The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), held twice a year, is designed to recruit qualified candidates in Government and private schools such as Kendriya Vidyalaya. According to the CTET notification 2023 released from ctet.nic.in, the CTET exam date is 20th August 2023. Moreover, CBSE has produced a sample mock test to make the candidates familiar with the structure of the CTET exam syllabus. It’s time to brace yourself up, right?
Notably, CBSE has introduced some changes to the CTET syllabus with the division of the paper into two parts. In the first paper, candidates will be tested on their knowledge of mathematics, Language I, and II, environmental studies, and child development and pedagogy. The second paper will cover Language I, and II, child development and pedagogy, and the optional subjects of mathematics-science (for the science stream) and social studies (for the humanities stream).
The first paper will focus on the CTET junior syllabus, that is, it will be based on the NCERT syllabus for classes 1 to 5. On the other hand, the CTET paper 2 syllabus will centre around classes 6 to 8. You should know that the difficulty level of questions for Paper 1 can be up to the secondary stage and senior secondary stage for Paper 2.
Knowing the CTET syllabus and pattern is of utmost significance for those aspiring to appear for CTET. This is why we have broken down each aspect of the CTET syllabus 2023 to help you prepare for the online mode-based exam and ace it like a pro. Keep reading to know how to download the CTET 2023 syllabus pdf and formulate a strategy for your preparation for CTET 2023.
CTET Paper 1 Syllabus 2023
First, let us go through the syllabus for CTET paper 1. The CTET subjects for paper 1 are given below.
Paper 1: Child Development and Pedagogy – 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.
- Distinction between Assessment for learning and assessment of learning; School-Based Assessment, Continuous & Comprehensive Evaluation: perspective and practice
- Formulating appropriate questions for assessing the readiness levels of learners; enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and 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
Paper 1: Language I – 30 Questions
The language will assess your expertise in the medium of instruction. This section is scoring if you are thoroughly prepared.
a) Language Comprehension – 15 Questions
You have to read one unseen passage on prose or drama and one poem. The prose passage may be on a variety of themes on literary, scientific, narrative, or discursive subjects in CTET. The language I comprehension section will comprise questions on passage inference, 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, multi-media materials, multilingual resources of the classroom
- Remedial teaching
Paper 1: Language II – 30 Questions
The CTET syllabus for Language 2 is similar to that of Language 1. Language 2 will centre on determining a candidate’s language and comprehension abilities.
a) Comprehension – 15 Questions
It contains two unseen prose passages (literary or discursive or narrative or scientific) with questions on grammar, comprehension, 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, multi-media materials, multilingual resources of the classroom
- Remedial Teaching
Paper 1: Mathematics – 30 Questions
Though the CTET July 2023 paper I syllabus for mathematics is vast, the level of questions that may come is relatively moderate. Most questions are based on the basic arithmetic from 1st to 5th standards.
Questions will be asked on the topics prescribed in the CTET syllabus 2023. Since most questions are framed from the NCERT books of classes 1 to 5, referring to them will come in handy.
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 for 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
Paper 1: Environmental Studies – 30 Questions
The aim is to test problem-solving abilities and pedagogical understanding. Since the Environment Studies is an extremely scoring portion, you must try to avoid making mistakes in this part. The first step is to download the CTET paper 1 syllabus and get to know the various topics you must cover.
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
Now that we have covered the CTET paper 1 syllabus 2023, let us look at CTET paper 2. Here is what the CTET paper 2 syllabus pdf will have.
CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2023
Paper 2: Child Development and Pedagogy – 30 Questions
Child development and pedagogy are some of the most crucial components of the CTET syllabus 2023. A very conceptual and theoretical subject, it analyses the candidate’s conceptual understanding.
a) Child Development (Elementary School Child) – 15 Questions
- Concept of development and its relationship with learning
- Principles of the Development of Children
- Influence on 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 the readiness levels of learners; enhancing learning and critical thinking in the classroom and 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
Paper 2: Language I – 30 Questions
It will test your proficiency in the chosen medium of instruction.
a) Language Comprehension – 15 Questions
It will cover reading two unseen passages – one literary or narrative or scientific or discursive prose or drama and one poem. The questions will be based on comprehension, inference, 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 resources of the classroom
- Remedial Teaching
Paper 2: Language II – 30 Questions
This section in the CTET second paper syllabus covers all fundamental concepts like Language I. Different elements of language and comprehension are the areas of focus.
a) Comprehension – 15 Questions
This section consists of 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 resources of the classroom
- Remedial Teaching
Paper 2: Mathematics and Science – 60 Questions
i) Mathematics – 30 Questions
Despite the CTET syllabus being extensive in nature, the questions asked are generally not very difficult or nerve-wracking.
