CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26: New Marking Scheme & Structure

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced significant changes in the Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26 for the upcoming Board Exams 2026, scheduled to start on February 15, 2026. The revised structure places greater emphasis on competency-based learning and flexible assessment methods.

CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025-26: Key Highlights

CBSE Class 10 Subject-Wise Marking Scheme 2025-26

Science

• Theory Exam: 80 marks
• Internal Assessment: 20 marks
• Focus: Practical application, experiments, and competency-based case studies

Mathematics

• Theory Exam: 80 marks
• Internal Assessment: 20 marks
• Focus: Problem-solving, application-based numerical, and real-life case questions

Social Science

• Theory Exam: 80 marks
• Internal Assessment: 20 marks
• Focus: Source-based, map-based, and competency-driven questions

English

• Theory Exam: 80 marks
• Internal Assessment: 20 marks
• Focus: Reading comprehension, grammar, writing tasks, and literature analysis

Hindi

• Theory Exam: 80 marks
• Internal Assessment: 20 marks
• Focus: Reading passages, creative writing, and literature-based descriptive answers

CBSE Class 10 Exam Structure 2025-26

The revised pattern balances objective, competency-based, and descriptive formats to encourage critical thinking and analytical ability.

• 40% competency-based: MCQs, case-based, and source-driven questions
• 20% objective: Short and factual-based responses
• 40% descriptive: Short and long answers testing analysis and interpretation

Grading System Introduced

CBSE will follow a 9-point grading system instead of only marks, ensuring a fair and flexible evaluation process for students across different learning levels.

Why These Changes Matter?

The revised exam structure aims to:

• Reduce rote learning
• Promote problem-solving and reasoning skills
• Encourage conceptual understanding
• Align assessments with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision