The CBSE Class 10 board exam is an important milestone for every student. To score well in board exams, a smart preparation strategy is needed. Along with understanding the syllabus, focusing on the high-weightage chapters can be a game-changer. Knowing the chapter-wise weightage helps students prioritize topics and plan their preparation effectively.
This blog includes a detailed exam pattern of all five subjects: maths, science, social science, hindi and English. Along with this, a detailed chapter-wise weightage data is also provided. Students can use this information and complete all the high-weightage chapters to be on the safe side.
Importance of Chapter-Wise Weightage Blueprint
To prepare for CBSE boards smartly, the blueprint plays a crucial role. Blueprint includes a paper pattern as well as chapter-wise weightage.
- Helps students prioritize high-mark chapters and topics.
- Reduces unnecessary effort on low-weightage chapters, saving time.
- Allows for focused revision, ensuring key concepts are mastered.
- Helps teachers and students track preparation progress more effectively.
- Aids in smart time management during exam preparation.
- Enables identification of important units and recurring questions from previous exams.
CBSE Class 10 Maths: Exam Pattern & Chapter-Wise Weightage
The maths subject paper in CBSE class 10 comprises 100 marks. The 100 marks are divided into 80 marks theory paper and 20 marks for internal assessments. The Maths subject has two levels – Mathematics Basic and Mathematics Standard. Both have the same syllabus. To make a smart strategy for class 10 mathematics, we need to understand the exam pattern, the marks distribution for different types of questions and the chapter-wise weightage.
CBSE Class 10 Maths Exam Pattern (Marks Distribution)
The CBSE class 10 mathematics paper has 38 questions with 80 marks. The maths paper is divided into three sections from Section A to Section E. The time duration of the paper is 3 hours.
- The question paper includes MCQs, very short answer type questions, short answer questions, long answer questions and case-study based questions as well.
- There are internal choice questions in sections B, C, D, and E.
- 40% of the paper focuses on testing the application of the theory, reasoning skills and competency-based questions.
Refer to the table below for the CBSE class 10 maths exam pattern:
| Section | Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks (Out of 80) |
| Section A (Q.1–Q.20) | MCQs | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| Assertion–Reason Based | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Section B (Q.21–Q.25) | Very Short Answer | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Section C (Q.26–Q.31) | Short Answer Questions | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| Section D (Q.32–Q.35) | Long Answer Questions | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| Section E (Q.36–Q.38) | Case-Based Questions | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Total | — | 38 Questions | — | 80 Marks |
Internal Assessment Pattern (20 Marks)
In class 10 mathematics, 20 marks are allotted based on internal assessments. The internal assessments are conducted prior to theory exams in the school itself.
| Assessment Type | Marks (Out of 20) |
| Pen-Paper Based Periodic Tests | 5 |
| Multiple Assessment | 5 |
| Portfolio | 5 |
| Subject Enrichment Activities (Lab activities from prescribed books) | 5 |
| Total | 20 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 Maths Chapter-Wise Weightage (Complete Syllabus)
There are 7 Units in CBSE class 10 mathematics. Algebra, Trigonometry and Probability have the highest weightage. Students can plan their study strategy based on chapter-wise weightage.
- Algebra contributes to 25% of the paper. It has the highest weightage, and the unit carries 20 marks.
- Trigonometry unit contributes 12 marks.
- Probability carries 11 marks.
- Mensuration contributes 10 marks.
- Coordinate geometry carries 6 marks.
| Unit | Unit Name | Chapter | Marks |
| Unit I | Number Systems | Real Numbers | 6 |
| Unit II | Algebra | Polynomials | 4 |
| Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables | 6 | ||
| Quadratic Equations | 6 | ||
| Arithmetic Progressions | 4 | ||
| Unit III | Coordinate Geometry | Coordinate Geometry | 6 |
| Unit IV | Geometry | Triangles | 8 |
| Circles | 7 | ||
| Unit V | Trigonometry | Introduction to Trigonometry | 8 |
| Heights & Distances | 4 | ||
| Unit VI | Mensuration | Areas Related to Circles | 3 |
| Surface Areas and Volumes | 7 | ||
| Unit VII | Statistics & Probability | Statistics | 7 |
| Probability | 4 | ||
| Total | — | — | 80 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 Science: Marks & Chapter-Wise Weightage
CBSE class 10 science paper is of 100 marks. 80 marks are allotted for the theory paper and 20 marks for the internal assessment. The science paper is divided into three sections, which are physics, chemistry and biology. The physics section is 40% of the paper, and chemistry and biology together contribute 60%. Hence, chemistry and biology are easy to score.
