The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is the gateway for thousands of aspiring teachers across India. While covering the syllabus is essential, real success comes from understanding how the exam actually works — the question pattern, the frequently tested topics, and the discipline of managing 150 questions in a fixed time. That is exactly why practising CTET previous year question papers is a cornerstone of smart preparation.
On this page, we bring together a fully verified collection of CTET old question papers from 2018 to 2026, covering both Paper I and Paper II. Every paper is downloadable as a PDF and follows the real examination pattern.
What You Get in This Archive
Our collection currently holds 128 verified question-paper PDFs from CTET sessions spanning 2018 through 2026, including:
- CTET February 2026
- CTET December 2024
- CTET July 2024
- CTET January 2024
- CTET August 2023
- CTET December 2022
- CTET December 2021
- CTET January 2021
- CTET December 2019
- CTET July 2019
- CTET December 2018
Depending on the session, both CTET Paper I (Classes I–V) and CTET Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) papers are available. You can browse the complete CTET previous year question papers PDF archive directly.
Why Solving Previous Papers Matters
1. Understand the Real Exam Pattern
The syllabus tells you what to study, but previous papers reveal how those topics are actually tested. Solving them builds familiarity with the question format, section distribution, and difficulty level.
2. Identify Frequently Asked Topics
Reviewing several years of papers highlights concepts that repeat again and again. This lets you build a focused, high-yield revision plan instead of studying everything equally.
3. Improve Speed and Accuracy
Getting the right answer matters, but so does speed. Practising under timed conditions sharpens your reading, comprehension, decision-making, and time management all at once.
4. Diagnose Your Weak Areas
Use every paper as a diagnostic test. After finishing, study each wrong answer and ask whether the issue was an unclear concept, a misread question, or a careless slip — then fix it before the real exam.
CTET Paper I vs Paper II
CTET Paper I
Paper I is for candidates who want to teach Classes I to V. It tests the knowledge, aptitude, and pedagogy needed at the primary stage. If this is your goal, practise CTET Paper I question papers regularly.
CTET Paper II
Paper II is for candidates who plan to teach Classes VI to VIII. It includes subject-specific areas along with pedagogy and languages. Those aiming for elementary-level posts should focus on CTET Paper II question papers.
CTET Exam Pattern at a Glance
- Total Questions: 150 MCQs
- Total Marks: 150 Marks
- Marks per Question: 1 Mark
- Duration: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Negative Marking: No negative marking
With 150 questions to attempt in 150 minutes, efficient time management is essential — and previous-paper practice is one of the best ways to build that skill.
How to Use These Papers Effectively
Step 1: Build a reasonable grasp of the core syllabus before attempting full papers.
Step 2: Use your first paper as a diagnostic to note strong and weak sections.
Step 3: Revise the concepts you struggled with and practise more questions.
Step 4: Attempt complete papers under timed conditions — set a timer for 2 hours 30 minutes.
Step 5: Analyse every attempt and keep a mistake notebook: Question/Topic Your Mistake Correct Concept Revision Required.
Online CBT Mock Tests
Beyond PDFs, TargetExams also offers CTET papers in an online practice environment with a countdown timer, question navigation, automated scoring, an exam-style interface, detailed solutions, and full-length mock-paper practice.
Study Practise Topic Questions Solve Previous Papers Attempt CBT Mock Tests Analyse Mistakes Revise Repeat
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download CTET previous year question papers?
You can access CTET previous-year papers, organised by session and paper, on TargetExams. The collection covers 2018 through 2026.
Are both CTET Paper I and Paper II available?
Yes. The archive includes Paper I (Classes I–V) and Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) depending on the session.
How many questions are there in CTET?
CTET has 150 multiple-choice questions carrying 150 marks.
Is there negative marking in CTET?
No, there is no negative marking in CTET.
What is the duration of the CTET exam?
Candidates get 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the paper.
Start Your CTET Preparation Today
Combining conceptual study with genuine exam practice makes CTET preparation far more structured. Previous papers help you understand question framing, recognise weak areas, improve speed, and judge whether your preparation is on track.
Do not just keep reading — start testing yourself. Download a paper, set the timer, attempt it seriously, analyse every mistake, and improve your next score.
