About CBSE Class 10

CBSE Class 10 exams, which were optional a few years ago, have been made compulsory for all the students. One of the most important stages of your school life, Class 10 paves the way to your academic future. Based on the marks Learners obtain in Class 10, they can choose one of the three streams: Science, Arts, and Commerce. Board exams for Class 10 are held annually by CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education).

Depending on the career choice, choosing a stream is vital for higher education. Regardless, CBSE prepares Learners for all three streams. Moreover, CBSE affiliated schools follow the CCE or Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation assessment pattern for Class 10.

There are five main subjects and four optional subjects in Class 10. Grades are calculated based on the performance in annual exams and internal assessments. However, the Class 10 exams have only subject-wise grades.

All Subjects

CBSE Board Class 10 has five compulsory main subjects. They are Language One, Language Two, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Other than these five subjects, you can also choose four optional subjects in any academic, skill, or co-scholastic subject.

If opting for a language subject, Learners can choose from English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, and more. Learners can also choose any subject from Work Experience as an optional subject.

The Science subject consists of three primary components, i.e., Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Mathematics contains Algebra, Statistics, and Geometry. Social Science is divided into Geography, History, Economics, and Political Science.

Moreover, there will be two co-scholastic subjects-Art Education, and Health and Physical Education- that are graded by internal assessment.

Syllabus

The CBSE Class 10 syllabus includes five main subjects: Language One, Language Two, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. In addition, you can also opt for a skills subject and a third language. The grades in two subjects - Art Education and Healthy and Physical Education will be given on the basis of internal assessment.

There are many languages to choose from, but the most common are English, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Urdu. The syllabus of Mathematics is divided into two parts: Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics.

You can download the syllabus content from the official website of CBSE. Alternatively, online learning platforms like Unacademy also offer a detailed CBSE Class 10 syllabus.

Download the syllabus for CBSE Class 10 here.

Study Material

Learners can refer to NCERT books to prepare for CBSE Class 10 exams. The NCERT books are available in two languages - English and Hindi. Learners can also rely on reference books to gain a deeper understanding of the topics.

Some of the reference books include Mathematics for Class 10 by R D Sharma, Navyug Hindi Vyakaran, Principles of Physics S. Chand Book, All in One Social Science CBSE Class 10-Arihant, and English Communicative – Oswaal School Books. Learners can also use mock tests and practice papers to understand the pattern of CBSE Class 10 question papers.

Best of all, they can take advantage of online learning platforms, such as Unacademy to prepare better for the board exam. Unacademy has Top Educators to help Learners understand different topics and clear the doubts through Interactive Live Classes.

Question Paper Pattern

As part of the CCE assessment pattern, the CBSE Board holds exams at the end of the academic year. The examination will have subject-wise question papers with a maximum score of 80 marks.

The question paper pattern of the annual exam is given below:

Question paper pattern for Language subject

• The question paper is divided into two sections: A and B. There will be a total of 13 questions. Section A will have objective-type questions, whereas section B will consist of subjective-type questions.
• Section A will have seven questions, further divided into sub-questions.
• The questions will be a mix of unseen passages, Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), descriptive questions, and fill in the blanks type questions with internal choices.
• There will be a total of four sections - Comprehension, Grammar, Literature, and Writing section.
• The Literature section will comprise short and long answer questions.

Question paper pattern for Mathematics

• The question paper consists of two parts - Maths Standard and Maths Basic.
• These two parts will be divided into Part A and Part B, consisting of 36 questions.
• Part A is further divided into two sections: Section I and Section II.
• Section I has 16 questions (1 to 16), each carrying one mark. Out of these, five questions will have multiple choices. (MCQs)
• Section II has four case-study based questions. Each case study will have five sub-questions. You have the option to attempt four of these five sub-questions.
• Part B has 16 questions, from 21 to 36.
• Questions 21 to 26 will be short answers for two marks each.
• Questions 27 to 33 will be for three marks each.
• Questions 34 to 36 will be long answers for five marks each.

Question paper pattern for Science

• The question paper is divided into four sections: A, B, C, and D. There will be 36 questions in total.
• Section A will have 20 questions (1 to 20) carrying one mark each. These questions will consist of MCQs, short answers, and assertion-reason questions.
• Section B will have six questions (21 to 26), each carrying two marks. These are short answer questions.
• In section C, there will be seven questions, from 27 to 33. These are short answer questions with three marks each.
• Section II has four case-study based questions.
• Each case study will have five sub-questions. You have the option to attempt four of these five sub-questions.
• Lastly, Section D will consist of three long answer questions (34 to 36). Each long answer will carry five marks.

Question paper pattern for Social Sciences

• The question paper will be divided into five sections: A, B, C, D, E. There will be a total of 32 questions across all the sections.
• Section A will have 16 questions (1 to 16) of one mark each. These questions will be:
• Fill in the blanks
• MCQs
• Assertion and Reaction based questions
• Very Short Answer questions
• Section B will have six short answer type questions (17 to 22). Each question will carry three marks.
• Section C will have four source-based questions (23 to 26), each carrying four marks.
• Next, Section D will have five long answer questions (27 to 31), each for five marks.
• Lastly, Section E will have one map-based question (32) divided into two sub-questions.

Previous years' question paper with solutions

Learners preparing for the CBSE Class 10 exams can download previous years' question papers from the official website of CBSE. These question papers help in preparing for the upcoming examination.

