with the NCTE Regulations, 2002.

The candidates with a minimum of 50% marks should also have one of the further qualifications:

  • Candidates should have passed or currently appearing for the final year exam of the 2-year Diploma course in Elementary Education.
  • Candidates should have passed or currently appearing for the final year exam of the 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.EI.Ed).
  • Candidates should have passed or currently appearing for the final year of the 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).
  • Bachelor of Education (B. Ed)

CTET Educational Requirements for Paper II

The candidates must fulfill one of the following qualifications:

  • Candidates should be graduates and have passed or currently appearing for the final year exam of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
  • Candidates should be graduates with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).
  • Candidates should be graduates with a minimum of 45% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) in accordance with the NCTE Regulations.
  • Candidates should have passed 12th grade with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) course.
  • Candidates should have passed 12th grade with a minimum of 50% marks. They should also have passed or currently appearing for a 4-year B.A/B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed course.
  • Candidates should have graduated with a minimum of 50% marks. They should have also passed or currently appearing for a 1-year B.Ed (Special Education).

What are the subjects in CTET?

CTET Paper I exam subjects are as follows:

  • Child Development and Pedagogy This subject is focused on giving aspirants an opportunity to learn about the educational psychology of teaching. It teaches aspirants about the parameters of being a good knowledge provider, communicator, and being interactive with their students.
  • Language 1 and Language 2 These are two separate subjects focused on different but correlated aspects. Language 1 is about developing the skills to hold command of the language of teaching. Whereas Language 2 is about communication and comprehension. These two subjects require you to focus on a lot of reading materials from CTET books. The language chosen for each paper should be different from each other.
  • Mathematics This subject is about learning problem-solving abilities, data handling, and concepts. To prepare for this subject, you have to be thorough with the mathematics of classes 1 to 8. Error analysis, simplification of problems, and evaluation are some other important aspects of this subject.
  • Environmental Studies This subject, as the name implies, teaches aspirants about practical applications. The subject topics include food, nutrition, environmental issues, as well as, principles.

CTET Paper II exam subjects are as follows:

CTET Paper II includes similar subjects to Paper I, which include Child Development and Pedagogy, Language 1, Language 2, and Mathematics. It has two more subjects, which are as follows:

  • Science This subject focuses on conceptual learning about topics like human physiology, kingdoms of life, and methods of science. The questions revolve around the NCERT syllabus for classes 6 to 8.
  • Social Studies This includes the study of factual knowledge about history, politics, geography, and critical thinking. The questions are from the NCERT syllabus on similar topics from classes 6 to 8.
    Now that you are aware of the subjects you are going to cover, here are some CTET preparation tips that will come in handy for you.
  • Know the exam pattern Each subject carries the weightage of 30 marks each, from Paper I as well as Paper II separately. Hence, each paper marks a total of 150. There are a total of 150 questions, meaning each question is worth a mark. There are no negative markings in this examination. The qualifying marks for the CTET examination are 90 marks for each paper. If you score equal to or more than the qualifying limit, then you pass your exam.
  • Keep learning and stay up-to-date It is important that you constantly keep learning about the subjects or the sections you aspire to teach. For examination purposes, you can limit your study materials to the recommended syllabus, but as a teacher, it will always be your job to feed their curiosity. The best books to keep up with the curriculum are Pearson CTET books. They are available in Hindi as well as English and are complete resources for your CTET preparation books.
  • Practice mock tests Appear for mock tests as they prepare you for the competitive environment that is this entrance test. Keep your exams time-bound and focus on your weaknesses.

These little tips and strategies can prepare you for your exams and for the teaching you aim to impart further. Be consistent and relevant with the latest education patterns, teaching as well as learning materials and technology. Lastly, don’t let your hunger for knowledge fade.

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