CTET 2026 Paper 2 — Complete Course for Classes VI–VIII (Maths & Science)

The Central Teacher Eligibility Test, conducted by the CBSE, is the minimum qualification for appointment as a teacher in central government schools including KVs, NVs and schools in the union territories, and is accepted by a large number of state and private schools as well. Paper 2 is for candidates who intend to teach the elementary stage, Classes VI to VIII; Paper 1, for Classes I to V, is a separate paper. Paper 2 is a single composite paper of 150 questions for 150 marks in 150 minutes, with no sectional time locks — you move freely across all four sections. Every question is a single-correct MCQ worth one mark, and there is no negative marking at all. Child Development & Pedagogy, Language I and Language II are compulsory for every candidate at 30 questions each. The fourth block of 60 questions is an elective: you choose either Mathematics & Science or Social Studies. This course prepares the Mathematics & Science elective. What surprises most first-time candidates is where the marks actually sit. This is not a subject-knowledge test with some teaching theory attached — pedagogy runs through the entire paper. Child Development & Pedagogy is a full 30 marks on its own, pedagogical issues account for a substantial share of the Mathematics & Science block, and both language papers are largely comprehension plus language pedagogy rather than grammar drills. A candidate with strong subject knowledge and no pedagogical grounding routinely fails this paper. Eligibility & who can join: • For Paper 2, the usual route is a bachelor's degree together with a B.Ed. or an equivalent teacher-education qualification, or a senior secondary pass with a Diploma in Elementary Education, as specified in the NCTE norms. • Candidates in the final year of a recognised teacher-education programme may normally apply, subject to the conditions of the current notification. • Qualifying marks are 60% (90 of 150) for general candidates, with relaxation for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates as per the applicable rules. • The CTET certificate is valid for life, following the 2021 revision that removed the earlier seven-year validity limit. • Always confirm eligibility, qualifying marks and dates against the official notification at ctet.nic.in. How the course is structured: The course is taught section by section, exactly as the paper is structured. Child Development & Pedagogy is taught first because it is both a standalone 30-mark section and the conceptual foundation for the pedagogy questions embedded in every other section. Language I and Language II share the same underlying structure — comprehension, language pedagogy and acquisition theory — so they are taught as one framework applied twice, whichever two languages you select from the roughly twenty on offer. Within Mathematics & Science, pedagogical issues are treated as major topics in their own right rather than as appendices, because that is how they are weighted. There is no negative marking, so full attempt is the default strategy and every mock is taken with all 150 questions answered. Always confirm dates and the current elective options against the official notification.