Karnataka TET Cut-off 2026: Qualifying Marks Guide

The Karnataka TET cut-off is not a rank-based cut-off. KARTET is a qualifying test, so the School Education Department, Government of Karnataka, fixes the pass marks in the notification itself, by category. If you reach the qualifying percentage in a paper, you receive the KARTET eligibility certificate for that paper, however many other candidates also pass.

This page sets out the official qualifying marks from the KARTET 2025 notification, explains how deleted questions change the calculation, and shows how to set a safe target score. The rules below are the latest available as of 21 October 2026; check the next notification when it is released.

Karnataka TET qualifying marks

The same percentages apply to Paper 1 and Paper 2. The notification sets no sectional minimum, so the percentage is measured on the whole paper. It also does not say how 82.5 marks is rounded, so treat 83 as the safe working figure for the 55 percent group.

How deleted questions affect the qualifying score

After the exam, the department publishes provisional key answers and accepts objections for four days. If experts find that all four options of a question are wrong, or that the question has a printing error, it is deleted. No grace marks are given for it, and your percentage is calculated on the remaining questions.

For example, if one question is deleted, the paper is effectively out of 149 marks. A general category candidate then needs 60 percent of 149, which is 89.4 marks. This is an illustration of the rule in the notification, not an official figure for any cycle.

Qualifying marks versus recruitment cut-offs

• KARTET qualifying marks: Fixed in the notification before the exam, and they decide only whether you get the eligibility certificate.

• Recruitment cut-offs: Teacher recruitment exams held by the department set their own merit lists and cut-offs, which change with vacancies and applicants. They are not covered on this page.

• Certificate validity: The department's notice of 13 January 2026 states that the KARTET certificate is valid for life, so a pass in any cycle continues to count.

Because you can reappear after qualifying to improve your score, a higher KARTET score can still be worth chasing if a recruitment process gives it weight. Check each recruitment notification for how it uses the TET score.

How to set your target

The pass line does not move with difficulty, but your score on the day can. Aim for a clear margin above the qualifying mark rather than a bare pass.

1. Set a working target: General category candidates can aim for 100 or more out of 150, and the 55 percent group for 93 or more. These are suggested targets, not official figures.

2. Secure the common 90 marks: Two languages and Child Development and Pedagogy are worth 90 marks in both papers. Aim for at least two-thirds of these.

3. Use the subject section as your buffer: In Paper 1, Mathematics and Environmental Studies carry 60 marks; in Paper 2, your chosen subject section carries 60.

4. Attempt every question: There is no negative marking, so leaving a question blank only lowers your score.

Track your scores across full-length tests in the KARTET format and only treat yourself as ready when you clear your target consistently. For timed practice, use online tests on Testkart in the KARTET format as they become available, and use the section-wise analysis to find which section is pulling your score down.

Certificates are downloaded from the KARTET portal.