CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026: Check Subject Wise Pattern, Marking Scheme
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The CBSE board has issued a new marking scheme for the class 10 theory and practical exams. A CBSE class 10th student will be evaluated based on 5 compulsory subjects for 80 marks in the theory exam and 20 marks for the internal assessments. Students must review the updated class 10 exam pattern provided by the CBSE board to get an in-depth insight into the chapter-wise marking allocation, question types, and question design.
The CBSE class 10 exam pattern 2026 has been revised by the National Education Policy (NEP), providing a clear idea of the upcoming board exam structure for all subjects, such as Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. The CBSE class 10 board exam will contain 50 percent MCQs and Competency-based questions, with the other 50 percent for Objective and short-answer/long-answer questions.
Subject-Wise CBSE Class 10 Question Pattern 2026
The CBSE class 10th 2026 exam pattern gives an in-depth insight into the board exam papers. Students can refer to the CBSE class 10th paper pattern 2026 with a comprehensive understanding of the marks distribution and other noteworthy aspects.
Students can also refer to the CBSE 10th sample papers and get an overall insight into the question pattern and marking scheme that will be present in the upcoming board exam. The subject-wise CBSE class 10 question pattern 2026 is shown below.
| Subjects | Exam Pattern |
| Mathematics | Check Here |
| Science | Check Here |
| Social Science | Check Here |
| English | Check Here |
Subject-Wise CBSE Class 10 Marks Distribution 2026
Students preparing for the should review the CBSE class 10 exam pattern 2026 in-depth and check all the essential takeaways to get a clear insight into the exam structure before CBSE class 10 preparation. Every subject has a different CBSE 10th pattern 2026 and mark distribution.
Candidates can refer to the following sections and learn more about the CBSE class 10th exam pattern 2026 for all subjects and the chapter-wise marking scheme.
CBSE Class 10 Science Marks Distribution
As per the CBSE 10th syllabus for Science, Chapters such as Chemical Substances and the World of Living contain maximum marks weightage. The board has updated the CBSE class 10 syllabus for Physics and Chemistry under the Science subject which students can get from the official website.
The students can refer to the marking scheme of Class 10 CBSE for various topics for Science below as per the CBSE 10th exam pattern 2026.
| Topic | Marks |
| Chemical Substances - Nature and Behavior | 25 |
| World of Living | 25 |
| Natural Phenomena | 12 |
| Effects of Current | 13 |
| Natural Resources | 5 |
| Total | 80 |
| Internal Assessment | 20 |
| Grand Total | 100 |
Read More: CBSE 10th Chemistry Syllabus 2026
CBSE 10th Mathematics Marks Distribution
As per the CBSE class 10th syllabus for Mathematics, students appearing for the CBSE Class 10 math exams can focus on subjects like probability and algebra as they contain maximum marks. The marks distribution for various topics for the CBSE class 10 Mathematics exam are given below.
| Topic | Marks | |||
| Number Systems | 6 | |||
| Algebra | 20 | |||
| Coordinate Geometry | 6 | |||
| Geometry | 15 | |||
| Trigonometry | 12 | |||
| Mensuration | 10 | |||
| Statistics and Probability | 11 | |||
| Grand Total | 80 | |||
| Internal Assessment | 20 | |||
| Grand Total | 100 | |||
Class 10 CBSE English Marks Distribution
The marks allocation for English as per the CBSE exam pattern 2026 class 10 is tabulated below. Students can review the class 10 CBSE syllabus for English and get a thorough understanding of the marking allocation from each topics and section.
| Section | Section name | Marks |
| A | Reading Skills | 20 |
| B | Writing Skills with Grammar | 20 |
| C | Literature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Text | 40 |
| Total | 80 | |
| Internal Assessment | 20 | |
| Grand Total | 100 | |
Students can also check How to Calculate Percentage of Class 10 CBSE Board to learn how they can get their percentage using grades.
CBSE Class 10th Hindi Marks Distribution
According to the CBSE 10th syllabus for Hindi, the Hindi paper consists of a total of 80 marks, which incorporates grammar, writing, and reading. Candidates can check the marks allocation for different sections, given below.
| Topic | Marks |
| Descriptive | 7 |
| Writing | 7 |
| Writing and Grammar | 16 |
| Literature | 30 |
| Reading section (unseen passage) | 20 |
| Total | 80 |
| Internal Assessment | 20 |
| Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE 10th Social Science Marks Distribution
As per the CBSE syllabus of class 10 Social Science, a total of 6 units are included in the syllabus divided into three parts such as Contemporary World - II, Contemporary India - II, Democratic Politics - II, etc. It is based on the updated CBSE class 10 exam pattern 2026.
Refer to the table below to check the CBSE class 10 marking for the social science subject.
| Subjects | Marks |
| History (India and the Contemporary World - II) | 20 |
| Geography (Contemporary India - II) | 20 |
| Political Science (Democratic Politics - II) | 20 |
| Economics (Understanding Economic Development) | 20 |
| Total | 80 |
| Internal Assessment | 20 |
| Grand Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 10 Computer Exam Marks Distribution
The CBSE class 10 computer exams are conducted for 100 marks, which includes 50 marks for theory, and the remaining is allocated to practicals as per the CBSE question paper pattern 2026. Topics such as HTML and Networking carry maximum marks weightage.
