CTET Cutoff 2026: Check Category-Wise Previous Year Cutoff Marks
CTET Cutoff 2026 requires candidates to secure the minimum qualifying marks to become eligible to teach Classes 1 to 8 in schools. This mark is set and released by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), following NCTE guidelines. CTET qualifying marks vary with category; for unreserved it is 60% and for other categories it is 55%. After clearing this mark, candidates get a CTET certificate, which is valid for a lifetime. With this certificate, they can apply for teaching posts in Kandriya Vidyalayas and other central government-aided schools.
CTET Expected Qualifying Marks 2025
CTET Qualifying Marks are the same for both papers, namely Paper 1 for Classes 1 to 5 (Primary Standard) and Paper 2 for Classes 5 to 8 (Upper Primary Standard), but vary with categories.
| Category | Percentage Required | Marks out of 150 |
|---|---|---|
| General/Unreserved | 60% | 90 marks |
| OBC/SC/ST/PwD | 55% | 82 marks |
These cutoff marks remain the same for both sessions of CTET in a year, that is, January and July/August.
CTET Previous Year Cutoff
The following tables show CTET cutoff marks that each category needs to qualify for CTET:
CTET Cutoff Marks 2021
| Category | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 87 |
| OBC | 85 |
| SC | 80 |
| ST | 80 |
CTET Cutoff Marks 2020
| Category | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 90 |
| OBC | 85 |
| SC | 85 |
| ST | 85 |
CTET Cutoff Marks 2019
| Category | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 90 |
| OBC | 82.5 |
| SC | 82.5 |
| ST | 82.5 |
CTET Cutoff Marks 2018
| Category | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 90 |
| OBC | 85 |
| SC | 80 |
| ST | 80 |
CTET Cutoff Marks 2017
| Category | Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 87 |
| OBC | 85 |
| SC | 80 |
| ST | 80 |
CTET Cutoff serves as a benchmark for candidates to receive CTET certificates. Candidates must meet the cutoff requirements individually for the paper(s) they have applied to. As CTET Cutoff remains same for both sessions, candidates can make their effective preparation strategy as per their category.
CTET Cutoff 2026 FAQs
Ques: Is CTET cutoff the same for both papers?
Ans: Yes. CTET cutoff is the same for both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must secure the required percentage in each paper separately to be declared CTET qualified.
Ques: Does the CTET cutoff differ for male and female candidates?
Ans: No. CTET cutoff does not vary between males and females. It is based on category and ensures equal qualifying standards for all male and female applicants.
Ques: Can state governments set their own CTET cutoff?
Ans: No. CBSE fixes the official CTET cutoff. But each state or recruiting body may use higher qualifying scores during teacher recruitment, which depends on vacancies and competition levels.
Ques: Is there negative marking in CTET that affects the cutoff?
Ans: No. CTET does not have a negative marking scheme. Candidates only need to secure the minimum qualifying marks, but wrong answers do not reduce their overall score or cutoff chances.
Ques: Does clearing CTET cutoff guarantee a teaching job?
Ans: No. Qualifying CTET only gets you a CTET certificate eligibility. Securing a teaching job requires clearing separate recruitment processes, including written exams, interviews, or merit lists conducted by schools or government bodies.
Download the PREPP App and attempt FREE CTET Mock Tests and get complete study material!
Full Test-20: CTET Paper 1 (LI & LII - Hindi-English)
Full Test-19: CTET Paper 1 (LI & LII - English-Hindi)
CTET 2026 Paper 1 Question Paper (08-Feb-2026)
CTET 2026 Paper 2 Social Science Question Paper (08-Feb-2026)
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