CBSE Class 10 Science Exam Pattern (Marks Distribution)
The CBSE class 10 science paper is conducted for 3 hours. The paper is of 80 marks and has 39 questions. Section A has 20 MCQs, section B has 6 very short answer questions, section C has short answer questions, section D has 3 long answer questions and section E has 3 case-based questions.
The table below shows the paper pattern of class 10 science paper:
| Section | Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks (Out of 80) |
| Section A (Q.1–Q.20) | MCQs | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Section B (Q.21–Q.26) | Very Short Answer | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| Section C (Q.27–Q.33) | Short Answer Questions | 7 | 3 | 21 |
| Section D (Q.34–Q.36) | Long Answer Questions | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Section E (Q.37–Q.39) | Case-Based Questions | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Total | — | 39 Questions | — | 80 Marks |
Internal Assessment Pattern (20 Marks)
| Assessment Type | Marks (Out of 20) |
| Periodic Assessment | 10 (5 + 5) |
| Portfolio | 5 |
| Subject Enrichment Activities (Lab activities from prescribed books) | 5 |
| Total | 20 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 Science Chapter-Wise Weightage
There are 5 units in the class 10 science subject. Biology carries the highest weightage. Refer to the table below for detailed chapter-wise weightage of all units for science subjects.
- Chemistry: Unit I – Carries 31.25%, which is 25 marks.
- Physics: Unit III + Unit IV – Carries 37.5 %, which is 30 marks.
- Biology: Unit II + Unit V – Carries 31.25%, which is 25 marks.
| Unit | Unit Name | Chapter Name | Chapter-Wise Marks |
| Unit I | Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour | Chemical Reactions and Equations | 6 |
| Acids, Bases and Salts | 3 | ||
| Metals and Non-Metals | 10 | ||
| Carbon and Its Compounds | 6 | ||
| Unit II | World of Living | Life Processes | 9 |
| Control and Coordination | 6 | ||
| How Do Organisms Reproduce? | 3 | ||
| Heredity and Evolution | 7 | ||
| Unit III | Natural Phenomena | Light – Reflection and Refraction | 10 |
| The Human Eye and the Colourful World | 2 | ||
| Unit IV | Effects of Current | Electricity | 7 |
| Magnetic Effects of Electric Current | 6 | ||
| Unit V | Natural Resources | Our Environment | 5 |
| Total | — | — | 80 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 Social Science: Marks & Chapter-Wise Weightage
CBSE class 10 Social Science paper is for 100 marks, out of which 80 marks are allotted for the theory paper and 20 marks for the internal assessment. The Social Science subject is divided into History, Political Science (Civics), Geography, and Economics. Each subject carries 20 marks. Civics and economics are heavy on theory and easy to score. Below are the exam patterns and chapter-wise weightage for all units.
