Planning to become a government school teacher in Bihar? Before you buy a single book or start a timetable, you need the BPSC TRE syllabus and exam pattern. Once you know how the paper is built, how many questions each part has and which part actually decides your rank, you can plan your study time much better.

This guide covers all four levels of the Bihar Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE): Class 1-5 (Primary), Class 6-8 (Middle), Class 9-10 (Secondary) and Class 11-12 (Senior Secondary). For each level we look at the papers, questions, marks, time limit and the new negative marking rule, then the syllabus subject by subject. We also show where the levels differ, so you know exactly what applies to your post.

Key Takeaways

• Every level has one objective paper of 150 questions for 150 marks, and each question carries 1 mark. Most sources give the time as 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Part I, Language (30 questions) is the same for all levels and is qualifying only. You need at least 30%, and these marks do not count towards merit.
• Class 1-5: Part II General Studies has 120 questions and there is no subject paper.
• Class 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12: Part II General Studies has 40 questions and Part III, your chosen subject, has 80 questions.
• For TRE 4.0, reports of the new notice describe 1/3 negative marking, a fifth option (E) for questions you skip, and a 1/3 penalty for leaving a question completely blank.
• The papers are based on the SCERT/NCERT school curriculum. That makes NCERT and Bihar SCERT textbooks your core study material.

BPSC TRE Exam Pattern at a Glance

First, the big picture. BPSC uses the same overall structure for every teaching level: one written, objective (MCQ) paper of 150 questions worth 150 marks. Earlier phases were held offline on OMR sheets. What changes from level to level is how those 150 questions are split.

A quick note on time: most coaching and news sources give the duration as 2 hours 30 minutes, and that was the duration in TRE 3.0. A few websites list other durations, so check the official notification and your admit card for the final figure.

What carries the most weight?

Language is only qualifying, so the marks that decide your merit are the other 120:

• Class 1-5: all 120 merit marks come from General Studies. That is your whole merit score.
• Class 6-8, 9-10, 11-12: 80 of the 120 merit marks (two-thirds) come from your subject and 40 (one-third) from General Studies.

So plan your time to match. Primary aspirants should treat General Studies as the main event. Everyone else should spend roughly two-thirds of their preparation on their own subject.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking in BPSC TRE 4.0

This is the biggest change in the latest phase, so read it carefully.

What changed from TRE 3.0

In TRE 3.0 each question carried 1 mark and there was no negative marking. For TRE 4.0 (Advertisement No. 15/2026), several education news and coaching sites report these new rules:

• +1 mark for every correct answer.
• 1/3 mark deducted for every wrong answer.
• Five options (A to E) for every question, instead of four.
• Option E must be marked if you do not want to answer a question.
• Leaving all five bubbles blank counts as a wrong attempt and also costs 1/3 mark.

When sources disagree

A few websites still say TRE 4.0 has no negative marking. These mostly date from before the detailed advertisement or simply repeat the TRE 3.0 rules. The more recent reports on the revised notice describe the 1/3 penalty and the Option E rule. Prepare for negative marking and confirm it in the official notification on the BPSC website.

What this means for your strategy

• Never leave a bubble empty. If you are skipping a question, fill in E. A blank answer costs you the same as a wrong one.
• Guess carefully. With five options and a 1/3 penalty, blind guessing rarely pays. If you can rule out two or three options, an educated guess can still be worth it.
• Practise on OMR sheets. Get used to marking E quickly during mock tests so it comes naturally in the exam hall.

Part I: Language Syllabus (Common to All Levels)

The good news: Part I is the same for every level. It has 30 questions and checks whether you can actually use the languages you will teach in.

Structure

• English: 8 questions. Compulsory for everyone.
• Hindi, Urdu or Bangla: 22 questions. You choose one.
• Qualifying mark: at least 30% (9 out of 30). These marks are not added to your merit score.

