CBSE Class 10 Science exam 2026 analysis: Students say Physics tough, Biology easy; teachers rate paper moderate
The CBSE Class 10 Science exam 2026, conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, was held today, February 25, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The three-hour examination covered important topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, giving students a balanced question paper that included numericals, diagrams, and concept-based questions. The question paper was divided into different sections, with Section C requiring students to use higher-order thinking skills and apply their conceptual knowledge to solve the problems. Overall, the paper was designed to test both understanding and application of scientific concepts rather than just memorization. Many students shared that managing time properly was very important during the exam, especially while solving Physics numericals and interpreting diagram-based questions. The Chemistry and Biology sections were mostly based on fundamental concepts and NCERT syllabus content, which made them relatively easier for students who had prepared well. On the other hand, Physics required both quick thinking and accuracy, keeping students focused and attentive throughout the examination. Across India, a total of 2,508,319 students have registered for the Class 10 examination conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education. The exam is being conducted across 8,075 examination centres, with 1,408,546 male students and 1,099,773 female students appearing for the test. Since the examination is held in different shifts and locations, not all candidates appear on the same day, but these numbers give an overall idea of the large scale of the exam. For Class 10 students, the next important examination is scheduled for March 2, 2026, for the Hindi subject. At Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Shree Ram Colony, where students from GGSSS Sonia Vihar appeared for the exam, students shared mostly positive but slightly mixed feedback about the paper. Many students felt that Chemistry and Biology were relatively easier compared to other sections. One student, Soni, mentioned, “Chemistry and Biology were easy,” while another student, Harshita, said, “The paper was quite lengthy, especially Section C.” Students also shared that Section C required more analytical thinking and better time management skills. Physics was considered the most time-consuming section of the paper. Soni explained that solving numerical problems took more time, and questions involving diagrams and electric circuits required higher-level understanding. Harshita added that Physics needed more concentration, but with proper preparation and practice, it was manageable. Chemistry was generally considered easier by many students. Soni shared that questions related to balancing chemical equations were simple and straightforward. Biology was regarded as the easiest section of the paper. Soni mentioned that several Biology questions were directly based on the NCERT textbook, making this section the most comfortable part of the exam, and she hoped to score full marks in this section. Harshita also said that she was able to attempt all the questions with confidence because most of the content was familiar from classroom learning and regular studies. Sharing a similar opinion, Suryansh Srivastava, a Class X student from Witty International School, Udaipur, said that the Central Board of Secondary Education Science paper felt easier compared to the Mathematics exam. He mentioned that most questions were directly based on the prescribed syllabus. The Biology and Chemistry sections were more scoring and straightforward, while a few Physics questions required deeper conceptual understanding. Overall, he described the paper as being of easy to moderate difficulty level, and believed that the exam could be completed comfortably within the allotted time with proper preparation. In general, students described the Science paper as easy to moderate, with Physics being the most challenging section that required more effort. Chemistry and Biology remained the scoring sections for students who had studied the concepts well. Teacher Analysis: Overall Difficulty and Paper Structure Teachers also shared that the Class 10 Science paper conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education was balanced, moderate in difficulty, and student-friendly. The paper mainly focused on NCERT-based concepts and competency-based learning. Priyanka Sahu, Assistant Manager at Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools Corporate Office, said that the paper followed a clear three-section structure covering Biology, Chemistry, and Physics separately, making it well-organized and easy for students to attempt. She added that most questions were direct and concept-based, with very few unexpected problems. However, the paper felt slightly lengthy because it included a mix of MCQs, Assertion–Reason questions, competency-based items, numericals, and diagram-based problems. Students who managed their time well were able to complete the paper comfortably. Dr. Shikha Sharma, Head of the Science Department at Silverline Prestige School, shared that the Science paper conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education included a good combination of competency-based and moderate-level questions that tested students’ application skills. She explained that the MCQs and case-based questions were of average difficulty level. Many students were able to complete the paper within the given time and felt satisfied with the overall difficulty level. According to her, all the question sets were generally easy to moderate. Similarly, Ms. Ranjana Thapar, Science faculty at Satya School, Gurugram, stated that the paper was well-structured and comprehensive, covering all major sections of the syllabus. She described the overall difficulty level as moderate, adding that most questions were direct but required careful reading and a clear understanding of concepts. The MCQs were mainly competency-based and slightly tricky, while the case study-based questions focused on analytical thinking and application of knowledge. Section-wise Observations Teachers observed that the paper maintained a balanced distribution across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, giving well-prepared students a fair chance to score good marks. Priyanka Sahu mentioned that the Biology section included familiar diagrams and reasoning-based questions based on the NCERT syllabus. Chemistry questions were mostly straightforward, focusing on standard reactions and textbook concepts. Physics included a few numerical problems and ray diagram-based questions that required proper formula application but followed the expected board examination pattern. She also added that internal choice options in the paper helped reduce exam pressure and gave students more flexibility while answering. Ms. Ranjana Thapar further explained that Physics was largely theory-oriented with fewer numerical problems, while Chemistry was comparatively easier with activity-based and reaction-based questions. Biology was