CTET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026: Maths, Science and Social Studies Topics, Marks and Plan

Quick answer

CTET Paper 2 is for candidates who want to teach classes 6 to 8. The paper has 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks. Three sections carry 30 questions each: Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I and Language II. The remaining 60 questions test the subject you choose, either Mathematics and Science or Social Studies. There is no negative marking.

Who should take Paper 2

Paper 2 suits a graduate with a B.Ed or an equivalent qualification who plans to teach the middle classes. The eligibility is set in the bulletin, so check it before you decide. If you want to teach classes 1 to 5, Paper 1 is the right paper.

Section-wise breakdown

Choose the subject section carefully. It is the largest part of the paper, and it is the one that most candidates need the most time to revise.

Child Development and Pedagogy

For classes 6 to 8, the topics move towards adolescence. Study:

• Adolescent development: Physical, emotional and social change in the early teenage years.
• Learning and motivation: How students learn and what keeps them engaged.
• Inclusive classrooms: Support for children with different needs, and how to adapt a lesson.
• Assessment: Continuous and formative assessment, and how a teacher uses the results.

Practise scenario questions. A typical question asks what a teacher should do with a student who is falling behind, or how to handle a disruptive but capable learner.

Language I and Language II

Both language sections test comprehension and teaching. Read passages daily, answer the questions, and then ask yourself how you would teach the passage to a class. Include grammar as it helps you read and teach, not as a stand-alone topic.

Mathematics and Science

The maths and science section covers the content for classes 6 to 8, with the teaching of each topic. Revise number systems, algebra basics, geometry, mensuration, data handling, and for science the basic ideas in physics, chemistry and biology taught in middle school.

Pair each content topic with a teaching question. For example, if the paper asks about fractions, think about the misconception a child might have and how to correct it.

Social Studies

The social studies section covers history, geography, civics and economics at middle-school depth. Revise the timeline of major events, the basic geography of India and the world, the working of the government, and the basic economic terms used in the textbook.

Again, link content with teaching. The paper asks how to explain a concept to a class, not only what it means.

A study plan for ten weeks

• Weeks 1 to 2: Child Development and Pedagogy, with a summary sheet for each unit.
• Weeks 3 and 4: Language I and Language II, with comprehension practice each day.
• Weeks 5 to 8: Your chosen subject section, one unit a week, with 30 questions a day.
• Week 9: Full mock tests, two a week, with an error log.
• Week 10: Revise the error log. Do not start new topics in the last three days.

Common mistakes

• Choosing the subject section late. Decide early and start the content.
• Neglecting pedagogy. It is 30 marks, and it is the same logic across the paper.
• Practising without a timer. The paper rewards steady pace across the sections.

Subject choice in practice

Choose the subject section that matches your degree and your teaching plan. If your degree is in science or maths, the maths and science section will feel familiar, but the paper still tests the school-level content and the teaching method. If your degree is in history, geography, political science or economics, the social studies section may suit you better.

Do not choose by guess. Take a short diagnostic test in each subject, time yourself, and choose the one where your accuracy is highest with the least revision.

Reading the middle-school textbook

For the chosen subject, read the textbooks for classes 6 to 8 that the state or NCERT uses. Note the key definitions, the examples, the diagrams and the exercises. The questions often mirror how a concept is explained in the textbook, so a textbook read is a strong revision tool.

Questions about teaching in middle school

• A class struggles with abstract ideas. What activity would make the concept concrete?
• A student is bored and disrupts the class. What should the teacher do first?
• A group task produces unequal participation. How would you organise the next task?

Answer in full sentences. This is the same thinking the exam rewards.

Language sections for middle school

At classes 6 to 8, language teaching moves from reading to analysis. Practise identifying the main idea, the tone of a passage and the writer's purpose. Revise grammar that affects comprehension, such as tense, voice and the use of connectors.

Common scenarios in Paper 2 pedagogy

Paper 2 pedagogy questions often describe a class of students aged about 11 to 14. Typical situations include a student who mixes up two concepts, a group that dominates discussion, a child who is anxious about a test, and a class where most students are ready to move on but a few are not. Write a short plan for each situation, naming the first step, the support you would give and how you would check progress.

Language II and the second language

Language II is a separate test of comprehension and teaching. Read at least one passage a day in the language you chose, and answer the questions aloud, so that you practise the meaning as well as the answer. For teaching questions, focus on how a student builds vocabulary, reads with understanding and writes with a clear structure.

Maths and science: concept and error patterns

For the maths and science option, study the concepts in the order taught in middle school, and list the errors students usually make in each topic. A question might give a wrong answer and ask you to identify the mistake or the next teaching step. Practising error analysis is more useful than memorising formulas alone.

Social studies: linking content and teaching

For social studies, link each unit to a question a teacher might ask in class: why a river changes its course, why a law was passed, or how a market sets prices. Note the cause and effect in each unit, since the paper often asks for the best explanation rather than a fact.

A weekly review routine

• Monday: Review last week's errors and their causes.
• Wednesday: One timed set in your weakest section.
• Friday: A short mock of 50 questions, then review every wrong answer.
• Sunday: Revise the week's summary notes, and plan the next week.