CTET social studies and social science syllabus
Social Studies and Social Science is the alternative 60 mark block in Paper 2, taken instead of Mathematics and Science. It splits 40 content questions to 20 pedagogy questions.
A third of the block is pedagogy, which is the same share as the other option but concentrated in a single list rather than split across two subjects. The CTET Paper 2 syllabus hub page covers the alternative block and the compulsory sections.
Pattern
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 60 |
| Marks | 60 |
| Content questions | 40 |
| Pedagogy questions | 20 |
| Content areas | History, Geography, and Social and Political Life |
| Status | One of two alternatives, chosen on the application form |
| 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
History
- When, Where and How
- The earliest societies; the first farmers and herders; the first cities
- Early states; new ideas; the first empire; distant lands
- Political developments; culture and science
- New kings and kingdoms; Sultans of Delhi; architecture; creation of an empire; social change; regional cultures
- The establishment of company power; rural life and society; colonialism and tribal societies
- The revolt of 1857 to 58; women and reform; challenging the caste system
- The nationalist movement; India after independence
Geography
- Geography as a social study and as a science
- Planet: Earth in the solar system
- Globe
- Environment in its totality, natural and human
- Air
- Water
- Human environment: settlement, transport and communication
- Resources, natural and human
- Agriculture
Social and Political Life
- Diversity
- Government, and local government
- Making a living
- Democracy, and state government
- Understanding media
- Unpacking gender
- The Constitution
- Parliamentary government
- The judiciary
- Social justice and the marginalised
Pedagogy, 20 questions
- Concept and nature of social science and social studies
- Classroom processes, activities and discourse
- Developing critical thinking
- Enquiry and empirical evidence
- Problems of teaching social science and social studies
- Sources, primary and secondary
- Project work
- Evaluation
What is not in this section
- No content above class VIII, though difficulty and linkages may reach the senior secondary stage
- No current affairs as a named topic
- No economics as a separate content area
- No Mathematics or Science content. The two blocks are alternatives
- No negative marking
How to spend the time
Give the pedagogy list a fifth of your block time. Twenty of the 60 questions come from eight named topics, which makes it the highest return per topic anywhere in the block.
History is the longest content list by some distance, running from the earliest societies to India after independence. Work through it chronologically rather than by theme, because that is how the NCERT books are organised and how the list is written.
Social and Political Life is the area most often neglected, and it carries the Constitution, parliamentary government and the judiciary, all of which recur.
Primary and secondary sources appear in the pedagogy list and connect directly to the history content, so preparing them together covers questions on both sides. Browse the available CTET Paper 2 practice papers.
Common mistakes
- Preparing content only and leaving a third of the block unprepared
- Treating the block as history alone, when geography and social and political life carry equal billing
- Studying beyond class VIII rather than the same content at greater depth
- Skipping unpacking gender and understanding media, both of which are named explicitly
- Choosing this block on the application form and then preparing Mathematics and Science
- Leaving questions blank in a block with no negative marking
Social Studies against Mathematics and Science
| Feature | Social Studies and Social Science | Mathematics and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Marks | 60 | 60 |
| Content questions | 40 | 40, being 20 in each subject |
| Pedagogy questions | 20, in one list | 20, in two lists of 10 |
| Internal structure | A single block | Two subjects of 30 each |
| Content areas | History, Geography, Social and Political Life | Mathematics and Science |
| Who takes it | Social Studies teachers | Mathematics and Science teachers |
Frequently asked questions
How many marks is the Social Studies block?
Sixty questions for 60 marks, split as 40 content and 20 pedagogy.
What content areas are covered?
History, Geography, and Social and Political Life.
How much of the block is pedagogy?
Twenty of the 60 questions, from eight named topics.
Can I take both this and Mathematics and Science?
No. They are alternatives and the choice is made on the application form.
Is the Constitution in the syllabus?
Yes, under Social and Political Life, with parliamentary government and the judiciary.
Is economics a separate area?
No. Making a living appears under Social and Political Life, but there is no separate economics content area.
What level is the content?
Based on the NCERT syllabus for classes VI to VIII, with difficulty and linkages that may reach the senior secondary stage.
Are current affairs tested?
Current affairs are not named as a topic in the syllabus.
Is there negative marking?
No. There is none anywhere in CTET.
What if I teach a subject other than Social Studies?
A candidate intending to teach any other subject may choose either block.