By solving these practice papers, you will get a firm grip over the question paper pattern and practice better to complete a lengthy question paper within the stipulated time. Moreover, you can also visit online learning platforms like Unacademy to solve these question papers and take additional mock tests. Unacademy is India's largest online learning platform that gives Learners unlimited access to Live Classes to help them prepare better for CBSE Class 10 exams.

Click here to download the previous years' question papers for CBSE Board Class 10.

Study Plan for CBSE Class 10

CBSE Board Class 10 is an essential milestone for Learners. However, it has a vast syllabus and multiple subjects, which cannot be completed in a short time. Learners must start exam preparation months in advance to score better marks.

You need to have a study plan that will help you understand the various topics thoroughly. Cracking CBSE Class 10 exams may seem like a difficult task, but it is achievable with consistency and dedication. Here's a detailed study plan you can follow to prepare well.

School day/Weekday:

Weekend/Holiday:

The Best way to prepare for CBSE Class 10

Cracking CBSE Class 10 exams will be simpler if you create and follow a study schedule. Here are some useful tips you can follow that will help you attain the goal.

Find your strengths and weaknesses

Every Learner is different. Some subjects that are difficult for others would be easy for you and vice versa. Go through the syllabus of each subject and mark the topics that you find challenging. Start with the challenging topics, so that you get ample time to clear the doubts and solve mock test papers.

Mix and match

Instead of selecting one subject for the entire day, give yourself some flexibility. It will help break the monotony. Also, include both easy and challenging topics in your daily study plan for some variety.

Break it into smaller tasks

Dividing the chapters into smaller tasks will give you a clear idea of approaching the syllabus. Instead of dedicating two hours to a subject in your study plan, write down the topics you will cover in those two hours.

Take breaks

Take some time to unwind in between the study sessions. Preparing for CBSE Class 10 exams is a marathon, not a sprint! It is vital to keep yourself relaxed and active. Try to indulge in activities you enjoy to keep the mind fresh and reduce anxiety.

Books to refer to for CBSE Board Class 10

You can refer to these NCERT books for your CBSE Class 10 examinations. These books cover the entire syllabus of each subject. The codes refer to the code number in the list of NCERT publications.

Hindi:

Learners need to refer to different books depending on if they choose Hindi as their first or second language.

Hindi first language:

• Kshitij - Hindi (Code 1055)
• Kritika - Hindi Suppl. (Code 1056)

Hindi second language

• Sparsh -2nd Lang. Hindi (Code 1057)
• Sanchayan - Suppl. Hindi (2nd Lang.) (Code 1058)

English:

• First Flight - English Text (Code 1059)
• Footprints without Feet - English Suppl. Rdr (Code 1060)

Sanskrit:

• Shemushi II – Sanskrit (Code 1061)

Mathematics:

• Mathematics (Code 1062)
• Ganit (Hindi language) (Code 1063)

Science:

• Science (Code 1064)
• Vigyan (Hindi language) (Code 1065)

Social Science

• India & Contemporary World II - History (Code 1066)
• Contemporary India – Geography (Code 1068)
• Understanding Economic Development – Economics (Code 1070)
• Democratic Politics II (Code 1072)
• Samakalin Bharat - Bhugol (Hindi language) (Code 1069)
• Arthik Vikas Ki Samajh - Arthashastra (Hindi language) (Code 1071)
• Loktantrik Rajniti II (Hindi language) (Code 1073)

If you want to study additional books, refer to this Learning material.

English

• English Communicative – Oswaal School Books

Hindi

• Navyug Hindi Vyakaran

Mathematics:

• Mathematics for Class 10 by R D Sharma
• Secondary School Mathematics for Class 10 written by RS Aggarwal

Science:

• Fundamentals of Physics – Pradeep Publication
• Science for Class 10: Biology by Lakhmir Singh and Manjit Kaur
• Science for Class 10: Physics by Lakhmir Singh and Manjit Kaur
• Principles of Physics S. Chand Book – N.K. Chowdhry
• Science for Class 10: Chemistry by Lakhmir Singh and Manjit Kaur

Social Science:

• S. Chand for Social Science – N.K. Chowdhry
• Comprehensive CCE Question Bank by Laxmi Publication
• Xam Idea for Social Science – Editorial Board
• All in One Social Science CBSE Class 10 by Arihant
• Golden Guide for Social Science by Sudha Rastogi, J.P. Singhal, S.A. Siddiqui, & Dr. Gulshan Rai

Best way to prepare for the CBSE Class 10 Exam?

Here are some tips and tricks to help you ace the CBSE Class 10 exams.

Solve mock tests and practice papers

Solving practice papers may seem daunting, but it is the best way to assess your progress. Practice papers carry all the benefits of writing the board exams minus the consequences. Solving previous years' papers and mock tests will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. You can then tweak your study plan according to the areas that require improvement. If you have trouble finding test papers, Unacademy, India's largest online learning platform, is an excellent source.

Practise consistency

Following a study plan might get tricky as the days go by, but maintaining consistency is crucial to your success. You can come up with creative ways to keep on track. Reward yourself with a short break when you finish a difficult topic. Take all the help you need to follow your study plan. Ask your loved ones to be your support system.

Take help

CBSE Class 10 exams have an expansive syllabus, and you are bound to have numerous doubts. Do not hesitate from clarifying all your doubts. You can also turn to online learning platforms like Unacademy, where Top Educators offer Interactive Live Classes for comprehensive learning.

Take care of your health

It is easy to skip meals during a study session, but your health and mental peace are as important as your studies. Follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, make time for your hobbies, and get enough sleep.