Teaching

Teaching Exams: In India, teaching exams are held for appointing candidates in government teaching jobs from primary to higher secondary classes at both central and state levels. Various central agencies, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB), etc., conduct these teaching exams along with state-level Teacher Eligibility Tests (TETs) and direct recruitment boards.

Read important information about teaching exams in India, especially for central jobs and state-level PGT, TGT, and PRT posts. Also, learn about the teaching exams eligibility, qualifications, and syllabus.

What are teaching exams?

Teaching exams in India are competitive and interview‑based exams conducted to recruit teachers for government schools, central schools, and sometimes aided schools. In India, these teaching exams are broadly of two types:

• Central teaching exams: CTET, KVS TGT/PGT/PRT, NVS TGT/PGT/PRT, DSSSB TGT/PGT/PRT, etc.
• State‑level exams: State TET exams (like UPTET, REET, HTET, PSTET) and state‑board direct recruitment exams (like UP TGT/PGT, Bihar TGT/PGT, etc.).

Strong performance in these exams leads to appointment as a PRT (Primary Teacher), TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher), or PGT (Post Graduate Teacher) in government or government‑aided schools.

Understanding PRT, TGT, PGT 

These three teaching posts (PRT, TGT, and PGT) define the level at which a teacher works in schools. Understand these exams and which classes they include from the table below:

Post	Full form	Classes taught	Basic role
PRT	Primary Teacher	Class 1 to 5	Teaches basic subjects (Hindi, English, Maths, EVS, etc.) in primary section.
TGT	Trained Graduate Teacher	Class 6 to 8 (middle school)	Handles subject‑wise teaching in middle classes.
PGT	Post Graduate Teacher	Class 9 to 12 (secondary & senior secondary)	Specialized subject teaching at higher secondary level.

For all three, candidates must clear a written exam (often objective‑type) and, in many cases, a demo class or interview round.

Teaching Exams Overview

Teaching exams in India are highly anticipated examinations that are held to recruit qualified teachers. Before starting the preparation for the exams, the aspirants must go over the overview of teaching exams in India in the table below:

Aspect	Details
Exam Types	National and State Level
Purpose	Recruitment of qualified teachers & educators
Conducting Bodies	Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), DSSSB, State Education Boards, etc.
Eligibility	Graduation/Post-Graduation + B.Ed. (varies by exam)
Exam Mode	Mostly Online (CBT) or Offline (OMR-based)
Key Subjects	Teaching Aptitude, Subject Knowledge, Reasoning, Pedagogy, Language
Job Roles	PRT (Primary Teacher), TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher), PGT (Post Graduate Teacher)

Central‑Related Teaching Exams & Jobs

Some of the central-based teaching exams in India are as follows:

1. CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test)

• Conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on behalf of the central government.
• It is a qualifying eligibility exam, not a direct recruitment exam.
• CTET Paper‑I is required for PRT (Class 1–5), and Paper‑II is required for TGT (Class 6–8) in many central and state schools.

Most central schools (KVS, NVS, Army Public Schools, etc.) and even many state‑board schools insist on CTET‑qualified candidates for PRT/TGT posts.

2. KVS (Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan) exams

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) holds separate recruitment exams for hiring people for the following:

• PRT – for primary section
• TGT – for middle school
• PGT – for senior secondary (9–12)

Candidates from all over India can take these teaching exams, which are considered highly prestigious because they pay well, are run by the central government, and allow for transfers.

3. NVS (Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti)

Navodaya Vidhyalaya Samiti (NVS) also hires teachers for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) for both primary and upper secondary classes. The NVS follows a pattern that is similar to the KVS: a written test and an interview or demo class. 

4. DSSSB (Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board)

For Delhi government schools, DSSSB conducts recruitment exams for PRT, TGT, and PGT posts. The syllabus and exam pattern are closer to central‑level exams but are for state‑level jobs in Delhi.

State‑level teaching exams (PGT, TGT, PRT)

Almost every state conducts its own teaching exams or recruitment process. Common patterns include:

• State TET exams (e.g., UPTET, REET, HTET, PSTET, etc.) – these are eligibility tests; recruitment is then done by separate state boards or education departments.
• Direct recruitment exams – in some states (like Uttar Pradesh), the education department releases separate notifications for UP TGT / UP PGT / UP PRT posts, with their own written exams and interviews.

