Updated on Jul 12, 2025
Amrita Das
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026 on its official website at cbse.gov.in. Students appearing for the board exams can check the latest paper pattern and marking scheme for all major subjects. The CBSE 10th Exam 2026will be held offline, and the duration of each paper will be three hours. The question paper will include MCQs, source-based, case-based, and long/short answer questions. CBSE Class 10th 1st exam is scheduled for February 17, & 2nd exam for May 5, 2026. Read further to know more about the exam pattern of CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026.
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of English Literature
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Science
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Social Science
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Mathematics
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Hindi
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme
- CBSE Class 10th Syllabus 2026
- CBSE Class 10th 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
- CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026
As per the revised pattern, 50% of the questions will be competency-based, 20% will be MCQs and the remaining 30% will be short or long answer-type questions. Each subject will be of 100 marks, including 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for internal assessment. Students must score at least 33% marks in each subject and in total. Check out the following table for CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026.
Particulars | Details |
Total Marks per Subject | 100 (80 Theory + 20 Internal) |
Exam Mode | Offline |
Duration of Each Paper | 3 Hours |
Passing Marks | 33% in each subject and overall |
Question Types | MCQs, Case-based, Source-based, Short & Long Answers |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of English Literature
The CBSE English Language and Literature paper tests reading, writing, grammar, and literature. The paper carries 80 marks, and 20 marks are for internal assessment. Section A focuses on reading skills, Section B on writing and grammar, and Section C on literature. Students can check out the following table for CBSE 10th English Exam Pattern 2026.
Section | Marks |
Reading | 20 |
Writing and Grammar | 20 |
Literature | 40 |
Total (Theory) | 80 |
Internal Assessment | 20 |
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Science
The Science paper includes questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The question paper is divided into five sections with a total of 80 marks. Students must also complete internal assessments worth 20 marks. Students should check the following table for CBSE 10th Science Exam Pattern 2026.
Section | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
Section A (MCQs) | 20 | 1 | 20 |
Section B (VSA) | 6 | 2 | 12 |
Section C (SA) | 7 | 3 | 21 |
Section D (LA) | 3 | 5 | 15 |
Section E (Case-based) | 3 | 4 | 12 |
Total (Theory) | 80 | ||
Internal Assessment | 20 | ||
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Social Science
Social Science consists of History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics. The question paper includes objective and descriptive questions as well as Map-based questions are also included. Check out the following table below for CBSE 10th Social Science Exam Pattern 2026.
Section | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
Section A (MCQs) | 20 | 1 | 20 |
Section B (VSA) | 4 | 2 | 8 |
Section C (SA) | 5 | 3 | 15 |
Section D (LA) | 4 | 5 | 20 |
Section E (Case-based) | 3 | 4 | 12 |
Section F (Map) | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Total (Theory) | 80 | ||
Internal Assessment | 20 | ||
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Mathematics
Maths is divided into Basic and Standard levels. Students will get the choice of choosing either of the levels during their CBSE Class 10th Board Exam 2026 Registration Process. The Mathematics with Basic level focuses on fundamental concepts. The paper includes objective, short, and long-answer questions. Students can check the following table for CBSE 10th Mathematics (Basic) Exam Pattern 2026.
Section | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
Section A (MCQs) | 20 | 1 | 20 |
Section B (SA-I) | 5 | 2 | 10 |
Section C (SA-II) | 6 | 3 | 18 |
Section D (LA) | 4 | 5 | 20 |
Section E (Case-based) | 3 | 4 | 12 |
Total (Theory) | 80 | ||
Internal Assessment | 20 | ||
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 of Hindi
Hindi (Course A) includes reading, writing, grammar, and descriptive answers. The total paper is for 80 marks and internal assessment is 20 marks. Candidates can check the following table for CBSE 10th Hindi (Course A) Exam Pattern 2026.
Section | Marks |
Reading | 10 |
Writing and Grammar | 16 |
Literature | 14 |
Descriptive Answers | 20 |
Writing (Extra) | 20 |
Total (Theory) | 80 |
Internal Assessment | 20 |
Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 Marking Scheme
Each paper of CBSE Board Exam 2026 will carry a total of 100 marks. Out of this, 80 marks are for theory and 20 marks are for internal assessments. Students must secure a minimum of 33% in each subject and in aggregate. The theory paper will include all types of questions to assess knowledge and understanding of students’ in each subject. Check out the following table for CBSE 10th 2026 Marking Scheme.
