What is REET? Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Test Guide
Last updated: April 28, 2026 · 12 min read
Quick Answer
REET — Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers — is a state-level eligibility test conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan, not a recruitment exam. It runs at two levels: Level 1 for Classes 1 to 5 and Level 2 for Classes 6 to 8. Each paper carries 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks across 2 hours 30 minutes with no negative marking. Clearing REET makes you eligible for life to apply for Grade-III teacher recruitment in Rajasthan — but actual appointment happens through the separate recruitment process run by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board.
REET Full Form
The full form of REET is Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers. It is the state-level Teacher Eligibility Test notified and conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan. It is functionally equivalent to the central CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) administered by the central government, but for Rajasthan government teaching jobs REET is the primary eligibility credential.
Eligibility Test vs Recruitment Exam — Why the Difference Matters
Most candidates assume that clearing REET means they get a teaching job. That is not how the system works. REET tests pedagogical competence — whether you have the minimum theoretical and applied knowledge to teach in a classroom. The actual hiring is a separate process run by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, which floats a Grade-III teacher recruitment notification, accepts applications only from REET-qualified candidates, and prepares a merit list using REET marks plus academic weightage.
| Aspect | REET (eligibility) | Grade-III recruitment |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan | Rajasthan Staff Selection Board |
| Output | Lifetime eligibility certificate | Actual teaching post |
| Frequency | Approximately once every cycle as the state notifies | When vacancies exist and the state floats a notification |
| Selection basis | Fixed category cutoff (no relative ranking) | Merit list using REET marks plus academic weightage |
Levels and Papers
Level 1 — Primary Teacher (Classes 1 to 5)
Level 1 prepares you to teach the youngest learners in primary classes. Eligibility requires Senior Secondary plus a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed). The paper covers Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Mathematics, and Environmental Studies — each as a 30-question 30-mark block.
Level 2 — Upper-Primary Teacher (Classes 6 to 8)
Level 2 prepares you to teach upper-primary classes. Eligibility requires graduation plus Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or equivalent. The paper covers Child Development and Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, and one elective block — either Mathematics and Science (60 questions combined) or Social Studies (60 questions). Candidates choose one elective at the time of application.
Eligible for both? Attempt both.
If your qualifications make you eligible for both levels, attempting both papers in the same cycle widens your future recruitment pool. The certificate is lifetime-valid, so a strong Level 2 score is an asset for upper-primary recruitments years later. Use the level decider tool below to confirm which path fits.
Read the L1 vs L2 deep-dive or use the level decider tool
Paper Shape at a Glance
| Total questions | 150 |
| Total marks | 150 |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Question format | Multiple choice (4 options) |
| Negative marking | None |
| Sections | 5 sections of 30 questions each |
Source: REET notification archive on the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan official portal.
Stages of the REET Cycle
Stage 1 — Notification
The Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan publishes the notification on its official website, listing eligibility, fee, application window, exam date, and centres. The notification is the binding document — every other circular interprets it.
Stage 2 — Online application
Candidates fill the online form, upload photograph and signature, pay the exam fee per category, and choose preferred centres. Errors at this stage are extremely costly — the Board does not always allow correction windows after closure.
Stage 3 — Admit card and exam
Admit cards are released on the official portal a few days before the exam. The paper is conducted offline in OMR format. Candidates carry the admit card, a valid photo identity, and a black ball-point pen. No electronics are allowed in the hall.
Stage 4 — Answer key, objection, result
The Board releases a provisional answer key within a few weeks. Candidates may file objections during a short window with prescribed fee per question. After expert review the final answer key is issued and the result follows. Qualifying candidates receive the REET certificate which is valid for a lifetime.
Qualifying Cutoffs by Category
REET uses fixed category cutoffs, not relative ranking. Every candidate who meets the minimum percentage qualifies. The Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan publishes the binding cutoff matrix in each notification.
| Category | Minimum % | Marks (of 150) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 60% | 90 |
| OBC / EBC / MBC / SC / ST / PwD | 55% | 82.5 |
| Widow / Divorcee / Ex-servicemen | 50% | 75 |
| Sahariya tribe | 36% | 54 |
Source: REET eligibility framework published by the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan.
