Working teachers in Tamil Nadu can register for the TN Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) 2026 starting February 18. The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) announced the exam dates and registration period for the eligibility test.
Registration and Deadlines
Online applications for TNTET 2026 open on February 18 . The registration window closes on April 10 . Candidates will have a short period to correct application errors, from April 11 to April 13.
Exam Schedule
The TNTET 2026 examinations are scheduled for July. Paper 1 will be conducted on July 4 . Paper 2 is scheduled for July 5 .
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is limited to teachers appointed on or before September 1, 2025. Applicants must be serving as SGT, BT Assistant, or equivalent cadres. This includes teachers on time scale, consolidated pay, or part-time pay. Employment must be in Government, Government-aided, or recognized private schools within Tamil Nadu.
Application Fees
The application fee for general category candidates is Rs 600 . Candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Special Central Assistance (SCA), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and differently-abled categories must pay Rs 300 .
Exam Structure
The TNTET exam consists of five sections. These include Child Development and Pedagogy (ages 6-11), Language I (choice of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, or Urdu), Language II (English), Mathematics, and Environmental Studies. The exam will be administered using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets.
Exam Format and Passing Marks
Each paper will have 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The total duration for the exam is three hours. Candidates must achieve specific scores to pass. The general category requires 60% (90 marks). Backward Class (BC), Backward Class Muslim (BCM), Most Backward Class (MBC)/Dravida Nadu Other Classes (DNC), and Physically Underwent Disabilities (PWD) categories need 50% (75 marks). Scheduled Caste (SC), Special Central Assistance (SCA), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories require 40% (60 marks).