Understanding the CBSE Class 10 exam pattern: a parent's guide

Class 10 is the first board exam most students sit, and for families in the Gulf it often raises the same questions: what exactly is tested, how are marks split, and how should a child plan the year?

How marks are split

For most subjects, the total of 100 marks is divided between:

• The board exam — the written paper at the end of the year, usually 80 marks.
• Internal assessment — usually 20 marks, given by the school through periodic tests, notebooks, projects and practicals.

Subjects with practical work, such as Science labs or Computer Applications, may split marks differently, so check each subject's scheme.

The types of questions

Board papers mix several formats, typically including:

• Multiple-choice and objective questions
• Short-answer questions
• Long-answer questions
• Case-based and source-based questions built around a passage, data or situation

CBSE has been steadily increasing the share of competency-based questions — ones that test whether students can apply concepts to real situations rather than recall facts.

Board exam timing

The main Class 10 board exams are held in February and March. From 2026, CBSE also offers a second, optional board exam later in the spring for students who want to improve their scores. Dates and rules are published each year on the official CBSE website, so check them early in the school year.

How the school year is structured

Most schools aim to finish the syllabus by the end of the second term, leaving time for revision, pre-board exams and sample papers.

• Term one: build concepts chapter by chapter; keep up with notebooks and internal assessments.
• Term two: finish the syllabus and start timed practice.
• Final months: revision, pre-boards, sample papers and previous years’ questions.

Where students lose marks

• Not following the NCERT textbook closely enough.
• Weak presentation — unclear steps in Maths, missing diagrams in Science.
• Poor time management in the exam hall.
• Neglecting internal assessment work across the year.

How parents can help

• Plan backwards from the exam date, with a simple monthly goal for each subject.
• Keep an eye on internal assessment — those marks are earned all year, not just in March.
• Encourage timed practice with sample papers from the official CBSE website.
• Watch for stress, and keep routines, sleep and meals steady.
• Get help early on weak topics rather than in the final weeks.

With steady planning and practice, Class 10 becomes a confident first step rather than a source of anxiety.