Teachers in Tamil Nadu want the pass marks for the Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) to be lowered. The Tamil Nadu Graduate Teachers' Association has asked the State School Education Department to reduce the minimum qualifying marks from 55% to 50% . This request comes after the TNTET Papers 1 and 2 were held on November 15 and 16, 2025 . Over 3.75 lakh candidates appeared for these exams across the state.
Current Rules for TNTET Pass Marks
As of now, to pass the TNTET, candidates must score 55% of the total marks. The exam is for 150 marks . This means:
- General category candidates need to score at least 90 marks .
- Candidates from backward and scheduled communities need at least 82 marks .
Why Teachers Want Lower Marks
The teachers' association explained that the TNTET is only an eligibility test. It means candidates are simply cleared to apply for teaching jobs. The actual job appointments are made through a separate, tough recruitment exam. This second exam includes competitive tests, quotas for different groups, and merit lists to choose the best candidates.
Because of this, the association believes that lowering the TNTET pass marks will not reduce the quality of teachers. They say it will not make education standards worse because the main selection still happens through a separate, rigorous recruitment process.
How Other States Set TET Pass Marks
Many other states in India already have lower qualifying marks for their Teacher Eligibility Tests. This is a key point in the Tamil Nadu teachers' demand. Here is a look at what some other states do:
| States | OBC Category | Other Categories |
| Andhra Pradesh | 50% | SC/ST: 40% |
| Haryana | 50% | 50% |
| Telangana | 50% | SC/ST: 40% |
| Bihar | 50% | 45% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 55% | 45% |
| Odisha | For all quota categories: 50% | For all quota categories: 50% |
As you can see, several states keep the pass mark at 50% or even lower for certain groups. Andhra Pradesh, for example, reduced its qualifying marks after a direction from the Supreme Court.
TET is a Must for Teachers
The Supreme Court has made it clear that passing the TET exam is mandatory for all teachers. This includes teachers who were appointed even before the Right to Education (RTE) Act came into effect. The RTE Act, passed in 2009 , made TET compulsory for secondary and graduate teacher jobs all over India. Tamil Nadu started following this rule in 2012 .
The high number of candidates, over 3.75 lakh , who took the TNTET exams this year shows how important this test is for those wanting to become teachers in Tamil Nadu.
What Happens Next
The Tamil Nadu Graduate Teachers' Association has asked the government to officially order the reduction of TNTET qualifying marks to 50% . Teachers are now waiting to see if the State School Education Department will agree to this demand and issue a new rule.
