CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026-27

CBSE Class 10 Exam Structure

CBSE Class 10 board exams (AISSE) are conducted in February–March. The exam is for 80 marks external + 20 marks internal assessment (continuous evaluation). Passing criterion: 33 marks out of 100 aggregate in each subject.

Changes from 2024 onwards: CBSE has introduced competency-based questions (case-based MCQs, source-based questions) in higher proportion — up to 40–50% of marks may come from applied/competency questions. Rote recall alone is no longer sufficient for high scores.

Mathematics (Standard & Basic) — Syllabus

CBSE offers two levels of Class 10 Maths: Standard (Code 041) for students planning to take Maths in Class 11, and Basic (Code 241) for students not continuing Maths. Both cover the same syllabus; Standard has higher-difficulty questions.

Unit I — Number Systems (6 marks): Real Numbers — Euclid's Division Lemma, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, irrational numbers, decimal expansions.

Unit II — Algebra (20 marks): Polynomials (zeroes and relationship with coefficients). Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables (graphical and algebraic methods). Quadratic Equations (factorisation, quadratic formula, discriminant). Arithmetic Progressions (nth term, sum of n terms).

Unit III — Coordinate Geometry (6 marks): Distance formula, section formula, area of triangle.

Unit IV — Geometry (15 marks): Triangles (similarity theorems). Circles (tangent properties).

Unit V — Trigonometry (12 marks): Introduction, identities, heights and distances.

Unit VI — Mensuration (10 marks): Areas related to circles, surface areas and volumes.

Unit VII — Statistics and Probability (11 marks): Mean/median/mode (grouped data), probability.

Internal Assessment (20 marks): Periodic Tests (10), Student Enrichment/Portfolio (5), Lab Practical (5).

Science — Syllabus

CBSE Class 10 Science has three sections: Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

Chemistry (25 marks): Chemical Reactions and Equations, Acids Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-Metals, Carbon and its Compounds.

Biology (25 marks): Life Processes, Control and Coordination, How do Organisms Reproduce, Heredity, Our Environment, Management of Natural Resources.

Physics (30 marks): Light (Reflection and Refraction), Human Eye and the Colourful World, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current.

Internal Assessment (20 marks): Practicals (10), Periodic Tests (10).

Important chapters for scoring: Light (high-weightage numericals and diagrams), Carbon Compounds (reactions), Heredity (Mendel's laws, diagrams).

Social Science — Syllabus

Social Science covers four disciplines with the following mark allocation (80 marks external):

History — India and the Contemporary World II (20 marks): The Rise of Nationalism in Europe, Nationalism in India, The Making of a Global World, The Age of Industrialisation, Print Culture and the Modern World.

Geography — Contemporary India II (20 marks): Resources and Development, Forest and Wildlife Resources, Water Resources, Agriculture, Minerals and Energy Resources, Manufacturing Industries, Lifelines of National Economy.

Political Science — Democratic Politics II (20 marks): Power Sharing, Federalism, Gender, Religion and Caste, Political Parties, Outcomes of Democracy, Challenges to Democracy.

Economics — Understanding Economic Development (20 marks): Development, Sectors of the Indian Economy, Money and Credit, Globalisation and the Indian Economy, Consumer Rights.

Internal Assessment (20 marks): Periodic Tests, Map Work, Projects, Activity.

English — Syllabus (Language and Literature)

CBSE Class 10 English (Language and Literature, Code 184) has 80 external marks.

Section A — Reading (20 marks): Two unseen passages (factual/discursive) with MCQs and short answers. Tests comprehension, inference, vocabulary.

Section B — Writing and Grammar (20 marks): Formal letter (complaint/order/enquiry) or article/paragraph writing. Grammar exercises: gap-filling, editing, rearranging sentences.

Section C — Literature (40 marks): From prescribed textbooks: - First Flight (Prose): A Letter to God, Nelson Mandela, Two Stories about Flying, From the Diary of Anne Frank, The Hundred Dresses, The Hack Driver, Bholi, The Book That Saved the Earth. - First Flight (Poetry): Dust of Snow, Fire and Ice, A Tiger in the Zoo, The Ball Poem, Amanda, Animals, The Trees, Fog, The Tale of Custard the Dragon, For Anne Gregory. - Footprints without Feet (Supplementary): A Triumph of Surgery, The Thief's Story, The Midnight Visitor, A Question of Trust, Footprints without Feet, The Making of a Scientist, The Necklace, The Hack Driver, Bholi, The Book That Saved the Earth.

Internal Assessment (20 marks): Listening/Speaking Activities, Subject Enrichment, Periodic Tests.

Hindi — Syllabus (A and B)

CBSE Class 10 Hindi has two courses: Course A (Code 002) and Course B (Code 085). Course A is more advanced and is taken by students who intend to continue Hindi at higher levels.

Hindi Course A (80 marks external): Kshitij (prose and poetry from prescribed texts), Kritika (supplementary reader), Reading comprehension passage, Writing (letter, essay, paragraph).

Hindi Course B (80 marks external): Sparsh (prose and poetry), Sanchayan (supplementary reader), Reading passage, Writing tasks.

Both courses share the same internal assessment structure (20 marks). Course B is generally considered slightly easier in terms of difficulty of literary texts.

Note: Students can also opt for other languages in place of Hindi — Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Punjabi and other regional languages are available under CBSE's third language policy.