| Conducting body | Teachers Recruitment Board, Tamil Nadu (TRB). Official website ↗ |
|---|---|
| Posts | Teacher eligibility for Classes I to V (Paper I), Teacher eligibility for Classes VI to VIII (Paper II) |
| Qualification | Paper I: Higher Secondary with at least 50% marks (45% under the NCTE 2002 regulations) and a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education, or a four-year B.El.Ed., passed or in the final year. Paper II: graduation with at least 50% (45% under NCTE rules) and a B.Ed., passed or in the final year, or the other routes listed in the notification. |
| Age limit | At least 18 years on 1 July 2025 (general category) |
| Domicile | See the notification |
| Selection stages | One OMR-based test per paper (separate applications and fees for Paper I and Paper II) → Score the minimum qualifying marks to earn the TNTET pass certificate |
| Latest notification | Notification No. 03/2025: Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) 2025 |
Last checked . Sources
About TNTET
TNTET is the eligibility test you must pass to be appointed as a teacher for Classes I to VIII in Tamil Nadu; it does not give you a job by itself. The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) conducts it as the state's nodal agency. Paper I is for Classes I to V and Paper II for Classes VI to VIII. In TNTET 2025, 331,900 candidates appeared for Paper II and 31.92% passed, according to TRB's published figures.
Eligibility
Age limit
General category: At least 18 years, counted on 1 July 2025.
Age relaxation
- There is no upper age limit.
Qualification
Paper I: Higher Secondary with at least 50% marks (45% under the NCTE 2002 regulations) and a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education, or a four-year B.El.Ed., passed or in the final year. Paper II: graduation with at least 50% (45% under NCTE rules) and a B.Ed., passed or in the final year, or the other routes listed in the notification.
Selection process
- One OMR-based test per paper (separate applications and fees for Paper I and Paper II)
- Score the minimum qualifying marks to earn the TNTET pass certificate
Exam pattern
Paper I (Classes I to V)
Mode: Objective, OMR · Duration: 3 hours
| SUBJECT | QUESTIONS | MARKS |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy (ages 6 to 11) | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada or Urdu) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II: English | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
Paper II (Classes VI to VIII)
Mode: Objective, OMR · Duration: 3 hours
| SUBJECT | QUESTIONS | MARKS |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy (ages 11 to 14) | 30 | 30 |
| Language I (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada or Urdu) | 30 | 30 |
| Language II: English | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science, or Social Science | 60 | 60 |
TNTET syllabus
Child Development and Pedagogy
- Educational psychology of teaching and learning
- Paper I: learners aged 6 to 11
- Paper II: learners aged 11 to 14
Language I and Language II (English)
- Proficiency in the medium of instruction (Language I)
- Elements of the English language (Language II)
Mathematics and Environmental Studies (Paper I)
- Concepts from the Tamil Nadu syllabus for Classes I to V
- Difficulty and linkages up to secondary stage
Mathematics and Science or Social Science (Paper II)
- Concepts of the chosen subject group
- 60 questions in one section
What they ask
Each TNTET paper has 150 one-mark multiple-choice questions in three hours on an OMR sheet. Paper I gives 30 questions each to child development and pedagogy, Language I, English, mathematics and environmental studies, based on the state syllabus for Classes I to V but pitched up to secondary level. Paper II keeps the child development, Language I and English sections and adds 60 questions in either mathematics and science or social science. To pass in 2025 you needed 90 marks (60%) in the General category, 82 for SC, SC(A), BC, BC(M), MBC, DNC and persons with disability, and 60 for ST candidates under a one-time concession. TRB’s TNTET page notes that a January 2026 government order changed the minimums to 90 for OC, 75 for BC, BC(M) and MBC/DNC, and 60 for SC, SC(A) and ST; a February 2026 order sets 60 for candidates with disability.
How to prepare
- Child development and pedagogy is 30 marks in both papers. Focus on the educational psychology of teaching and learning for your paper's age group.
- For Paper I, revise mathematics and environmental studies from the Tamil Nadu textbooks for Classes I to V, then practise harder problems, because the notification says difficulty can go up to secondary level.
- In Paper II, the 60-question subject section is the largest block, so pick Mathematics and Science or Social Science to match your degree subject.
- The General pass mark is 90 out of 150. Aim for a clear margin above it in full-length timed mocks before exam day.
Practise TNTET syllabus topics a few minutes a day with short quizzes in the Improvam app.
How to apply
- Apply online on the TRB website, www.trb.tn.gov.in.
- Submit a separate application and fee for Paper I and Paper II if you want to write both.
- Upload your photo and signature in the required sizes; applications without them are rejected.
Photo and signature
- Photo: Recent colour passport-size photo in JPG, JPEG or PNG format, 20-60 KB.
- Signature: JPG, JPEG or PNG format, 10-30 KB.
Source: official instructions ↗
Resize your photo and signature for TNTET
TNTET FAQs
No. In the 2025 notification you had to be at least 18 on 1 July 2025, with no maximum age.
Sources
- TRB Notification No. 03/2025, TNTET 2025 ↗ (official, checked )
- TRB TNTET page with year-wise appeared and passed figures ↗ (official, checked )
- TRB notifications list ↗ (official, checked )
Checked against official sources on . Rules change with each notification, so read the latest one before you apply.