Topics to prepare

English:

• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, word meanings
• Grammar: tenses, articles, prepositions, conjunctions
• Parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective
• Idioms and phrases
• Reading comprehension (passage-based questions)

Hindi / Urdu / Bangla:

• Grammar (vyakaran)
• Comprehension passages
• Vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms
• Spelling and error detection
• Sentence structure, sentence correction and fill in the blanks

Don't take it lightly

Language is "only" qualifying, but it is still a pass-or-fail hurdle. If you score below 30% here, a great General Studies or subject score will not save you. Spend some time on the 8 English questions in particular, because many candidates find them harder than they expect. One or two comprehension passages and a daily grammar drill are usually enough to stay safe.

Class 1-5 (Primary Teacher) Syllabus and Exam Pattern

This is where the primary level differs most from the others. There is no subject paper. After the 30 Language questions, the paper has 120 General Studies questions, and these alone decide your merit.

Exam pattern for Class 1-5

General Studies syllabus for Class 1-5

The primary-level General Studies paper is drawn from the SCERT curriculum. It covers:

1. Elementary Mathematics: number system, percentage, profit and loss, interest, ratio and proportion, average, time and work, speed, time and distance, problems on ages, partnership, mixtures and alligation, basic algebra, mensuration and geometry.
2. Mental Ability Test: analogies, series, classification, blood relations, coding-decoding, direction sense, ranking, syllogism, statement-conclusion and seating arrangement.
3. General Awareness: India and its neighbours, current affairs, sports, history, culture, geography, economy and the Indian Constitution.
4. General Science: basic physics, chemistry and biology at school level.
5. Social Science: India and the Contemporary World, Contemporary India, Democratic Politics and Understanding Economic Development.
6. Indian National Movement: the British conquest of India, the Revolt of 1857, the rise of nationalism, the Gandhian era and the Non-Cooperation Movement.
7. Geography and Environment: solar system, planets, earth, continents, volcanoes, Indian geography, mountains and plateaus, environment and human geography.

What carries the most weight at Class 1-5

General Studies is 120 of the 150 marks and decides your entire merit score. Previous papers give a useful hint about the mix. Analyses of the TRE 3.0 primary paper reported questions spread across general knowledge, reasoning, mathematics, science and current affairs, with Bihar-specific topics such as the Kosi river appearing in General Studies papers.

In practice, mathematics and reasoning give you the most dependable marks, because a well-practised candidate can score close to full marks in them. General awareness and current affairs need steady daily revision. A daily current affairs habit of 20 to 30 minutes, with extra focus on Bihar, will add up quickly.

Class 6-8 (Middle School Teacher) Syllabus and Exam Pattern

From Class 6-8 onwards the paper has three parts. General Studies shrinks to 40 questions and a concerned subject of 80 questions comes in.

Exam pattern for Class 6-8

General Studies for Class 6-8

The 40 General Studies questions cover a shorter list than at primary level: Elementary Mathematics, General Awareness, General Science, the Indian National Movement and Geography. Some sources also list reasoning, social studies and EVS. It makes sense to revise basic reasoning anyway, because it is quick to prepare.

Concerned subject options for Class 6-8

At middle level you choose one subject from the options reported for this level:

• Mathematics and Science
• Social Science: History and Geography, plus either Economics or Political Science, following BPSC's section-combination rule
• Hindi
• English
• Urdu
• Sanskrit

The subject syllabus is linked to the prescribed SCERT/NCERT curriculum, so NCERT and Bihar SCERT textbooks for Classes 6-8 (and the classes just above) are your core material. For the language subjects, expect grammar, comprehension and literature-based questions.

How Class 6-8 differs from Class 1-5

• General Studies drops from 120 to 40 questions.
• An 80-question subject paper is added, and it becomes your biggest scoring area.
• In General Studies, mental ability is no longer the large separate block it is at primary level.

