CBSE Board Exam 2026 LIVE: Feb 17 Class 10, 12 exams over; Maths MCQs 'lengthy', answer key updates

The CBSE Class 10 Maths paper for basis section was moderate in difficulty, while students find MCQs lengthy in nature. The standard section had direct and straight forward questions.

The CBSE Class 10 Standard Maths paper was closely aligned with the prescribed NCERT curriculum, with nearly 70% of the questions directly from textbook exercises and familiar formats, as per the subject expert Varun Goel, head of department, Mathematics, NC, Shiv Nadar School, Gurugram.

“The Grade 10 Mathematics Basic question paper conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education was well aligned with the prescribed NCERT curriculum. Around 60% of the questions were based on direct textbook exercises and concepts, allowing students who had prepared thoroughly from NCERT textbooks to approach the paper with familiarity,” Goel said.

The MCQs were based on logical reasoning, and some options were closely framed, requiring attentive reading.

“Algebra, including Quadratic Equations and Pair of Linear Equations, had significant weightage, while Geometry and Trigonometry questions tested proper step-wise presentation,” as per the subject expert.

“The long-answer and case-study questions involved moderate calculations, making time management important. Students felt the paper was fair but required thorough practice. Those who focused on conceptual understanding and previous year papers are likely to perform well,” the expert added.

The CBSE Class 10 Mathematics basic paper was overall easy to moderate in difficulty and questions were student-friendly, says Preethi Rajeev Nair, principal, Lancers Army Schools.

“The question paper was strictly based on NCERT, with no out-of-syllabus questions. Most questions were direct and formula-based, making it comfortable for students who had practiced NCERT examples and exercises thoroughly,” Nair said.

The CBSE conducted the CBSE Class 10 Maths paper from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Here is the answer key for the CBSE Maths paper.

CBSE Class 10 maths paper answer key. (Image source: Official)

• “While the paper followed a familiar structure, the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) stood out for being notably lengthy. These initial questions required students to invest significant time in analysis and calculation, demanding more than just a surface-level understanding to navigate the options effectively,” as per the CBSE Class 10 paper analysis.

The CBSE Class 12 Maths question paper 2026 was 'moderate' in difficulty and offered a fair balance between foundational concepts and critical thinking, according to Tanmoy Das, PGT Mathematics at the Modern English School, Kahilipara, Guwahati in Assam.

The Maths paper followed a familiar structure, and the MCQs were 'lengthy.'

As per the subject experts' analysis for the CBSE 10th Maths question paper 2026 difficulty level for each type of question was as follows.

• 5-mark section: Straightforward, good questio
• Short-answer section: Balanced
• 2-mark questions: Easy and direct
• 3-mark questions: Moderate questions

Careers360 subject experts will soon share updates on the CBSE Class 10 Maths answer key, along with question papers with solutions. However, several institutes and YouTube channels will share the CBSE 10th Basic Maths paper analysis with solutions, so that students can evaluate their probable scores.

As per subject experts, the CBSE Class 10 Maths question paper had "lengthy" questions. However, the 5-marker questions were "straightforward."

CBSE conducted the CBSE Board Exam 2026 Feb 17 exam from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm for Class 10th Maths and 12th Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Shorthand papers.

CBSE Class 10 Maths Question Paper 2026 | The Class 10th Maths paper short-answer sections had "balanced" questions, whereas the 3-mark questions were "moderate"  and the 2-mark questions were described as "easy and direct". However, the paper had a probability question in the 2-mark section, which served as a tool to evaluate the students' ability to apply mathematical concepts.

As per subject experts, the 5-mark section in the Maths paper featured "straightforward questions" that allowed students to demonstrate their depth of knowledge. The short-answer questions had "balanced tone," with 3-mark questions falling into the "moderate category," and 2-mark questions were "easy and direct."

According to Tanmoy Das, PGT Mathematics at the Modern English School, Kahilipara, Guwahati in Assam, the CBSE Class 10 Maths Question Paper 2026 was 'moderate' in difficulty level and offered a fair balance between foundational concepts and critical thinking. Whereas the Maths paper followed a familiar structure, and the MCQs were 'lengthy.'

The type of questions asked in the CBSE 2026 Class 10 Maths Question Paper are as follows.

CBSE Board 2026 |  Feb 17 Maths paper for Class 10 will get over at 1:30 pm. Students will have access to unofficial papers with solutions and the list of questions asked in the exam for evaluation.

