Every main CBSE Class 10 subject is marked out of 100: 80 marks in the board exam and 20 marks of internal assessment by the school. Knowing how those marks are split, and what the paper looks like, helps your child put effort where it counts.
At a glance
- 80 marks: written board exam, 3 hours.
- 20 marks: internal assessment by your child’s school.
- Pass mark: at least 33% in each subject.
- Grades: marks are also shown on a 9-point grade scale, from A1 to E.
The 20 internal marks
Internal assessment is done by the school during the year, within CBSE guidelines. It typically includes:
- Periodic tests held by the school
- Multiple assessments such as quizzes, oral tests and worksheets
- Portfolio: classwork, notebooks and assignments
- Subject enrichment: lab work in Science, listening and speaking in languages, projects in Social Science
These 20 marks are among the easiest to secure. Complete notebooks, on-time assignments and regular attendance at lab sessions can bring most students close to full marks. Under the two-exam system, internal assessment happens only once a year, so it cannot be redone later.
What the 80-mark paper looks like
CBSE’s question papers now test application, not just memory. In recent years the papers have been designed roughly like this:
| Type of question | Approx. share | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Competency-based questions | About 50% | Case-based, source-based and real-life application questions, including some MCQs |
| Objective (select-response) questions | About 20% | MCQs and other one-mark questions |
| Constructed-response questions | About 30% | Short and long answers that need full working or explanation |
Competency-based questions reward understanding. A student who has only memorised answers will struggle with a case study they have never seen before.
Example: Class 10 Mathematics (80 marks)
| Unit | Marks |
|---|---|
| Number Systems | 6 |
| Algebra | 20 |
| Coordinate Geometry | 6 |
| Geometry | 15 |
| Trigonometry | 12 |
| Mensuration | 10 |
| Statistics & Probability | 11 |
| Total | 80 |
Algebra and Geometry together carry 35 of the 80 marks, which is why they deserve the most practice time. See our step-by-step plan to score 95%+ in Class 10 Maths.
How to use the marking scheme
- Secure the 20 internal marks early. Keep notebooks complete and submit work on time.
- Practise in the board pattern. Write full papers in 3 hours, including case-based questions.
- Learn step marking. In long answers, each correct step earns marks even if the final answer is wrong, so always show working.
- Use previous years’ papers and CBSE sample papers. They show exactly how questions are framed and marked.
At Universal Tutorials, every chapter test and mock follows the board pattern, papers are corrected by the same teachers who teach your child, and printed model answers are given right after each test, so students learn exactly how marks are awarded. Our study volumes include 10 years of previous board questions. See what’s included →
Want board-pattern practice all year?
Admissions for 2027-28 are open for Class 9 and 10 CBSE at all six UT centres in Navi Mumbai.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks are internal in CBSE Class 10?
20 marks in each main subject are internal assessment by the school. The remaining 80 marks come from the board exam.
What is the passing mark in CBSE Class 10?
Students need at least 33% marks in each subject to pass.
What are competency-based questions?
Questions that test how well a student can apply a concept, for example case studies, source-based questions and real-life problems. They make up about half of the paper.
Is step marking given in CBSE Maths?
Yes. In longer answers marks are awarded for correct steps, so students should always show their working.
Where can I find the official marking scheme?
CBSE publishes the syllabus, sample papers and marking schemes for each subject on cbseacademic.nic.in.
Based on the CBSE curriculum and sample question papers for 2026-27. Check cbseacademic.nic.in for the official subject-wise documents.
