Getting ready for the Bihar STET? You probably have one question on your mind: how many marks do you need to pass? This guide answers it simply. You'll find the Bihar STET cut-off (the official qualifying marks) for each category, the pass rates for Paper 1 and Paper 2 from the last three cycles, what made those rates go up or down, and a realistic safe score to aim for this cycle.

If you're still applying or checking dates, start with our Bihar STET Notification 2026: Dates, Fee and How to Apply guide, then come back here.

Key Takeaways

• The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) does not publish a ranking-style cut-off list. It sets fixed minimum qualifying marks for each category.
• General category candidates need 50% (75 out of 150). SC, ST, PwD and women candidates need 40% (60 out of 150).
• Paper 1 (Class 9–10) and Paper 2 (Class 11–12) have the same qualifying marks. They differ in subjects, syllabus level and pass rates.
• Pass rates have fallen every year: Paper 1 went from 82.90% (2023) to 62.56% (2025), and Paper 2 went from 74.37% to 52.17%.
• A buffer of about 15 marks above your category's qualifying mark is a sensible safe target.

What the Bihar STET Cut-off Really Means

Let's clear up the biggest confusion first. The STET is an eligibility test, not a recruitment exam. You aren't competing with other candidates for a limited number of seats. You only need to reach the minimum score set for your category.

That's why BSEB doesn't release a traditional cut-off list. It fixes minimum qualifying marks, and every candidate who reaches them is declared qualified. When people search for "Bihar STET cut-off", these qualifying marks are what they need.

Two more points are worth knowing:

• The certificate is valid for life. According to reports on the 2026 notification, the STET qualifying certificate has lifetime validity, so you won't need to clear the exam again because an old certificate has expired.
• Qualifying isn't the same as getting a job. Clearing STET makes you eligible to teach. It doesn't mean you will automatically be appointed to a teaching post.

Bihar STET Cut-off: Category-wise Qualifying Marks (2024 and 2025)

Each paper has 150 marks, and the qualifying marks have stayed the same across recent cycles. The table below shows the marks reported with the 2024 and 2025 results.

A quick word on sources: most reports use the labels above. A few call the 45.5% group "OBC" and the 42.5% group "EBC", and one news report on the 2025 cycle gives 45% (not 45.5%) for Backward Classes. Because sources don't agree on the labels, please check the official notification to confirm which group your caste certificate falls under.

Since there is no negative marking, the marks in the table translate directly into correct answers. For example, a General candidate needs 75 correct answers, and an SC candidate needs 60.

Bihar STET Exam Pattern at a Glance

To plan your score, you need to know how the 150 marks are split. Both papers follow the same structure:

The test is computer-based (CBT) and lasts 150 minutes. Each correct answer earns 1 mark, and there is no negative marking. For the full subject-wise topics, see our Bihar STET Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Paper 1 and Paper 2 guide.

Bihar STET Paper 1 Cut-off (Class 9–10)

Paper 1 is for people who want to teach Classes 9 and 10. In the 2024 and 2025 cycles, it was held in 16 subjects. One syllabus reference describes the subject section as graduate-level, matched to the Class 9–10 curriculum.

The Bihar STET Paper 1 cut-off uses the same category table above: 75 marks for General down to 60 marks for SC, ST, PwD and women candidates. What has changed from year to year is how many candidates actually reached those marks.

Paper 1 results over three cycles

For 2024, one live news update gave 2,61,911 candidates appeared instead of 2,63,911. The 73.77% pass rate only matches 2,63,911, so that is the figure we've used.

What this tells you: in 2023, about four out of five Paper 1 candidates qualified. By 2025, it was fewer than two out of three. The passing line didn't move, so fewer candidates reached it. Paper 1 is still the "easier to clear" of the two papers, but you shouldn't take it lightly.

Paper 1 tips

• Paper 1 has some very large subject groups. In 2023, Social Science alone had 74,354 candidates. Big subjects tend to have a wide spread of scores, so aim well above the minimum.
• The subject section carries 100 marks, so your subject knowledge decides most of your result.

Bihar STET Paper 2 Cut-off (Class 11–12)

Paper 2 is for people who want to teach Classes 11 and 12. It covers more subjects (29 in the 2024 and 2025 cycles), including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Commerce, Computer Science and several languages. One syllabus reference describes the subject section as post-graduate level, matched to the Class 11–12 curriculum.

The Bihar STET Paper 2 cut-off is exactly the same as Paper 1: 50% for General, 45.5% for BC, 42.5% for OBC and 40% for SC, ST, PwD and women candidates. But the pass rates tell a tougher story.

Paper 2 results over three cycles

Look at the qualified column. About 1.02 to 1.03 lakh candidates cleared Paper 2 in each of the three cycles. Meanwhile, the number of candidates rose from about 1.37 lakh to almost 1.96 lakh, so the pass rate fell to roughly one in two by 2025.

Paper 2 tips

• The higher subject level makes the 100-mark subject section the main challenge. Revise your post-graduate core topics thoroughly.
• Don't neglect the 50-mark Teaching Art section. It is the same in both papers and is the most reliable place to pick up marks.

