CBSE Class 10 Science Exam 2026: A Comprehensive Guide to Success
As the calendar advances toward February 25, 2026, classrooms nationwide are buzzing with a familiar mix of nervous energy and determined focus. The Class 10 Science examination, a critical milestone for lakhs of students, will test proficiency across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in a rigorous three-hour assessment. The Central Board of Secondary Education has recently unveiled the sample question paper for the 2025-26 academic session, providing crucial insights into the exam structure and expectations.
Decoding the CBSE Science Sample Paper Pattern
The newly released sample paper outlines a comprehensive examination comprising 39 compulsory questions distributed across three distinct sections. Section A (Biology) contains 16 questions, including seven multiple-choice items, two assertion-reason types, and seven subjective queries. Section B (Chemistry) features 13 questions, while Section C (Physics) presents 10 questions. Collectively, students will encounter 16 MCQs, 4 assertion-reason items, and 19 subjective questions throughout the paper.
Notably, the examination incorporates internal choices within certain questions, though students must select only one option to answer. In a significant move toward inclusivity, diagram-based questions include text alternatives for students with visual impairments, reflecting the board's commitment to accessible education.
Expert Guidance from an Experienced Educator
Ms. Niyati, a Biology Educator at Ahlcon International School and SCERT guest resource person, shared invaluable preparation strategies with The Times of India. Her advice centers on a fundamental principle: "NCERT is king." She reveals that approximately 90% of the examination content, including diagrams, originates directly from the NCERT textbook. Students must thoroughly master both the main text and in-text questions, as NCERT remains the definitive resource for foundational and advanced concepts.
Ms. Niyati emphasizes strategic use of the 15-minute reading period at the exam's commencement. "Students should identify case-based questions during this time," she advises. "These often appear lengthy but are typically easier to solve once properly understood." Conceptual clarity proves indispensable, particularly for multiple-choice questions that test precision rather than rote memorization.
Regular practice with timed tests and the latest CBSE sample papers helps students familiarize themselves with the revised pattern, sectional approaches, and effective answer presentation techniques.
Section-Wise Preparation Strategies
Section A: Biology – Precision in Diagrams and Terminology
Biology remains highly scoring for students who combine visual accuracy with correct scientific terminology. Diagrams must be clearly labeled in pencil without colors, incorporating precise biological keywords. Key topics include life processes such as nutrition in Amoeba, the human digestive system, aerobic versus anaerobic respiration, double circulation, and nephron structure.
In Control and Coordination, students must confidently explain reflex arcs, hormonal functions, and feedback mechanisms. For Heredity, Ms. Niyati cautions against casual language: "Avoid vague terms like 'pure' or 'mixed.' Instead, use homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive. Scientific terminology matters significantly in scoring."
Section B: Chemistry – The Imperative of Balance
Chemistry demands unwavering precision, where an unbalanced equation can cost full marks. "Reaction accuracy is critical," Ms. Niyati states. "If an equation isn't balanced, students may lose all associated marks, even with correct explanations."
Students must clearly differentiate between roasting and calcination with proper chemical equations and examples. Memorizing chemical names, formulas, and uses for bleaching powder, baking soda, washing soda, and Plaster of Paris is essential. Dominant concepts include electrolytic refining, stepwise ionic bond formation, the reactivity series, homologous series, esterification, and saponification.
Section C: Physics – Methodical Problem-Solving
Physics requires systematic thinking, where writing given data before solving numerical problems can secure partial credit even if final calculations falter. "Always write the formula first, then substitute values," Ms. Niyati recommends. "This approach allows students to earn marks for correct methodology despite calculation errors."
Chapters on Light demand special attention, particularly mirror and lens formulas, magnification, and ray diagrams. Vision defects like myopia and hypermetropia must be explained with causes and corrective lenses. In Electricity and Magnetic Effects, conceptual clarity around Ohm's Law, Joule's Law of Heating, magnetic field lines, and Fleming's Left-Hand Rule remains vital.
Most Probable Questions for Focused Revision
Strategic revision targeting high-probability questions proves more effective than expansive study. Based on recent trends and expert analysis, Ms. Niyati identifies these crucial questions:
Section A – Biology
- Explain the mechanism of urine formation in humans, detailing filtration, reabsorption, and secretion processes.
- Describe how a child's sex is genetically determined with appropriate chromosomal explanations.
- State why separating oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is essential in mammals and how double circulation ensures this efficiency.
Section B – Chemistry
- Differentiate between roasting and calcination with balanced chemical equations and suitable examples.
- Write the chemical name, formula, and two uses each for bleaching powder, baking soda, washing soda, and Plaster of Paris.
Section C – Physics
- Explain why the sun appears reddish at sunrise, referencing light scattering phenomena.
- Define a fuse and justify its series connection with the live wire in electric circuits.
- Identify the vision defect in a person who cannot see distant objects clearly, explain its cause, and state the corrective measure with appropriate lens type.
As the examination date approaches, students should prioritize NCERT mastery, conceptual understanding, and targeted practice of these high-yield topics to maximize their performance in the CBSE Class 10 Science examination.
