CBSE 10th Science Exam Pattern 2025-26 - Check Marking Scheme

Abhishek Joshi

Updated on - Jul 24, 2025

The CBSE board has released the exam pattern for Class 10th Science on its official website. The CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2025-26 explains the marking scheme of various sections in the science question paper, the types of questions in it, the marks allotted to different questions and sections, the weightage of all the different topics in the syllabus, and the negative marking in the exam. The exam pattern helps you to know which type of questions come in the CBSE Class 10th exam 2026 and which chapter or unit requires the most attention. The exam pattern has been decided keeping the National Educational Policy (NEP) in mind so that those topics are kept in focus which are more important for the board exams.

To properly study for the upcoming board exams, it is advised that you go over the CBSE 10th Exam Pattern 2026. It is important for you to know the CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2025-26 to study in a more organized manner and to give more time to the important topics. In order to use the exam pattern for your preparation, outline your study schedule according to the marking scheme of the different types of questions and topics weightage. Various types of questions are covered in the CBSE 10th science question paper - both objective and subjective types. Also, there is no negative marking. Thus, the exam pattern will help you score more in the board exams.

The exam pattern is available on the official CBSE board website at cbse.gov.in. For those of you who will be sitting your 10th boards in the academic year 2025–2026, this post contains the CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2025-26.

Also read: CBSE class 10 syllabus 2026

CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2026 - Section Wise

The CBSE 10th board exams are conducted for 100 marks, out of which 80 marks are for the theory paper and 20 marks are for the internal assessment. The science theory paper consists of five sections and has total of 80 marks. There are 20 objective-type questions in Section A, each worth 1 mark, for a total of 20 marks. There are 6 short-answer questions in Section B, each worth 2 marks, for a total of 12 marks. There are 7 short-answer questions in Section C, each worth 3 marks, for a total of 21 marks. There are 3 long-answer questions in Section D, each worth 5 marks, for a total of 15 marks. Section E contains 3 Case Study Based questions, each carrying 4 marks, totaling 12 marks. The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. The exam has no negative marking. The following table elaborates the CBSE 10th Science Exam Pattern 2026:

Section Number of questions Marks Allotted
A 20 1 mark for each question
B 2 mark for each question 
C 3 marks for each question 
D 3 5 marks for each question 
E 3 4 marks for each question 

Also read: CBSE Class 10 Admit Card 2026

CBSE 10th Science Marking Scheme 2026 

The Marking Scheme of the various chapters from the Science syllabus helps you to understand how you have to study for that particular chapter. The CBSE 10th Science Marking Scheme 2026 is given in the following table:

Sections Type of Questions Number of Questions Marks Allotted
Chemical Reactions Objective and short answer type questions 4 6
Acids, Bases and Salts Objective questions 3 3
Metals and Non-Metals Objective, short answer type and Case Study Based questions 4 10
Carbon and its Compounds Objective and long answer type questions 2 6
Life Processes Objective and short answer type questions 5 9
Control and co-ordination  Objective and short answer type questions 2 3
How do Organisms Objective and long answer type questions 2 6
Heredity and Evolution  Objective and Case Study Based questions 4 7
Light - Reflection Short answer type and Case Study Based questions 3 10
The Human Eye and the Colorful World Short answer type questions 1 2
Electricity Objective and long answer type questions 3 7
Magnetic effects of current Objective and short answer type questions 4 6
Our Environment Short answer type questions 2 5
Total   39 80

Also read: CBSE Class 10 sample papers

CBSE 10th Science Unit Wise Marking Scheme 2026 

The weight assigned to each unit in the CBSE 10th Science syllabus varies. It is important for you to know the unit wise marking scheme of CBSE 10th Science so that you can study accordingly. The CBSE 10th unit wise marking scheme 2026 is given the table down below:

Units Weightage % Marks Allotted
Chemical Substances - Nature and Behavior 31.25% 25
World of Living 31.25% 25
Natural Phenomena 15% 12
Effects of Current 16.25% 13
Natural Resources 6.25% 5

Also read: CBSE Class 10 Science Deleted Syllabus 2026

How to use CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2026?

Understanding the CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2026 is important for you because by using it you can form your study schedule and practice smoothly for the board exams. You can use the CBSE 10th Science exam pattern 2026 in the following ways:

  • Check the types of questions that come from each chapter and practice the answers accordingly.
  • Give more time to those chapters which have more marks allotted.
  • Focus on the units with highest weightage.
  • Try to write answers within the time allotted for the exam.
  • If only objective type questions come from a chapter, don't waste your time practicing answer writing for it.
  • Solve last year's question papers and sample papers.

Also read: CBSE Class 10 preparation

You can visit this page frequently to get all the details related to CBSE 10th Science Exam Pattern 2025-26 before giving the CBSE 10th board exams.

FAQs on CBSE 10th CBSE 10th Science Exam Pattern

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Q: What are the maximum marks for the CBSE 10th Science theory exam?

Q: What is the maximum time allotted to the CBSE 10th Science exam?

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