AP TET Exam Pattern 2026: Papers, Marks and Timing

The AP TET exam pattern is the same in shape for all four papers: 150 multiple-choice questions, 150 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes and no negative marking, taken as a computer-based test. What changes between Paper 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B is the mix of sections, and that mix decides where your preparation time should go.

This page sets out the APTET June 2026 pattern from the official information bulletin issued by the Department of School Education, Andhra Pradesh. It covers section-wise marks, the content and pedagogy split, the language of the paper, shifts and normalisation, qualifying marks, and what the numbers mean for time management on exam day.

Table of Contents

• AP TET exam pattern at a glance

• Paper 1A and Paper 1B pattern

• Paper 2A and Paper 2B pattern

• Content and pedagogy split

• Marking scheme and negative marking

• Language of the question paper

• Shifts and normalisation

• What the pattern means for you

• Qualifying marks and use in recruitment

• Time management on exam day

AP TET Exam Pattern at a Glance

All sections in every paper are compulsory. Candidates with both D.El.Ed and B.Ed qualifications can take both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

AP TET Paper 1A and Paper 1B Pattern

English cannot be chosen as Language I. Mathematics and EVS questions are based on Classes III to VIII, with difficulty linked up to Class X.

AP TET Paper 2A and Paper 2B Pattern

In Paper 2A, Mathematics and Science is split into Mathematics, Physical Science and Biological Science of 20 marks each. Paper 2 questions are based on Classes VI to X, with linkages up to Intermediate.

Content and Pedagogy Split

Pedagogy is tested inside the subject sections as well as in the Child Development and Pedagogy section.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

• One mark per question: Every question is an MCQ with four options and one correct answer.

• No negative marking: A wrong answer costs nothing, and a blank earns nothing.

• No sectional minimum: The pass mark is set on the total out of 150, not on each section.

Language of the Question Paper

The paper is bilingual: English followed by the Language I you choose. If you choose Sanskrit in Paper 2A, Child Development and Pedagogy appears in Telugu followed by Sanskrit, Language I is in Sanskrit, and the rest of the paper is in Telugu followed by English. Questions are prepared in English and translated, and where a translation differs, the English version is treated as final for evaluation.

Shifts and Normalisation

APTET June 2026 ran in two sessions a day: 9.30 am to 12 noon and 2.30 pm to 5 pm. Because different candidates sit different shifts, the department applies a normalisation formula based on the mean, standard deviation and top 0.1% scores of each shift and of the whole exam, with marks calculated to five decimal places. Your normalised score can therefore differ slightly from your raw score.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Attempt all 150: With no negative marking, guessing on unsolved questions can only raise your score.

• Pedagogy is worth more than it looks: In Paper 1, CDP plus subject pedagogy adds up to 54 of 150 marks; in Paper 2A with Social Studies or a Language, CDP plus methodology adds up to 42.

• The 60-mark block decides Paper 2A: Part 4 is 40% of the paper, so your subject depth matters most there.

• Languages are steady marks: 60 marks come from Language I and English, which reward regular practice more than last-minute study.

Qualifying Marks and Use in Recruitment

In the state Teacher Recruitment Test, the TET score carries 20% weightage and the written test 80%. As an illustration only, a TET score of 120 out of 150 would translate to 16 out of 20 for the TET component if it is scaled in direct proportion. The exact calculation is set in each recruitment notification. See the AP TET qualifying marks page for past pass rates.

Time Management on Exam Day

1. First pass, about 90 minutes: Answer everything you know quickly, starting with your strongest sections.

2. Second pass, about 40 minutes: Return to questions that need calculation or careful reading.

3. Final 20 minutes: Mark an answer for every remaining question and review flagged ones.