People who wish to teach at the primary or elementary level pursue bachelors in education or B.Ed. After completing a bachelor’s degree, you can choose to teach in private schools or government schools. If you want to become a teacher in a government school, you will have to clear an entrance exam like any other government job. TET and CTET exams are the two most common entrance exams for getting a teaching job in a government school. This blog will tell you the difference between TET and CTET and will also help you understand which exam you should appear for.

What is TET?

TET is the acronym for Teacher’s Eligibility Test. It is a national-level exam for the appointment of qualified teachers to central and state government schools. TET is generally held once a year. There are two papers for TET. Paper 1 is for appointing teachers at the primary level (class 1-5), whereas paper two is for teachers at the elementary level (class 6-8). Various states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh conduct TET exams RTET, Maha TET, and UPTET, respectively. Different education boards of various states regulate TET. To clear the test, you must obtain at least 60% marks.

What is CTET?

CTET is the Central Teacher’s Eligibility Test conducted for teachers’ appointments at the central government level. This exam is taken to ensure a minimum qualification level for primary and secondary school teachers. It is regulated by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). CTET is conducted twice a year, in July and December. To appear for CTET, you should be at least 18 years old. However, there is no maximum age limit to appear for CTET. Also, there is no cap on appearing for the test. Similar to TET, there are two papers in the CTET syllabus. Paper 1 is for classes 1-5, and paper 2 is for classes 6-8.

Difference between TET and CTET

The following are some significant differences between TET and CTET.

  • TET is a state-level exam to appoint teachers in state government schools. CTET is a central-level exam to hire teachers in central government schools.
  • TET is conducted by the respective education boards of various states. On the other hand, CTET is managed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
  • While candidates can appear for CTET twice a year, the TET exam is conducted when vacancies for teachers arise in government schools.
  • When you clear the TET once, your result will be valid for five years. However, the result of CTET will be valid for seven years.
  • There is no official language for the CTET exam, so you don’t have to prepare in a specific language. However, for TET, you must be proficient in the language of the respective states.
  • In CTET, there is no upper age limit for candidates. However, in TET, there is an upper age limit for candidates. For instance, the maximum age limit to apply for UPTET is 35 years. However, for both exams, the minimum age limit for applying is 18 years.

Which State Conducts TET?

The Central and state governments have to provide free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Therefore, they hire teachers at the primary and secondary levels. Following states conduct TET:

  • Andhra Pradesh
  • West Bengal
  • Arunachal Pradesh
  • Assam
  • Rajasthan
  • Haryana
  • Bihar
  • Kerala
  • Chhattisgarh
  • Maharashtra
  • Gujarat
  • Jharkhand
  • Himachal Pradesh
  • Telangana
  • Manipur
  • Sikkim
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Karnataka
  • Odisha
  • Tripura
  • Mizoram
  • Uttarakhand
  • Meghalaya
  • Punjab
  • Uttar Pradesh

In 2019, more than 24 lakh people had appeared for TET. Out of these, around 5.5 lakh had qualified for the exam for both papers 1 and 2. It means that only 22.5% of the people were able to clear the test. The difficulty level of the TET is high. You need to follow a rigorous study routine and prepare well for the exam. BYJU’S Exam Prep is beneficial for both TET and CTET candidates as it will help them prepare the entire course well in advance as per the latest syllabus and exam pattern.

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