STET makes you eligible to be considered for a teaching post, while BPSC TRE is the recruitment exam that actually selects teachers. For Classes 9 to 12 in Bihar government schools, you generally need to clear STET first and then compete in TRE.
Last checked on 1 November 2026. The TRE facts below come from BPSC's Advertisement No. 15/2026 and its later notices. We could not read the Bihar board's full STET rules, so those details are left out. Rules change with each advertisement.
What is the difference at a glance?
| Bihar STET | BPSC TRE | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Teacher eligibility test | Recruitment exam |
| Run by | Bihar School Examination Board | Bihar Public Service Commission |
| Who it covers | Classes 9 to 12 | Classes 1 to 12 |
| What you get if you pass | Eligibility, not a job | A place on the merit list, with a district allotted by the department |
| Official site | bsebstet.org | bpsc.bihar.gov.in |
Which eligibility test does each TRE post need?
| TRE-4.0 post | Test required |
|---|---|
| Classes 1 to 5 | CTET Paper I or BTET Paper I |
| Classes 6 to 8 | CTET Paper II or BTET Paper II |
| Classes 9 and 10, and Special School Teacher | STET Paper I |
| Classes 11 and 12 | STET Paper II |
BPSC also says that for CTET candidates, the minimum marks under the BTET 2017 rules are 60 percent for the General category, 55 percent for Backward Class, Extremely Backward Class and General category women, and 50 percent for SC, ST and disabled candidates. For STET, it accepts the marks fixed by the board for that STET. Candidates from outside Bihar are treated as General for the minimum marks.
What is TRE-4.0?
TRE-4.0 is the fourth phase of school teacher recruitment under the Education Department, Bihar. BPSC published Advertisement No. 15/2026 on 22 September 2026, which replaced Advertisement No. 14/2026 of 18 August 2026.
| Class group | Posts in the advertisement of 22 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Classes 1 to 5 | 3,847 |
| Classes 6 to 8 | 8,563 |
| Classes 9 and 10 | 3,877 |
| Classes 11 and 12 | 16,101 |
| Total | 32,388 |
BPSC's notice of 26 October 2026 gives the total as 33,320. We could not find an official breakdown of that later figure, so check BPSC's site.
Important date. The same notice, citing a Supreme Court order, moved the last date for payment to 2 November 2026 and for the online form to 3 November 2026. Before this extension, the last dates were 25 and 26 October 2026. If you are still applying, read that notice today, and confirm that the extension applies to you.
What is the TRE-4.0 exam like?
Selection is based on a written objective exam. Every paper has 150 questions for 150 marks, in two and a half hours.
| Post | Parts of the paper |
|---|---|
| Classes 1 to 5 | Language 30 questions, General Studies 120 |
| Classes 6 to 8 | Language 30, General Studies 40, Subject 80 |
| Classes 9 and 10, and Special School Teacher | Language 30, General Studies 40, Subject 80 |
| Classes 11 and 12 | Language 30, General Studies 40, Subject 80 |
The language part is qualifying. You must score at least 30 percent in it. Each question has five options, A to E, and option E means you are choosing not to answer. A wrong answer costs one-third of a mark. A question left completely blank also costs one-third of a mark. BPSC says there is no provision for re-evaluation.
| Category | Minimum pass mark |
|---|---|
| General | 40% |
| Backward Class | 36.5% |
| Extremely Backward Class | 34% |
| SC, ST, women and disabled | 32% |
BPSC adds that 35 percent horizontal reservation for women, the 4 percent for disabled candidates and the 32 percent pass mark for those categories are available only to Bihar domiciles.
Who can apply for TRE-4.0?
- Citizenship. A citizen of India.
- Qualifications. The degree and teacher training that the National Council for Teacher Education sets for the post, plus the eligibility test above.
- Minimum age on 1 August 2026. 18 for Classes 1 to 8, and 21 for Classes 9 to 12.
- Maximum age, counted on 1 August 2024. 37 for unreserved men. 40 for Backward Class and Extremely Backward Class candidates and unreserved women. 42 for SC, ST and transgender candidates.
SC, ST, Extremely Backward Class, Backward Class and disabled candidates get 5 percent relaxation in the minimum marks for the required qualification. BPSC also says 40 percent of posts will go to those who passed Class 10 or 12 from institutions in Bihar.
BPSC's exam calendar shows the written exam date as still to be decided. It says the date will be published after the advertisement period.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for TRE-4.0 if I am appearing in STET 2026?
BPSC allows this if you already have the academic and training qualifications and give a self-declaration. You must pass STET 2026 before the written exam, or you will not receive an admit card.
If I pass TRE, will I get my home district?
The advertisement says BPSC runs the exam and result, while the department allots the district. Do not assume you will get your own.
Do I need STET for Classes 1 to 8?
Not in this advertisement. It asks for CTET or BTET for those classes.
Can I apply for more than one class group?
Yes, if you qualify. You fill one form and state your order of preference. Once you are selected at a higher preference, your lower choices drop away.
Official sources
- https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/advertisement/
- https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/exam-calendar/
- https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/BPSC_content/Notices/Advertisement-152026-TRE-4.0_BPSC-20260922-dbsf04.pdf
- https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/BPSC_content/Notices/Important-Notice-152026-TRE-4.0-Advertisement_BPSC-20260922-vn0ekm.pdf
- https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/BPSC_content/Notices/Image_125_BPSC-20261026-l3wn9q.pdf
- https://bpsc.bihar.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/BPSC_content/Notices/Self-Declaration-Form-for-Candidates-appearing-in-STET-2026_BPSC-20260922-m6032g.pdf
- https://bsebstet.org/
- https://biharboardonline.com/files/BSEB_STET25ADV.pdf
Written from the official sources listed above, with no second reader yet. Notices change, so confirm every date on the official website. Nikaalle is not linked to any exam body.