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KARNATAKA · TEACHING

Karnataka Teacher Eligibility Test (KARTET): syllabus and eligibility

KARTET key facts
Conducting bodyDepartment of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka (Central Admission Cell). Official website ↗
PostsEligibility for teacher posts in Classes 1 to 5 (Paper 1), Eligibility for teacher posts in Classes 6 to 8 (Paper 2)
QualificationPaper 1: PUC or senior secondary with at least 50% plus a two-year D.El.Ed, a four-year B.El.Ed, or a two-year Diploma in Education (Special Education); or a degree with at least 50% plus a D.El.Ed. The 30 October 2025 amendment removed the degree-plus-B.Ed option for Paper 1. Paper 2: a degree with at least 50% plus a D.El.Ed, B.Ed or B.Ed (Special Education), or PUC with at least 50% plus a four-year B.El.Ed. Candidates admitted to one of these courses and still studying may also apply. SC, ST, Category-1 and disabled candidates get 5% relaxation in these marks.
DomicileSee the notification
Selection stagesWritten test on OMR sheets. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are held on the same day, and you can take one or both → No interview. To pass you need 60% (General, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) or 55% (SC, ST, Category-1 and disabled candidates) → Qualified candidates download a computerised certificate from the department website
Latest notificationKARTET 2025 notification

Last checked . Sources

About KARTET

KARTET is Karnataka's teacher eligibility test, conducted by the Central Admission Cell of the School Education Department. It is an eligibility test, not a recruitment exam: passing lets you apply for teacher posts in Classes 1 to 8 in government, local body, aided and unaided schools in the state. The certificate is valid for life, and you can take the test again to improve your score.

Eligibility

Qualification

Paper 1: PUC or senior secondary with at least 50% plus a two-year D.El.Ed, a four-year B.El.Ed, or a two-year Diploma in Education (Special Education); or a degree with at least 50% plus a D.El.Ed. The 30 October 2025 amendment removed the degree-plus-B.Ed option for Paper 1. Paper 2: a degree with at least 50% plus a D.El.Ed, B.Ed or B.Ed (Special Education), or PUC with at least 50% plus a four-year B.El.Ed. Candidates admitted to one of these courses and still studying may also apply. SC, ST, Category-1 and disabled candidates get 5% relaxation in these marks.

Other conditions

  • Only NCTE-recognised teacher education courses count. Special education courses must be RCI-recognised.
  • The KARTET 2025 notification does not mention an age limit.

Selection process

  1. Written test on OMR sheets. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are held on the same day, and you can take one or both
  2. No interview. To pass you need 60% (General, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) or 55% (SC, ST, Category-1 and disabled candidates)
  3. Qualified candidates download a computerised certificate from the department website

Exam pattern

Paper 1 (Classes 1 to 5)

Mode: Offline OMR, multiple choice · Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes · Negative marking: None

SUBJECTQUESTIONSMARKS
Language 1 (compulsory)3030
Language 2 (compulsory)3030
Child development and pedagogy (compulsory)3030
Mathematics3030
Environmental studies3030

Paper 2 (Classes 6 to 8)

Mode: Offline OMR, multiple choice · Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes · Negative marking: None

SUBJECTQUESTIONSMARKS
Language 1 (compulsory)3030
Language 2 (compulsory)3030
Child development and pedagogy (compulsory)3030
Mathematics and science (for maths and science teachers) or social studies (for social science teachers)6060

KARTET syllabus

Child development and pedagogy

  • Educational psychology of children aged 6 to 11 (Paper 1) or 11 to 14 (Paper 2)
  • Teaching and learning methods
  • Needs of learners from different backgrounds and learning levels

Language 1 and Language 2

  • Language 1: proficiency in the medium of instruction
  • Language 2: basics of the language, communication and comprehension

Subject papers

  • Paper 1: mathematics and environmental studies concepts, problem-solving and teaching method, based on the NCERT/state syllabus for Classes 1 to 8, at a difficulty level up to Class 10
  • Paper 2: mathematics and science or social studies, based on the NCERT/state syllabus for Classes 6 to 10, at a difficulty level up to PUC

What they ask

Each paper has 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks in two and a half hours, with no negative marking. Language questions check how well you use the medium of instruction and your second language, while pedagogy questions focus on how children aged 6 to 14 learn. Subject questions test both the concept and how you would teach it. Question papers are printed in Kannada, English, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Marathi, and you answer in the medium you chose when applying.

How to prepare

  • Wrong answers carry no penalty, so attempt all 150 questions.
  • Child development and pedagogy is compulsory in both papers. Learn the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky and Kohlberg alongside classroom situations, because questions are framed around teaching.
  • Revise state and NCERT textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 (Paper 1) or 6 to 10 (Paper 2), since the notification ties subject questions to these syllabi.
  • If you plan to teach Classes 1 to 8, write both papers on the same day. Each one makes you eligible only for its own level.
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How to apply

  1. Register and apply online on schooleducation.karnataka.gov.in within the dates in the notification
  2. Upload a photo and signature in the required sizes
  3. Pay the fee online or by SBI challan
  4. Download the admit card from the same website before the exam

Photo and signature

  • Photo: Passport-size photo, up to 50 KB
  • Signature: Signature in black ink, up to 40 KB

Source: official instructions ↗

Resize your photo and signature for KARTET

KARTET FAQs

No. The 2025 notification says there is no negative marking in either paper.

Sources

Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.

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