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About CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026
The Central Board of Secondary Education has provided the blueprints for every subject included in the curriculum on the official website. For class 10th, there are five compulsory subjects included in the curriculum, followed by two optional subjects. In the five compulsory subjects, there are two languages and three other subjects, including Mathematics, Social Science, and Science. According to the marking scheme followed by CBSE, the paper in every subject will be conducted for 100 marks, including theory and practical exams. Usually, the theory paper is conducted for 80 marks. Also Check: CBSE Class 10 Registration Form 2026
According to the sources, no new changes will be recorded in the exam pattern for this academic year. In class 10th, around 50% of the questions will be based on competency, according to last year's trends. The passing marks for class 10th are 33%. You must score 33% marks in theory and practical exams to pass. According to the latest notification released by CBSE, the board exams will be conducted twice. Check more about the CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 here.
CBSE Class 10 Blueprint 2025-26
CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026 will be conducted in offline mode. The subjects that are included in class 10 are Language 1, Language 2, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and the 6th Additional Subject. The exam will be conducted for a total of 3 hours. The overall marks as per the CBSE Class 10th Blueprint 2026 will be 100 marks. Check the question types and their weightage from the table below:
Question Type | Percentage |
|---|---|
Competency Focused Questions - MCQs/Case-Based Questions, Source-Based Integrated Questions, or any other type | 50% |
Select Response Type Questions - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) | 20% |
Constructed Response Questions - Short Answer/Long Answer type Questions (as per existing pattern) | 30% |
CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26 Subject Wise
Even though the overall CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2025-26 will be the same for all the subjects, there are some minor specifications for each subject pattern. We will discuss in this section the subject-wise exam pattern of CBSE class 10 2026 and its marking scheme:
CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26 for Mathematics
There are a total of 7 units included in the CBSE Class 10 Math Exam Pattern 2025-26 . You can refer to the details exam pattern from the table given below. The same syllabus is followed by Mathematics Basics and Mathematics Standard:
Topics | Marks |
|---|---|
Number System | 6 |
Algebra | 20 |
Coordinate Geometry | 6 |
Geometry | 15 |
| Trigonometry | 12 |
Mensuration | 10 |
Statistics and Probability | 11 |
Total Marks | 80 |
Also Read: CBSE Class 10 Math Sample Paper 2025-26
CBSE Class 10 Science Paper Pattern 2025-26
A total of 5 units are included in the CBSE Class 10 Science Exam Pattern 2025-26 . You can refer to the detailed information about the class 10 Science paper pattern 2025-26 from the table given below:
Topic | Marks |
|---|---|
Chemical Substances- Nature and Behavior | 25 |
World of Living | 25 |
Natural Phenomena | 12 |
Effects of Current | 13 |
Natural Resources | 5 |
Total Marks | 80 |
Also Read: CBSE Class 10 Science Sample Paper 2025-26
CBSE Class 10 Blueprint 2025-26 for Social Science
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Syllabus is divided into four parts with equal marks allotted to each of them. You can refer to the detailed information about the same from the table given below. Check CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam Pattern 2025-26
History (India and the Contemporary World – II)
Section | Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
I – Events and Processes | I | The Rise of Nationalism in Europe | 18 + 2 (Map Pointing) |
II | Nationalism in India | ||
II – Livelihoods, Economies and Societies | III | The Making of a Global World (Subtopics 1 to 1.3 – evaluated in Board Exam) | |
An interdisciplinary project as part of multiple assessments (Internally assessed for 5 marks) Subtopics 2 to 4.4 –The nineteenth century (1815-1914) to end of Bretton Woods & the beginning of “Globalisation” | 5 (Internal Assessment) | ||
IV | The Age of Industrialisation (Periodic Assessment Only) | — | |
III – Everyday Life, Culture and Politics | V | Print Culture and the Modern World | — |
Geography (Contemporary India – II)
Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
1 | Resources and Development | 17 + 3 (Map Pointing) |
2 | Forest and Wildlife Resources | |
3 | Water Resources | |
4 | Agriculture | |
5 | Minerals and Energy Resources | |
6 | Manufacturing Industries | |
7 | Lifelines of National Economy (Map Only) | Map Pointing Only |
— | Interdisciplinary Project (Internal) | 5 (Internal Assessment) |
Political Science (Democratic Politics – II)
Unit No. | Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
I | 1 | Power-sharing | 20 |
2 | Federalism | ||
II | 3 | Gender, Religion and Caste | |
III | 4 | Political Parties | |
IV | 5 | Outcomes of Democracy |
Economics (Understanding Economic Development)
Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
1 | Development | 20 |
2 | Sectors of the Indian Economy | |
3 | Money and Credit | |
4 | Globalisation and the Indian Economy (Board Evaluated) Subtopics: What is Globalisation?, Factors, Production, WTO, Chinese toys, Fair Globalisation | |
— | Interdisciplinary Project (Internal) | 5 (Internal Assessment) |
5 | Consumer Rights (Project Work) | Project Only |
Also Read: CBSE Class 10 Social Science Sample Paper 2025-26
CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26 for English
As per the CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern 2025-26 , the question paper will consist of a total of 11 questions, which will be divided into 3 sections: Sections A, B, and C. The exam pattern and topic-wise weightage for class 10th English can be checked below:
Section | Number of questions | Total marks |
|---|---|---|
A: Reading | 2 | 20 |
B: Writing and Grammar | 5 | 20 |
C: Literature | 4 | 40 |
| Total | 80 | |
Also Read: CBSE Class 10 English Sample Paper 2025-26
CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26 for Computer Application
You can refer to the information about the exam pattern for Computer Applications from the table given below:
Unit No. | Unit Name | Marks | Periods (Theory) | Periods (Practical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Networking | 15 | 17 | 05 |
2 | HTML | 25 | 30 | 50 |
3 | Cyber ethics | 10 | 08 | 10 |
4 | Practicals | 50 | - | - |
Total | 100 | 55 | 65 |
CBSE 10th Marking Scheme 2026
A lot of new changes will be reflected in the curriculum from the academic year 2026 for CBSE class 10 students, such as:
- There will be two exams conducted in one academic year. First exams will be conducted from 17th February to 6th March 2026, and the second exams will be conducted from 5th to 20th May 2026.