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
Let us now go through the CTET science syllabus in some detail.
ii) Science – 30 Questions
Similar to the Mathematics syllabus, the Science syllabus for the CTET second paper is quite tough. However, you need not worry as the questions are usually not so difficult to crack.
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
Paper 2: Social Studies/Social Sciences – 60 Questions
It includes History, Geography, Economics, Polity, and Pedagogy. The CTET paper 2 syllabus for this subject is lengthy and requires adequate preparation.
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
- The 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
- Classroom Processes, activities and Discourse
- Developing Critical thinking
- Enquiry/Empirical Evidence
- Problems of Teaching Social Science/Social Studies
- Sources – Primary & Secondary
- Projects Work
- Evaluation
CTET Syllabus 2023 PDF
Do you know the procedure for the CTET syllabus (2023) pdf download? If not, let us tell you that you can download the CTET syllabus 2023 PDF for the two papers from the official website. You can easily download the ctet syllabus 2023 pdf in English on your mobile or laptop. In addition, CTET ka syllabus is available in Hindi to facilitate candidates to appear for the exam without any hindrance.
Download: CTET Syllabus 2023 PDF |
CTET Syllabus Marking Scheme and Question Patterns
The latest CTET exam pattern has been made in a way that enables candidates to write the exam in two shifts. With the CTET exam date 2023 approaching fast, it is a prerequisite for every candidate to download the CTET syllabus pdf and read it and prepare accordingly.
The mode of the exam is objective-type questions only and the questions will be available in both Hindi and English medium. 2 hours and 30 minutes is the time limit for each paper.
According to the pattern and marking scheme of the CTET first paper syllabus 2023, each section contains 30 questions. Every right answer is awarded 1 mark amounting to 150 marks altogether.
The total number of questions for Paper 2 is the same as that of Paper 1 as per the syllabus for CTET 2023, that is, 150 questions. Like Paper 1, each correct answer gets 1 mark in Paper 2 as well.
Here is the section-wise marking scheme of the CTET 2023 syllabus for Paper II.
- Child development and pedagogy- 30 questions
- Language I (compulsory) and subject-specific pedagogy- 30 questions
- Language II (compulsory) and subject-specific pedagogy- 30 questions
- Mathematics and science and subject-specific pedagogy/Social Studies and subject-specific pedagogy- 60 questions
Conclusion
The primary step to scoring high marks in this entrance exam is to have a thorough knowledge of the current syllabus. Also, you have to manage your time such that you can devote more time to weaker areas during your preparation. That being said, time management is crucial while you are answering the paper so that you complete it properly. Last but not least, have confidence in yourself and you will be able to attain good results.
FAQs on CTET Syllabus 2023
Q1. What are the subjects to prepare for the CTET exam?
Ans. Under the CTET exam syllabus 2023, questions will come from language, child development and pedagogy, mathematics, science, environmental science, and social sciences.
Q2. How many questions are asked in CTET Paper 1?
Ans. The first CTET question paper contains 150 questions.
Q3. Does CTET Paper 2 have a negative marking system?
Ans. Unlike some competitive exams, CTET does not penalise its candidates for wrong answers. In other words, the second paper of CTET does not award any negative marking for an incorrect answer.
Q4. How should you prepare for CTET?
Ans. As a rule of thumb, you have to download the CTET syllabus pdf 2023. Besides covering the syllabus in detail, you may opt for quizzes or/and mock tests to check your speed and accuracy. Also, going through previous year’s question papers will give you some idea of how to effectively prepare for what is probably the toughest exam for recruiting educators.