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

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has changed the answer book structure for Class 10 board exams 2026 in Science and Social Science. Students will now have to write answers in separate sections as per the subject divisions to ensure proper evaluation.

In Science, the answer book is divided into three sections: Section A for Biology, Section B for Chemistry, and Section C for Physics. For Social Science, answers must be written in four sections: Section A (History), Section B (Geography), Section C (Political Science), and Section D (Economics).

Each section has a dedicated space in the answer book, and students are required to write responses only in the designated area.

CBSE has clarified that any answers written outside the designated section or mixed across sections will not be evaluated. This rule will apply during the evaluation as well as verification or revaluation after results are declared.

“All schools are therefore requested to kindly ensure that required practice is done by the students in advance to ensure that they are not making any mistakes when writing Board examinations,” the board said.

Earlier, CBSE Class 10 science and social science question papers followed a standard format divided into five or six sections (A to E/F), including competency-based questions, multiple-choice questions, short and long answers, case-based questions, and map skills, without separating questions by specific subjects.

CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026: Sample papers available

The sample question papers for both CBSE Class 10 science and social science subjects are also available on the CBSE academic website. These sample papers reflect the section-wise division and can be used by schools to train students in following the proper format.

The CBSE Class 10 board exam 2026 is scheduled to be held from February 17 to March 10. The CBSE Class 10 science paper will be conducted on February 25, while the social science paper will be conducted on March 7.

The board has also advised schools to incorporate these instructions in pre-board examinations to help students become familiar with the process.