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New Delhi, March 13, 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the provisional answer key for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) February 2026 session. Candidates who appeared for the 21st edition of this national-level exam can now access their provisional answer keys and scanned images of their OMR response sheets through the official website at ctet.nic.in.
This release is a critical step for aspirants aiming for teaching positions in central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS). By reviewing the scanned OMR images alongside the official keys, candidates can accurately estimate their scores before the final results are announced.
CTET 2026 Answer Key: Important Dates
The CTET February 2026 examination was conducted on February 7 and 8, 2026, with a supplementary re-exam held on March 1, 2026, at select centers in Bihar due to administrative reasons.
| Event | Date |
| Exam Dates | Feb 7, 8 & March 1, 2026 |
| Answer Key Release | March 12, 2026 |
| Last Date to Download OMR/Challenge | March 15, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Result Declaration (Expected) | April 2026 |
How to Download Scanned OMR Sheets and Answer Key
Candidates must follow these steps to download their documents from the official portal:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to ctet.nic.in.
- Locate the Link: Under the “Candidate Activity” section, click on the link titled “Apply for CTET Feb-2026 Key Challenge/Download Scanned Images of OMR”.
- Login Credentials: Enter your Roll Number and Date of Birth (in DD/MM/YYYY format) to access the dashboard.
- View and Download: Once logged in, you will see options to download the Main Answer Key and your specific OMR Response Sheet.
- Save for Reference: It is highly recommended to save a digital copy and take a printout for score calculation and future records.
Provisions for Challenging the Answer Key
CBSE provides a window for candidates to contest any discrepancies they find in the provisional answers. If you believe a specific answer provided by the board is incorrect, you can raise an objection subject to the following conditions:
- Deadline: The challenge window is open only until March 15, 2026, up to 11:59 PM.
- Processing Fee: A non-refundable fee of ₹1,000 per question must be paid via credit or debit card.
- Refund Policy: If the challenge is accepted by the subject experts and a policy decision is made to notify a mistake in the answer key, the fee will be refunded to the candidate’s account.
- Final Decision: The decision of the CBSE experts on the challenges will be final, and no further communication will be entertained once the final answer key is prepared.
How to Calculate Your Estimated Score
Since there is no negative marking in the CTET 2026 exam, calculating your score is straightforward:
- Paper 1 & 2: Both papers consist of 150 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
- Marking: Assign +1 mark for every correct response matching the official key.
- Formula: TotalScore=(Number of Correct Answers)×1.
Candidates from the General category usually need a minimum of 60% (90 out of 150 marks) to qualify, while candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) typically require 55% (82.5 out of 150 marks), subject to NCTE guidelines and school management policies.