CBSE Class 10 Overview
The CBSE Class 10 exam is the first board exam for students and decides the stream and school options after Class 10. From the 2026 session CBSE follows a two-exam system: a main board exam in February-March and a second exam in May that students can use to improve their marks in selected subjects.
| Conducting body | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Level | Secondary (Class X) |
| Mode | Pen and paper theory + internal assessment |
| Main exam | February to March |
| Second exam | May (optional, for improvement as per CBSE rules) |
| Result | Main exam result in spring; second exam result later |
| Official websites | cbse.gov.in, results.cbse.nic.in, cbseacademic.nic.in |
More about CBSE Class 10
CBSE Class 10 Marking Scheme
| Subjects | 5 main subjects (two languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Science) + skill / additional subjects |
| Marks split (most subjects) | 80 theory + 20 internal assessment |
| Mathematics | Standard or Basic level choice |
| Question style | MCQ, case / source based, short and long answer questions |
CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria
- Minimum 33% marks in each subject as per the CBSE passing rules.
- Internal assessment marks are added to theory marks as per the scheme.
- Under the two-exam system, students can appear in the second exam to improve marks in the subjects allowed by CBSE - the better score is counted. Check the latest circular for the number of subjects and rules.
Subjects and Streams
| Group | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Languages | English and Hindi / another language |
| Core subjects | Mathematics (Standard / Basic), Science, Social Science |
| Skill subjects | Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence and other options offered by the school |
CBSE Class 10 Preparation Tips
- Complete NCERT textbooks of Maths, Science and Social Science.
- Practise sample papers and past papers - they show the exact paper design.
- Make short revision notes for formulae, diagrams, dates and map work.
- Plan the second exam only for subjects where you want to improve.
- Do not neglect internal assessment - it is 20 marks of easy scoring.
CBSE Class 10 FAQs
How many board exams does CBSE Class 10 have?
From 2026 there are two exams: the main exam in February-March and a second exam in May for improvement, as per CBSE rules.
Is the second Class 10 exam compulsory?
No, the main exam is compulsory. The second exam is optional for improvement as per the CBSE scheme - check the latest circular.
What are the passing marks in Class 10?
At least 33% in each subject as per CBSE rules.
Where can I download the Class 10 sample paper?
From cbseacademic.nic.in.
StudyGalaxy is an independent education guidance website and is not affiliated with CBSE. Dates, rules and figures can change - please confirm on the official CBSE website.