NTET Qualifying Marks
The minimum score you need to obtain to be declared qualified in NTET.
General Category
Candidates belonging to the unreserved (General) category must secure a minimum of 50% marks in the NTET examination to qualify. Since the exam carries 100 marks, this translates to at least 50 correct answers out of 100 questions.
Reserved Categories
Candidates from SC, ST, OBC (NCL), EWS and PwD categories are eligible for a relaxation of 5 percentage points as per NCISM guidelines. They need to secure a minimum of 45% marks (at least 45 out of 100) to qualify.
Why NCISM set the bar at 50%
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) established the 50% qualifying threshold to ensure that only candidates with a firm grasp of pedagogy, assessment methods, and subject communication are certified to teach in AYUSH institutions. The 5-percentage-point relaxation for reserved categories aligns with the broader Government of India reservation framework while maintaining a rigorous standard for the teaching profession.
How Results Are Declared
Understanding the post-examination timeline and official processes.
After every NTET cycle, NCISM follows a structured evaluation and result-declaration process. Here is what candidates should expect:
- 1
Answer-key release (2–4 weeks post-exam)
NCISM first publishes a provisional answer key on its official portal. Candidates can raise objections within the stipulated window, usually 3–5 days. Each challenge is reviewed by subject experts before the final key is frozen.
- 2
Final answer key & evaluation (2–3 weeks)
Once objections are resolved, the final answer key is published. OMR sheets (for offline attempts) or server logs (for online CBT) are evaluated against this final key. There is no negative marking in NTET, so raw scores are straightforward.
- 3
Result publication (4–6 weeks post-exam)
Results are declared on the NCISM website and via a press release. Each candidate can download their individual scorecard using their roll number and date of birth. The scorecard displays the total marks obtained, qualifying status, and category.
- 4
Certificate issuance (8–12 weeks post-exam)
Qualified candidates receive a digital NTET eligibility certificate through the NCISM portal. A printed certificate is usually dispatched to the registered address within 8–12 weeks. The certificate carries a unique registration number and is valid for lifetime teaching appointments.
Category-wise Qualifying Criteria
A quick reference table for all candidate categories.
| Category | Minimum Marks | Out of 100 |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 50% | 50 marks |
| EWS | 45% | 45 marks |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 45% | 45 marks |
| SC | 45% | 45 marks |
| ST | 45% | 45 marks |
| PwD (all categories) | 45% | 45 marks |
Note: The reservation relaxation is applicable only at the qualifying stage. Once qualified, all candidates hold an equally valid NTET certificate for teaching appointments. There is no separate merit list or rank-based selection at the eligibility-test level.
Historical Cut-off Analysis
How qualifying trends have evolved across past NTET cycles.
NTET has been conducted by NCISM since its inception as the unified teachers' eligibility test for AYUSH disciplines. Across all cycles held to date, the qualifying threshold has remained stable at 50% for general and 45% for reserved categories. Unlike competitive entrance examinations that experience fluctuating cut-offs based on seat availability and applicant volume, NTET is a qualifying examination — meaning every candidate who meets the minimum marks criteria is declared qualified, regardless of how many others also cross the bar.
This is an important distinction. In competitive exams, the "cut-off" is determined by the number of seats and the performance distribution of the top-ranked candidates. In NTET, there is no quota on the number of qualifiers. If 500 candidates score above 50%, all 500 receive eligibility certificates. This explains why NCISM has not needed to raise or lower the qualifying percentage across cycles.
Key takeaways from past cycles
- The qualifying percentage has not changed since the first NTET cycle.
- Answer-key challenges can modify the final qualifying status of borderline candidates.
- Candidates scoring exactly 50.0 (UR) or 45.0 (reserved) are considered qualified; there is no fractional rounding ambiguity.
- Pass percentages across categories have ranged between 35–55% depending on the difficulty of that cycle's pedagogy questions.
- Candidates who narrowly miss the cut-off in one cycle often qualify in the next attempt with focused MCQ practice.
What Happens After the Exam?
Your post-NTET checklist and next steps.
If you qualify
- Download your scorecard from the NCISM portal immediately after result declaration.
- Apply for the digital eligibility certificate through the same portal.
- Update your CV and academic portfolio with your NTET registration number.
- Begin applying for Assistant Professor / Lecturer positions in AYUSH colleges.
- Keep the certificate safe; it is valid for a lifetime.
If you do not qualify
- Analyse your scorecard to identify weak units (Teaching & Training, Assessment, etc.).
- Review the questions you found difficult — our platform's Wrong Questions tab helps here.
- Target a 2–3 month focused revision with daily MCQ practice and unit-wise mocks.
- Remember: there is no limit on attempts. Many candidates qualify on their second or third try.
- Register for the next NTET cycle as soon as NCISM announces the dates.