CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Preparation, Subject-Wise Preparation Tips, Time Table

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Preparation: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is going to conduct the Class 10 Phase 1 exam from February 17 to March 6, 2026, and Phase 2 exam from May 5 to May 21, 2026. As per the latest CBSE Pattern 2026, the question paper of 10th Board exam will include 50% competency-based questions, 30% short and long answer questions, and 20% multiple-choice questions. The CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026 consists of the full curriculum of all subjects as per NCERT Textbooks. After covering the NCERT books, students can also opt for reference books for more practice. Some of the popular authors of CBSE Class 10 Reference Books include R.D. Sharma, R.S. Aggarwal, Lakhmir Singh & Manjit Kaur, Arihant, Oswaal, and Xam Idea.

Having more than 6 months left in hand, students should start preparing for the board exam, revising regularly, preparing short notes for quick revision, and being consistent. Without being anxious about Class 10 Board Exam 2026, students should solely focus on studying and covering the syllabus with daily practice. Read this article further to know the subject-wise preparation tips, time table and best books for CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Preparation.

CBSE Class 10 2026 Exam Preparation Tips

To score well in the Class 10 Board Exam 2026, students are required to prepare effectively with smart strategy. It is beneficial to start early preparation in order to avoid last-minute stress. Students should curate a structured study plan for covering all subjects in time. Most importantly, regular revision and solving previous year question papers & sample papers will help to remember as well as understand concepts clearly. Some of the key preparation tips for Class 10 Exam 2026 include-

• Understand the CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2025-26 properly for each subject.
• Know the CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026 which includes the new paper pattern, question types with weightages, marks distribution, etc.
• Curate an actionable study routine which must be followed on a daily basis to remain consistent.
• Start making short notes including key points, important formulas, definitions and diagrams for quick revision.
• Solve previous year questions, sample papers, question banks, and more questions from reference books, etc., to improve speed and accuracy with a solid foundation of concepts.
• Take help from school teachers, tutors, as well as friends in case of arising doubts, difficulty in understanding a concept or chapter, etc. Students are advised to clear their doubts immediately.
• Revise regularly on a daily basis. Try to divide time equally for every subject or more time towards difficult subjects & less time towards the easy ones.
• Try to stay away from distractions such as scrolling, spending time on smart phone, watching web series, etc.
• Students must take care of their health, rest well, sleep at least 7-8 hours a day, and enjoy taking a walk. This will help to concentrate more on studies.

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Science Preparation

CBSE 10th Science Preparation 2026 requires a good understanding of concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Important topics include Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases & Salts, Life Processes, Electricity, and Magnetic Effects of Current. Diagrams and numerical problems are also important as well as mark-fetching. Some of the key preparation tips for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are as given below-

Class 10 Physics Preparation Tips

Students should focus on Light: Reflection and Refraction and practice ray diagrams and numerical problems related to mirrors and lenses. Understand Electricity and learn about Ohm's Law, circuits, and heat effects. Solve as many numerical problems as possible. Study Magnetic Effects of Electric Current and clear concepts about the electromagnets, electric motors, and generators. Practice drawing diagrams for topics like the human eye and electric circuits.

Class 10 Chemistry Preparation Tips

Learn about different types of reactions and how to balance equations. Study Acids, Bases, and Salts and understand their properties, pH scale, and important reactions. Learn about Metals and Non-Metals in detail, especially their properties, reactivity series, and extraction methods. Understand Carbon and its Compounds chapter along with its bonding, hydrocarbons, and functional groups. Practice writing chemical formulas and equations accurately.

Class 10 Biology Preparation Tips

Focus on the Life Processes chapter by understanding nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion in plants and animals. Study the Control and Coordination chapter, the nervous system and hormonal regulation. Clear the concepts in How do Organisms Reproduce? chapter, different modes of reproduction and reproductive health. Focus on Heredity and Evolution by understanding Mendelian genetics and basic concepts of evolution. Practice drawing neat and labelled diagrams of biological structures.

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Maths Preparation

Mathematics is a subject that requires continuous practice. Important topics include Algebra (Polynomials, Linear and Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Progressions), Geometry (Triangles, Circles), Trigonometry, and Statistics & Probability. Students should understand concepts and then practice various types of problems. Memorizing formulas is crucial, but understanding their derivation is also beneficial. Follow the tips given below for CBSE Class 10 Mathematics Preparation 2026.

