CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2025-26: New Mandatory Guidelines for Section-Wise Answer Writing in Science & Social Science

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued new guidelines for Class 10 students appearing for the 2026 board exams. A section-wise answer format is now mandatory for Science and Social Science subjects.

This structure must be followed in both the question paper and the answer book.

The change is aimed at enhancing evaluation accuracy, as previous exams revealed that mixed responses across sections made it difficult for examiners to assess and award marks correctly.

Further specific rules regarding the policy are detailed in the official CBSE press release [Notification no. CBSE/Co-ord/Class-X Sc. & S.Sc./2025], which is available as a PDF document on the CBSE website.

Section-wise structure for CBSE Class 10 Science & Social Science:

New Science Paper Structure:
Question paper has been divided into three (03) sections i.e.

New Social Science Paper Structure:

Similarly, in case of Social Science, the question paper has been divided into four (04) sections i.e.

In this regard, the Sample Question Papers of both Science and Social Science hosted on the CBSE Academic website may please be referred to.

Important instructions to be communicated to the students appearing in Class X Board examinations:

1. Students will divide the answer book into 03 sections in Science and 04 sections in Social Science for writing answers.
2. Replies to questions are to be written only within the space identified for the concerned section.
3. Replies of a section should not be written or mixed in any other section.
4. If replies are mixed, they will not be evaluated and no marks will be awarded.
5. Such mistakes will not be accepted and addressed even during verification or revaluation process after the results are declared.

Instructions for Schools and Students – Board Exam Preparation:

For Schools

1. Give students practice in section‑wise answer writing before the Board exams.
2. Include these rules in Pre‑Board exams.

For Students

1. Divide your answer book into sections as instructed (Science: 3, Social Science: 4).
2. Write answers only in the correct section.
3. Do not mix answers across sections — mixed replies will not be evaluated.
4. Use Pre‑Board exams to practice the correct format.