How to Prepare for any State Eligibility Test for Teachers

What does an Eligibility test for Teachers really mean?

An eligibility test is like an entrance exam. These are just like how there is an entrance exam to get into engineering or medical, or banking.

When it comes to qualification to become a teacher, there are tests you have to appear for and get passing marks in it.

The state eligibility test is for those who wish to become:

• Primary Teachers: Teachers teaching in classes 1st to 5th Standard

• Trained Graduate Teachers: Teachers teaching in classes 6th to 10th Standard

  You can give free online mock tests for the Teachers Eligibility Test and check your score. This will give you an idea of how these tests are designed.

  There are two kinds of tests that aspirants can take to become teachers in government and private schools. One is TET (Teacher Eligibility Test), and the other is CTET (Central State Eligibility Test). Both the tests are conducted in an offline mode.

What is the difference between TET and CTET?

Let's understand the difference point by point. The difference will give you detailed information and can be a guide for you to decide which test you wish to appear for.

You can check free online sample papers for TET to get a better understanding of how the question papers are set.

State Teacher Eligibility Test – Eligibility Criteria

Under the State Eligibility Test for Teachers. There are two exams that one has to appear for: Paper I Paper-II.

• If you clear paper 1, you can be a teacher for primary school, i.e., for classes 1 to 5.

• If you clear 2, you can be a teacher for senior secondary school, i.e., for classes 6 to 12.

• If you wish to be a teacher for both primary & secondary school, you will have to clear paper 1 & paper 2.

  You can choose to appear for any of the tests to become a teacher in a government or state school.

  Paper 1

1. Should have cleared Senior Secondary Education with a bachelor graduation degree OR

2. Should have cleared Senior Secondary Education with a Diploma degree OR

3. Must have passed bachelor graduation degree and a Diploma degree

   In all cases, final year students can apply. For example: If you have passed school and are in the final year of your undergraduate college degree, you can appear for the exam.

   Paper 2

4. Must have passed bachelor graduation degree and a Diploma degree OR

5. Cleared Senior Secondary Education and pursuing or passed Bachelor of Education or B.Ed

6. Passed graduation with minimum 50% marks and pursuing or passed B.Ed. OR

7. Students of 4 years integrated courses like BA, B.Sc, B.Ed or any other courses

   In all cases, final year students can apply. It means if you have passed the course, you can definitely apply, but even if you are in the final year, then also you can apply.

TET Exam Pattern & Subjects

It is important to know that there is no negative marking in the test. The marks are calculated on the basis of the correct answers you chose. The language of the test is available in English and Hindi so that all kinds of aspirants can appear for the exam.

• The total mark of the test is 150, and the total duration for the test is 150 minutes.

• The questions will be MCQ based where there will be 4 options as answers to questions, out of which one answer will be the correct one.

• For Paper 1, the test has questions from 5 different subjects. There are 30 marks questions from each subject. The subjects for Paper I are: Child Development Language I Language II Environmental Studies Mathematics

• Child Development

• Language I

• Language II

• Environmental Studies

• Mathematics

• For Paper 2, the test has questions from 6 different subjects. There is an exception for Paper-II that while 30 marks are allotted for 3 subjects, 60 marks are allotted for the other 3 subjects. The subjects are: Child Development Language I Language II Mathematics or Social Studies and Science

• Child Development

• Language I

• Language II

• Mathematics or Social Studies and Science

  It is very important to keep a check on the dates and the schedule of the test. TET dates are released by the State and are different for every State. So always keep your eyes open for the release of the dates. Now, you must have gotten a fair idea about what the TET is and how it is conducted; the next important thing to know how to prepare for the exam and ace it!

  Internet today has given us many resources to prepare for different exams. If you are going to be a TET aspirant, feel lucky because there many free online tests and mock exams available for TET.

  To prepare for any professional test, there are four things you must always keep in mind --

1. You have to work hard.
2. You need to have a routine where you dedicate at least 10-12 hours to study for the test every day.
3. Always keep reminding yourself about your goal. Remember why you decided to appear for the test.
4. You cannot give up.