• Algebra: Practice solving Polynomials, especially finding zeros and division algorithms. Learn the Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables using different methods (substitution, elimination, cross-multiplication). Solve Quadratic Equations using factorization, completing the square, and quadratic formula. Understand Arithmetic Progressions and practice problems related to nth term and sum of n terms.
• Geometry: Focus on Triangles, especially similarity criteria and theorems (Thales Theorem, Pythagoras Theorem). Study Circles and understand properties of tangents and chords and practice related theorems. Practice constructions based on given conditions.
• Trigonometry: Learn Introduction to Trigonometry including trigonometric ratios and identities. Practice problems related to Heights and Distances. Draw diagrams to visualize the problems.
• Mensuration: Understand Areas Related to Circles and practice problems involving segments and sectors. Learn Surface Areas and Volumes of various 3D shapes (cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere) and solve combination problems.
• Statistics and Probability: Understand calculation of Mean, Median, and Mode and different methods, learn concepts of Probability and practice as many problems on dice, cards, and coins as possible.
• Solve NCERT examples and exercises thoroughly.
• Maintain a formula sheet for quick revision.
• Practice previous year question papers to understand common question types.

Check CBSE Class 10 2026 Application Process

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 SST Preparation

CBSE Class 10th Social Science 2026 covers History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics. Important topics include Nationalismin India, Resources and Development, Power Sharing, and Sectors of the Indian Economy. Students must remember dates, names, and events of important historical events. Understanding concepts and their real-world applications and Map work is an important part of Geography. Create mind maps and flowcharts to connect different topics. Practice writing descriptive answers with proper headings and points. Students may follow the preparation tips for Social Science (SST) as given below-

History (India and the Contemporary World - II) Preparation Tips

Students can follow the given tips below for History (India and the Contemporary World - II). The preparation tips are as given below-

• Focus on The Rise of Nationalism in Europe. Understand the major events and figures.
• Study Nationalism in India and learn about key movements, leaders, and dates.
• Understand The Making of a Global World and focus on trade routes and historical connections.
• Make timelines to remember chronological events.

Geography (Contemporary India – II) Preparation Tips

Students can follow the given tips below for Geography (Contemporary India – II). The preparation tips are as given below-

• Study Resources and Development and understand types of resources and their conservation.
• Focus on Water Resources and Agriculture & learn about different types of farming and water harvesting.
• Understand Mineral and Energy Resources and their distribution.
• Practice maps work regularly, including identification of important sites, rivers, and industrial centers.

Political Science (Democratic Politics – II) Preparation Tips

Students can follow the given tips below for Political Science (Democratic Politics – II). The preparation tips are as given below-

• Learn about Power Sharing and its mechanisms in different countries.
• Understand Federalism and the distribution of powers in India.
• Study Political Parties and their functions.
• Focus on Outcomes of Democracy and how it handles diversity.
• Understand the key terms and concepts related to Indian democracy.

Economics (Understanding Economic Development) Preparation Tips

Students can follow the given tips below for Economics (Understanding Economic Development). The preparation tips are as given below-

• Study Development and its various aspects.
• Understand Sectors of the Indian Economy (primary, secondary, tertiary).
• Learn about Money and Credit, including formal and informal sources.
• Focus on Globalisation and the Indian Economy. Understand its impact.
• Relate economic concepts to real-life examples.

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 English Preparation

CBSE Class 10 English exam assesses reading, writing, grammar, and literature skills of students. Important topics in english literature include key chapters and poems from First Flight and Footprints Without Feet. Writing skills involve letter writing, analytical paragraphs, and story writing. Grammar covers tenses, voice, narration, and sentence correction. Moreover, reading comprehension is also a major part. Regularly read English newspapers or magazines to improve comprehension and vocabulary. Check out the tips given below for English Preparation.

Reading Section Preparation Tips

Students may follow the tips given below for the reading section of Class 10 English 2026. The tips are as given below-

• Practice reading unseen passages regularly.
• Work on understanding the main idea and specific details.
• Improve vocabulary to better comprehend passages.

Writing Section Preparation Tips

Students may follow the tips given below for the writing section of Class 10 English 2026. The tips are as given below-

• Practice formal and informal letter writing. Pay attention to the correct format, tone, and language.
• Learn to write analytical paragraphs based on given data or pictures.
• Practice story writing and article writing. Focus on coherence and creativity.
• Understand the prescribed formats for all writing tasks.

Grammar Section Preparation Tips

Students may follow the tips given below for the grammar section of Class 10 English 2026. The tips are as given below-

• Revise Tenses, Modals, Subject-Verb Concord, Reported Speech (Narration), Determiners, and Passive Voice.
• Practice exercises on sentence correction, gap filling, and editing.
• Understand the rules clearly to avoid common errors.

Literature Section (First Flight and Footprints Without Feet) Preparation Tips

Students may follow the tips given below for the literature section of Class 10 English 2026. The tips are as given below-

• Read all chapters and poems thoroughly from NCERT textbooks.
• Understand the themes, plot, characters, and literary devices used.
• Make notes on important quotes and character sketches.
• Practice answering short and long answer questions from each chapter.
• Focus on extract-based questions from both prose and poetry.

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Hindi Preparation

Important topics in CBSE Class 10 Hindi 2026 include poems and prose from the prescribed textbooks. Grammar covers Sandhi, Samas, Karak, and various parts of speech. Writing skills include essay writing, letter writing, and short compositions. Practice translation from English to Hindi to improve vocabulary and sentence structure. Solve previous year question papers to get an idea of question patterns. Check out the tips given below for Class 10 Hindi Preparation 2026.

Literature Section (Kshitij and Kritika) Preparation Tips

Students can follow the tips given below for Class 10 Hindi Literature Section. The tips are as given below-

• Read all chapters and poems from the prescribed NCERT textbooks carefully.
• Understand the central theme, moral, and message of each prose piece and poem.
• Learn about the poets/authors and their writing styles.
• Practice writing character sketches and summaries of chapters.
• Focus on questions that require interpretation and critical thinking.

Grammar (Vyakaran) Section Preparation Tips

Students can follow the tips given below for Class 10 Hindi Grammar Section. The tips are as given below-

• Understand Sandhi (संधि), different types (Swar, Vyanjan, Visarg) and practice their rules.
• Learn Samas (समास), identify and differentiate between various types of compounds (Dvigu, Dvandva, Tatpurush, Bahuvrihi, Karmadharaya, Avyayibhav).
• Understand Karak (कारक), learn the eight cases and their usage in sentences.
• Practice Vakya Bhed (वाक्य भेद), differentiate between different types of sentences (Saral, Sanyukt, Mishra).
• Revise Ras, Chhand, Alankar (रस, छंद, अलंकार) if they are part of your syllabus, as per the latest curriculum.
• Practice exercises on Pad Parichay (पद परिचय) and Vachy (वाच्य).

Writing Skills (Lekhan Kaushal) Preparation Tips

Students can follow the tips given below for Class 10 Hindi Writing Section. The tips are as given below-

• Practice Anuchchhed Lekhan (अनुच्छेद लेखन - paragraph writing) on various topics.
• Learn to write Patra Lekhan (पत्र लेखन - letter writing), both formal and informal, adhering to proper formats.
• Practice Vigyapan Lekhan (विज्ञापन लेखन - advertisement writing) and Sandesh Lekhan (संदेश लेखन - message writing).
• Work on Chitra Varnan (चित्र वर्णन - picture description).

Best Reference Books for CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026

NCERT textbooks are the primary and most important resource for the CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026. They cover the entire syllabus and are crucial for building a strong foundation of students. However, using good reference books can provide additional practice, different perspectives on topics, and help in solving a wider range of problems in numerous ways. These books often include sample papers, previous year question papers and detailed explanations on various topics & problems. Check out the following table for the best reference books for CBSE Class 10 Exam 2026.

CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026 Study Time Table

A well-structured study timetable helps students stay focused and complete the syllabus on time. Students should divide time among all subjects. They must include breaks and revision slots in their study routine. Check out the following table for the study time table for CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026 Preparation.

CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Preparation FAQs