Component | Total Marks |
Theory Paper | 80 |
Internal Assessment | 20 |
Total | 100 |
Passing Criteria | 33% |
CBSE Class 10th Syllabus 2026
The CBSE 10th Syllabus 2026 covers 5 main subjects namely, English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Students must prepare all topics mentioned in the CBSE Class 10 2026 Syllabus. All the topics mentioned in the syllabus are important for preparing for the board exam. Missing out on any one topic is not an option for students. Check out the following table for CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026 in brief.
Subject | Topics |
Mathematics | Number Systems, Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Statistics and Probability |
Science | Chemical Substances – Nature and Behavior, World of Living, Natural, Phenomena, Effects of Current, Natural Resources |
Social Science | History: India and the Contemporary World – II, Geography:, Contemporary India – II, Political Science: Democratic Politics – II, Economics: Understanding Economic Development |
English | Reading Comprehension, Writing Skills, Grammar, Literature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Text |
Hindi | Reading Comprehension, Writing Skills, Grammar, Literature Textbooks |
CBSE Class 10th 2026 Subject-Wise Weightage
Students must understand the weightage of each section in every subject. However, all topics of each subject are equally important. To understand clearly about the specific sectional weightage, students are advised to solve previous year questions of CBSE Class 10 Board Exam. This helps in prioritizing topics during exam preparation. Check out the following tables for section-wise weightage of Mathematics, Science and Social Science.
Mathematics
Students can check out the following table for CBSE 10th Mathematics Weightage 2026. The table is as follows-
Unit | Marks |
Number Systems | 6 |
Algebra | 20 |
Coordinate Geometry | 6 |
Geometry | 15 |
Trigonometry | 12 |
Mensuration | 10 |
Statistics & Probability | 11 |
Total (Theory) | 80 |
Science
Students can check out the following table for CBSE 10th Science Weightage 2026. The table is as follows-
Unit | Marks |
Chemical Substances | 25 |
World of Living | 25 |
Natural Phenomena | 12 |
Effects of Current | 13 |
Natural Resources | 5 |
Total (Theory) | 80 |
Social Science
Students can check out the following table for CBSE 10th Social Science Weightage 2026. The table is as follows-
Unit | Marks |
India & Contemporary World II | 20 |
Contemporary India II | 20 |
Democratic Politics II | 20 |
Understanding Economic Development | 20 |
Total (Theory) | 80 |
CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
What is the CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026?
The CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 includes MCQs, short and long-answer questions. It carries 80 marks for theory and 20 for internal assessment. The pattern focuses on conceptual understanding.
How many subjects are there in CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026?
There are five main subjects – English, Hindi, Maths, Science, and Social Science. Students must pass all subjects. The total marks for each subject are 100.
What is the duration of CBSE 10th Board Exams 2026?
Each CBSE 10th exam is going to be three hours long. The CBSE Board Exams 2026 will be conducted in two phases in offline mode. Students must manage their time wisely.
How many marks are required to pass CBSE Class 10 exams 2026?
Students must score at least 33% in each subject and overall. This includes both theory and internal marks. Failing to do so will lead to compartment exams.
Are internal assessments compulsory in CBSE 10th Exam 2026?
Yes, internal assessments carry 20 marks. They include projects, notebook submissions, and periodic tests. These are added to final marks.
What types of questions are included in CBSE 10th 2026 exams?
The question paper includes MCQs, case-based, source-based, and descriptive questions. These test both memory and application. The mix helps in better evaluation.
Where can I download the CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 PDF?
You can download it from the official CBSE website – cbse.gov.in. Look under the “Academic” section. You’ll find the pattern and syllabus in PDF format.
Is the CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern same for Basic and Standard Maths?
The structure is similar, but question difficulty varies. Standard Maths has tougher problems. Basic Maths is for students not pursuing Maths in higher classes.
Is there any change in the CBSE 10th exam pattern 2026 from last year?
Yes, now 50% of questions are competency-based. The board wants to reduce rote learning. This makes the exams more concept-based.
What is the marking scheme for CBSE Class 10 board exams 2026?
Each paper has 80 marks for the theory and 20 marks for internal. Students must score a minimum of 33% to pass. Theory and internal both are important.
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