Teaching Exam Eligibility Criteria

The teaching exam eligibility criteria vary slightly from state to state and from post to post, but the basic pattern is similar. Below is a general overview of central and state-level PRT, TGT, and PGT eligibility criteria.

PRT (Primary Teacher) Eligibility

Most central and state authorities require the following:

• Educational qualification:
  • Completion of 10+2 (or equivalent).
  • A 2‑year diploma in elementary education (D.El.Ed) or a 4‑year integrated BA/BSc/BCom + B.Ed from a recognized university.
• CTET / State TET:
  • CTET Paper‑I or a state TET (Paper‑I) for classes 1–5 is generally mandatory.
• Age limit:
  • Usually in the range of 18–35 years (relaxation for reserved categories and differently abled candidates as per state rules).

For example, in many states, you cannot be appointed as a PRT in government schools unless you have CTET‑I or the relevant state TET qualification.

TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher) Eligibility

TGT exams are for middle school teachers (Class 6–8). Typical requirements:

• Educational qualification:
  • A bachelor’s degree (BA/BSc/BCom) in the concerned subject (e.g., Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Hindi, English, Sanskrit, etc.).
  • A 2‑year B.Ed degree from a recognized university.
• CTET / State TET:
  • CTET Paper‑II or the corresponding state TET paper for Class 6–8 is generally required for TGT appointment.

Some states also prescribe a minimum percentage (e.g., 50–55%) for the qualifying graduation, and sometimes a B.Ed may be waived temporarily in special recruitment drives, but this is exception-based.

PGT (Post Graduate Teacher) Eligibility

PGT posts are for Classes 9–12 and require higher subject specialization:

• Educational qualification:
  • A Master’s degree (MA/MSc/MCom, etc.) in the concerned subject with at least 50–55% marks, depending on the board/authority.
  • A 2‑year B.Ed degree (in many central exams like KVS, NVS, DSSSB, and some state systems).
• B.Ed exception:
  • In some central exams (like KVS PGT), B.Ed may not be compulsory for certain technical subjects (e.g., Information Technology), but this is specified in the notification.
• Age limit:
  • Usually 18–40 years for PGT, with relaxation for reserved and special‑category candidates

Candidates with strong subject knowledge in post‑graduation and good B.Ed training are preferred for PGT posts.

Teaching Exam Syllabus

The teaching exam syllabus is decided by the concerned authority of the exam. Candidates must always download the official notification PDF and check the exact syllabus and exam pattern for that particular exam. 

The teaching exam syllabus for various exams can be similar but not fixed across India. Instead, the teaching exam syllabus is decided by:

• CBSE / NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education): For CTET and TET‑pattern exams
• KVS / NVS / DSSSB: For their own PRT/TGT/PGT exams
• State Education Departments / State Boards: For state TET exams and direct recruitment exams

The teaching exam syllabus level for various job posts is as follows:

Post	Syllabus Level
PRT (1 – 5 classes)	Primary level (Maths, EVS, Language)
TGT (6 – 8 classes)	Graduation-level subject knowledge
PGT (9 – 12 classes)	Postgraduate level subject knowledge

Teaching Exam Preparation Tips

Preparing for teacher exams in India requires aspirants to have a clear understanding of the exam, regular practice, and good time management. Below are listed some teaching exam preparation tips:

• The first step in preparation is to have a thorough knowledge of the latest exam pattern and the complete syllabus.
• Focus your preparation on the basic concepts, such as child development & pedagogy, teaching skills, and subject-based topics.
• Create a daily and weekly study plan that helps with covering all syllabus topics in a structured way and on time.
• Solve previous years’ question papers for up to the last 5 years to understand the exam pattern, types of questions asked, and the level of difficulty.
• Attempt mock tests on a regular basis to identify the weak areas and improve speed and accuracy while also gaining exam confidence.
• Revise the key topics at regular intervals to remember the important concepts and formulas. 
• Use good and updated study materials, such as the NCERT books or expert notes.
• Stay updated with the official websites and be consistent with the study routine.

Conclusion

Teaching exams in India act as the gateway to the central and state government teaching jobs. These teaching exams ensure that only qualified and trained candidates enter the teaching profession, which improves the quality of education in schools all across India. 

Having a clear plan and consistent preparation can help you clear these teaching exams and secure a stable government teaching job in central or state schools.

Teaching Exams FAQs