Today, CBSE has concluded the Class 10 Science examination. The question paper was moderate to tough for most of the students, and for those with mediocre preparation, the paper was really tough.

“2026 Science Class 10 Question Paper and Analysis CBSE Board” is a deep analysis aimed at uncovering the source and level of difficulty of the paper.

Here is the refined structural analysis of the CBSE Class X Science Sample Question Paper, focusing strictly on the format, distribution, and analytical requirements without referencing specific topics or questions.

1. Overall Organization and Structure

The paper is strictly segregated by subject, which is a notable structural format for organizing your Class 10 mock tests and modules.

Total Questions: The paper consists of exactly 39 questions.
Maximum Marks & Time: It is an 80-mark paper designed to be completed in 3 hours.
Sectional Breakdown: The paper is divided into 3 distinct sections:
- Section A (Biology): Contains 16 questions.
- Section B (Chemistry): Contains 13 questions.+1
- Section C (Physics): Contains 10 questions.+1
Choices and Alternatives: All questions are compulsory, though internal choices are provided within certain questions across various mark allocations. Alternate questions are consistently provided for visually impaired students in place of image-based or diagram-based questions.+4
Continuity: The assessment scheme from the 2024-25 academic session is continuing for this 2025-26 session.

2. Question Typology and Mark Distribution

The assessment employs a consistent hierarchy of question types across all three sections:

Objective Type (1 Mark): Located at the beginning of each section, consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Assertion-Reasoning formats.+1
Short Answer (2 & 3 Marks): Require concise explanations, derivations, or justifications.+3
Case-Based / Data-Based (4 Marks): Present a scenario, diagram, or experimental data table, followed by multiple sub-questions that require data interpretation.+3
Long Answer (5 Marks): Multi-part questions requiring comprehensive, step-by-step breakdowns.+1

3. Difficulty Level and Depth of Understanding

The paper is designed with a moderate to great difficulty level, prioritizing analytical skills over direct recall.

Application-Based: Students are required to apply core principles to hypothetical, real-world, or experimental scenarios rather than writing standard definitions.
Experimental Focus: A significant portion of the paper tests the student’s ability to analyze laboratory setups, predict outcomes of experiments, and identify reasons for specific experimental failures or observations.
Diagrammatic Interpretation: High reliance on extracting data from visual inputs, requiring students to interpret flowcharts, schematic diagrams, and graphs to formulate their answers.

4. Numericals and Calculation Distribution

Mathematical application is a critical component of the paper, distributed as follows:

Section C (Physics): Carries the heaviest weightage for pure numericals. It includes multiple calculation-based questions spanning the 2-mark, 3-mark, and 5-mark categories, along with a 4-mark case-based numerical.+4
Section B (Chemistry): Features minor mathematical applications, including a 1-mark stoichiometric calculation, a 4-mark practical-based volume/drop calculation, and a 5-mark formula deduction.+1
Section A (Biology): Contains no direct numerical calculations.

We will detailed analysis question-wise once we have the actual question paper ……stay tuned!