CTET language I syllabus
Language I is 30 marks, split evenly between comprehension and the pedagogy of language development. Its comprehension half uses two unseen passages, one prose or drama and one poem.
The poem is what separates it from Language II, whose comprehension half uses two prose passages. The pedagogy half is identical in both. The CTET Paper 2 syllabus hub page covers the other sections.
Pattern
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 30 |
| Marks | 30 |
| Comprehension block | 15 marks |
| Pedagogy of Language Development block | 15 marks |
| Passages | Two, one prose or drama and one poem |
| Language choice | Chosen from 27 languages at the application stage |
| Negative marking | None |
There is no negative marking anywhere in CTET and no sectional timing, so every question in this section should be attempted and the 150 minutes can be spent wherever they are worth most. The full paper is below.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy, compulsory | 30 | 30 |
| Language I, compulsory | 30 | 30 |
| Language II, compulsory | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science, or Social Studies and Social Science | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
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Syllabus
Language Comprehension, 15 marks
- Two unseen passages, one prose or drama and one poem
- Questions on comprehension
- Questions on inference
- Questions on grammar
- Questions on verbal ability
Pedagogy of Language Development, 15 marks
- Learning and acquisition
- Principles of language teaching
- Role of listening and speaking, the function of language and how children use it as a tool
- Critical perspective on the role of grammar in learning a language for communicating ideas verbally and in written form
- Challenges of teaching language in a diverse classroom, covering language difficulties, errors and disorders
- Language skills
- Evaluating language comprehension and proficiency across speaking, listening, reading and writing
- Teaching and learning materials, including textbooks, multi-media materials and the multilingual resources of the classroom
- Remedial teaching
What is not in this section
- No essay or descriptive writing
- No literature syllabus or set texts. Passages are unseen
- No translation between Language I and Language II
- No prose only comprehension. One of the two passages is a poem
- No negative marking
How to spend the time
Treat the pedagogy half as the reliable half. It is 15 of the 30 marks, it is the same list in both language papers, and unlike comprehension it can be revised directly.
Practise poetry comprehension specifically. It is the one format unique to Language I, and candidates who prepare only prose meet it cold.
Grammar is tested through the passages rather than as a separate block, so revise it as correction and usage rather than as rules to name.
Choose the language you actually read in, not the one you think looks better. Both language papers are 30 marks each, which is 60 of the 150 between them. Browse the available CTET Paper 2 practice papers.
Common mistakes
- Treating the language sections as easy marks and preparing neither
- Preparing only prose comprehension and meeting the poem unprepared
- Learning grammar rules by name when the questions test usage in a passage
- Skipping the pedagogy half, which is half the marks and the same in both papers
- Choosing a language on the application form without checking it appears on the admit card
- Leaving questions blank in a section with no negative marking
Language I against Language II
| Feature | Language I | Language II |
|---|---|---|
| Marks | 30 | 30 |
| Comprehension block | 15 marks | 15 marks |
| Pedagogy block | 15 marks | 15 marks |
| Passages | One prose or drama, one poem | Two prose |
| Question focus | Comprehension, inference, grammar, verbal ability | Comprehension, grammar, verbal ability |
| Pedagogy topic list | Identical | Identical |
Frequently asked questions
How many marks is Language I in CTET Paper 2?
Thirty questions for 30 marks, split evenly between comprehension and pedagogy of language development.
How many passages are there?
Two, one prose or drama and one poem.
What is the difference between Language I and Language II?
The comprehension block. Language I pairs a prose or drama passage with a poem, Language II uses two prose passages. The pedagogy block is identical.
Can Language I and Language II be the same?
No. Language II must be different from Language I.
How many languages can I choose from?
Twenty seven, selected on the online application form.
Is grammar tested separately?
No. Grammar questions arise from the passages alongside comprehension and verbal ability.
Is there an essay?
No. Every question in CTET is multiple choice.
Are the passages seen in advance?
No. Both are unseen.
Is there negative marking?
No. There is none anywhere in CTET.
What happens if I answer in the wrong language?
You must answer in the languages printed on your admit card. Candidature is cancelled otherwise.