How to prepare for TET?

For TET, there are few specific things that you will need to do to clear the test, which are:

1. Since there are different subjects as part of the test, you need to have a proper study plan.

2. Identify the subjects which can create problems during preparation. Dedicate your time depending on your strengths and weakness. If you think Mathematics is your weak subject and language is your strong subject, give mathematics more time than language. This will ensure that time is not wasted and subjects are covered in a proper manner.

3. Understand the concepts in subjects to form a strong base.

4. During the preparation, learn to make short notes. Secret tip : Stick short notes in your room, preferably near your bed and your study table. How will this help you: You will have a quick look at it at any time of the day. For example: When you're having lunch, just look up and understand that concept one more time with that short note. Your revision will start without you even knowing. The short notes will also help you with revision at the last stage.

5. Secret tip: Stick short notes in your room, preferably near your bed and your study table.

6. How will this help you: You will have a quick look at it at any time of the day. For example: When you're having lunch, just look up and understand that concept one more time with that short note. Your revision will start without you even knowing. The short notes will also help you with revision at the last stage.

7. Practice, practice and practice each and every day.

8. Free online mock tests for TET available, which can be accessed by anyone to practice. Giving mock tests is most important because you can check your preparation level by giving free online practice tests. You can also appear for free online mock tests for TET on this site. This mock test has 10 free tests available, which means you can practice multiple subjects many times for free through this link.

9. You can also appear for free online mock tests for TET on this site. This mock test has 10 free tests available, which means you can practice multiple subjects many times for free through this link.

10. Analyze your mock test scores subject-wise and identify where you need to improve. Once you identify that, work harder for that subject. Make a goal of how much time you will take to complete questions of each subject. Work every day to reach that time goal by the end time of your preparation. Secret tip : Time yourself, see and record the time taken to complete different sections of the test. Try to reduce your recorded time by small amounts each day. For example: If you take 30 minutes to complete the language I subject on one day, aim to complete the same in 26-28 minutes the next day. How will this help you: This will give you 2-3 extra minutes for some other subject. If you finish all questions before time, these 2-3 minutes can also be used for last-minute checking. Try to reduce the time for every subject.

11. Secret tip: Time yourself, see and record the time taken to complete different sections of the test. Try to reduce your recorded time by small amounts each day. For example: If you take 30 minutes to complete the language I subject on one day, aim to complete the same in 26-28 minutes the next day.

12. How will this help you: This will give you 2-3 extra minutes for some other subject. If you finish all questions before time, these 2-3 minutes can also be used for last-minute checking. Try to reduce the time for every subject.

13. Having a plan on how to solve the Paper helps. The total time duration of the test is 150 minutes.

    You should know from before which subject questions you will attend first. This is completely dependent on you. Environmental studies might be difficult for you but easy for someone else. Similarly, mathematics might be easy for you but difficult for someone else. For this regular practice of free online TET mock tests have to be taken.

    You can access free online mock tests for TET here.

• Secret tip: Start from the difficult subject. Then solve answers of the easy subject.
• How will this help you: This helps you in giving you relief internally and build your confidence. Once you are done with the difficult part, the latter part of the exam will go smooth for you. Since you will be confident of the easy subject, you will be able to tick the correct answers fast. This way, you will not feel the pressure of time hanging around your neck.

1. Revision of concepts and subjects before the exam is very important. This has to be done weekly and once in two weeks to ensure that what you are preparing stays in your mind.

If you clear and pass TET, what are your benefits?

• Respect, a lot of respect from everyone around you

• A secured life and profession, you can choose to be a teacher anywhere in the State

• High value attached to the profession

• Good Salary to lead a comfortable lifestyle

  Try these tips (don't forget the secret ones), and start your preparation for the TET exam. Be determined to achieve your goal and don't lose focus. If you are focused, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals and cracking the TET exam. If you wish to appear for TET, you can also check out some online free mock tests for TET here!