The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) determines the CBSE Class 10 exam pattern 2026. The CBSE 10th subject-wise exam pattern and marking scheme are put up by the board through its official website, cbseacademic.nic.in. CBSE has recently released the subject-wise marks bifurcation of all subjects.
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The Phase-I CBSE 10th exams 2026 will be tentatively conducted from February 17, 2026, to March 6, 2026. Students are advised to understand the CBSE 10th exam pattern and marking scheme to prepare well for the final board exams. As per the latest CBSE exam pattern 10th Class 2026, the theory papers for all the main subjects will carry 80 marks, while 20 marks will be reserved for the internal assessment. Students should also be aware that the internal assessment includes periodic tests, notebook submission, and subject-specific other activities, which are crucial for scoring well. A clear understanding of the CBSE 10th 2026 exam pattern will help students manage their study time effectively
Students can refer to the table given below to get the major highlights of the new CBSE 10th exam pattern 2026.
Name of the Exam | CBSE Secondary Examination 2026 |
The Conducting Body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
Examination Mode | Offline |
Frequency | Once a year |
Maximum marks | 100 |
Total duration for theory paper | 3 Hours |
Subject | CBSE theory marks | CBSE 10th practical marks |
Hindi Course- A | 80 | 20 |
Hindi Course-B | 80 | 20 |
Science | 80 | 20 |
Social Science | 80 | 20 |
English (Communicative) | 80 | 20 |
Mathematics Basic | 80 | 20 |
As per the CBSE 10th exam pattern of Mathematics subject, the theory exam will consist of 80 marks in total and the internal assessment will be 20 marks. The unit-wise marking scheme is listed below in the table:
Unit No. | Unit Name | Marks |
I | Number Systems | 06 |
II | Algebra | 20 |
III | Coordinate Geometry | 06 |
IV | Geometry | 15 |
V | Trigonometry | 12 |
VI | Mensuration | 10 |
VII | Statistics and Probability | 11 |
Total | 80 |
Internal Assessment | Marks | Total Marks |
Pen Paper Test and Multiple Assessment (5+5) | 10 | 20 marks |
Lab Practical (Lab activities to be done from the prescribed books) | 5 | |
Portfolio | 5 |
The CBSE Class 10 Science exam pattern 2026 is listed in the table below. The unit-wise marking scheme and topics incorporated in the syllabus are also mentioned below.
Units | Unit Name | Marks |
I | Chemical Substances-Nature and Behaviour: Chemical reactions, Acids, bases and salts, Metals and nonmetals, Carbon compounds | 25 |
II | World of Living: Life processes, Control and coordination in animals and plants, Reproduction, Heredity and Evolution | 25 |
III | Natural Phenomena: Reflection of light by curved surfaces, Refraction of light by spherical lens, Functioning of a lens in human eye, Refraction of light through a prism, etc. | 12 |
IV | Effects of Current: Electric current, potential difference and electric current, Ohm’s law, Magnetic effects of current, Alternating current, Domestic electric circuits | 13 |
V | Natural Resources: Our Environment | 05 |
Total | 80 | |
Internal Assessment | 20 | |
Grand Total | 100 |
Periodic Assessment = 05 marks + 05 marks
Subject Enrichment (Practical Work) = 05 marks
Portfolio = 05 marks
The CBSE Class 10 Social Science exam will include theory questions and map skills-based questions. Go through the CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2026 exam pattern below:
Topics | Weightage |
| 18 + 2 Map pointing |
Topics | Weightage |
| 20 |
Topics | Weightage |
| 17 + 3 Map pointing |
Topic | Weightage |
| 20 |
Type of Assessment | Description | Marks |
Periodic Assessment | Pen and Paper Test. | 5 |
Multiple Assessment | Quiz, debate, role play, viva, group discussion, visual expression, interactive bulletin boards, gallery walks, exit cards, concept maps, peer assessment, Self-assessment etc. through an Interdisciplinary project | 5 |
Subject Enrichment Activity | Project Work on Consumer Rights OR Social Issues OR Sustainable Development | 5 |
Portfolio | Classwork, Work done (activities/ assignments) reflections, narrations, journals, etc. Achievements of the student in the subject throughout the year, Participation of the student in different activities like Heritage India quiz | 5 |
The English exam is divided into three sections: A, B, and C. The CBSE Class 10 English exam pattern is mentioned in the table below:
Section | Topics | Weightage |
1 | Reading Skills | 20 |
2 | Writing Skills with Grammar | 20 |
3 | English Literature (Ques from textbooks) | 40 |
Total | 80 | |
Internal Assessment (Based on Assignments & Projects) | 20 | |
Total | 100 |
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) follows a 9-point grading system to assign grades to students. As per the new CBSE grading system, grades are awarded to students as per their marks in the CBSE 10th exam. The following is a nine-point scoring table:
Grades | Particulars |
A-1 | Top 1/8th of the passed candidates |
A-2 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
B-1 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
B-2 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
C-1 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
C-2 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
D-1 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
D-2 | Next 1/8th of the passed candidates |
E* | *Essential Repeat |
Also, Check: CBSE Results 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If a student fails in any one of the three compulsory subjects- Science, Mathematics, or Social Science, but passes in the Skill subject (offered as the sixth optional subject), the failed core subject will be replaced by the Skill subject. The final result of the Class X board examination will then be computed based on this replacement.
