CBSE Class 10 Sample Papers 2026–27: Official PDFs, Marking Schemes and Practice Plan
CBSE released the official Class 10 Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes for the 2026–27 session on 21 September 2026. These documents are the best source for understanding the question-paper design students will meet in the 2027 board examination.
This hub gives direct PDF links for Maths Basic, Maths Standard, Science, Social Science and Computer Applications, plus CBSE's complete Class X subject index. It then explains how to turn each paper into a diagnostic. Downloading a paper is only the first step; use each lost mark to choose a specific correction task.
Review your Maths paper with a free companion
Choose Basic or Standard, enter lost marks by syllabus topic and error type, and print a correction checklist. The tool uses your own review of the marking scheme; it does not mark answers or predict grades.
Official CBSE Class 10 sample papers and marking schemes
Use the matching Sample Question Paper (SQP) and Marking Scheme (MS). Every download below opens CBSE's own website. For languages and other subjects not listed in this shorter table, use the official Class X index. Check the subject and paper type before beginning, especially Mathematics Basic versus Mathematics Standard.
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Subject | Official sample paper | Official marking scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Standard | CBSE Maths Standard SQP | CBSE Maths Standard MS |
| Mathematics Basic | CBSE Maths Basic SQP | CBSE Maths Basic MS |
| Science | CBSE Science SQP | CBSE Science MS |
| Social Science | CBSE Social Science SQP | CBSE Social Science MS |
| Computer Applications | CBSE Computer Applications SQP | CBSE Computer Applications MS |
Which resource do you need today?
A sample paper, textbook and marking scheme answer different questions. Choose the resource from the task you are trying to complete. Downloading another paper is unlikely to help if the current obstacle is understanding a chapter or interpreting feedback.
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Today's problem | Start here | Finish with this evidence |
|---|---|---|
| I do not know what is prescribed | The current subject curriculum and school guidance | A scope list with uncertain items marked for the teacher. |
| I cannot explain a chapter | The prescribed textbook, class notes and a worked example | An explanation and a fresh problem solved without copying. |
| I know chapters but run out of time | A matching sample-paper section under time | Questions attempted, time used and unfinished steps. |
| I cannot see why marks were lost | The matching official marking scheme | The first missing or incorrect step beside each question. |
| The same mistake keeps returning | A focused correction set and delayed retest | A different question testing the same idea. |
Keep paper identity and practice results together
Before an attempt, write a cover line: board, class, subject, session, paper type and source. For Maths, write Basic or Standard explicitly. Save the matching marking scheme under the same name. A similarly titled PDF from an earlier year or a different board may still contain useful questions, but it is not evidence of the current format.
For a first diagnostic, choose a section whose content has been taught. For a full rehearsal, follow the official paper's conditions. Afterwards, record the total alongside the type of help used: independent, prompted or open-book. Those attempts are different kinds of evidence and should not be compared as if they were identical.
Keep a brief review appointment after the attempt. Ask the student to choose one concept error and one exam-technique error, write a repair task for each, and set a date to check them again. If a question has alternative methods, ask the teacher about valid working rather than assuming the sample solution is the only possible approach.
What CBSE's release means for the 2027 boards
CBSE's release notification states that the assessment scheme for 2026–27 is unchanged from 2025–26. Students should still read the current subject paper carefully because it shows the live section structure, internal choices, competency mix and answer expectations for this session.
- Maths Standard and Basic have separate sample papers and marking schemes; practise the paper in which the student is registered.
- Science should be reviewed separately across Biology, Chemistry and Physics so one strong branch does not hide another branch's gaps.
- Social Science answers need both accurate content and a plan for completing longer responses within the paper time.
- Computer Applications preparation should combine concept recall with careful reading of code, output and application questions.
A three-hour mock protocol
- Before the mock: print or open the correct official paper, remove notes and prepare only the materials allowed in the examination.
- During the mock: follow the stated reading and writing time, record the start and finish time, and mark questions that consumed unusually long.
- After the mock: use the official marking scheme and award marks only for steps or points actually written.
- Within 24 hours: re-solve every missed question without seeing the marking scheme, then compare again.
- After three to seven days: attempt a similar question to check whether the correction lasted.
Turn the marking scheme into an error log
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Error type | What it usually means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Concept gap | The underlying rule or idea is unclear | Relearn the concept and solve three graduated questions. |
| Method gap | The concept is known but the setup is incomplete | Write the model sequence, then practise without prompts. |
| Recall gap | A formula, reaction, term or fact was unavailable | Use short spaced retrieval across several days. |
| Reading error | A condition, unit or command word was missed | Underline givens and the required output before solving. |
| Time error | The answer was possible but unfinished | Practise timed sections and improve question selection. |
| Presentation error | Required steps, labels or keywords were absent | Compare line by line with the official marking points. |
How parents can use the result
Avoid treating one mock score as a forecast. Review the error categories and ask which two changes will be visible in the next attempt. A useful plan names the exact chapters or skills, the practice to complete and the date for retesting.
- Keep Maths Basic and Standard materials separate.
- For Science, record branch-wise marks and error types.
- Schedule correction time before scheduling the next full paper.
- Bring the paper and error log to a tutor when the same gap survives two correction attempts.
Turn a paper mistake into focused practice
Choose the skill where your written method first went wrong. Each original lesson includes hints, worked corrections and an independent retest; none is an official paper or a prediction of the next exam.
Understand the topic before another paper
Fit paper practice into a first-sitting plan
Prepare for the first sitting, then use attempted work to choose what to repair. Keep school entry dates and second-sitting eligibility separate from the study plan.
Try a short check, then return to the explanation
Optional TutorMax original practice: five questions on linear equations or optics, with explanations and a fresh retest. These checks sample a few skills; they are not official paper questions or a whole-subject readiness score. Existing explanations and official paper downloads stay available on this page.
Science sample-paper video walkthroughs
Attempt the relevant questions first, then use the checked TutorMax episodes to revisit the reasoning. Each episode states its question range; this is not yet a walkthrough of the whole paper.
Frequently asked questions
Are these official CBSE sample papers for the 2026–27 session?
Yes. The download links go to CBSE Academic's official 2026–27 Class X sample-paper and marking-scheme files. The session's board examination is held in 2027.
Where can I find sample papers for every Class 10 subject?
Use the linked official CBSE Class X subject index. It lists the complete 2026–27 set of available sample question papers and marking schemes; this guide highlights the subjects TutorMax families request most often.
Did CBSE change the Class 10 paper pattern for 2026–27?
CBSE's release notification says the assessment scheme is unchanged from 2025–26. Students should still study the current subject paper for its exact structure and instructions.
Should a student solve Maths Basic or Maths Standard?
Use the paper matching the student's registration. The syllabus overlaps, but the question-paper difficulty and design are different.
Should the marking scheme be read before attempting the paper?
No. Attempt the paper independently under timed conditions, then use the marking scheme to score the written steps and identify missing reasoning.
How often should students attempt a complete sample paper?
During the final preparation phase, one carefully corrected paper can be more valuable than several unreviewed papers. Add another mock only after the previous paper's main errors have been repaired.
PERSONAL SUPPORT
Turn the sample-paper result into a targeted plan
Share the student's marked Maths or Science paper. TutorMax can identify the recurring gaps and discuss one-to-one support around the board schedule.
Discuss Class 10 support