Success in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) depends on much more than covering the course. You must understand the exam’s question style, identify repeated concepts, and build the speed needed to answer 150 questions in a limited time. Using CTET previous year question papers is one of the smartest ways to achieve all of this.
TargetExams provides a handy archive of CTET question papers from 2018 through 2026, including both Paper I and Paper II. Every single paper is verified, so you can practise with complete confidence.
Download CTET Previous Year Papers PDF
The papers are arranged neatly by examination session, paper type, and question set. Just pick the session you need and download the PDF straight away.
The collection holds 128 verified question-paper PDFs spanning CTET sessions from 2018 through 2026:
- 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, you will find both CTET Paper I and CTET Paper II papers here. You can also grab the complete set of download CTET previous year papers directly from the archive.
CTET Examination Pattern – Quick Summary
- Total Questions: 150 MCQs
- Total Marks: 150 Marks
- Marks per Question: 1 Mark
- Duration: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Negative Marking: No negative marking
Because you must answer 150 questions in 150 minutes, time management is crucial. Previous-paper practice is a proven way to develop this ability.
Why Solving Old Papers Matters
Previous-year papers are not just extra questions — they give a genuine insight into how CTET papers are actually constructed.
Get Comfortable With the Format
The syllabus defines the topics; previous papers reveal how those topics turn into questions. Repeated practice makes the structure, sections, and difficulty feel familiar.
Zero In on Important Topics
Scanning several years of papers highlights concepts that are tested again and again, often in varied forms. Use this to build a focused, high-yield revision plan.
Gain Speed and Accuracy
Correct answers need to come quickly. Practising under a timer boosts your reading speed, question comprehension, decision-making, precision, and time management together.
Detect Your Weak Areas
Use each paper as a diagnostic. After finishing, review every mistake and ask whether it came from unclear concepts, misunderstood questions, or careless slips — then fix it.
Choosing Between Paper I and Paper II
CTET Paper I
Paper I suits candidates who wish to teach Classes I to V. It evaluates the knowledge, aptitude, and pedagogy required for the primary stage. Practice CTET Paper I question papers regularly if this is your goal.
CTET Paper II
Paper II is intended for those who wish to teach Classes VI to VIII. It covers subject-specific components plus pedagogy and language areas. Candidates targeting elementary classes should practise CTET Paper II question papers.
A Smart Way to Use CTET Papers
Step 1: Cover the Basics First
Gain a decent hold over major syllabus areas before diving into full papers. Complete preparation is not mandatory, but basic knowledge makes practice more fruitful.
Step 2: Try Your First Paper Without Pressure
Treat the first paper as a diagnostic. Ignore the score and observe your strong and weak sections, hard concepts, slow questions, and repeated errors.
Step 3: Strengthen Weak Topics
Based on your analysis, revisit the concepts you found difficult. Revise and solve additional questions for those areas.
Step 4: Attempt Papers With a Timer
As you improve, simulate real exam conditions. Set 2 hours 30 minutes and answer all 150 questions without interruptions.
Step 5: Review Every Attempt
The review after a test is often more useful than the test itself. Maintain a notebook following: Question/Topic → Your Mistake → Correct Concept → Revision Required, and revisit it before the next mock.
Try CTET CBT Mock Tests Online
While PDF papers work well for revision, online CBT practice adds genuine exam simulation. TargetExams offers CTET papers in an online practice environment for selected exams with a countdown timer, question navigation, automatic scoring, an exam-style interface, detailed solutions, and full-length mock papers.
Study → Practise Topic Questions → Solve Previous Papers → Attempt CBT Mock Tests → Analyse Mistakes → Revise → Repeat
How Many CTET Previous Papers to Practise?
There is no magic number, yet one or two papers are rarely sufficient. Begin with older sessions and progressively move towards recent ones.
- Phase 1: Solve older papers to learn the pattern.
- Phase 2: Revise based on your mistakes.
- Phase 3: Attempt recent papers under timed conditions.
- Phase 4: Take full-length mocks for final preparation.
The real objective is not quantity — it is to learn something valuable from every paper.
Benefits of Solving CTET Old Papers
- Learn the exact question format of CTET
- Become familiar with both paper structures
- Identify concepts that repeat frequently
- Measure your current level of preparation
- Boost speed and accuracy
- Improve time management skills
- Uncover weak chapters in advance
- Overcome nervousness around full-length tests
- Build a targeted revision strategy
- Gain confidence with consistent practice
Common CTET Questions – Answered
Where can I get CTET previous year question papers?
You can download CTET previous-year papers, arranged by session and paper, on TargetExams. The collection spans 2018 to 2026.
Are both Paper I and Paper II available?
Yes — the archive covers Paper I (Classes I–V) and Paper II (Classes VI–VIII) as released each session.
How many questions does CTET have?
CTET consists of 150 MCQs worth 150 marks.
Does CTET have negative marking?
No, there is no negative marking in the exam.
How long is the CTET exam?
The duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Are old papers enough for CTET?
They are highly useful, but best combined with syllabus study, concept revision, and mock tests.
Can beginners use CTET previous papers?
Absolutely — begin with a diagnostic paper, then move to timed full-length attempts after covering the syllabus.
Begin Your CTET Preparation Now
Mixing conceptual study with real exam practice brings structure to your CTET preparation. Old papers reveal how questions are framed, highlight weak areas, improve speed, and show whether your preparation is progressing well.
TargetExams offers a big archive of CTET Previous Year Question Papers from 2018 to 2026, covering Paper I and Paper II, along with selected online CBT mock tests.
Stop reading endlessly and start practising. Download a paper, set the timer, solve it seriously, analyse each mistake, and improve your next score.
