CBSE Previous Year Question Papers (Class 10 & 12) — Where to Find Them and How to Use Them
CBSE previous year question papers for Class 10 and 12: where to download them free, which years to solve first, commonly tested topics and a solving plan.
CBSE previous year question papers and marking schemes are free on cbse.gov.in. For the Board exams 2027, start with the 2026, 2025 and 2024 papers, then work backwards — checking older questions against the 2026-27 syllabus.
Where to Download
| Source | What you get |
|---|---|
| cbse.gov.in | Previous years' question papers and marking schemes |
| cbseacademic.nic.in | 2026-27 sample question papers and marking schemes |
Always use the marking scheme with each paper. Without it, you can't judge your answers or see how step marks work.
Which Years to Use
| Papers | Pattern | How to use them |
|---|---|---|
| 2026, 2025, 2024 | Closest to the current pattern, with competency-based and case-based questions | Solve first, as full timed papers |
| 2023 | Single full exam after the term system | Solve next |
| 2022 and earlier | Older pattern (2022 had two terms, with an MCQ-only Term 1) and older syllabus | Topic practice only; skip questions on topics no longer in the syllabus |
Examples of topics now outside the written board paper: in Class 10 Science, the electric motor, electromagnetic induction and the electric generator; in Class 12 Chemistry, Solid State, Surface Chemistry and p-Block Elements. See our removed-topics guide.
Class 10 — Commonly Tested Topics
| Subject | Topics that come up often |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Quadratic equation word problems, arithmetic progressions, trigonometric identities, surface areas and volumes of combined solids, statistics of grouped data, similarity of triangles, tangents to a circle, HCF and LCM |
| Science | Electricity numericals, mirror and lens formulas and ray diagrams, balancing chemical equations, life processes (heart, digestion, respiration), heredity, carbon compounds, magnetic field patterns |
| Social Science | Nationalism in India, power sharing and federalism, development, money and credit, resources, map work |
For more on Class 10, read our Class 10 previous year papers guide.
Practise topic by topic
Super Tutor has chapter-wise practice quizzes and important questions for CBSE Classes 10 and 12, so you can fix weak chapters between full papers.
Start freeClass 12 — Commonly Tested Topics
| Subject | Topics that come up often |
|---|---|
| Physics | Electrostatics (Gauss's law, capacitors), current electricity (Kirchhoff's rules, Wheatstone bridge), optics (ray and wave optics), dual nature and nuclei |
| Chemistry | Electrochemistry (Nernst equation), chemical kinetics (rate law), coordination compound naming, organic name reactions and conversions |
| Maths | Integration and area under curves, probability (Bayes' theorem), matrices and determinants, three-dimensional geometry, differential equations |
| Accountancy | Partnership (admission, retirement, dissolution), cash flow statement, ratio analysis |
| Business Studies | Principles of management (Fayol, Taylor), financial management, marketing and consumer protection |
How to Solve Past Papers — 4 Steps
- Exam conditions: 3 hours, no phone, no books, no breaks. Write full steps, diagrams and labels.
- Mark it with the marking scheme: give step marks strictly and note your score.
- Sort your mistakes: concept gap, silly mistake, time pressure or presentation.
- Revise only the weak chapters — keep a running list across papers.
A Five-Week Plan
| Week | What to solve | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 papers (all subjects) | Your baseline |
| 2 | 2025 papers | Pattern recognition |
| 3 | 2024 papers + an extra paper for weak subjects | Target weaknesses |
| 4 | The 2026-27 CBSE sample papers | Rehearse the exact 2027 pattern |
| 5 | Re-solve every question you got wrong | Close the gaps |
Past papers and marking schemes: cbse.gov.in. Syllabus checks: CBSE Curriculum 2026-27 (cbseacademic.nic.in).
Turn this into exam marks
Super Tutor gives you chapter summaries, revision notes, practice quizzes and an AI doubt solver matched to your board syllabus — so you revise smarter, not longer.
Start freeFrequently Asked Questions
Where can I download CBSE previous year question papers?
From cbse.gov.in, which has sections for previous years' question papers and marking schemes. The current sample papers and their marking schemes are on cbseacademic.nic.in. Both are free. Avoid third-party websites that may have incorrect or modified papers.
Which years should I solve?
Start with the most recent papers — 2026, 2025 and 2024 — which are closest to the current pattern. Older papers are useful for topic practice, but check each question against the 2026-27 syllabus, because some topics have been removed or are now assessed only by the school.
Do questions repeat from previous year papers?
Exact questions rarely repeat, but question types do. Similar problems from the same chapters appear year after year — solving past papers trains you to spot them quickly.
Are previous year papers harder or easier than the actual exam?
They are a good guide to the level of the real paper, especially the most recent ones. The 2026-27 sample papers show any changes in the pattern, so use both.
Should I solve previous year papers before or after sample papers?
Look at the current sample paper first to understand the 2027 pattern, then use past papers for volume practice, and finish with the sample paper again as a full rehearsal.
How do I use the marking scheme with previous year papers?
After each paper, mark yourself with the official marking scheme: give step marks exactly as it describes, note whether each lost mark was a concept gap, a calculation slip or presentation, and see how examiners give partial marks.