CTET 2026 Exam Day Instructions: Documents, Dress Code, Other Guidelines

CTET 2026 Exam Day Instructions: The Central Board of Secondary Education will conduct the CTET 2026 exam in offline mode on February 7 & 8, 2026. The exam will be held in two shifts, Paper 1 and Paper 2, respectively. It is important to know the CTET 2026 exam day instructions that need to be followed by candidates who are preparing for the CTET 2026 exam. Candidates must note that the examination rooms are opened at 7:30 am for shift 1 and at 12.30 pm for shift 2, that is, two hours before the exam is conducted. Also, it is mandatory for the test-takers to carry their CTET 2026 admit cards and valid photo ID to the examination centre. It must be noted that no candidate will be permitted to appear for the CTET exam if they do not carry their admit cards.

Candidates must start preparing themselves by taking into consideration the guidelines and regulations specified by the exam conducting authorities. Following the CTET 2026 exam day instructions, including the dress code requirements will help the candidates maintain their composure and perform well on the CTET 2026 exam day. Candidates are advised to wear simple, light-colored clothing, flat sandals or slippers, and avoid all metallic jewelry and accessories to ensure quick and hassle-free entry through security checks. Apart from the CTET 2026 exam day guidelines, candidates can also check out the prohibited items they should not carry to the exam hall mentioned in this article.

Also Read: What is a Good Score in CTET Exam 2026?

Important Documents to Carry for CTET Exam Day

You must check the list of things and documents to be carried to the CTET 2026 examination hall:

CTET 2026 Exam Day Instructions

Listed below are some of the most important exam day instructions for the CTET 2026 exam:

• The CTET exam centres 2026 will open 120 minutes prior to the test i.e. 8:30 am for Shift I and 1.30 PM for Shift II. Candidates must report to the exam hall at the time of the opening of the exam hall or else they might miss important instructions related to the exam.
• Before leaving, double-check that you have your admit card, valid ID proof (such as Aadhar card, PAN card, passport, etc.), and any other required documents. It is mandatory for all the candidates to have their CTET Admit Card 2026 which they will have to show to the exam invigilator whenever required. No candidate will be allowed to sit for the exam without an admit card in any circumstances. The CTET admit card contains important details such as your roll number, exam center address, reporting time, and exam instructions.
• A seat indicating the assigned CTET 2026 roll number will be allocated to each candidate and the candidate must sit on the allotted seats only.
• No students will be allowed to enter the examination hall if they come late.
• Candidates will not be allowed to leave the examination hall without the special permission of the Invigilator concerned.
• Smoking, chewing gutka, spitting, Tea, coffee, cold drinks, or snacks are not allowed inside the examination hall.
• The candidates must make sure that the question paper available to the candidates is as per his/her opted subject/language indicated in the admit card. In case of a change of subject or any other issue, the candidates must ask the concerned invigilator.
• All the calculations and rough work must be done on the rough sheet provided in the exam hall only. No candidate is allowed to bring any personal paper to the exam hall.
• Listen carefully to the invigilators' instructions and follow them strictly. Pay attention to seating arrangements, entry procedures, and other guidelines.
• Avoid studying new topics or revising heavily just before the exam. Focus on staying calm and composed.
• Maintain a positive mindset and believe in the efforts you've put into your preparation.
• Once the exam begins, manage your time wisely. Allocate appropriate time to each section and question.
• Before starting the exam, read the instructions provided on the question paper and answer sheet carefully.
• Fill in your details accurately on the answer sheet, such as roll number, test booklet series, and other required information.
• Use a dark pen (preferably blue or black) to fill in the circles on the answer sheet. Ensure that you mark the correct circle completely and cleanly.
• As there is no negative marking, attempt all questions to maximize your chances of scoring higher.
• While attempting questions, aim for accuracy rather than attempting to answer all questions in a rush.
• If you come across a difficult question, remain calm. Move on to other questions and return to it later if needed.
• Do not do any guesswork while attempting the questions and focus on answering questions accurately.
• If time allows, review your answers before submitting the answer sheet. Check for any skipped or unanswered questions or mistakes.
• Proper silence must be maintained in the exam hall and the candidates who find talking to anyone apart from the invigilator will be removed from the test.
• If the candidate is unable to appear for the CTET 2026 exam, no retest will be conducted under any circumstances.

CTET 2026 Exam Dress Code Guidelines

Here are certain guidelines for the dress code that you must follow:

• CTET 2026 Dress Code: The dress code of candidates that are to appear in CTET February 2026 should be modest and minimal. CBSE has not specified any standard uniform, but plain dress code would simplify the verification procedure and fast entry of exam centres. Plain clothes of light colour are advisable. Do not use heavy embroideries, huge buttons, badges, and several zippers. Half-sleeve shirts or tops save time at CTET exam centres of frisking.
• CTET 2026 Rules on footwear: Flat slippers or sandals are the best. Shoes should be avoided that have thick soles, contain metals, boots, or heels since they lead to delays during checking.
• Jewellery to Avoid in CTET Exam: Do not wear rings, chains, bracelets, anklets, earrings, or metallic hair accessories. Any type of metal is strictly not allowed at the time of entry.
• Religious Garments to CTET 2026: CBSE permits hijab or turban. Nevertheless, candidates can arrive earlier in order to be further verified so that exam security is met and religious practices are not violated.

Things Not to Carry to CTET Exam Hall

Candidates must make a note as to what cannot be carried into the exam hall. You can refer the list below for details:

• The candidates must not bring any material not allowed in the exam hall or else their candidature will be cancelled and they won't be allowed to appear for the test. The candidates must not bring the following items to the CTET 2026 exam hall:
• Any stationery item including textual material (printed or written), any paper, Geometry or Pencil Box, Plastic Pouch, Calculator, Scale, Writing Pad, Pen drives, Eraser, Log Table, Electronic Pen/scanner, Cardboard, etc. Only blue or black ballpoint pens are allowed.
• Any communication devices like Mobile phones (smart or feature phones), Bluetooth devices, Earphones, microphones, pager, Health band, Smartwatches, fitness bands, Cameras, etc. Even switched-off electronic devices are not permitted.
• Any Watch, Camera, wallet, goggles, handbag, belts, Golden ornaments, metallic ornaments, etc. Storage facilities may not be available at all centres.
• No food or snacks are allowed. Water may be permitted in a transparent bottle as per centre rules.

Any other item which could be used for unfair means and for hiding communication devices or gadgets like a camera, Bluetooth device, etc.

At CTET exam centers, CBSE really keeps things tight with security. They check your admit card and ID first and then frisk you with those handheld metal detectors. Sometimes they do manual checks too, if something seems off. Arriving early makes a big difference, so you are not rushing around and stressing out at the last minute. Just follow what they say calmly.

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CBSE follows a zero-tolerance policy for rule violations. Any deviation from the official guidelines may result in denial of entry to the exam hall, immediate disqualification, or registration of an unfair means case. Candidates are strongly advised to read the CTET Information Bulletin carefully and comply fully with all instructions to avoid any complications on exam day.
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