What is PSTET?
- PSTET
stands for Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test.
- It
is a state-level exam conducted by the Punjab School Education
Board (PSEB) to assess eligibility of candidates for teaching positions in
Punjab government or aided schools for classes 1 to 8.
- The
exam is generally held once a year.
Purpose
- To
ensure that teachers appointed in Punjab’s schools meet certain minimum
standards of teaching aptitude and subject knowledge.
- Clearing
PSTET is a mandatory qualification to apply for teacher jobs for
primary (Classes 1–5) and upper primary (Classes 6–8) levels in Punjab.
Exam Structure / Pattern
PSTET has two papers:
|
Paper |
For Classes |
Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
Subjects / Components |
|
Paper I |
Classes 1 to 5 |
150 (MCQs) |
150 |
Child Development & Pedagogy, Language I (Punjabi),
Language II (English), Mathematics, Environmental Studies |
|
Paper II |
Classes 6 to 8 |
150 (MCQs) |
150 |
Child Development & Pedagogy, Language I, Language II,
and either Mathematics & Science or Social Science /
Social Studies (60 questions for the optional subject) |
- Each
question carries 1 mark.
- No
negative marking is done.
- Total
duration is 2 hours 30 minutes (for each paper)
Eligibility Criteria
The educational requirements differ depending on which paper
you are applying for:
For Paper I (Primary level: Classes 1–5)
You need one of these:
- Senior
Secondary (10+2) with at least 50% marks + passed / appearing in
final year of Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed)
- Senior
Secondary with at least 45% + final year D.El.Ed (as per NCTE norms)
- Senior
Secondary with 50% + final year of 4-year B.El.Ed
- Senior
Secondary with 50% + final year of 2-yr Diploma in Special Education
(D.Ed.Special Ed)
- Graduation
(with 50%) + passed / appearing in final year of D.El.Ed. For Paper II
(Upper Primary: Classes 6–8)
You need one of:
- Graduation
+ passed / appearing in final year of D.El.Ed
- Graduation
with at least 50% + passed / appearing in 1-year B.Ed.
- Graduation
with at least 45% + B.Ed (as per NCTE norms)
- Senior
Secondary + final year of 4-year B.El.Ed or B.A.Ed / B.Sc.Ed
- Graduation
with 50% + B.Ed (Special Education) as well
Other points:
- There
is no upper age limit specified.
- There
is no restriction on the number of attempts.
- Citizenship
/ domicile: You generally must be an Indian citizen, and the exam is
intended for candidates in Punjab.
Qualifying Marks / Cut-off
- For General
/ Unreserved category: 60% (that is 90 out of 150)
- For SC
/ ST / OBC: 55% (i.e. 82.5 marks, often rounded)
- In
past years, these have been standard cut-offs.
Note: The actual cut-off in a given year may vary depending
on factors like difficulty level, number of candidates, etc.
How to Apply / Process
- Notification
release on the official website: pstet.pseb.ac.in
- Online
application: fill in personal, educational details, upload documents,
photo, signature.
- Admit
card download before the exam.
- Appear
for exam (offline / pen & paper) on scheduled date.
- Answer
key release (provisional) — objections allowed.
- Result
/ scorecard publication, and certificate issuance for those who pass.
Syllabus Highlights
Paper I (Classes 1 to 5)
- Child
Development & Pedagogy: child psychology, learning theories,
pedagogy methods, inclusive education
- Language
I (Punjabi): grammar, comprehension, vocabulary, language use
- Language
II (English): English grammar, reading comprehension, use of language
- Mathematics:
arithmetic, geometry, numbers, measurement, problem solving
- Environmental
Studies (EVS): basics of environment, social studies, health &
hygiene, community and environment
Punjab TET Paper 1 Pattern
|
(i) |
Child
Development and Pedagogy |
30 MCQs |
30
Marks |
|
(ii) |
Language
I (compulsory) |
30 MCQs |
30
Marks |
|
(iii) |
Language
II (compulsory) |
30 MCQs |
30
Marks |
|
(iv) |
Mathematics |
30 MCQs |
30
Marks |
|
(iv) |
Environmental
Studies |
30 MCQs |
30
Marks |
|
TOTAL |
|
150
MCQs |
150
Marks |
Paper II (Classes 6 to 8)
- Child
Development & Pedagogy (same kind of topics, but at a higher
level)
- Language
I & II (Punjabi, English)
- Mathematics
& Science or Social Studies / Social Science: depending on
your specialization, covering the syllabus of classes 6–8 for those
subjects.
·
Punjab TET Paper 2 Pattern
|
(i) |
Child
Development & Pedagogy(compulsory) |
30 MCQs |
30 Marks |
|
(ii) |
Language
I (compulsory) |
30 MCQs |
30 Marks |
|
(iii) |
Language
II (compulsory) |
30 MCQs |
30 Marks |
|
(iv) |
Mathematics
and Science (for Mathematics and Science teacher) |
60 MCQs |
60 Marks |
|
(iv) |
Social
Studies/Social Science (for Social Studies/Social Science teacher) |
60 MCQs |
60 Marks |
|
TOTAL |
|
150 MCQs |
150 Marks |
Tips & Strategy to Prepare
- Understand
the syllabus and exam pattern clearly first.
- Practice
previous years’ question papers and mock tests under time
constraints.
- Focus
on pedagogy / child development — many questions test your
understanding of how children learn, not just subject knowledge.
- Strengthen
language skills (especially English) and vocabulary.
- For
optional subjects in Paper II, stick to NCERT textbooks of classes 6–8.
- Time
management is crucial — 150 questions in 2.5 hours means approximately 1
minute per question.
- Revise
formulas, important concepts, and do regular self-evaluation.