What is TET, SET and NET ?

If you aspire to become a teacher, you must clear various tests and examinations such as TET, SET, and NET, each administered by either national or state-level authorities. Depending on your desired teaching profession, you can choose the appropriate exam that aligns with your individual requirements. Allow us to shed light on the differences between TET, SET, and NET.

TET, SET, and NET – The differences 

TET stands for Teacher’s Eligibility Test

SET stands for State Eligibility Test

NET stands for National Eligibility Test

The major difference between the different options lies in what vacancies these tests and examinations try filling out. 

The NET is conducted for the appointment of a lecturer in colleges. The SET is conducted for the appointment of lecturers in state colleges. The TET is for the eligibility to become a Teacher in primary and secondary schools. 

TET examinations  – An overview 

TET is akin to an entrance examination for teachers in India. Each of the states conducts the test for their own candidates for the test. The TET examination is conducted by both central and state governments. 

The TET examination is held in two papers viz Paper 1 and Paper 2. It should be noted that the TET examination is compulsory for the appointment of a Teacher in Class I to VIII, Class IX to X. Paper I is meant for teachers opting for Class 1 to Class 5, and Paper II opting for Class 6 to Class 8. 

You can check out your respective states for information on the notification for the state TET examinations. 

NET and SET  Examinations

Both NET and SET examinations are conducted for fulfilling the same requirements.  These are conducted for the posts of Junior Research Fellow or Assistant Professor in colleges and universities. The examination is conducted by the University Grants Commission. 

The only difference between the SET and NET examinations lies in the fact that the SET is conducted a the state level, and the NET is conducted at the national level. 

The purpose of creating the SET apart from the NET was because of the inefficiency of the SET examination in being able to represent the regional subjects. It was also the result of the demand from the candidates to appear for the examination in their mother tongue. This is why the state governments and union territories were allowed to conduct their own eligibility tests for Lectureship at the state level. 

The eligibility criteria for the different examinations

For the NET examination, the candidate should fulfill the following requirements in terms of eligibility criteria –

• 55% marks (General category) and 50% (SC/ST/PwD) in a Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC
• You can also apply if you are currently in the final year of your qualifying examination 
• The upper age limit for the examination is 35 years
• Relaxation in age for the reserved category candidates to up to 5 years
• There is no upper age limit if you are applying for the position of  Assistant Professor.
• Successful candidates can be recruited to the post of Junior Research Fellow/Assistant Professor anywhere throughout the country.

The eligibility criteria for the SET examinations will be

• You should be a General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidate who has secured at least 55% marks in a Master’s Degree or equivalent examination
• The scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Person with Disability (PWD) Category, and the Other Backward Classes (OBC) can apply if they have scored at least 50% in the qualifying examination 
• The candidate can apply any number of times 
• The successful candidates would be eligible for the appointment at the post of lecturer only in the universities/colleges belonging to the state from where they have passed the SET examination. 

The eligibility criteria for the  candidates aspiring to appear for the TET examinations would be 

• You must be a Graduate and NCTE approved two years course in BTC/CT (Nur)/ NTT, or you must be a Graduate with 50 % marks and B Ed or NCTE approved B Ed/ D Ed (Special Education)/ B Ed (Special Education) and graduation with 45 % marks.
• You can also be a Graduate with Moallim – e – Urdu completed before 11-8-97 (for Urdu Teachers)
• You may also apply if you are a Graduate and have a Diploma in Teaching from the Aligarh Muslim University (for Urdu Teachers)

The exam pattern 

The exam pattern for the SET and NET examinations can include 

NET exam pattern	SET Exam pattern
The paper is divided into two papers I and II	It also has two papers, I and II
Marks – Paper I – 100  Paper II – 200	Depends on the state education ministry.  Generally 150 and 300 respectively for Paper I and Paper II
No negative marking	No negative marking
Conducted at the national level	Conducted at the state level
6% success rate	7% success rate
Candidates can apply for assistant professor in any college in the country.	Candidates can apply to particular state-owned colleges/ universities for assistant professors.

 

The pattern for the TET examination is as follows 

Type	Multiple-Choice Questions
Papers	Paper I & Paper II
Number of Questions	150 questions (each paper)
Maximum Marks	150 marks (each paper)
Duration	2 hours & 30 minutes (each paper)
Minimum Qualifying Marks	60% for the general category & 55% for the reserved category.

 

Teaching is a noble profession, and that makes it a great option that you would want to opt for. Based on which category of teachers you would want to choose, you can apply for the appropriate option for your needs. 

The Closing Thoughts

Both SET and NET examinations are designed for aspirants who want to become assistant professors or lecturers. The TET examination is for the appointment for the position of teacher at the states or national level. Based on what you want o apply for, you can check the relevant examination and apply for the same. 

TET and NET are generally conducted twice a year, while SET is conducted once a year. Pick the right exam in tune with your requirements and expectations, and pick the one that best meets your individual needs.