CBSE Board Exam 2026: Class 10 Science Sample Paper With Revised Pattern

15-12-2025

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CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science Sample Paper comes with a completely revised pattern that focuses more on real-life application and competency-based questions. Understanding this new CBSE Class 10 Science paper pattern and using the official sample paper smartly can make your 2026 board preparation much easier.​


What is new in CBSE Science paper 2026?

From CBSE Board Exam 2026, the Class 10 Science paper revised paper follows a revised pattern with clear sections for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. 

  • The change aims to improve evaluation quality and test how well students apply concepts instead of only memorising theory.​

  • The Science question paper is now divided into three broad subject-wise sections: Section A (Biology), Section B (Chemistry), Section C (Physics).​

  • Students must write answers in the correct section only; mixed answers are likely to be considered invalid.​

Using the CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science Sample Paper with this revised pattern is the best way to understand how questions will actually appear in the board exam.​


Overall exam pattern and marks distribution

CBSE Class 10 Science in 2026 will be conducted for 100 marks, with 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for internal assessment. The theory paper duration remains 3 hours, and questions carry different weightage from 1 to 5 marks.​

  • Total theory marks: 80; Internal assessment: 20 (practicals, project, periodic tests, etc.).​

  • CBSE has specified a distribution of questions of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 marks to balance objective and descriptive questions.​

Class 10 Science 2026 question-wise breakup


Type of question

No. of questions

Marks each

Total marks

1-mark questions

20

1

20

2-mark questions

6

2

12

3-mark questions

7

3

21

4-mark questions

3

4

12

5-mark questions

3

5

15

Total (theory)

39

-

80


The CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science Sample Paper strictly follows this structure, so practising it will train you for the exact number and type of questions.​


Section-wise structure: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

The biggest change in the CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science sample paper is the strict section-wise division of the Science paper. Each section focuses on its own concepts and skills but follows the same competency-based pattern.​

  • Section A – Biology (World of Living & parts of Natural Resources): Questions on life processes, control and coordination, heredity, evolution, environment, and ecosystems.​

  • Section B – Chemistry (Chemical Substances: Nature and Behaviour): Questions on chemical reactions, acids-bases-salts, metals and non-metals, carbon compounds, and periodic classification.​

  • Section C – Physics (Natural Phenomena & Effects of Current): Questions on light, human eye, electricity, magnetic effects of current, and related numericals.​

The CBSE Science Sample Paper 2026 uses real-life situations like food webs, plant excretion, and electric circuits to test your understanding, not just definitions.​


Competency-based and application questions (50% weightage)

CBSE has clearly mentioned that from 2026, around half of the questions in Class 10 Science will be competency-based. That means questions will check whether you can apply formulas, concepts, and reasoning to practical situations.​

  • Around 50% of the paper will include competency-based questions such as MCQs, case-based, source-based, data-based, and integrated questions.​

  • The remaining questions will be short answer and long answer, but many will still involve diagrams, reasoning, or explanation of everyday phenomena.​

The CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science sample paper already includes such case-based and application questions, so solving it regularly will develop exam-oriented thinking.​


Topic-wise weightage for Science 2026

Knowing which units carry more marks is essential for strategy in CBSE Class 10 Science 2026. CBSE has given a broad unit-wise weightage for Science that the sample paper also reflects.​

Science unit

Approx. marks (theory)

Chemical Substances: Nature and Behaviour (Chemistry)

25

World of Living (Biology)

25

Natural Phenomena (Physics)

12

Effects of Current (Physics)

13

Natural Resources (Bio/Env)

5

Total (theory)

80


The CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science revised Sample Paper class 10 follows this weightage, so if you analyse it carefully, you can check whether you are giving enough time to the high-weight units.​


Internal assessment and practicals (20 marks)

Even though the blog focuses on the CBSE Science sample paper 2026, students must not ignore internal assessment. Schools assess students using periodic tests, lab work, practical files, activities, and projects.​

  • Internal assessment: 20 marks, usually broken into periodic test marks, notebook submission, practical work, and subject enrichment activities.​

  • Good performance in internal assessment can significantly lift your final CBSE Class 10 Science score, even if you lose a few marks in the board paper.​

Using the CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science sample paper for pre-board and school tests can help you perform better in both internal and external assessment.​


How to use the CBSE Science Sample Paper 2026 effectively

The CBSE Science Sample Paper 2026 is not just a model paper; it is a blueprint of the revised pattern. If used properly, it becomes a complete practice tool for question types, difficulty level, and time management.​

Step-by-step strategy

  1. Attempt under exam conditions

    • Fix 3 hours and solve the entire CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science sample paper without breaks.​

    • Follow the section-wise answering rule strictly—Biology answers in Section A, Chemistry in Section B, Physics in Section C.​

  2. Check with marking scheme

    • Use the official marking scheme to compare your answers and understand how stepwise marks are awarded.​

    • Pay attention to keywords, diagrams, and units in numericals, because these often carry separate marks.​

  3. Analyse mistakes

    • Mark each question as correct, silly mistake, conceptual error, or careless step.​

    • Revise those specific topics and then re-solve similar questions from other CBSE Class 10 Science sample papers.​


Section-wise preparation tips for 2026 pattern

Because the CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science sample paper is divided into Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, your preparation strategy should also be section-wise.​

  • Biology (Section A):

    • Focus on diagrams (heart, nephron, eye, brain, reproductive system), labelling, and flowcharts for processes like photosynthesis and transpiration.​

    • Practise competency questions on heredity, genetic crosses, food webs, and environment-related case studies from the sample paper.​

  • Chemistry (Section B):

    • Revise reactions, balancing, types of reactions, pH, and reasoning questions based on everyday examples like salts and metals.​

    • Use numericals and table-based questions from the CBSE Class 10 Science sample paper to practise application of concepts.​

  • Physics (Section C):

    • Practise numerical questions from electricity, ohm’s law, series/parallel combinations, and lens/mirror formula.​

    • Work on ray diagrams, circuit diagrams, and competency-based questions on daily life situations involving light and current.​


Time management strategy for the new pattern

The revised CBSE Science paper 2026 pattern demands smart time management in the exam hall. The CBSE Board Exam 2026 Science sample paper is ideal for practising this timing.​

  • Use the first 15 minutes of reading time to scan all three sections and decide the order (for example, Biology → Physics → Chemistry).​

  • Target around 45–50 minutes per section and keep the last 15–20 minutes for revision, unit checking, and diagram labelling.​

Practising the complete CBSE Class 10 Science sample paper 2026 at least 3–4 times before the board exam builds speed and confidence.​


Download CBSE 2026 Science sample paper PDF


Use the link or button given below on the Shikso page to download the attached “CBSE Board Exam 2026: Class 10 Science Sample Paper With Revised Pattern (PDF)” and practise it like a real exam paper.​

FAQs

Is the CBSE 2026 Science pattern the same for all schools?

Will the internal choices increase in CBSE Science 2026 paper?

Are diagrams compulsory in the new CBSE Science paper pattern?

How many competency-based questions will be asked in Science 2026?

Can I attempt Physics first even if it is Section C in the Science paper?

Will there be negative marking in CBSE Class 10 Science 2026?

Are CBSE-issued sample papers enough for scoring 90+ in Science 2026?

Does the revised pattern reduce long answer questions in Science?

Will practical-based questions be part of the theory paper?

When should I start solving the CBSE Science 2026 sample paper?