CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers 2026-27 — Where to Get Them and How to Use Them
CBSE Class 10 sample papers 2026-27 for the 2027 board exams: where to download the official papers and marking schemes, and how to use them.
CBSE released the official Class 10 sample question papers for 2026-27 — the set for the Board exams 2027 — on 21 September 2026, with marking schemes, at cbseacademic.nic.in. This guide covers where to find them, what each paper looks like, and how to use them well.
Where to Download Official Papers
| Source | What you get |
|---|---|
| cbseacademic.nic.in | Sample question papers and marking schemes for every Class 10 subject |
| cbse.gov.in | Previous years' board question papers |
| ncert.nic.in | NCERT textbooks and Exemplar problems |
Warning: ignore websites selling "leaked papers" or "sure-shot questions". They are fake. Stick to official CBSE sources.
Paper Pattern in the 2026-27 Sample Papers
| Subject | Marks | How the paper is built |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (Standard) | 80 | 20 × 1 (MCQs and assertion-reason), 5 × 2, 6 × 3, 4 × 5, 3 case-based × 4 |
| Science | 80 | Three sections — Biology 30, Chemistry 25, Physics 25; overall 20 × 1, 6 × 2, 7 × 3, 3 case-based × 4, 3 × 5 |
| Social Science | 80 | Four sections — History, Geography, Political Science and Economics, 20 marks each, including map work (5 marks: History 2, Geography 3) |
| English (Language & Literature) | 80 | Reading 20, Grammar 10, Writing 10, Literature 40 |
| Hindi A | 80 | Reading 14, Grammar 16, Literature 30, Writing 20 |
All papers are 3 hours. For the full section-by-section breakdown, read our CBSE Class 10 exam pattern guide.
Subject-Wise Tips
Mathematics
- Focus areas: Algebra (20 marks), Geometry (15) and Trigonometry (12) together make up 47 of 80 marks.
- Case-based questions: each has three parts worth 4 marks in total. Practise reading the situation and pulling out the numbers you need.
- Show every step — the marking scheme gives marks for method, not just the final answer.
Science
- Biology is the largest section (30 marks). Practise labelled diagrams — the human heart, nephron, brain and flower parts come up often.
- Physics numericals: practise Electricity and Light. Write formula → substitute → calculate → units.
- Chemistry: write balanced equations with state symbols where the question expects them.
- Assertion-reason MCQs: judge each statement on its own first, then decide whether the reason explains the assertion.
Practise chapter by chapter first
Super Tutor has chapter-wise practice quizzes and important questions for CBSE Class 10, so you can fix weak chapters before attempting full papers.
Start freeSocial Science
- Map work (5 marks): practise the map items listed in the syllabus for History and Geography until you can mark them quickly.
- History: keep a timeline of key events for Nationalism in India and Nationalism in Europe.
- Economics: practise reading tables and graphs — case-based questions often use data.
- Political Science: define terms such as federalism precisely and back points with examples.
English
- Reading (20 marks): practise unseen passages regularly; underline what each question asks before you read.
- Grammar (10 marks): tenses, subject-verb agreement and reported speech come up often.
- Literature (40 marks): read every chapter from First Flight and Footprints without Feet; extract-based questions test close reading.
- Writing (10 marks): learn the formal letter format and the structure of an analytical paragraph.
How to Use Sample Papers
| Phase | How to solve | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Get to know the paper | Untimed, one section at a time, checking against the marking scheme | Understand the pattern and find weak topics |
| 2. Build speed | Timed (3 hours), closed-book; check only after finishing | Time management |
| 3. Full rehearsal | Exam conditions — no phone, no breaks, strict 3 hours | Stamina and calm |
| 4. Final weeks | Re-solve only the questions you got wrong earlier | Close the remaining gaps |
How Examiners Give Marks
- Step marking: correct steps earn marks even if the final answer is wrong. Always show your working.
- Diagrams: neat, labelled diagrams earn marks where the question or marking scheme asks for them.
- Word limits: stick to the suggested length. Too long wastes time; too short misses points.
- Presentation: number answers clearly, underline key terms and leave space between answers.
- Internal choice: read both options before choosing — the second one is sometimes easier.
Based on CBSE's Class X sample question papers and marking schemes for 2026-27 (cbseacademic.nic.in, released 21 September 2026) and the Secondary Curriculum 2026-27.
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Start freeFrequently Asked Questions
Where can I download official CBSE Class 10 sample papers?
On cbseacademic.nic.in, under Sample Question Papers. CBSE released the 2026-27 sample question papers and marking schemes on 21 September 2026 (the 2025-26 set came out on 30 July 2025). Download only from cbseacademic.nic.in — copies on other websites can be outdated.
How many sample papers should I solve before the board exams?
There is no magic number. Solve the official CBSE sample paper for each subject at least once under timed conditions, then add recent CBSE board papers. Checking every paper against the marking scheme matters more than the number you solve.
Are CBSE sample papers enough for board preparation?
No. They show you the pattern, but not every topic. Use them alongside the NCERT textbook and its exercises, NCERT Exemplar for harder questions, and previous years' CBSE papers.
Do questions from sample papers repeat in board exams?
Exact questions rarely repeat, but the sample paper shows the pattern CBSE plans to follow: the sections, question types, marks and internal choice. Treat it as the blueprint for the paper, not as a list of questions.
Do sample papers apply to the May board exam as well?
Yes. Class 10 now has a compulsory February–March exam and an optional May exam for improving up to three subjects (Science, Maths, Social Science and languages). Both use the same syllabus, so the same sample papers help for both.
How should I analyse my sample paper performance?
After each paper: check it against the marking scheme, mark each question as correct, partly correct, wrong or not attempted, list the chapters where you lost marks, and sort mistakes into silly errors, concept gaps and time pressure. Then spend your next study sessions on the weakest chapters.