Class 9-10 (Secondary Teacher) Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The structure at secondary level is the same as at middle level: 30 + 40 + 80. What changes is the depth of the subject paper and the much longer list of subjects to choose from.

Exam pattern for Class 9-10

General Studies for Class 9-10

General Studies covers the same five areas (Elementary Mathematics, General Awareness, General Science, Indian National Movement and Geography), but some sources say the questions are drawn from the secondary school curriculum. Expect slightly harder science and social science questions than at middle level.

Concerned subject options for Class 9-10

Sources list the following options for secondary teachers:

• Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bangla, Maithili, Arabic, Persian
• Mathematics, Science, Social Science
• Physical Education, Music, Fine Arts, Dance

For the language subjects, several sources describe a graduation-level language and literature syllabus. For Science and Social Science, the subject is broken into subject groups or combinations set by BPSC. Read the subject-wise section of the official notification to see exactly which combination applies to you.

How Class 9-10 differs from Class 6-8

• More subject choices. Arts, music, physical education and several classical and regional languages appear at this level.
• Greater depth. The subject paper moves from middle-school content to secondary and graduation-level understanding.
• More posts in some subjects. Reports of the revised vacancy notice say 493 of the newly added posts are for Classes 9-10.

Class 11-12 (Senior Secondary Teacher) Syllabus and Exam Pattern

At the top level the paper still follows the 30 + 40 + 80 split. The difference is that the 80 subject questions now test specialised subject knowledge, drawn from the NCERT curriculum.

Exam pattern for Class 11-12

Concerned subject options for Class 11-12

Senior secondary candidates choose from a long list of specialised subjects. Sources commonly include:

• Sciences: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Computer Science
• Humanities: History, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Home Science
• Commerce: Commerce/Business Studies, Accountancy, Entrepreneurship
• Languages: Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bangla, Maithili, Arabic, Persian, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Pali, Prakrit
• Arts and others: Music, Fine Arts, Dance, Physical Education

The exact list differs a little between sources. The safest approach is to check the subject-wise vacancy table in the official notification, because you can only apply for a subject that has posts.

How Class 11-12 differs from the other levels

• Highest subject depth. Expect Class 11-12 NCERT concepts, plus the conceptual understanding that a graduate or postgraduate in the subject should have.
• Single-discipline subjects. At Class 9-10 you might teach "Science" or "Social Science". Here it is Physics, or History, or Economics, so the 80 questions go much deeper into one discipline.
• General Studies stays at 40 questions, the same as at Class 6-8 and 9-10.

Where the Four Levels Differ: A Quick Comparison

If you have skipped ahead, here are the differences in plain terms:

Exam Stages and Vacancies: What We Know

The classic TRE selection process has been a single written exam followed by document verification, with no interview. One coaching source, however, reports that TRE 4.0 brings a two-stage process: a preliminary (screening) exam followed by a mains exam. Since sources disagree, check the official notification to see how many stages apply to your post.

On vacancies, Advertisement No. 15/2026 first announced 32,388 posts. Reports of the revised notice say 932 posts were added (493 for Classes 9-10 and 439 for Classes 11-12), bringing the total to 33,320. For dates, fees and the full post-wise breakup, see our guide to the BPSC TRE Notification and Important Dates: 33,320 Posts.

Applications for TRE 4.0 opened on 25 September 2026. The last date to apply is 26 October 2026 and the last date for fee payment is 25 October 2026. For the written exam date, check the official notification on the BPSC website.

Not sure whether you can apply for a particular level? Our BPSC TRE 4.0 Eligibility 2026: Age, STET/CTET & Degree guide covers the qualifications for each level.

How to Prepare for the BPSC TRE Syllabus Step by Step

Now that you know the BPSC TRE syllabus and exam pattern, here is a simple plan you can adapt.

Step 1: Secure the qualifying Language part

Spend about 30 minutes a day on grammar and one comprehension passage, alternating between English and your chosen language. Your aim is a comfortable margin above 9 out of 30, not perfection.

