Karnataka TET Exam Pattern 2026: Paper 1 and Paper 2 Guide

The Karnataka TET exam pattern is set by the School Education Department, Government of Karnataka, in each KARTET notification. The test has two papers: Paper 1 for those who want to teach Classes 1 to 5 and Paper 2 for Classes 6 to 8. Each paper is a single offline sitting of 150 multiple-choice questions on an OMR sheet, with no negative marking. The figures on this page come from the KARTET 2025 notification, the latest available as of 21 October 2026.

Knowing the pattern matters more for KARTET than for many exams, because there is no interview or second stage. Your result depends on one 150-minute paper, so this page explains the section split, the marking rules, how the qualifying percentage is worked out, and how to use your time on exam day.

Table of Contents

Exam pattern at a glance

If you want to be eligible to teach both levels (Classes 1 to 5 and 6 to 8), you must qualify in both papers. In the 2025 cycle, both papers were held on the same day, Paper 1 in the morning and Paper 2 in the afternoon, so you can write both.

Paper 1 pattern

Paper 1 questions are based on the NCERT or state syllabus for Classes 1 to 8, and the notification limits difficulty to the secondary level (up to Class 10). Child Development and Pedagogy questions focus on learners aged 6 to 11.

Paper 2 pattern

Paper 2 questions are based on the NCERT or state syllabus for Classes 6 to 10, with difficulty up to PUC level. Child Development and Pedagogy questions focus on learners aged 11 to 14.

Language of the question paper

Apart from the language sections, questions are printed in Kannada, English, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Marathi. You must answer in the medium and subject you chose in the application, and neither can be changed later.

Marking scheme and OMR rules

• One mark per question: Every question has four options with one correct answer.

• No negative marking: A wrong answer costs nothing, and an unanswered question earns nothing.

• Shade fully: Use a blue or black ballpoint pen. The notification warns that a bubble shaded less than 30 percent may not be read by the scanner.

• No changes after shading: Correcting a shaded answer is not allowed.

• No re-evaluation: Evaluation is computerised, so there is no photocopy, re-evaluation or recount of the OMR sheet.

What the pattern means for you

• 90 of 150 marks are common: Two languages and pedagogy give 90 marks in both papers. Strength here is the quickest route to the qualifying line.

• Attempt everything: With no negative marking, a blank is a lost chance. Eliminate options and mark the most likely answer.

• One minute per question: You have 150 minutes for 150 questions, and pedagogy and reading-based language questions take longer than direct recall.

• The subject section decides the margin: In Paper 2, the 60-mark subject section can lift or sink your score, so do not neglect it in favour of the common sections.

Qualifying marks and how they are calculated

There are no sectional qualifying marks in the notification; the percentage applies to the whole paper. The pass line is fixed in advance and does not change with difficulty or the number of candidates.

If experts find a question where all four options are wrong or the question has a printing error, it is deleted and no grace marks are given. Your percentage is then calculated on the remaining questions. As a worked example, if one question is deleted, the paper is out of 149, and a general category candidate needs 60 percent of 149, which is 89.4 marks. Treat this as an illustration of the rule; the department publishes the final position with the result. More detail is on the Karnataka TET qualifying marks page.

After the exam, the department publishes provisional key answers and allows four days for online objections with supporting documents. An expert committee reviews them and the final key is published. KARTET has no interview or later stage, so the paper itself decides whether you qualify.

Exam-day timings

These are the KARTET 2025 timings. Confirm the timings on your admit card for the next cycle.

Extra time and scribes

Candidates with disabilities get 20 minutes extra for every hour, which is 50 minutes per paper, whether or not they use a scribe. A scribe must have studied at least up to SSLC and must have a qualification one level below the candidate's. Requests go to the chief superintendent of the exam centre in advance.

Paper 1 or Paper 2: which to write

Your choice must also match your qualification. Since the 30 October 2025 amendment, a B.Ed alone makes you eligible only for Paper 2, while a D.El.Ed with graduation can open both papers.

Section-by-section approach

Language 1 and Language 2

Language 1 tests proficiency in the language of instruction, and Language 2 tests the basic elements of the language, communication and comprehension. Expect unseen passages along with grammar and questions on how to teach the language. Read the passage questions first, then the passage, to save time.

Child Development and Pedagogy

This section is about how children learn and how teachers respond to different learners. Paper 1 questions centre on ages 6 to 11 and Paper 2 on ages 11 to 14. Many options sound reasonable, so choose the one that is most child-centred and inclusive, as that is the view the syllabus takes.

Mathematics and Environmental Studies (Paper 1)

Questions test basic concepts, problem solving and the understanding of how to teach each subject. The content is school level, but the notification allows difficulty up to Class 10, so revise beyond the primary textbooks.

Subject section (Paper 2)

Mathematics and Science carries 30 questions each. Social Studies covers history, geography, political science and economics with a Karnataka focus. Content is based on Classes 6 to 10, with difficulty that can reach PUC level, so a quick revision of Class 11 and 12 basics helps in Science.

Time management strategy

1. First 50 minutes: Do the two language sections, starting with passages you can read quickly.

2. Next 35 minutes: Do Child Development and Pedagogy, reading each option carefully, since many options look similar.

3. Next 55 minutes: Do your subject section, solving direct questions first and marking long calculations to return to.

4. Last 10 minutes: Return to marked questions and check that every bubble is fully shaded.

Practise this split under timed conditions before the exam. For timed practice in the current pattern, use online tests on Testkart in the KARTET format as they become available, and use the section-wise analysis to see where your minutes go. Older pages may still list a seven-year certificate validity or a Paper 1 route through B.Ed alone; both are out of date. Follow the KARTET 2025 notification, its amendment of 30 October 2025 .