CBSE Class 10 Science Syllabus 2026-27 — 13 Chapters, Physics Chemistry Biology & Two Board Exams

What's New in 2026-27?

• Two Board Exams policy: Mandatory first exam in February-March, optional improvement exam in May. Higher score counts.
• Continuity from 2025-26: The Class 10 Science syllabus remains stable with 13 chapters. The same NCERT textbook continues.
• Competency-based assessment: More case-study questions, data interpretation, and multi-disciplinary questions connecting Physics, Chemistry, and Biology concepts.
• Practical component enhanced: Internal assessment (20 marks) includes practicals, projects, and periodic tests with emphasis on experimental skills.

Syllabus Overview — Marks Distribution

Unit	Chapters	Marks
Chemical Substances — Nature and Behaviour	Chemical Reactions, Acids Bases Salts, Metals Non-Metals, Carbon Compounds	25
World of Living	Life Processes, Control and Coordination, Reproduction, Heredity and Evolution	25
Natural Phenomena	Light — Reflection and Refraction, Human Eye and Colourful World	12
Effects of Current	Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current	13
Natural Resources	Our Environment	5
Total Theory		80
Internal Assessment	Periodic Tests, Practicals, Portfolio	20
Grand Total		100

Chapter-wise Syllabus

Chemistry (25 Marks)

Chapter 1: Chemical Reactions and Equations — Writing and balancing chemical equations. Types of reactions: combination, decomposition (thermal, electrolytic, photo), displacement, double displacement, redox. Effects of oxidation-reduction in everyday life (corrosion, rancidity). Exothermic and endothermic reactions.

Chapter 2: Acids, Bases and Salts — Definition (Arrhenius). Indicators (litmus, methyl orange, phenolphthalein). pH scale and its importance. Properties of acids and bases. Reaction of acids with metals, metal carbonates, metal hydrogen carbonates. Neutralisation. Salts — preparation, properties. Importance of pH in everyday life (soil, digestion, tooth decay). Bleaching powder, baking soda, washing soda, Plaster of Paris — preparation and uses.

Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals — Physical properties comparison. Chemical properties: reaction with oxygen, water, acids, metal salts. Reactivity series. Ionic bonding (electron transfer). Occurrence of metals. Extraction of metals (roasting, calcination, electrolytic refining). Corrosion and its prevention. Alloys.

Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds — Covalent bonding. Versatile nature of carbon (tetravalency, catenation). Homologous series. Nomenclature (IUPAC). Functional groups: -OH (alcohol), -CHO (aldehyde), -COOH (carboxylic acid), -CO (ketone). Chemical properties: combustion, oxidation, addition, substitution. Ethanol and ethanoic acid — properties and uses. Soaps and detergents.

Biology (25 Marks)

Chapter 5: Life Processes — Nutrition: autotrophic (photosynthesis — light reaction, Calvin cycle basics), heterotrophic (holozoic — human digestive system). Respiration: aerobic, anaerobic, human respiratory system. Transportation: human circulatory system (heart, blood vessels, blood), transpiration in plants. Excretion: human excretory system (nephron), excretion in plants.

Chapter 6: Control and Coordination — Nervous system: reflex arc, brain structure (cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla). Chemical coordination: hormones in animals (adrenaline, growth hormone, thyroxine, insulin, testosterone, oestrogen). Plant hormones: auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, abscisic acid. Tropic movements (phototropism, geotropism, chemotropism, hydrotropism, thigmotropism).

Chapter 7: How Do Organisms Reproduce? — Importance of reproduction. Asexual: fission (binary, multiple), fragmentation, regeneration, budding, vegetative propagation, spore formation. Sexual: flowers (male and female reproductive parts), pollination, fertilisation, seed and fruit formation. Human reproduction: male reproductive system, female reproductive system, menstrual cycle, fertilisation, implantation, pregnancy. Reproductive health: contraception methods, STDs.

Chapter 8: Heredity and Evolution — Mendel's experiments with pea plants. Dominant and recessive traits. Monohybrid cross (3:1 ratio) and dihybrid cross (9:3:3:1 ratio). Sex determination (XX-XY system). Evolution: origin of life, evidence (fossils, homologous organs, analogous organs). Natural selection (Darwin). Speciation. Human evolution (brief overview).

Physics — Natural Phenomena (12 Marks)

Chapter 9: Light — Reflection and Refraction — Laws of reflection. Image formation by plane mirror. Spherical mirrors: concave and convex. Mirror formula (1/v + 1/u = 1/f). Magnification. Sign convention. Refraction: Snell's law, refractive index. Refraction by spherical lenses (convex, concave). Lens formula (1/v - 1/u = 1/f). Power of a lens.

