Get the latest CBSE Class 10 Science Syllabus 2025-26 with a detailed course structure, chapter-wise blueprint, reference books, practicals, exam pattern, and sample papers!
Table of Contents
About the Subject
Science plays a crucial role in shaping analytical and reasoning skills in students. The CBSE Science syllabus for Classes 9 and 10 (2025-26) aims to develop scientific temper and a deeper understanding of natural phenomena. This comprehensive guide will cover the detailed syllabus, exam structure, practicals, and study tips for students to excel.
The subject of Science plays an important role in developing well-defined abilities in cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains in children. It augments the spirit of enquiry, creativity, objectivity and aesthetic sensibility. Upper primary stage demands that a number of opportunities should be provided to the students to engage them with the processes of Science like observing, recording observations, drawing, tabulation, plotting graphs, etc., whereas the secondary stage also expects abstraction and quantitative reasoning to occupy a more central place in the teaching and learning of Science. Thus, the idea of atoms and molecules being the building blocks of matter makes its appearance, as does Newton’s law of gravitation.
The present syllabus has been designed around seven broad themes viz. Food; Materials; The World of The Living; How Things Work; Moving Things, People and Ideas; Natural Phenomenon and Natural Resources. Special care has been taken to avoid temptation of adding too many concepts than can be comfortably learnt in the given time frame. No attempt has been made to be comprehensive.
At this stage, while Science is still a common subject, the disciplines of Physics, Chemistry and Biology begin to emerge. The students should be exposed to experiences based on hands on activities as well as modes of reasoning that are typical of the subject.
General Instructions
- There will be an Annual Examination based on the entire syllabus.
- The Annual Examination will be of 80 marks and 20 marks weightage shall be for Internal Assessment.
- For Internal Assessment:
- There will be Periodic Assessment that would include:
- For 5 marks- Three periodic tests conducted by the school. Average of the best two tests to be taken that will have a weightage of 05 marks towards the final result.
- For 5 marks- Diverse methods of assessment as per the need of the class dynamics and curriculum transaction. These may include – short tests, oral test, quiz, concept maps, projects, posters, presentations and enquiry based scientific investigations etc. and use rubrics for arguing them objectively. This will also have a weightage of 05 marks towards the final result.
- Practical / Laboratory work should be done throughout the year and the student should maintain record of the same. Practical Assessment should be continuous. There will be weightage of 5 marks towards the final result. All practicals listed in the syllabus must be completed.
- Portfolio to be prepared by the student- This would include classwork and other sample of student work and will carry a weightage of 5 marks towards the final results.
- There will be Periodic Assessment that would include:
Course Structure
The CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus consists of five units:
| Unit No. | Unit Name | Marks |
| I | Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour | 25 |
| II | World of Living | 25 |
| III | Natural Phenomena | 12 |
| IV | Effects of Current | 13 |
| V | Natural Resources | 5 |
| Total | 80 |
Theme: Materials
Unit I: Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour
- Chemical Reactions: Chemical equation, Balanced chemical equation, implications of a balanced chemical equation, types of chemical reactions: combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, precipitation, endothermic exothermic reactions, oxidation and reduction.Acids, bases and salts: Their definitions in terms of furnishing of H+ and OH– ions, General properties, examples and uses, neutralization, concept of pH scale (Definition relating to logarithm not required), importance of pH in everyday life; preparation and uses of Sodium Hydroxide, Bleaching powder, Baking soda, Washing soda and Plaster of Paris.
- Metals and Nonmetals: Properties of metals and non-metals; Reactivity series; Formation and properties of ionic compounds; Basic metallurgical processes; Corrosion and its prevention.
- Carbon Compounds: Covalent bonding in carbon compounds. Versatile nature of carbon. Homologous series. Nomenclature of carbon compounds containing functional groups (halogens, alcohol, ketones, aldehydes, alkanes and alkynes), difference between saturated hydro carbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Chemical properties of carbon compounds (combustion, oxidation, addition and substitution reaction). Ethanol and Ethanoic acid (only properties and uses), soaps and detergents.
Theme: The World of the Living
Unit II: World of Living
- Life Processes: ‘Living Being’. Basic concept of nutrition, respiration, transport and excretion in plants and animals.
- Control and Co-ordination in Animals and Plants: Tropic movements in plants; Introduction of plant hormones; Control and co-ordination in animals: Nervous system; Voluntary, involuntary and reflex action; Chemical co-ordination: animal hormones.