Step 2: Build your General Studies base from NCERT and SCERT

Read NCERT and Bihar SCERT textbooks for science, social science and geography. Make short notes on the Indian National Movement and Bihar-specific topics such as its rivers, history and economy. If you are a primary candidate, this is your entire merit score, so give it most of your time.

Step 3: Master your subject (Class 6-12 candidates)

Give your concerned subject roughly two-thirds of your study hours. Start with the NCERT books for the classes you will teach, then move on to graduation-level reference books. Good books for competitive exams that follow the TRE pattern help you connect textbook ideas to exam-style questions.

Step 4: Practise under real exam conditions

Negative marking is new, so timed practice matters more than ever. Take full-length mocks with five-option questions, mark Option E whenever you skip, and review every wrong answer. A structured online test series lets you track your accuracy and get used to the 150-question format.

Step 5: Revise and analyse

In the last few weeks, stop adding new topics. Revise your notes, solve previous year papers from TRE 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, and work on your weakest area. Previous papers show you which topics BPSC asks again and again.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring the Language part because it is "only qualifying". Failing it ends your chances.
• Leaving bubbles blank under the new rules. Always mark E for questions you skip.
• Over-studying General Studies at Class 6-12 while neglecting the subject that carries two-thirds of your merit marks.
• Skipping NCERT/SCERT books in favour of guides alone. The syllabus is built on these textbooks.
• Relying on unofficial pattern details. Check the final figures for time, negative marking and stages on the BPSC website.

Conclusion

The BPSC TRE syllabus and exam pattern is easy to follow once you see the logic. Every level sits one 150-question paper with a common, qualifying Language part. Primary candidates are judged entirely on 120 General Studies questions. Middle, secondary and senior secondary candidates split their merit between 40 General Studies questions and an 80-question subject paper that carries two-thirds of the weight.

The new 1/3 negative marking and the Option E rule make accuracy just as important as knowledge. Start with NCERT and SCERT books, keep your Language part safe, give your heaviest section the most time, and practise with timed mocks. Steady daily effort is what gets results here, and you can do this. Good luck!

FAQs

How many questions are there in the BPSC TRE exam?

Every level has 150 objective questions worth 150 marks, with 1 mark per question. Class 1-5 has 30 Language and 120 General Studies questions. Class 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12 have 30 Language, 40 General Studies and 80 concerned-subject questions.

Is there negative marking in BPSC TRE 4.0?

Recent reports on the TRE 4.0 notice say yes: 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer, and also for a question left completely blank. If you want to skip a question, mark option E. TRE 3.0 had no negative marking, and a few older websites still say that, so confirm the rule in the official notification.

Are Language marks counted in the BPSC TRE merit list?

No. Part I Language (8 English questions plus 22 in Hindi, Urdu or Bangla) is qualifying only. You need at least 30%, which is 9 out of 30, but these marks are not added to your merit score.

Which part carries the most weight in the BPSC TRE exam?

For Class 1-5, General Studies (120 questions) makes up your entire merit score. For Class 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12, the 80-question concerned subject paper carries two-thirds of the merit marks and General Studies the remaining one-third.

Is the BPSC TRE syllabus based on NCERT or SCERT books?

Both. The primary-level General Studies paper follows the SCERT curriculum. The subject papers for Classes 6-10 are linked to the SCERT/NCERT curriculum, and the senior secondary subject papers are drawn from NCERT. Start with these textbooks and then move on to reference books.

Is the Class 6-8 syllabus different from the Class 9-10 syllabus?

The pattern is the same: 30 Language, 40 General Studies and 80 subject questions. The difference is in the subject paper. Class 6-8 has fewer choices (such as Maths and Science, Social Science, Hindi, English, Urdu and Sanskrit), while Class 9-10 adds many more, including Bangla, Maithili, Arabic, Persian, Music, Fine Arts, Dance and Physical Education, and the questions go deeper.