Students can refer to the table below and focus on the topics according to the CBSE exam pattern 2026 class 10.
| Topic | Marks |
| HTML | 25 |
| Networking | 15 |
| Cyber ethics | 10 |
| Total | 50 |
| Practical | 50 |
| Total | 100 |
CBSE Class 10th Home Science Marks Distribution
The home science paper contains theory questions for 70 marks, and the remaining 30 are allocated to the practical exams. The marks distribution for various topics for home science are given below.
| Exams | Units | Marks Allotted |
| Theory | Unit I: Human Growth & Development II | 12 |
| Unit II: Management of Resources: Time, Energy, and Money | 12 | |
| Unit III: Food and Personal Hygiene | 8 | |
| Unit IV: Meal Planning | 13 | |
| Unit V: Food Safety and Consumer Education | 12 | |
| Unit VI: Care and Maintenance of Fabrics and Apparel | 13 | |
| Internal Assessment | Plan a balanced meal for yourself | 5 |
| Prepare a time plan for yourself for one day | 5 | |
| Remove any two stains from white cotton sample- curry, grease, ball pen ink, lipstick, tea and coffee |
5 | |
| Play Material | 8 | |
| File Work | 5 | |
| Viva | 2 |
Read More: CBSE Class 10 Home Science Syllabus 2026
Changes in The CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026
The CBSE board introduced a new question format that was implemented in the board exam for the academic year 2025, and also reduced the CBSE 10th Syllabus by 15%. As per the revised exam pattern, the question paper in the exam contained questions, mostly focused on competency-based questions.
The image below shows the changes in the CBSE class 10th exam pattern, comparing the exam structure of the previous academic year.
| Particulars | Academic Year 2023-24 | Academic Year 2024-25 |
| Competency-focused questions in the form of MCQs/ Case-based questions, Source-based integrated questions, or any other type | 40% | 50% |
| Select response-type questions (MCQ) | 20% | 20% |
| Constructed response questions (short answer/long answer type questions) | 40% | 30% |
The image below shows the changes in the question paper format in the last academic years.
Read More: CBSE Class 10 Blueprint
CBSE Class 10 Marking Scheme 2026
Students appearing for CBSE class 10 board exams, must be aware of the subjects, theory and internal assessments, and marks distribution. The board has released the revised and updated marking scheme for the CBSE class 10 exam pattern 2026.
- The subjects include - Language 1, Language 2, Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and a 6th additional subject.
- The CBSE 10 total mark consists of those marks obtained in both theory and internal assessment.
- The theory exam will contain 80 marks and 9 point grading system will be followed.
- Internal assessment will be of 20 marks.
CBSE 10th Marking Scheme 2026 For Theory Exams
Refer to the images given below for the CBSE class 10th marking scheme for the CBSE board exam.
Read More: CBSE Class 10 Previous Years Question Papers
Class 10th CBSE Marking Scheme 2026 For Internal Assessment
Refer to the table for more details on the CBSE class 10 marking scheme 2026 for internal assessment:
| Internal Assessment | Marks | Details |
| Periodic Test | 10 | In a year, 3 periodic tests are conducted for each subject. |
| For final mark submission, the best of the two will be considered. | ||
| Notebook Submission | 5 | Nead and tidy assignments must be submitted |
| Lab work (Mathematics) | ||
| Map work and Project (Social Science) | ||
| Practical Lab Work (Science) | ||
| Map work and Project (Social Science) | ||
| Subject Enrichment Activity | 5 | Listening and Speaking Skills (Language 1 and 2) |
The image below illustrates the CBSE 10 assessment procedure for the internal assessment in brief.
Key Points Of CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026
The key points regarding the overall pattern of the class 10 CBSE board exam are as follows.
- Students must score 33% in all subjects to pass the CBSE 10th board exam 2026.
- In the upcoming CBSE 10 board examination, the total time allotted for each subject is 3 hours.
- The question paper will contain competency, short answer, and objective-based questions.
- Students will be evaluated out of the best of 5 compulsory subjects.
Given below are the key highlights for the CBSE 10th exam pattern 2024-25.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Authority | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Exam Date | Starting from 15th Feb 2026 Onwards |
| Category | CBSE Class 10th Exam Pattern 2026 |
| Subjects | Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science |
| Maximum Marks | 100 (Theory+Internal Assessment) |
| Question Type | Competency-based questions (50%) |
| Objective Questions (20%) | |
| Short Answer/ Long Answer Questions (30%) | |
| Total Duration | 3 hours |
| Official Website | cbse.gov.in |
CBSE 10th Passing Marks 2026
Students must be thorough with the grading system while looking at the class 10 board exam pattern 2026. As per the criteria set by the board, every candidate must score 33% to pass the examination.
- Theory (80 marks): 33% out of 80 in each subject.
- Internal (20 marks): 33% out of 20 in each subject.
CBSE Class 10th Grading System 2026
Students will be graded on the best of 6 subjects. A 9-point grading system will be followed. Check out the CBSE class 10 grading system 2026 set up by the board:
| Grades | Marks Range |
| A1 | 91-100 |
| A2 | 81-90 |
| B1 | 71-80 |
| B2 | 61-70 |
| C1 | 51-60 |
| C2 | 41-50 |
| D | 31-40 |
| E1 | 21-30 |
| E2 | 0-20 |
FAQs on CBSE 10th Exam Pattern
Q: As per the CBSE class 10th exam pattern 2026, what is the total duration allotted for each paper?
Q: What are the maximum marks allotted for each subject under CBSE class 10 exam?
Q: How many marks are alloted for theory and internal assessment?
Q: as per the CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2026, what are the question types present in the board exam?
Q: How many sets of question papers are there in CBSE class 10 Science?
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