CBSE class 10 board exams are an important milestone in a student's life. Excelling in these exams gives an opportunity to the students to select the stream of their choice to pursue their interests. To get an edge over the competition, you must be well-versed in the marking scheme of the exam. If you are someone who is also preparing for the upcoming Class 10 board examination then you have landed on the apt page. This blog will help you understand how you can effectively prepare for Class 10 board exams and make your mark. So, let's get started and have a look!
Schedule for CBSE Class 10 2026 Boards
Phase 1 for the class 10 board examination is expected to be conducted between February 17 to March 10, 2026. Phase 1 is the compulsory phase for all candidates. Phase 2 of the board exam will take place between May 15 to June 1, 2026. Phase 2 will only be conducted for improvement and it is optional for the candidates whether they want to appear for it or not.
Marking Scheme for CBSE Class 10 Exams
In general, every subject comprises 100 marks in total. Out of 100 marks, 80 marks are for the theory paper and 20 marks for the internal assessment. 20 marks for internal assessment will be bifurcated into three sections i.e. periodic assessment, subject enrichment, and portfolio. In 2026, you will also encounter competency-based questions in the exam. These competency-based questions will have a weightage of 50% of the paper. The total marks for all the subjects are 500 based on the best of 5 subjects. Even if you have taken 6 subjects, your total will be calculated based on the scores of the best 5. While competency-based questions will cover a weightage of 50% of the entire paper, 20% will be MCQ-type questions, and 30% will be constructed response questions.
How to Prepare for Class 10 Board Exams?
This section will help you understand how you can prepare for Class 10 board exams. Let's get started and have a look!
1. Understand the syllabus and exam pattern
To kickstart your exam preparation journey, you must be well-versed with the syllabus and exam pattern. You can download the latest syllabus from the official website. Once you are well-versed with it, you can take your preparation in the right direction without any hassle. Books for class 10 are one of the best ways to have a grasp of the syllabus. Besides that, when you have a clear understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern, you will understand which topic has high weightage as compared to others.
2. Refer question banks
The CBSE 10 question bank is one of the best resources to access the largest pool of questions from an examination standpoint. With question banks, you will come across a large variety of questions that can be asked in the examination. In addition to that, question banks act as a great asset to refer to topic-wise questions as soon as you complete one topic for the examination. This will also help you understand how well you understood the concept and whether you will be able to tackle a variety of questions from it or not.
3. Practice extensively
To crack the class 10 board exams with flying colours, you must take an ample number of practice sessions. CBSE SQP class 10 is one of the best ways to understand the trends being followed in the examination. Apart from that, you will also understand the weightage of different topics from an examination standpoint. You can also refer to the class 10 PYQ book which will help you understand the type of questions being asked in the exam and how you can tackle them.
4. Design an achievable timetable
Designing a timetable with designated milestones is of great importance while preparing for the Class 10 board exams. When you design a study plan, you can easily complete your syllabus in the stipulated time. Apart from that, you will also have enough time to revise the concepts that will make your preparation foolproof for the day of the examination. In addition to that, make sure that you take a sufficient number of breaks so you do not hamper your sleep.
5. Stay motivated
There will be times when you will feel demotivated. But, you need to have faith in your preparation to excel in the board exams. Preparing for board exams is an extensive journey and you need to prepare holistically to get an edge. Make sure that you are not pressurising yourself and making the most of the available opportunities. Focus on your weak areas so you can tackle any type of question on the day of the examination. This will make you confident for the upcoming board exam.
6. Focus on conceptual clarity
To conquer the board exams, you must focus on conceptual clarity. When you focus on concepts rather than mugging up the questions, you will be able to tackle a large variety of questions on the day of the examination. Moreover, you will also come to know about your strengths and weaknesses that can help you bifurcate your time accordingly. The command that you will hold over the concepts will act as a great asset during the board examinations.
Mistakes to Avoid During Board Exams
This section will focus on some of the common mistakes that you must avoid to conquer the board exams. Let's have a look!
1. Most of the students commit the mistake of starting something new just before the examination. This will act as a great drawback as it will interfere with your entire preparation. So, don't start anything from scratch just before the examination.
2. Ignoring the written practice sessions is a common mistake committed by a large number of students. If you don't practice enough, you will not be able to complete your exam well in time. This will act as a major setback during the board examination journey.
3. Most students believe that revision is not an important aspect of exam preparation. But this is not the case. If you don't revise the concepts before the examination then there are high chances that you can miss important topics for the examination.
4. Not covering the entire syllabus is one of the biggest mistakes committed by students. If you don't focus on the areas where you find difficulty then you will face difficulty on the day of the examination.
5. Don't cram the concepts just before the examination. If you don't understand the concepts, you will not be able to tackle a large variety of questions on the day of the examination.
Read More: How to Improve Writing Skills for CBSE Class 10 English Exam?
Final Thoughts
CBSE class 10 board exams can be conquered easily if you start with the preparation at the beginning. The more time you spend on practice sessions, the better clarity you will have to tackle a variety of questions on the day of the examination. Make sure that you design a meticulous study plan and follow it religiously to complete your syllabus well in time. So, don't over-stress yourself and focus on your preparation to achieve the best results.
All the Best!
