CTET 2026 September Exam Postponed: New Exam Date & Application Update

The CTET September 2026 exam has been postponed, and CBSE has now announced the revised exam dates. The 22nd edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test, which was earlier scheduled for 6 September 2026, will now be conducted on 12 and 13 December 2026. CBSE announced the revised schedule through a public notice dated 14 September 2026.

The postponement also affected the CTET 2026 application timeline. CBSE reopened the application portal from 25 August to 1 September 2026 to give eligible candidates who had missed the earlier application window another opportunity to register. Candidates who had already successfully submitted their applications were not required to apply again.

With the CTET 2026 new exam date now confirmed, candidates should use the additional preparation time to strengthen their concepts, practise CTET previous-year questions, revise pedagogy topics, and attempt full-length mock tests.

CTET September 2026 Exam Date: What Has Changed?

As per the latest CTET 2026 update, the original September 2026 schedule listed 6 September 2026 as the examination date, with 5 September 2026 kept as a possible additional date depending on the number of candidates. However, the examination was subsequently postponed after the CTET application reopened 2026, with CBSE providing eligible candidates another opportunity to submit their applications. 

CBSE has now confirmed that the 22nd edition of CTET will be conducted on 12 and 13 December 2026. The examination will continue to be conducted in offline, pen-and-paper mode. 

CTET 2026 Revised Schedule at a Glance

The original application process was conducted from 11 May to 10 June 2026. Following the reopening of the portal, candidates who had not applied earlier could submit their applications between 25 August and 1 September. Let’s have a look at the table that will give you a glimpse of the CTET revised exam date 2026, examination mode, original application window, and more.

Why Was the CTET September 2026 Exam Postponed?

The postponement is linked to the reopening of the application opportunity for eligible candidates.

In its 25 August public notice, CBSE referred to a Supreme Court judgment that emphasised giving eligible teachers a reasonable opportunity to meet the statutory requirement of acquiring the prescribed TET qualification. Following this, CBSE opened the CTET application portal again from 25 August to 1 September 2026. The Board stated that the revised examination date would be announced after the application portal closed.

The revised date was subsequently announced on 14 September 2026, confirming 12 and 13 December 2026 as the examination dates.

For candidates, the most important takeaway is that the postponement has now moved from an expected update to a confirmed schedule. Aspirants should therefore plan their preparation around the December examination dates rather than continue waiting for another announcement.

CTET 2026 Application Update: Can Candidates Apply Now?

The CTET September 2026 application portal is currently closed.

CBSE initially accepted applications from 11 May to 10 June 2026. After the examination was postponed, the Board reopened the portal from 25 August to 1 September 2026 for eligible candidates who had missed the earlier application window.

Candidates who had already completed and submitted their applications successfully did not need to register again.

CBSE also reopened the application correction facility from 7 September to 10 September 2026, allowing candidates to make permitted corrections to their submitted application details. That correction window has also closed.

Therefore, candidates should be careful with unofficial websites or social media posts claiming that the CTET September 2026 application form is currently open. The official CTET portal should be treated as the primary source for any future notice.

CTET 2026 City Intimation Slip and Admit Card

With the examination now scheduled for December, candidates should keep track of the next important examination-related updates.

According to the revised CTET public notice, information about the examination city and allotted examination date will be made available on the CTET portal 15 days before the examination. The admit card will be available two days before the examination and will contain details about the examination centre.

Candidates should therefore regularly check the official CTET website instead of relying only on third-party updates.

Read More: Best CTET Books 2026: Subject-Wise Books for Paper 1 & Paper 2 Preparation

What Does the CTET Exam Pattern Look Like?

To succeed in the CTET exam, aspirants need to understand the exam pattern that consists of two papers:

• Paper I: For candidates who intend to teach Classes 1 to 5

• Paper II: For candidates who intend to teach Classes 6 to 8

150 multiple-choice questions of 150 marks are included in each paper, with a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. To clear the exam, candidates need to appear for both levels separately. 

How Should Candidates Use the Extra Preparation Time?

A postponed examination can change the preparation calendar, but candidates can use the additional weeks productively by shifting from basic learning to focused practice.

1. Strengthen Child Development and Pedagogy

Child Development and Pedagogy is an important part of CTET preparation. Instead of only memorising educational terms, candidates should understand concepts such as learning theories, inclusive education, assessment, and child-centred learning.

Practising application-based questions can help candidates understand how these concepts are tested.

2. Revise the CTET Syllabus Systematically

Now you have some extra time to prepare, so use it wisely. Make a timetable that includes a maximum number of revisions. Complete one topic, practice questions based on it, and revisit mistakes before moving to the next topic. 

3. Practise CTET Previous-Year Questions

Previous-year questions are best for revealing exam trends, diverse question formats, and high-weightage topics asked in the exam. Practice with Oswaal CTET PYQ book 2026 to get graded-level practice questions and gain confidence to clear the exam in one go. 

4. Take Full-Length Mock Tests

As the December examination approaches, full-length mock tests should become a regular part of preparation. A mock test can help candidates practise time management, question selection, and identify weak areas to work on. 

CTET 2026: Turn the Extra Preparation Time into an Advantage 

The CTET September 2026 exam postponement has now been resolved with an officially announced revised schedule. The 22nd edition of CTET will be conducted on 12 and 13 December 2026, while the application and reopened correction windows have already closed. For the aspirants who were preparing seriously for this exam, this isn’t the time to get demoralised; instead, you need to schedule your study routine more wisely. Regular revision, practicing previous-year questions, exploring Oswaal CTET preparation books, and attempting mock tests are all that matter at this stage of preparation. 

Beyond focused preparation, there is a will and strong belief in yourself that will carry you through the journey and clear the exam on the first shot.