- Reproduction: Reproduction in animals and plants (asexual and sexual) reproductive health – need and methods of family planning. Safe sex vs HIV/AIDS. Child bearing and women’s health.
- Heredity and Evolution: Heredity; Mendel’s contribution- Laws for inheritance of traits: Sex determination: brief introduction: (topics excluded – evolution; evolution and classification and evolution should not be equated with progress).
Theme: Natural Phenomena
Unit III: Natural Phenomena
- Light: Reflection of light by curved surfaces; Images formed by spherical mirrors, centre of curvature, principal axis, principal focus, focal length, mirror formula (Derivation not required),magnification. Refraction; Laws of refraction, refractive index. Refraction of light by spherical lens; Image formed by spherical lenses; Lens formula (Derivation not required); Magnification. Power of a lens. Functioning of a lens in human eye, defects of vision and their corrections, applications of spherical mirrors and lenses.Refraction of light through a prism, dispersion of light, scattering of light, applications in dailylife (excluding colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset).
Theme: How Things Work
Unit IV: Effects of Current
- Electricity: Electric current, potential difference and electric current. Ohm’s law; Resistance, Resistivity, Factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends. Series combination of resistors, parallel combination of resistors and its applications in daily life. Heating effect of electric current and its applications in daily life. Electric power, Interrelation between P, V, I and R.
- Magnetic Effects of Current: Magnetic field, field lines, field due to a current carrying conductor, field due to current carrying coil or solenoid; Force on current carrying conductor, Fleming’s Left Hand Rule, Direct current. Alternating current: frequency of AC. Advantage of AC over DC. Domestic electric circuits.
Theme: Natural Resources
Unit V: Natural Resources
- Our Environment: Eco-system, Environmental problems, Ozone depletion, waste production and their solutions. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances.
Chapter-Wise Blueprint
Here is the detailed blueprint for CBSE Class 10 Science for the academic year 2025-26. The marks are divided into five types of questions: Assertion & Reason, Picture-Based MCQs, Multiple Choice Questions, Source/Case-based Questions, and Subjective Questions.
| Chapter Name | Assertion & Reason | MCQ (Picture Based) | Multiple Choice Question | Source/Case-based Question | Subjective Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Reactions and Equations | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | – | – | 3 (3) |
| Acids, Bases, and Salts | – | – | 1 (1) | 1 (4) | – | 2 (5) |
| Metals and Non-metals | – | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | – | 1 (3) | 3 (5) |
| Carbon and its Compounds | – | – | 2 (1) | – | 1 (2) | 3 (4) |
| Life Processes | – | – | 2 (1) | – | 1 (3) | 3 (5) |
| Control and Coordination | – | – | – | 1 (4) | – | 1 (4) |
| How do Organisms Reproduce | 1 (1) | – | 1 (1) | – | 1 (2) | 3 (4) |
| Heredity and Evolution | – | – | 2 (1) | – | 1 (3) | 3 (5) |
| Light Reflection and Refraction | – | – | – | – | 1 (3) | 2 (5) |
| Human Eye and Colourful World | – | – | – | – | 1 (2) | 1 (2) |
| Electricity | – | – | 1 (1) | – | 2 (3) | 3 (7) |
| Magnetic Effects of Electric Current | 1 (1) | – | 1 (1) | 1 (4) | – | 3 (6) |
| Our Environment | 1 (1) | – | 2 (1) | – | – | 3 (3) |
| Total Marks | 4 (4) | 2 (2) | 14 (14) | 3 (12) | 16 (48) | 39 (80) |
Reference Books
- Science for Tenth Class Part 1 Physics, Part 2 Chemistry, and Part 3 Biology by Lakhmir Singh and Manjit Kaur
- The Most Basic and Necessary: NCERT Science
- All in One Science CBSE Class 10 by Sonal Singh
- Oswaal CBSE Class 10 Science Question Bank
- Xam Idea Science Book Class 10
Read Best Science Books for Class 10 CBSE Students for more details.