Once the CBSE Board exam 2026 is over, students will have access to the Class 10 Maths question papers with solutions. Students who appeared for the CBSE Feb 17 Class 10th Maths paper will be able to calculate their probable marks and evaluate their responses using the unofficial answer keys.

A user on Twitter has alleged 'bad management' at the DAV School centre in Ahmedabad, saying that it took him more than 30 mins to cross the 200-metre stretch of the Makarba underpass due to the CBSE board exam 2026.

The user wrote and posted on X: "It took me 35 mins, to cross a 200 mtr stretch of makarba underpass due CBSE board exam in DAV School. Bad management by the Ahmedabad DAV school."

The CBSE board introduced major changes this year, such as mandating the linking of APAAR ID, revision in registration fee, and mandatory 75% attendance for Class 10 and 12 board exams, and much more. Notably, CBSE has approved open-book assessment for Class 9 students. The board also approved to conduct CBSE 10th exams twice a year fo students.

Read More: CBSE unveils 8 major changes for Class 10, 12 board exams; what students need to know

Students at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Vasundhara, have expressed a mix of 'nervousness and determination' when they arrived at the exam centre. Parents were seen encouraging students with last-minute advice and support.

Samaira Sharma, a student appearing for the 10th Board exam said: "This is important as grade 10th results determine the career ahead. I am hoping that my exams go well… I have studied for 6-7 hours daily, and then my syllabus was covered. Studying in the last days was a bit hectic for me.”

Students can visit the CBSE official website on the portals listed below.

• cbse.gov.in
• parikshasangam.cbse.gov.in
• cbseacademic.nic.in

CBSE has urged all Class 10 and 12 students appearing for the board exams and concerned stakeholders not to get misled by rumours about question paper leaks. More than 46 lakh students from India and abroad are set to appear in the CBSE Board exams 2026, according to officials.\

"As observed in the past, certain unscrupulous elements attempt to mislead students and parents by spreading fake news on various social media platforms during the course of exams. Such misinformation often includes false claims of question paper leaks and circulation of purported question papers for Class 10 and 12 examinations of the Board," said a senior CBSE official. With inputs from PTI

The CBSE Board Exams Time Table for Class 12th exams is shown below.

The CBSE board has issued the CBSE admit card for private candidates 2026 on the Pariksha Sangam portal. Students can access their admit card using their application number and other details.

CBSE will hold practical board exams 2026 for private students from Feb 23 to March 17. The board has directed all CBSE-affiliated schools to ensure the availability of internal examiners.

Notably, CBSE said that no project work or internal assessment will be conducted for subjects that do not have practical components.

CBSE Board has begun the Feb 17 paper for Class 10 and 12 students. Updates on the answer key, paper difficulty level, and memory-based questions asked will be shared by students soon.

The CBSE 12th passing marks for PCMB and English is shown in the table below.

CBSE will conduct the Class 10 Maths and 12th Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship, and Shorthand exams from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The CBSE date sheet 2026 for Class 10, subject-wise, is shown in the table below.

As per the CBSE Board updates, a total of 25,08,319 students are appearing for the Class 10th exams, of whom 14,08,546 are male, and 10,99,773 are female.

Once the CBSE Board Class 10th exam 2026 is over, students will have access to paper analysis and questions with solutions, so that they can evaluate their responses and calculate their expected marks.

The CBSE passing marks criteria for 10th board exams 2026 are shown in the table below.

CBSE 10th Passing Marks Criteria: Theory Subjects

CBSE has revised the answer book structure for the Class 10 board exams 2026 in Science and Social Science. As per the revised structure, in Science, the answer book will be divided into three sections: Section A for Biology, Section B for Chemistry, and Section C for Physics. And for the Social Science, answers should be written in four sections: Section A (History), Section B (Geography), Section C (Political Science), and Section D (Economics).

Each section will have a space in the answer book, and students will be required to write responses only in the designated area, as per the CBSE board.

Read More: CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026: Section-wise answer writing introduced for science and social science

CBSE Board Exams 2026 | The CBSE Class 10 Mathematics exam pattern and marking scheme is shown in the table below.

Yes, as per board guidelines, simple analog watches are allowed in CBSE board exams 2026 to track time, but smartwatches, digital watches, health bands, and any Bluetooth devices are strictly prohibited in the exam centres.