Paper 1 vs Paper 2: Where They Differ

Here's a side-by-side summary so you can see the differences at a glance:

In short, the qualifying marks and the exam pattern are the same. The papers differ in subject depth and, as a result, in how many candidates pass.

What Moved the Bihar STET Pass Rates

If the passing marks are fixed, why do pass rates change so much? Several factors play a part.

1. Paper difficulty. The qualifying marks stay the same, so a harder paper means fewer candidates reach them. This is the most direct reason pass rates rise or fall.
2. More candidates. Overall, 4,23,822 candidates appeared in 2024 and 4,42,214 in 2025. Paper 2 grew the most. When more candidates take the test, many of them less prepared, the pass rate usually drops.
3. Subject mix. Pass rates differ a lot between subjects. In 2023, Arabic in Paper 1 had a 98% pass rate, while subjects with very large numbers of candidates had lower rates.
4. Exams held over several weeks. The 2025 exam ran across many shifts from October 14 to November 16. One syllabus reference says scores are normalised across shifts, so your final marks may differ a little from your raw count.

Putting it together, the overall pass rate fell from 79.79% in 2023 to 70.25% in 2024 and 57.96% in 2025. The takeaway is simple: don't aim to just scrape past the line.

A Realistic Safe Score for Bihar STET 2026

The minimum is the minimum, but a buffer protects you against a tough shift, normalisation, or a few careless mistakes. Here is the target we suggest. It is our own planning advice, not an official BSEB figure:

How to build a 90+ score

Here's one realistic way to split it:

• Teaching Art and Other Competencies (50): aim for 32–35. The Art of Teaching part (30 marks) is very learnable, and the 20 marks of GK, EVS, maths and reasoning reward steady practice.
• Specified Subject (100): aim for 58–60 or more.

With no negative marking, answer every question. A sensible guess can only gain you marks.

Not sure whether you qualify for Paper 1 or Paper 2? Check Bihar STET Eligibility: Paper 1 & 2 Age, Qualification before you plan your preparation.

How to Prepare to Clear the Bihar STET Cut-off

Here is a simple plan to get you comfortably past the line.

Recommended practice material

For your specific subject (the 100-mark section), use your graduation or post-graduation textbooks and the official subject-wise syllabus.

A 4-step study routine

1. Lock in the common section first. Teaching Art and Other Competencies is the same in both papers. Mastering it early gives you a solid base of 30+ marks.
2. Map your subject syllabus. Go through the official syllabus for your subject topic by topic and mark your weak areas.
3. Take full mocks every week. Practise in 150-minute sittings and track your score against the safe target for your category.
4. Review every mistake. Find out why you got it wrong: a gap in knowledge, misreading the question, or running out of time.

After the Exam: Results and Certificate

Past cycles give you a rough idea of how long results take. The 2024 results were declared on November 18, 2024, and the 2025 results on January 5, 2026, less than two months after the 2025 exam ended.

Reports say the 2026 exam is scheduled from October 25 to November 20, 2026. For confirmed dates and admit card details, check the official notification and the BSEB STET portal.

When results come out, your scorecard will show your marks and whether you qualified. Compare your score with the qualifying marks for your category in the table above.

Conclusion

The Bihar STET cut-off is simpler than it first seems. It is a fixed qualifying mark (75, 68.25, 63.75 or 60 out of 150 depending on your category), and it is the same for Paper 1 and Paper 2. What really changes is how many candidates reach it, and that number has been falling each year, especially in Paper 2.

So set your sights above the minimum. Aim for about 15 marks of buffer, build a strong base in the 50-mark Teaching Art section, give your subject the serious attention it needs, and practise under timed conditions. You've got this. Keep going, one mock at a time.

FAQs

What is the Bihar STET cut-off for General category candidates?

General category candidates need at least 50% to qualify, which is 75 marks out of 150. This applies to both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Is the Bihar STET Paper 1 cut-off different from the Paper 2 cut-off?

No. Both papers use the same category-wise qualifying marks. The difference is in pass rates: in 2025, 62.56% of candidates cleared Paper 1 and 52.17% cleared Paper 2.

How many marks do SC, ST, PwD and women candidates need to pass Bihar STET?

Candidates in these categories need 40%, which is 60 marks out of 150. Since there is no negative marking, that means 60 correct answers.

Does BSEB release an official cut-off list for Bihar STET?

No. BSEB doesn't publish a ranking-style cut-off list. It sets minimum qualifying marks for each category, and every candidate who reaches them is declared qualified.

What is a safe score for Bihar STET 2026?

We suggest aiming for about 15 marks above your category's qualifying mark. That means 90+ for General, 85+ for BC, 80+ for OBC and 75+ for SC, ST, PwD and women candidates. This is our planning advice, not an official figure.

How long is the Bihar STET certificate valid?

According to reports on the 2026 notification, the STET qualifying certificate is valid for life. Remember that qualifying makes you eligible to teach but doesn't guarantee an appointment.