The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj, has released the UP Special TET Admit Card 2026 for the Special Teacher Eligibility Test (Special TET) 2026, under Advertisement No. 03/2026. The provisional admit cards for both the Primary Level and the Upper Primary Level are available for download from the commission candidate portal. The written examination is scheduled for 3 November 2026 across six divisional headquarters in Uttar Pradesh, so candidates who applied for this eligibility test should download their admit card now, check the centre, shift and reporting instructions printed on it, and keep a printed copy ready for the exam day.
UP Special TET Admit Card 2026: Overview
| Organisation | Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC), Prayagraj |
|---|---|
| Examination | Special Teacher Eligibility Test (Special TET) 2026 |
| Advertisement Number | 03/2026 (also cited as 03/UPTET/2026) |
| Levels | Primary Level (Classes 1 to 5); Upper Primary Level (Classes 6 to 8) |
| Application Window | 5 September to 4 October 2026 (correction window till 8 October 2026) |
| Exam City Intimation Slip | Released 23 October 2026 (city only — not an entry pass) |
| Admit Card Release | 31 October 2026 (portal notice dated 30 October 2026) |
| Exam Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Exam Centres | Six divisional headquarters: Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Agra |
| Shifts | Shift 1: 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM; Shift 2: 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Download Portal | apply.upessc.org (candidate login) |
| Commission Website | upessc.up.gov.in |
Who This Exam Is For
The Special TET is not a regular recruitment examination and it is not open to fresh teacher aspirants in general. It is an eligibility test for teachers already in service — in-service teachers working in state-run, local body and aided primary and upper primary schools across Uttar Pradesh — and for special educators working with children with special needs (CWSN). In-service teachers apply with a valid eHRMS code for their school level. Special educators need a graduation degree with a special-education qualification recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) — D.Ed. (Special Education) for the Primary Level and B.Ed. (Special Education) for the Upper Primary Level — along with an active CRR number and RCI registration certificate. For in-service regular teachers, age is governed by the applicable service rules; for contract and daily-wage special educators, the maximum age is 60 years as on 3 November 2026.
Because this is an eligibility test, selection is based solely on the written examination — there is no interview. Candidates who score the qualifying marks are awarded the Special TET certificate, which is required for continuing in service or for future promotions as per the state norms. Candidates who applied for both levels must download a separate admit card for each level, since each level has its own admit card.
Exam Pattern and Qualifying Marks
The Special TET written examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions carrying 150 marks, to be completed in 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes). There is no negative marking. The qualifying marks are 60 percent (90 out of 150) for General category candidates and 55 percent (82 out of 150, rounded as notified) for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, Freedom Fighter Dependents, Ex-Servicemen and PwD candidates. If the examination is held in multiple shifts, normalisation applies as per the commission norms.
| Primary Level (Classes 1 to 5) | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I — Hindi | 30 | 30 |
| Language II — English, Urdu or Sanskrit | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
| Upper Primary Level (Classes 6 to 8) | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Pedagogy | 30 | 30 |
| Language I — Hindi | 30 | 30 |
| Language II — English, Urdu or Sanskrit | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics and Science, or Social Studies / Social Science | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
Application fee note: the fee was charged per level — Rs. 1,000 for General, OBC and EWS candidates, Rs. 500 for SC and ST candidates, and Rs. 300 for Divyangjan (PwD) candidates, payable online through the notified bank gateway. The application window closed on 4 October 2026, so no fresh applications are being accepted now; this post covers only the admit card for candidates who already applied.
Exam City Slip Versus Admit Card — Do Not Confuse Them
The commission released the examination city intimation slip on 23 October 2026. That slip only tells a candidate which of the six divisional headquarters has been allotted, so that travel can be planned. It does not carry the exact centre address, roll number or reporting details, and it cannot be used to enter the examination hall. The provisional admit card released on 31 October 2026 is the valid entry document: it carries the exact centre address, shift timing and reporting instructions. Candidates must carry the printed admit card — not just the city slip — to the examination centre on 3 November 2026.
How to Download the UP Special TET Admit Card
- Visit the UPESSC candidate portal at apply.upessc.org and open the sign-in page.
- Sign in with your OTR ID, mobile number or email address, using your password or the code option offered on the login page.
- Open the Admit Card tab in your dashboard.
- Download the provisional admit card for your level. If you applied for both the Primary and the Upper Primary levels, download each admit card separately.
- Take two or three clear printouts of each admit card.
- Check your name, photograph, level, exam date, shift, centre address and reporting instructions on the printout. If any detail is wrong, contact the commission through the helpdesk details on the official portal immediately, rather than waiting until the exam day.
Portal note: the commission main website upessc.up.gov.in was not loading during the verification check on 31 October 2026, so candidates who cannot open it should go directly to the candidate portal at apply.upessc.org, where the admit card notice and download are live. Do not download the admit card from any third-party link sent by message or email — use only the official portal.
Documents to Carry and Exam-Day Instructions
As per the commission admit card notice, candidates must carry three things to the examination centre on 3 November 2026: the printed provisional admit card, three photographs, and an original photo identity proof. Entry without the printed admit card is not permitted, and the city intimation slip alone is not accepted. Reach the centre well before the reporting time printed on the admit card, since verification formalities take time, and read the instructions printed on the admit card carefully, including the list of permitted and prohibited items. Keep the admit card safely after the examination as well, because it may be needed again for the result and certificate stages.
After the examination, the answer key, result and certificate process follow as per the official UPESSC schedule for this test. Candidates should keep checking the candidate portal and the commission website for those updates, and should preserve the admit card and application details until the process is complete.
Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Download Admit Card (Candidate Login) | apply.upessc.org/login |
| UPESSC Candidate Portal | apply.upessc.org |
| Commission Website | upessc.up.gov.in |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Has the UP Special TET Admit Card 2026 been released?
Yes. UPESSC released the provisional admit cards for the Primary and Upper Primary levels on 31 October 2026, under Advertisement No. 03/2026, downloadable from the candidate portal at apply.upessc.org.
Q2. When is the UP Special TET exam?
The written examination is on 3 November 2026, in two shifts — 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM — across Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Agra. Your admit card gives your exact centre and shift.
Q3. How do I download the admit card?
Sign in at apply.upessc.org with your OTR ID, mobile number or email address, open the Admit Card tab, and download the admit card for your level. Candidates who applied for both levels must download each admit card separately.
Q4. Is the exam city slip the same as the admit card?
No. The city slip released on 23 October 2026 only shows your allotted city for travel planning. Only the provisional admit card, with the exact centre address and shift, is accepted at the examination hall.
Q5. What should I carry to the exam centre?
The printed provisional admit card, three photographs and an original photo identity proof, and arrive before the reporting time printed on the admit card.
Q6. Is there negative marking in the Special TET?
No. The paper has 150 questions for 150 marks in 150 minutes with no negative marking. Qualifying marks are 60 percent for General category and 55 percent for reserved categories.