In this guide
- How CBSE's two board exams for Class 10 work in 2027
- What the CBSE Class 10 paper looks like in 2026-27
- Why NCERT comes first for CBSE Class 10
- A 100-day CBSE Class 10 preparation plan
- How to use CBSE sample papers and marking schemes
- Subject-wise CBSE Class 10 preparation tips
- Don't lose the 20 internal assessment marks
- The last week before the first board exam
- Should your child plan for the second exam?
- When a home tutor makes a difference
The core CBSE Class 10 preparation tips are simple: finish every NCERT chapter and exercise, then spend the last 100 days on revision cycles and timed CBSE sample papers marked against the official marking schemes. For 2027 there is one more thing to plan for - Class 10 now has two board exams, a compulsory one in February and March and an optional second one for improvement.
Below is how to prepare for the CBSE Class 10 board exams in 2027: how the two exams work, what the paper looks like this year, and a 100-day plan you can pin on the fridge.
How CBSE's two board exams for Class 10 work in 2027
CBSE introduced two board exams for Class 10 from 2026, under a policy issued in June 2025. Its September 2026 circular for the 2027 exams confirms the same scheme. The main rules, as CBSE has stated them:
| First board exam | Second board exam | |
|---|---|---|
| When | February-March 2027 (in 2026: 17 February to 11 March) | Later in the year (in 2026: 15 to 21 May) |
| Who sits it | Every Class 10 student - compulsory | Optional - passed students who want to improve, and students placed in compartment |
| Subjects | All subjects | Up to three of Science, Maths, Social Science and languages |
| Syllabus | Full Class 10 syllabus | Full Class 10 syllabus |
| What counts | - | For regular students in 2026, CBSE used the better of the two performances in the final result |
- Check the List of Candidates (LOC) now. Schools send CBSE each student's details and subjects for the 2027 exams in September and October; CBSE's last date with the normal fee is 21 October 2026. Ask the class teacher to confirm your child's name, date of birth and subjects, including Maths Standard or Basic, because CBSE says the second exam can be taken only in the subjects filled in this list.
- A student who does not appear in three or more subjects in the first exam cannot take the second. They are placed in the "Essential Repeat" category and sit the main exam the following year.
- Subjects cannot be changed between the two exams, with one exception: switching between Maths Standard and Maths Basic.
- A separate LOC for the second exam is submitted after the first exam is over, so you decide once you know how February went.
- Internal assessment (20 marks in most subjects) is done by the school during the year; the scheme of studies stays the same for both exams.
What the CBSE Class 10 paper looks like in 2026-27
Major subjects carry 80 marks for the board exam and 20 for internal assessment. CBSE's 2026-27 curriculum says roughly 50% of questions are competency-focused - case-based, source-based, data interpretation and application questions - with the rest a mix of MCQs and short and long answers. CBSE's notification of 21 September 2026 says there is no change in question paper design or passing criteria from 2025-26.
Two details worth knowing this year. Class 10 students in 2026-27 can still choose Maths Standard or Maths Basic (the new Advanced-level papers start with later batches). And to pass a subject, a student needs at least 33% and must complete both parts: the board exam and the school's internal assessment.
Why NCERT comes first for CBSE Class 10
CBSE board papers are built on the NCERT textbooks. Many competency questions are NCERT ideas placed in a new situation - a case study about a circuit, a passage about a historical event - so a student who understands the NCERT chapter can handle them, and one who has memorised a guide's answers often can't.
- Every NCERT exercise and in-text question done, in a notebook your child can revise from.
- Every NCERT example in Maths re-solved without looking.
- Science diagrams drawn and labelled from memory; chemical equations balanced and written out.
- Social Science: the source boxes, maps and "activity" questions in the textbook, not just the main text.
- NCERT Exemplar problems for Maths and Science once the textbook is solid - good practice for the harder board questions.
