The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the official sample papers for the Class 10 board examinations for the academic session 2025-26. These papers are an essential resource for students preparing for the upcoming exams, providing a clear understanding of the exam pattern, marking scheme, and types of questions that may appear. The sample papers are available for free download in PDF format from official sources, covering all major subjects including Mathematics (both Standard and Basic), Science, Social Science, English, and Hindi. The release of these materials is a key part of the preparation strategy for the single annual exam pattern reinstated for this academic year.
The CBSE Sample Paper 2025-26 for Class 10 was officially released on 16th September 2024. This release marks a significant update for students, as it aligns with the new exam structure where the term-wise examination system has been removed. The papers are designed to help students familiarise themselves with the question format, practice time management, and identify areas requiring more focus. The Central Board of Secondary Education makes these resources available on its academic portal, cbseacademic.nic.in, ensuring direct access for all affiliated schools and students. The availability of subject-wise sample papers in both English and Hindi mediums caters to a diverse student population.
Accessing CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers 2025-26
The primary and most authoritative source for downloading the CBSE Class 10 sample papers is the official CBSE academic website. The process to access these documents is straightforward and designed for ease of use. Students can download the papers directly without any cost, which ensures equitable access to crucial study materials. The papers are provided in PDF format, making them compatible with various devices and easy to print for offline study.
To download the CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers for the 2025-26 academic session, the following steps are recommended: 1. Navigate to the official CBSE academic portal at cbseacademic.nic.in. 2. On the homepage, locate and click on the tab labelled “Sample Question Paper 2025-26”. 3. From the list of available classes, select “Class X” to view the sample papers for the 10th standard. 4. A comprehensive list of subjects will be displayed. Students can then select the specific subject for which they wish to download the sample paper. 5. The selected sample paper, along with its corresponding marking scheme, will be available for download in PDF format.
This direct method ensures that students obtain the most current and official version of the sample papers. While other educational platforms may also host these PDFs, the official CBSE portal is the definitive source for accuracy and authenticity. The papers are released annually to reflect any changes in the curriculum or exam pattern, making the 2025-26 set particularly important for students preparing for the current academic year's board examinations.
Subject-Wise Breakdown of Available Sample Papers
The CBSE provides sample papers for all subjects prescribed in the Class 10 curriculum for the 2025-26 session. Each subject’s sample paper is accompanied by a detailed marking scheme, which is crucial for understanding how marks are allocated for different types of questions. This allows students to structure their answers effectively to maximise their scores. The subjects covered include core academic disciplines as well as optional and skill-based subjects.
Mathematics (Standard and Basic)
The CBSE offers two levels of Mathematics for Class 10: Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Basic. Sample papers for both streams have been released. The Mathematics Standard sample paper is designed for students who wish to continue with Mathematics in higher classes, while the Basic paper is for those who do not plan to pursue Mathematics as a core subject in senior secondary education. The sample papers for 2025-26 include: - Mathematics Standard - CBSE Model Question Papers for 2026 with Marking Scheme. - Mathematics Basic - CBSE Model Question Papers for 2026 with Marking Scheme. - Mathematics Standard - CBSE Model Question Papers for 2025 with Marking Scheme. - Mathematics Basic - CBSE Model Question Papers for 2025 with Marking Scheme.
Solving these papers helps students practice the types of problems they will encounter, understand the weightage of different chapters, and manage their time during the actual examination.
Science
The Science sample paper for Class 10 integrates Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. It is designed to assess a student's comprehensive understanding of scientific concepts and their application. The CBSE Sample Paper 2025-26 for Science enables students to evaluate their learning across all three disciplines simultaneously. The official release includes both the latest sample papers and previous years' question papers for additional practice. This holistic approach helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses across the entire Science syllabus.
Social Science
The Social Science sample paper covers History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics. This paper tests a student's knowledge of social and political structures, historical events, geographical concepts, and economic principles. The CBSE provides a direct link to access the Social Science sample paper for the 2025-26 session, along with its marking scheme. Practising this paper is vital for students to learn how to frame long and short answers, as well as for tackling map-based and case-study questions.