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam Pattern (Marks Distribution)
CBSE class 10 Social Science paper has 37 questions for 80 marks in total. The exam duration is 3 hours. The social science paper is divided into 6 sections, from Section A to Section F. The paper also has a map-based question for 5 marks. Check out the detailed paper pattern and marks distribution:
| Section | Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks (Out of 80) |
| Section A (Q.1–Q.20) | MCQs | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Section B (Q.21–Q.24) | Very Short Answer | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Section C (Q.25–Q.29) | Short Answer Questions | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| Section D (Q.30–Q.33) | Long Answer Questions | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| Section E (Q.34–Q.36) | Case-Based Questions | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Section F (Q.37) | Map-Skill Based | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | — | 37 Questions | — | 80 Marks |
Internal Assessment Pattern (20 Marks)
| Assessment Type | Marks (Out of 20) |
| Pen-Paper Based Periodic Assessment | 5 |
| Multiple Assessments (quizzes, debate, role play, interdisciplinary projects) | 5 |
| Portfolio (classwork, assignments, achievements) | 5 |
| Subject Enrichment Activities (Project work on Consumer Rights / Social Issues / Sustainable Development) | 5 |
| Total | 20 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Chapter-Wise Weightage (Complete Syllabus)
There are 4 units in social science. All the subjects in the Social Science paper have equal weightage. The high-weightage chapters are Manufacturing Industries, Sectors of the Indian Economy, Money and Credit, Power Sharing, and Nationalism in India. Here is a detailed list of all the units with chapter-wise weightage inducing marks.
| Unit | Subject | Chapter Name | Chapter-Wise Marks |
| Unit I | History | The Rise of Nationalism in Europe | 5 |
| Nationalism in India | 5 | ||
| The Making of a Global World (Subtopics 1–1.3) | 3 | ||
| The Age of Industrialisation | 4 | ||
| Print Culture and the Modern World | 3 | ||
| History Map Work | 2 | ||
| Unit II | Political Science (Civics) | Power Sharing | 6 |
| Federalism | 3 | ||
| Gender, Religion and Caste | 3 | ||
| Political Parties | 5 | ||
| Outcomes of Democracy | 3 | ||
| Unit III | Geography | Resources and Development | 1 |
| Forest and Wildlife Resources | 1 | ||
| Water Resources | 5 | ||
| Agriculture | 1 | ||
| Minerals and Energy Resources | 3 | ||
| Manufacturing Industries | 6 | ||
| Lifelines of National Economy | 3 | ||
| Geography Map Work | 3 | ||
| Unit IV | Economics | Development | 2 |
| Sectors of the Indian Economy | 7 | ||
| Money and Credit | 6 | ||
| Globalisation and the Indian Economy | 5 | ||
| Total | — | — | 80 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 English Chapter-Wise Weightage
The CBSE English subject includes two books, named First Flight (prose and poems) and Footprints Without Feet (supplementary). These books form the literature section, which contributes to 50% of the paper. Apart from literature, grammar and writing skills cover the rest of the paper. Grammar includes tenses, modals, reported speech, subject–verb concord, formal letters, and analytical paragraph writing. Refer to the English paper pattern to understand the type of questions that will be coming in the board exams:
CBSE Class 10 English Exam Pattern (Marks Distribution)
| Section | Area / Topic | Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
| Section A | Reading Comprehension | Discursive Unseen Passage | 8 (6×1M + 2×2M) | 1 / 2 | 10 |
| Case-based Factual Passage | 8 (6×1M + 2×2M) | 1 / 2 | 10 | ||
| Section B | Grammar | Determiners, Tenses, Modals, SVA, Reported Speech | 12 (Attempt any 10) | 1 | 10 |
| Section B | Creative Writing Skills | Formal Letter (Situation-based) | 2 (Attempt 1) | 5 | 5 |
| Analytical Paragraph (Map/Chart/Graph/Cue) | 2 (Attempt 1) | 5 | 5 | ||