A 100-day CBSE Class 10 preparation plan
If the first exam starts around mid-February as it did in 2026, the 100 days begin in the first week of November. Use the rest of October to catch up on anything already taught that your child is shaky on, and list every topic they are unsure about.
| Days | Roughly when | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Before day 1 | Rest of October | Catch up on chapters already taught. Make a list of weak topics per subject. |
| Days 1-40 | November to mid-December | Finish the remaining NCERT chapters and exercises, then a first full revision. One chapter test per subject per week. Work through the weak-topic list. |
| Days 41-70 | Mid-December to mid-January | Second revision with short notes. One CBSE sample paper per subject per week, marked with the marking scheme. Pre-boards at school. |
| Days 71-90 | Mid-January to early February | Full timed papers on alternate days. Error notebook every day. Finish internal assessment work. |
| Days 91-100 | Last 10 days | Revision only: short notes, formulas, maps, diagrams and the error notebook. Sleep and routine come first. |
Many schools hold pre-board exams in December and January. Fit the plan around them rather than the other way round, and use each pre-board paper as a sample paper: mark it, log the mistakes, redo them. For day-by-day routines, see our Class 10 study timetable guide.
How to use CBSE sample papers and marking schemes
CBSE publishes a sample question paper and a marking scheme for every Class 10 subject on cbseacademic.nic.in. The 2026-27 set was released on 21 September 2026. The marking scheme is easy to overlook, but it shows exactly which steps, keywords and diagram labels earn marks.
- Do the 2026-27 sample paper first, timed, in one sitting.
- Mark it strictly with the official marking scheme - including step marks in Maths and keywords in Science and Social Science.
- Write every lost mark into an error notebook with the reason: didn't know, misread, presentation, or time.
- Then work back through earlier years' sample papers and past board papers, one per subject per week.
- In the last 30 days, re-do the questions from the error notebook rather than new papers alone.
Subject-wise CBSE Class 10 preparation tips
- Maths: the Standard or Basic choice goes into the LOC, so settle it with the school now rather than in January. Write every step - marking schemes give marks for steps even when the final answer is wrong. Practise the case-study questions until reading the passage quickly becomes automatic. More on Maths tuition.
- Science: Physics, Chemistry and Biology come in one paper, so revise all three every week. Learn reasons and definitions precisely, and practise diagrams and ray diagrams with labels. See Science tuition.
- Social Science: prepare the map list given in the CBSE curriculum, practise source-based questions, and answer long questions in points with headings.
- English: practise each writing format against the marking scheme, and prepare literature answers with value points and short quotations. See English tuition.
- Hindi: check whether your child is on Course A or Course B, and practise grammar and writing tasks every week. See Hindi tuition.
Don't lose the 20 internal assessment marks
Internal assessment is done by the school and counts in the final result. CBSE's 2026-27 curriculum describes four parts - periodic assessments, multiple assessments, a portfolio and subject enrichment activities (practicals, projects, speaking and listening). These marks are earned steadily through the year, so missed submissions and an incomplete lab file are common, avoidable losses. Ask the class teacher in November what is still pending.
The last week before the first board exam
- Admit card collected from school and checked for name, subjects and exam centre.
- Route to the centre planned, with extra time for Pune traffic.
- Revision only from short notes, formula sheets, maps and the error notebook.
- One timed paper every other day, at the time of day the real exam starts.
- Sleep of 8 hours or more every night - no all-nighters.
- Stationery packed the night before, following the instructions on the admit card: pens, pencils, geometry box, eraser and a water bottle.
Should your child plan for the second exam?
Wait until the first exam is over. If one or two papers went clearly worse than your child's level, the second exam is a reasonable way to improve those subjects. If everything went roughly as expected, you may prefer the break and an early start on Class 11. Either way, it is a decision for after February, not a reason to prepare less now.
Board year is stressful for the whole family. If worry is affecting sleep, eating or mood for more than a couple of weeks, read our guide on board exam stress and talk to your family doctor or a counsellor.
When a home tutor makes a difference
A home tutor is most useful in Class 10 for one subject that is clearly behind, for marking timed papers against the CBSE marking scheme, and for students who understand the content but lose marks on presentation. One or two focused subjects usually work better than tuition in everything.
If you're in Pune, you can post a requirement on TutorUp with the board, class, subjects and timings, and verified tutors near you can apply. Verified means a person on our team has checked the tutor's identity on a call or with a photo ID and a selfie; it is not a police or background check, so meet the tutor first and read how verification works. More on what to expect from CBSE home tutors in Pune.
No tutor can promise marks. A good one will tell you honestly where your child stands after the first few sessions.