Yes, students can use the gen pen during the board exams. However, the CBSE board forbids the use of a whitener in the exams.

Delhi Police has released a special traffic advisory to ensure that students appearing for the CBSE Class 10 and 12 board examinations can travel to their exam centres smoothly and without inconvenience.

The CBSE board exams are scheduled to begin on February 17, coinciding with the international AI Impact Summit being held in Delhi. Due to the arrival and movement of delegates near Bharat Mandapam, several roads in central Delhi have already been restricted for the general public.

Read More: CBSE Board Exams 2026: Class 10, 12 students with admit cards to get priority, says Delhi Police

CBSE Board 2026 will hold Class 10 exams from February 17 to March 11, and CBSE Class 12 exams will be conducted from February 17 to April 10, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Students appearing for the CBSE board exams 2026 will receive admit card from their respective schools. Students will have to carry their hall ticket along with school IDs at the exam centres for verification purposes.

The CBSE Board exams 2026 rules for Class 10 and 12 students are as follows.

• Students should carefully check that all the subjects they have studied are correctly mentioned in the list submitted to the schools.
• They must reach the examination centre at least 30–45 minutes before the reporting time mentioned in the CBSE Date Sheet 2026 for Classes 10 and 12. Entry to the examination hall will not be allowed after the reporting time under any circumstances.
• Students must carry their CBSE-issued admit cards. Without a valid admit card, they will not be allowed to appear for the examination.
• Question papers and answer booklets will be handed out 15 minutes before the start of the exam. During this time, students should complete the required details and carefully read the question paper.
• Bringing any unauthorized or unfair means materials into the examination hall is strictly prohibited.

CBSE Class 10, 12 board exam 2026 begins today under new format; over 4.5 million to appear

The CBSE Board exam timings 2026 for students appearing for the exam is as follows.

• Main Exam Slot: 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
• Question Paper Distribution: 10:15 AM (15 minutes for reading).
• Entry Deadline: Students are generally required to reach by 10:00 AM.
• Duration: Most major papers are 3 hours; some shorter vocational papers may end at 12:30 PM.
• Pre-exam Arrival: Recommended to reach the center 30–45 minutes early.
• Mandatory Items: School ID, CBSE Admit Card, and school uniform.

The CBSE Board exam marking scheme for Class 10th exams 2026 is shown in the table below.

The CBSE board will conduct the Class 12th exam from February 17 to April 9, while the Class 10th first-phase paper will be held from Feb 17 to March 10, and the second-phase exams will be held from May 15 to June 1.

Ahead of the Class 10 and 12 board exams starting February 17, CBSE has instructed schools to submit any question paper issues only through the OECMS portal and on the same day of the exam. The board noted that some schools were sending vague or delayed complaints to incorrect email IDs. CBSE warned that unclear or late observations will not be considered and asked schools to follow the prescribed process for timely action.

Three students of a private school in Saket, Delhi were allegedly denied CBSE board exam admit cards a day before the Class 10 examinations over an ongoing fee dispute, NDTV reported. Parents claim they had paid the directorate of education approved fees, but the school demanded additional dues running into lakhs.

Families said students waited for hours at the school premises but were not allowed to collect their admit cards. The exams are scheduled to begin on February 17, raising concerns about whether the students will be able to appear.

The dispute is linked to a long running disagreement over fee hikes, which parents say are still under legal consideration.

CBSE will conduct the board examinations in a single shift, starting at 10:30 AM from February 17. Students should reach the exam centre well in advance to complete verification and seating procedures.

The CBSE Class 10 board exams will commence on February 17, 2026 and continue till early March, with major subjects scheduled across different dates. The date sheet for major subjects is;

Students can download the Class 12 board exam 2026 timetable from cbse.gov.in. The exam will start on February 17 with Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Shorthand papers, so candidates should review the subject-wise schedule and plan their preparation accordingly.

For Class 12 candidates, the CBSE examinations will be held from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on every exam day.

Students must bring these items to the exam centre:

• CBSE Class 12 admit card for 2026

• School identity card

• Blue or black pen

• Basic stationery or geometry box

About 4.5 million candidates from India and 26 other countries are set to take the CBSE Class 10 and 12 examinations in 2026 across 204 subjects. On the opening day, the Central Board of Secondary Education will hold the Class 10 Mathematics exam and the Class 12 papers for Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Shorthand.