The theory papers will carry 80 marks, and the internal evaluation will be of 20 marks.
Yes, NCERT books are enough for the preparation of CBSE 10th board exams.
The complete CBSE 10th exam pattern and syllabus have been put up by the board on the official website, cbseacademic.nic.in.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
If you want to get your 10th marksheet online, you just need to visit an official website like https://www.cbse.gov.in/ or https://results.cbse.nic.in/ for the CBSE board, and for the state board, you can check their website and provide your roll number, security PIN provided by the school, and school code to download the result.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hello, if you are searching for Class 10 books for exam preparation, the right study material can make a big difference. Standard textbooks recommended by the board should be your first priority as they cover the syllabus completely. Along with that, reference books and guides can help in practicing extra questions and understanding concepts in detail. You can check the recommended books for exam preparation from the link I am sharing here.
https://school.careers360.com/ncert/ncert-books-for-class-10
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-best-reference-books-for-cbse-class-10-exam
Hello Dinesh !
As per CBSE board guidelines for internal assessment for class 10th you will have to give a 80 marks board exam and 20 marks internal assessment. The internal assessment will be at the end of your year.
For knowing the definite structure of the internal assessment you will have to ask your teachers or your seniors in the school as CBSE has provided flexibility in choosing the methods of internal assessment to schools. For more details related to assessment scheme for class 10 given by CBSE you can visit: Assessment scheme (http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/CurriculumMain2Sec/Curriculum_Sec_2021- 22.pdf)
I Hope you have understood it!
Hello
You asked about Class 10 sample paper board exam and most important questions. Practicing sample papers and previous year questions is one of the best ways to prepare for the board exam because it gives a clear idea of the exam pattern and types of questions asked. Schools and teachers usually recommend students to solve at least the last five years question papers along with model papers released by the board.
For Class 10 board exams, the most important areas are Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, and Hindi or regional language. In Mathematics, questions from Algebra, Linear Equations, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Probability are repeatedly seen. For Science, the key chapters are Chemical Reactions, Acids Bases and Salts, Metals and Non metals, Life Processes, Heredity, Light and Electricity. In Social Science, priority should be given to Nationalism, Resources and Development, Agriculture, Power Sharing, Democratic Politics, and Economics related topics. In English, focus on unseen passages, grammar exercises, and important writing tasks like letter writing and essays.
Follow these steps to access the SQPs and marking schemes:
Step 1: Visit https://cbseacademic.nic.in/
Step 2: Click on the link titled “CBSE Sample Papers 2026”
Step 3: A PDF will open with links to Class 10 and 12 sample papers
Step 4: Select your class (Class 10 or Class 12)
Step 5: Choose your subject
Step 6: Download both the sample paper and its marking scheme
If you are looking for Class 10 previous year question papers for 2026 preparation, you can easily access them through the links I’ll be attaching. These papers are very helpful because they give you a clear idea about the exam pattern, marking scheme, and the type of questions usually asked in board exams. Practicing these will not only improve your time management but also help you identify important chapters and commonly repeated questions.
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-previous-year-question-papers-class-10
https://school.careers360.com/boards/cbse/cbse-previous-year-question-papers
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