Chapter 10: Human Eye and Colourful World — Structure of human eye. Power of accommodation. Defects of vision: myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia — causes and correction. Refraction through a prism. Dispersion of white light. Rainbow formation. Atmospheric refraction: twinkling of stars, advanced sunrise and delayed sunset. Scattering of light: Tyndall effect, blue colour of sky, red colour at sunrise/sunset.

Physics — Effects of Current (13 Marks)

Chapter 11: Electricity — Electric current and circuit. Potential difference, EMF. Ohm's law (V = IR). Resistance: factors affecting, resistivity. Combination of resistors: series and parallel. Heating effect of current: Joule's law (H = I²Rt). Electric power (P = VI = I²R = V²/R). Energy (E = Pt). Household electricity: fuse, MCB, earthing, short circuit, overloading.

Chapter 12: Magnetic Effects of Electric Current — Magnetic field and field lines. Magnetic field due to a current-carrying conductor: straight wire, circular loop, solenoid. Force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. Fleming's Left-Hand Rule. Electric motor. Electromagnetic induction. Faraday's law. Fleming's Right-Hand Rule. Electric generator (AC, DC). Domestic electric circuits.

Environment (5 Marks)

Chapter 13: Our Environment — Ecosystem: components (biotic, abiotic). Food chains and food webs. Energy flow (10% law). Trophic levels (producers, consumers, decomposers). Biological magnification. Ozone layer depletion: causes, effects, CFC ban. Waste management: biodegradable vs non-biodegradable. Environmental problems and solutions.

New Two Board Exams Policy (2026-27 Onwards)

Starting from the 2026-27 session, CBSE Class 10 students will have the option to appear for two board examinations instead of one. This is a significant policy change under NEP 2020.

• First Board Exam (February-March 2027): This is MANDATORY for all students. It covers the full syllabus and follows the standard 80+20 marks pattern (80 marks theory + 20 marks internal assessment).
• Second Board Exam (May 2027): This is OPTIONAL and available as an improvement opportunity. Students who are unsatisfied with their first exam performance can re-appear to improve their scores.
• Best Score Counts: If a student appears for both exams, the higher score of the two will be considered for the final result and certificate.
• No Penalty for Not Appearing: There is no negative consequence for choosing not to appear for the second exam. It is purely an improvement opportunity.
• Same Syllabus: Both exams cover the same syllabus — there is no reduction or change in scope for the second exam.

This policy aims to reduce exam anxiety and give students a fair chance to demonstrate their best performance. It is especially beneficial for students who face health issues, personal difficulties, or exam-day nervousness during the first attempt.

Exam Pattern 2026-27

Question Type	Number of Questions	Marks per Question	Total Marks
MCQ (Section A)	20	1	20
Short Answer I (Section B)	5	2	10
Short Answer II (Section C)	6	3	18
Long Answer (Section D)	4	5	20
Case-based (Section E)	3	4	12
Total			80

Preparation Tips

1. Chemistry equations are non-negotiable: Memorise and practise balancing ALL chemical equations from Chapters 1-4. Write them out daily. At least 15-20 marks depend on equations.
2. Master the diagrams: Human digestive system, nephron, heart, brain, eye, electric motor, generator, concave/convex mirror ray diagrams. Draw them from memory and label accurately.
3. Solve numerical problems (Physics): Mirror formula, lens formula, Ohm's law, resistance combinations, power, and energy — practise at least 10 numerical problems daily from Chapters 9-12.
4. Understand Mendel's crosses deeply: Be able to draw Punnett squares for monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, explain phenotypic and genotypic ratios, and answer questions on sex determination.
5. Practise Life Processes flowcharts: Create flowcharts for photosynthesis, digestion, respiration, circulation, and excretion. This helps in long-answer questions.
6. Don't ignore Our Environment (5 marks): It's the easiest chapter — food chains, trophic levels, ozone depletion, and waste management. Easy marks if prepared well.
7. Solve 10 previous year papers: Since the syllabus is continuing from 2025-26, previous year papers and sample papers are directly relevant. Solve them under exam conditions.

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Prepared by Bright Tutorials, Nashik (Shop No. 53-57, Business Signature, Hariom Nagar, Nashik Road, Nashik 422101) | brighttutorials.in | This syllabus guide is based on the official CBSE curriculum for 2026-27. Students should refer to the latest CBSE circulars for any updates. For personal study use only.