Practicals
Unit: I
Preparation of:
- a true solution of common salt, sugar and alum
- a suspension of soil, chalk powder and fine sand in water
- a colloidal solution of starch in water and egg albumin/milk in water and distinguish between these on the basis of
- Transparency
- Filtration Criterion
- Stability
- A mixture
- A compound using iron filings and sulphur powder and distinguishing between these on the basis of:
- appearance, i.e., homogeneity and heterogeneity
- behaviour towards a magnet
- behaviour towards carbon disulphide as a solvent
- effect of heat
- Perform the following reactions and classify them as physical or chemical changes:
- Iron with copper sulphate solution in water
- Burning of magnesium ribbon in air
- Zinc with dilute sulphuric acid
- Heating of copper sulphate crystals
- Sodium sulphate with barium chloride in the form of their solutions in water
Unit: II
Preparation of:
- Stained temporary mounts of onion peel and human cheek cells & to record observations and draw their labeled diagrams.
- Identification of Parenchyma, Collenchyma and Sclerenchyma tissues in plants, striped, smooth and cardiac muscle fibers and nerve cells in animals, from prepared slides. Draw their labeled diagrams.
- Determination of the melting point of ice and the boiling point of water.
Unit: III
- Verification of the Laws of reflection of sound.
- Determination of the density of solid (denser than water) by using a spring balance and a measuring cylinder.
- Establishing the relation between the loss in weight of a solid when fully immersed in
- Tap water
- Strongly salty water with the weight of water displaced by it by taking at least two different solids.
- Determination of the speed of a pulse propagated through a stretched string/slinky (helical spring).
- Verification of the law of conservation of mass in a chemical reaction.
Exam Pattern
| Annual Examination | 80 Marks |
| Internal Assessment | 20 Marks |
| Total | 100 Marks |
Annual Examination (80 Marks)
| Knowledge-Based | 46% |
| Application-Based | 22% |
| Analytical and Creative | 32% |
| Total | 100% |
- Typology of Questions: VSA including objective type questions, Assertion – Reasoning type questions; SA; LA; Source-based/ Case-based/ Passage-based/ Integrated assessment questions.
- An internal choice of approximately 33% would be provided.
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
| Periodic Tests | 10 Marks |
| Practical Work | 5 Marks |
| Portfolio | 5 Marks |
Sample Papers
| Year | Sample Question Paper | Marking Scheme |
| 2024-25 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2023-24 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2022-23 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2021-22 | Click Here (Term 1) Click Here (Term 2) | Click Here (Term 1) Click Here (Term 2) |
| 2020-21 | Click Here | Click Here |
| 2019-2020 | Click Here | Click Here |
Important Information
- The chapter Management of Natural Resources (NCERT Chapter 16) will not be assessed in the year-end examination. However, learners may be assigned to read this chapter and encouraged to prepare a brief write up to any concept of this chapter in their Portfolio. This may be for Internal Assessment and credit may be given Periodic Assessment/Portfolio).
- The NCERT text books present information in boxes across the book. These help students to get conceptual clarity. However, the information in these boxes would not be assessed in the year-end examination.
Click here to view the official CBSE Class 10 Science Syllabus 2025-26.
What is the CBSE Class 10 Science exam pattern for 2025-26?
The CBSE Class 10 Science exam consists of an 80-mark annual exam and 20 marks for internal assessment.
Are NCERT books enough for Class 10 Science preparation?
Yes, NCERT books cover the entire syllabus and are sufficient for board exam preparation.
What are the most important chapters in Class 10 Science?
Important chapters include Chemical Reactions and Equations, Acids, Bases and Salts, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, and Light.
What are the practicals included in Class 10 Science?
Practicals include chemical reaction observations, pH determination, studying resistance in circuits, and light refraction experiments.
What are the best revision tips for Class 10 Science?
Revise NCERT textbooks, solve past papers, create notes, and focus on diagrams and formulas.
How can I score full marks in Class 10 Science practicals?
Ensure all experiments are completed, maintain a neat lab record, and be thorough with the concepts behind each practical.
What type of questions are asked in the Class 10 Science board exam?
The exam includes objective-type, short-answer, long-answer, and case-based questions.
How much weightage does the internal assessment carry?
The internal assessment carries 20 marks, which includes periodic tests (10 marks), practical work (5 marks), and portfolio (5 marks).
How should I manage time while preparing for Class 10 Science?
Create a study plan, allocate time for revision, focus on weak topics, and practice writing answers within a time limit.
What are the best reference books for Class 10 Science apart from NCERT?
Some recommended books include Lakhmir Singh & Manjit Kaur, Dinesh Science, and Exemplar Problems by NCERT.