- The exams will be conducted on the full current syllabus.
- The examination centres will be fixed for the 1st examination, and for the 2nd examination too, the same centres shall be allotted.
- The first and second exams will also act as supplementary exams, and no special examinations will be conducted except for them.
- Online services of verification, photocopy, and revaluation will be provided according to the availability of time after the result is released.
- No passing document will be issued after the results of the 1st examinations.
- Performance of the 1st examination will be made available in DigiLocker. This could be used for admission to class XI if the student does not wish to appear in the 2nd examination.
- All the candidates will be issued passing documents after the second examination results.
- The practical/Internal assessment paper will be done only once.
- Mark Sheet cum Passing Certificate will have marks secured in the first examination, the second examination, marks secured in Practical/Internal assessment and Grades. Also, the better of the two marks will be mentioned.
- Students not qualified in the 1st examination could be allowed admission in Class XI, and based on the result of the 2nd examination, their admission will be finalised.
- A merit certificate will be issued after the 2nd examination.
- Students passing all 5 subjects will be declared as passing.
- Students who failed to pass from 1 to 5 subjects in 1st examination will be placed under the “Improvement Category” and will be allowed to appear in 2nd examination.
- Students appeared only in the 2nd examination; no further examination will be conducted. Such students will be allowed to appear in the 1st examination of the subsequent year, but the syllabus shall be the syllabus applicable for the subsequent year.
Also Read- CBSE Class 10 Result 2026
CBSE class 10 exam pattern 2025-26 is now officially updated on the official website of the Central Board of Secondary Education which the students can access. By taking into account the marking scheme, and topic-wise marks distribution, students should create their strategies based on their strengths and prepare themselves accordingly.FAQs
Cut-off marks from prominent schools can easily help you determine whether the score that you have achieved in CBSE 10th Board 2026 is good enough or not. For example, you need an aggregate of 80% to secure admission to prominent schools such as DPS. For the science stream, you may require greater marks.
If you fail in one subject in the CBSE 10th Board 2026, then you can appear for the 2nd exams that will be held in May. However, if you fail in the 2nd exams too, then you have to repeat your grade.
To download the CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026, the students can visit the official website of CBSE Academics and navigate to the curriculum option in its menu bar. The details are in PDF formats as per the academic year, from where you can download the curriculums. The curriculum is available separately for each subject group included by the CBSE.
Yes, CBSE authorities are known for giving grace marks to students in CBSE 10th Board 2026 if they fail in more than one subject by two or three marks. However, there is no fixed policy on how many marks would be allotted by the examiners. The final decision will be taken based on the overall performance of the students.
CBSE 10th Exams 2026 checking is not very strict. The evaluation is done in steps, and the marks are also provided according to the steps. There is also no negative marking done by the examiners.
The first and foremost books that you must complete in order to prepare for the CBSE 10th Exams 2026 are your NCERTs. For side books, you can use the RD Sharma or RS Agarwal for Mathematics and Arihant Publication - All in One for Science. You can also buy subject-wise sample papers by Arihant.
To secure above 95% marks in CBSE 10th Board 2026, you must practice with the previous year's question papers. CBSE released sample papers and also tried solving model test papers. Students can download model test papers from the CBSE Academics website.
According to the recent updates, CBSE has decided that it will include the marks of skill subjects in the best 5 marks secured by the CBSE 10th students if they are not able to score better marks in the main subjects.
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 has not changed however, some minor changes have been introduced. Students are presented with a choice between Standard and Basic Mathematics. There will be more questions on analytical thinking and problem-solving.
According to the latest CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026, the theory exams will be conducted for 80 marks followed by the practical exams for 20 marks. No new changes are recorded in the curriculum and the blueprint for each subject remains the same.
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