Delhi Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) – Foundation (Level‑1)
Target audience – Future teachers / candidates preparing for the Delhi TET (Foundation).
Exam type – Competitive exam in India (IIT‑JEE style depth, but focused on fundamentals).
Goal – Master the eligibility requirements and the exam pattern so you can plan your syllabus, practice strategy and time‑management efficiently.
1. Overview
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Examination Authority | Department of Elementary Education, Government of NCT Delhi |
| Exam Level | Foundation (Level‑1) – for positions such as Assistant Teacher (Class‑I to Class‑V) in government schools. |
| Exam Date | Usually held twice a year (June & December) – check the official website for exact dates. |
| Exam Mode | Offline (paper‑and‑pen). |
2. Eligibility Criteria
All conditions must be satisfied simultaneously; a single missing criterion disqualifies the applicant.
| Criterion | Minimum Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen | Citizenship proof (e.g., passport, voter ID, etc.) |
| Age | 18–35 years (inclusive) | Age is calculated on the date of appointment (not the exam date). Tricky Point: “On the date of appointment” means the date when the school actually appoints you, not the exam date. |
| Education | Minimum 10th standard (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks in the General Category. | <ul><li>For SC/ST and WC: 40% (SC/ST) / 45% (WC) in 10th. <li>For PHD/MA holders: 70% in the qualifying exam (not applicable for Foundation). |
| Medical Fitness | Must be medically fit as per the prescribed norms. | A medical certificate may be required during appointment. |
| Professional Training | None required for Foundation. | (Only for Senior and Chief Teacher levels). |
| Other | No criminal record / no pending legal case. | Confirm with the official notification. |
Important Formula (Age Check)
[ \text{Age in years} = \text{Date of Appointment} - \text{Date of Birth} ]
If the result is 18 ≤ Age ≤ 35, you satisfy the age condition.
3. Exam Pattern
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Papers | 1 (Foundation) |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes) |
| Sections | 4 (General Knowledge, General Ability, Intellect & Reasoning, and Language Proficiency) |
| Marks per Section | 50 marks each |
| Question Types | <ul><li>Single‑choice (MCQs)</li><li>Multiple‑choice (MCQs)</li><li>Fill‑in‑the‑blank</li><li>True/False</li></ul> |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 marks for each wrong answer (no penalty for skipped questions) |
| Passing Mark | 40% (i.e., 80 marks) – but for some positions 45% is required. |
| Cut‑off | Usually 70 marks (varies yearly). |
3.1 Detailed Section Breakdown
| Section | Sample Topics | Sample Question Type |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge (GK) | Current affairs, Indian history, geography, polity, science & technology. | MCQ |
| General Ability (GA) | Logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, data interpretation. | MCQ, Fill‑in |
| Intellect & Reasoning (IR) | Verbal reasoning, non‑verbal reasoning, pattern recognition. | MCQ, True/False |
| Language Proficiency (LP) | English or Hindi – reading comprehension, vocabulary, basic grammar. | MCQ, Fill‑in |
Tip: Since the exam is offline, you must bring a photograph of yourself (2×2) and a photocopy of your ID proof (as per the latest notification).
4. Strategy & Tips
| Stage | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Before the Exam | 1. Know the syllabus – no extra topics. 2. Create a schedule – 2‑3 weeks of revision, 1 week of mock tests. 3. Practice negative marking – simulate real conditions. |
| During the Exam | 1. Read the instructions carefully (especially the negative marking). 2. Allocate time: 150 minutes ÷ 200 questions ≈ 0.75 min/question. 3. Answer easy questions first to secure marks. 4. Skip difficult ones; you lose nothing. |
| After the Exam | 1. Check the answer sheet for any missing marks. 2. Do a quick self‑check for any obvious mistakes (e.g., wrong units). |
| Tricky Points | • Age calculation: Use the date of appointment, not the exam date. • Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer – ensure you know how many attempts you will get to answer each question. • Sectional marks: Even if you score >50 in one section, the maximum you can take from it is 50. |
5. Sample Hard Practice Question
Question (Intellect & Reasoning – Section 3)
*You are given