UPTET Exam Pattern 2026: Paper 1 and Paper 2 Marking Scheme

The UPTET exam pattern is the same in shape for both papers: 150 multiple-choice questions, one mark each, 2 hours 30 minutes and no negative marking. Paper 1 is for teaching Classes 1 to 5 and Paper 2 for Classes 6 to 8. The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) conducted the 2026 cycle in offline, OMR-based mode on 2, 3 and 4 July 2026.

What differs between the papers is the subject mix. This page sets out the section-wise pattern for each paper, the marking and qualifying rules, how normalisation worked across shifts in 2026, and how to use the 150 minutes so that you clear the qualifying mark with room to spare.

UPTET Pattern at a Glance

UPTET Paper 1 Exam Pattern

Questions are pitched at the Classes 1 to 5 curriculum, and each subject includes questions on how to teach it.

UPTET Paper 2 Exam Pattern

Choosing the Paper 2 subject section

• Mathematics and Science teachers: Take the Mathematics and Science section.

• Social Studies teachers: Take the Social Studies section.

• Other teachers: May choose either section, so pick the one that matches your graduation subjects and the posts you plan to apply for later.

Language of the paper

Language I is Hindi. For Language II you choose English, Urdu or Sanskrit when you apply. All other sections are printed in Hindi and English.

Marking Scheme and Qualifying Marks

• Correct answer: One mark.

• Wrong answer: No deduction.

• Unattempted question: Zero.

• Qualifying marks: 60% (90 out of 150) for General; 55% for reserved categories including SC, ST, OBC, persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen and dependants of freedom fighters.

There is no sectional minimum in the notification as reported. Only the total out of 150 decides whether you qualify. See the UPTET cut-off and qualifying marks page for the category-wise details and 2026 pass rates.

What the Pattern Means for You

• A wrong guess costs nothing: Every blank is a lost chance at a mark, so fill every bubble before time runs out.

• Each question is worth the same: A quick grammar question earns as much as a long maths problem, so take easy marks first.

• Pedagogy runs through the paper: Besides the 30 Child Development and Pedagogy questions, language and subject sections carry pedagogy items, so pedagogy can account for a large share of your total.

• Paper 2 is subject-heavy: The 60-question subject section is 40% of the paper. A weak subject section is the most common reason Paper 2 candidates miss the mark.

Shifts and Normalisation

In 2026, the exam ran in five shifts over three days, with both papers spread across more than one shift. The notification provides for score normalisation when an exam runs in multiple shifts, and the result was prepared using that process. Normalisation adjusts for differences in difficulty between shifts, so your final score can differ slightly from the score you calculate from the answer key.

Time Management and Exam-Day Strategy

These splits are a suggestion, not an official rule. Adjust them after a few full-length mocks. Bubble the OMR as you go rather than at the end, and keep the last ten minutes to fill any blanks.

Older pages may still name the previous examination authority or old application dates. Follow the latest notification on the official UPESSC website.