Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE 10th Board Exams 2026 will begin from February 17, 2026. Ahead of the exams, the central board has released an advisory for Class 10 Social Science and Science examination. This pertains to the change in paper pattern of the two subjects and how students need to attempt the same.
Parents, teachers are advised to explain the same to students carefully and in detail. The board has also asked schools to insist that the same pattern is used for pre-board examinations. This would in turn acclimatise students with the same.
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CBSE Class 10 Science, Social Science Paper Pattern Changed
As board has identified in the sample papers, from 2026, science and social science papers will be divided in sections based on the sub-subjects.
Science question paper will be divided into 3 sections, namely
- Section A – Biology
- Section B – Chemistry, and
- Section C – Physics
As for Social Science, the paper will be divided into 4 sections, namely
- Section A – History
- Section B – Geography
- Section C – Political Science
- Section D – Economics
This pattern is available in the CBSE 10th Sample Papers 2026 now available on the official website. CBSE X Science Sample Question Paper | CBSE X Social Science Question Paper
Instructions for Students
Students are required to answer the questions as per sections
- To do so, students must divide the answer sheet in three / four sections and clearly mark the same
- Reply of the sections are to be written only in the portion of the answer sheet marked for that section
- Answers should not be mixed – what it means is that students cannot mark Section A Question 12 answer in the portion which is marked Section B.
- CBSE has clearly stated that such answers will not be evaluated – neither at the time of primary evaluation nor during revaluation. No request for the same would be accepted either.
Schools have thus been informed to appropriately explain to the students how to answer these question papers. Students must practice the same.
Parents are also encouraged to explain this to the students carefully and ask them to practice. Also, it would be advisable that students understand that each section begins from a fresh page and is not in continuation of the old page.
Please note, this is extremely important and students must practice for the same. The sample papers can be checked for quick reference as well.
This is a very important update by CBSE. The new section-wise answer-sheet format for Science and Social Science needs to be taken seriously because answers written outside the correct section won’t be evaluated at all. Students, teachers, and parents should start practicing this pattern from now itself using the 2026 sample papers. Dividing the answer sheet properly, labeling each section clearly, and keeping each section on a fresh page will help avoid mistakes during the actual board exam. Practicing this pattern during pre-boards will make the final exam much easier and stress-free.