English and Hindi
The sample papers for English and Hindi are also available for download. These papers assess comprehension, writing skills, grammar, and literature. The English sample paper is available in the English medium, while the Hindi sample paper is available in the Hindi medium. Both papers follow the latest exam pattern and include a mix of objective, short, and long answer questions. The marking scheme provided with these papers clarifies the expectations for each section, helping students improve their answer-writing skills.
Additional Subjects
Beyond the core subjects, CBSE has released sample papers for other subjects such as Sanskrit, Computer Applications, and various skill education subjects. The availability of these papers ensures that all students, regardless of their subject combination, have access to official preparation materials. The list of subjects covered is comprehensive, as stated in the official highlights, which include "English, Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Hindi, Sanskrit, Computer Applications, and more."
Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme Insights
The CBSE Sample Paper 2025-26 for Class 10 provides critical insights into the exam pattern and marking scheme for the upcoming board examinations. Understanding this structure is fundamental to effective preparation. The sample papers are designed to mirror the actual exam format, giving students a realistic practice experience.
The question papers are structured to include different types of questions, each carrying specific marks. According to the information available, the distribution includes: - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): These constitute approximately 20% of the paper. They are select-response type questions that test critical thinking and quick decision-making skills. - Constructed Response Type Questions: These make up about 30% of the paper and include traditional short and long answer type questions that require detailed written responses.
The total marks for each subject are typically 100, with the paper duration being three hours. The marking scheme provided with each sample paper breaks down the marks for every question, including internal choices where applicable. This detailed scheme helps students understand the weightage of different sections and the importance of precise answers. For instance, in subjects like Science and Social Science, marks are often allocated for diagrams, definitions, and step-wise solutions in numerical problems.
The release of these sample papers with marking schemes is a deliberate effort by the CBSE to reduce ambiguity and help students prepare systematically. By solving these papers, students can practice allocating time to different sections based on their weightage, which is a key strategy for scoring well in the board exams.
Strategic Preparation Using Sample Papers
Incorporating CBSE sample papers into a study routine is a proven method to enhance exam readiness. These papers serve multiple purposes beyond just familiarising students with the question format. They are a tool for self-assessment, time management, and targeted revision.
Firstly, sample papers allow students to practice time management. By attempting the paper within the stipulated three hours, students can gauge their speed and efficiency. This practice helps in developing a strategy to ensure that all questions are attempted within the time limit, reducing the risk of leaving any section incomplete during the actual exam.
Secondly, these papers are instrumental in identifying areas of weakness. After solving a sample paper, students can compare their answers with the marking scheme to understand where they lost marks. This analysis highlights topics or question types that require more focus, enabling a more efficient and targeted revision plan. For example, a student struggling with numerical problems in Physics can dedicate extra time to that area.
Thirdly, regular practice with sample papers builds confidence. The familiarity with the exam format and question types reduces anxiety and helps students approach the board exam with a calm and prepared mindset. The CBSE emphasises that using these sample papers can "significantly increase your chances of achieving favourable outcomes" by providing a clear idea of what to expect.
It is recommended to start solving sample papers well in advance of the exams, ideally after completing the syllabus once. Solving at least one sample paper per subject under timed conditions can simulate the exam environment and provide invaluable practice. The papers released for the 2025-26 session are particularly relevant as they are based on the latest curriculum and exam pattern for the single annual examination.
Conclusion
The release of the CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers for the 2025-26 academic session is a vital resource for all students preparing for the board examinations. These officially published papers, available for free download in PDF format from the CBSE academic portal, provide an accurate representation of the exam pattern, question types, and marking scheme. By covering all major subjects—including Mathematics (Standard and Basic), Science, Social Science, English, and Hindi—these sample papers offer comprehensive preparation material.
Students are advised to utilise these papers strategically to practice time management, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence for the final examination. The step-by-step process to download these papers from cbseacademic.nic.in ensures easy access for every student. Consistent practice with these sample papers, coupled with a thorough understanding of the marking scheme, is key to achieving success in the CBSE Class 10 board exams for the academic year 2025-26.