Which textbooks does CBSE Class 8 follow?

CBSE schools follow the new NCERT textbooks for Class 8: Ganita Prakash (Maths, in two parts), Curiosity (Science), Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Social Science), Poorvi (English) and Malhar (Hindi). Chapter names are very different from the older books, so older guides may not match.

Is there a board exam in Class 8?

No. Class 8 exams are set and marked by your school, so the marks split and exam dates come from your school, not from CBSE.

Is the Class 8 syllabus difficult?

It is a step up from Class 7, especially in Maths and Science, where the new books expect you to reason and explain rather than just recall. Steady daily study and working through every in-text question and exercise helps most.

What else is new for Classes 6–8?

From 2026-27, CBSE has introduced a Computational Thinking and AI curriculum for Classes 3 to 8, and the NCERT Kaushal Bodh books bring vocational (skill) education into Classes 6 to 8.

CBSE Class 8 Syllabus 2026-27

CBSE Class 8 follows the new NCERT textbooks. There is no board exam — your school sets the annual exam — so the chapters in these books are your syllabus. Here are the chapter lists for Maths, Science, Social Science and English.

Mathematics — Ganita Prakash (Parts 1 and 2)

Part 1	Part 2
A Square and a Cube	Fractions in Disguise
Power Play	The Baudhayana-Pythagoras Theorem
A Story of Numbers	Proportional Reasoning-2
Quadrilaterals	Exploring Some Geometric Themes
Number Play	Tales by Dots and Lines
We Distribute, Yet Things Multiply	Algebra Play
Proportional Reasoning-1	Area

Science — Curiosity

Exploring the Investigative World of Science
The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye
Health: The Ultimate Treasure
Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects
Exploring Forces
Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones
Particulate Nature of Matter
Nature of Matter: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions
Light: Mirrors and Lenses
Keeping Time with the Skies
How Nature Works in Harmony
Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet

Social Science — Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1)

Natural Resources and their Use
Reshaping India's Political Map
The Rise of the Marathas
The Colonial Era in India
Universal Franchise and India's Electoral System
The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive
Factors of Production

Your school will tell you which Part 2 chapters are taught in each term.

English — Poorvi

Prose and poems include The Wit that Won Hearts, A Tale of Valour: Major Somnath Sharma and the Battle of Badgam, The Case of the Fifth Word, The Cherry Tree, Feathered Friend, A Concrete Example, Somebody's Mother, The Magic Brush of Dreams, Harvest Hymn, Magnifying Glass, Wisdom Paves the Way, Verghese Kurien: I Too Had a Dream, Spectacular Wonders, Waiting for the Rain and Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science.

Hindi — Malhar

Hindi follows the NCERT textbook Malhar, with poems, stories, a letter, a one-act play and a speech by writers such as Kabir, Mahadevi Verma, Bhisham Sahni and Subhas Chandra Bose.

Study Class 8 chapter by chapter

Super Tutor has chapter summaries, revision notes and practice quizzes for CBSE Class 8 Maths, Science, Social Science and English.

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How to Use the Syllabus

Work from the NCERT book itself — the new books are built around activities and in-text questions, and school exams follow them closely.
Check your school's term plan — it tells you which chapters come in each exam.
Give Maths and Science a little time every day — they build on themselves, and Class 9 starts where Class 8 ends.
Ask doubts straight away — don't let them pile up before the exam.

For study plans and exam tips, read our CBSE Class 8 preparation guide, or open the Class 8 Maths and Class 8 Science syllabus pages.

Chapter lists from the NCERT Class 8 textbooks used in CBSE schools.

CBSE Class 8 Syllabus 2026-27 — New NCERT Textbooks and Chapters