Certificate Validity
The REET certificate is valid for a lifetime. The National Council for Teacher Education amended its Teacher Eligibility Test framework in 2021, removing the seven-year expiry that earlier capped TET certificates. A REET-qualified candidate today never has to retake the eligibility test — they only re-apply for each new Grade-III recruitment notification.
Practical implication: even if the next Grade-III notification is two or three years away, your effort in this cycle remains an asset. Many working teachers who originally cleared REET in earlier years still apply against fresh recruitment cycles using the same certificate.
Who Should Take REET
Aspirants targeting Rajasthan government school teaching
For any government school teaching role in Rajasthan at the primary or upper-primary level, REET is the foundational qualification. Without a valid REET certificate, you cannot apply for Grade-III teacher recruitment, regardless of how strong your academic profile is otherwise.
D.El.Ed and B.Ed final-year students
Final-year students of teacher-education programmes are conditionally eligible to attempt REET. Clearing the eligibility test before graduating means you can apply for Grade-III recruitment immediately upon course completion, without losing a cycle.
Working teachers in private schools
A REET certificate increases mobility into managed private schools that follow Right to Education Act norms, and is the gateway to switching to a government posting later. Many private-school teachers attempt REET while working, using a 2 to 3 hour daily anchor block plus longer weekend sessions.
Out-of-state candidates with eligibility
Candidates from any state who hold the prescribed academic qualifications may attempt REET. Some Grade-III posts are reserved for Rajasthan-domicile candidates and out-of-state candidates do not receive the state-domicile age relaxation, but the eligibility test itself is open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does REET stand for?
REET stands for Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers. It is the state-level Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan that establishes the minimum pedagogical competence required to teach in Rajasthan government schools.
Is REET a recruitment exam or only an eligibility test?
REET is strictly an eligibility test. Clearing REET makes you eligible to apply for Grade-III teacher recruitment in Rajasthan but does not by itself give you a teaching post. The actual recruitment is conducted separately by the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, which uses REET-qualified status as one input to the merit list.
Who conducts REET?
REET is conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan, headquartered in Ajmer. The Board notifies the exam, accepts applications, releases admit cards, conducts the paper, releases the answer key, processes objections, and publishes the final result. The Department of Education Rajasthan is the parent department.
What are the two levels of REET?
Level 1 is for candidates who want to teach Classes 1 to 5 (primary level) and Level 2 is for candidates who want to teach Classes 6 to 8 (upper-primary level). Each level is a separate paper of 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks across 2 hours 30 minutes. Eligible candidates may attempt either or both papers in the same cycle.
How long is the REET certificate valid?
The REET certificate is valid for a lifetime. The National Council for Teacher Education amended the validity rule in 2021 — qualifying scores in any TET, including REET, no longer expire after seven years. You only need to clear REET once. You must still apply separately for each Grade-III recruitment notification the state floats.
Is there negative marking in REET?
No. REET has no negative marking for wrong answers, which is a deliberate feature of the eligibility framework. Candidates are encouraged to attempt every question. The qualifying decision is based on raw score against a fixed category cutoff, not relative ranking.
Who is eligible for REET?
Level 1 requires Senior Secondary plus a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed). Level 2 requires graduation plus B.Ed or equivalent. Final-year candidates of these courses are conditionally eligible. Reserved categories receive minimum-percentage relaxation per the eligibility framework.
Should I take REET if I want to teach in private schools?
REET is required for government school teaching in Rajasthan and strongly preferred by reputed private schools that follow Right to Education Act norms. While not strictly mandatory for every private school, a valid REET certificate signals pedagogical competence and is increasingly expected by managed private schools and CBSE-affiliated chains operating in Rajasthan.