| Section C | Literature | Reference to Context – Prose & Poetry | 2 Extracts (5M each) | 5 | 10 |
| Short Answer (First Flight) | 5 (Attempt 4) | 3 | 12 | ||
| Short Answer (Footprints Without Feet) | 3 (Attempt 2) | 3 | 6 | ||
| Long Answer (First Flight) | 2 (Attempt 1) | 6 | 6 | ||
| Long Answer (Footprints Without Feet) | 2 (Attempt 1) | 6 | 6 | ||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 80 Marks |
Internal Assessment Pattern (20 Marks)
| Assessment Component | Marks |
| Periodic Assessment (Pen-paper) | 5 |
| Multiple Assessments (Quiz, Debate, Role Play, etc.) | 5 |
| Portfolio | 5 |
| Subject Enrichment Activities | 5 |
| Total | 20 Marks |
CBSE Class 10 English Chapter-Wise Weightage
The theory paper for the English subject is for 80 marks. Below is the chapter-wise literature weightage from both books. Use this table to make a preparation strategy for english/
| Unit / Book | Chapter / Poem | Indicative Marks |
| First Flight (Prose) | A Letter to God | 5 |
| Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | 2–3 | |
| Two Stories About Flying (Black Aeroplane) | 5 | |
| From the Diary of Anne Frank | 3 | |
| The Hundred Dresses – I | 2 | |
| The Hundred Dresses – II | — | |
| Glimpses of India (Baker from Goa) | 5 | |
| Mijbil the Otter | — | |
| Madam Rides the Bus | 5 | |
| The Sermon at Benares | — | |
| The Proposal | 5 | |
| First Flight (Poems) | Fire and Ice | 3 |
| A Tiger in the Zoo | 5 | |
| The Ball Poem | 5 | |
| Amanda | 3 | |
| The Tale of Custard the Dragon | 2 | |
| Footprints Without Feet | A Triumph of Surgery | 2 |
| The Thief’s Story | 5 | |
| The Midnight Visitor | — | |
| A Question of Trust | — | |
| Footprints Without Feet | 3 | |
| The Making of a Scientist | 3 | |
| The Necklace | 3 | |
| The Hack Driver | 2 | |
| Bholi | 7 | |
| The Book That Saved the Earth | — |
CBSE Class 10 Hindi Chapter-Wise Weightage
The Hindi paper of class 10 is designed in a way that tests the language proficiency of the student. From wiring skills, grammar skills to oral communication skills. The CBSE Hindi subject consists of two books: क्षितिज, भाग–2, and कृतिका भाग–2. Below is the Hindi paper pattern set by CBSE:
CBSE Class 10 Hindi Exam Pattern (Marks Distribution)
The CBSE class 10 Hindi theory paper is of 80 marks. The paper has 2 sections Part A and Part B.
- Part A section has MCQs and objective questions. It covers comprehension through unseen prose (5 marks) and poetry (5 marks), grammar topics such as वाक्य भेद, वाच्य, पद परिचय, and अलंकार (4 marks each), and literature questions from prose and poetry (7 marks each).
- In part B, subjective/descriptive questions, assessing very short-answer and short-answer skills from prose, poetry, and supplementary texts (up to 8 marks), as well as writing skills, including paragraph writing (6 marks), letter writing (5 marks), resume/email writing (5 marks), and advertisement/letter writing (4 marks).
| Part | Section / Topic | Subtopic | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
| Part A (MCQs) | Comprehension | Unseen Prose (250 words) | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Unseen Poetry (120 words) | 5 | 1 | 5 | ||
| Grammar | वाक्य भेद | 5 (attempt 4) | 1 | 4 | |
| वाच्य | 5 (attempt 4) | 1 | 4 | ||
| पद परिचय | 5 (attempt 4) | 1 | 4 | ||
| अलंकार | 5 (attempt 4) | 1 | 4 | ||
| Literature | Prose | 7 | 1 | 7 | |
| Poetry | 7 | 1 | 7 | ||
| Part B (Subjective / Descriptive) | Prose | Very Short-Form Answers | 4 (attempt 3) | 2 | 6 |
| Poetry | Very Short-Form Answers | 4 (attempt 3) | 2 | 6 | |
| Supplementary | Short-Form Answers | 3 (attempt 2) | 4 | 8 | |
| Writing | Paragraph Writing (any 1 of 3 topics) | 3 (attempt 1) | 6 | 6 | |
| Letter Writing (any 1) | 2 (attempt 1) | 5 | 5 | ||
| Resume / Email Writing | 2 (attempt 1) | 5 | 5 | ||
| Letter / Advertisement Writing | 2 (attempt 1) | 4 | 4 |
Internal Assessment Pattern (20 Marks)
| Assessment Type | Marks (Out of 20) |
| Periodic Assessment | 5 |
| Project | 5 |
| Portfolio | 5 |
| Listening & Speaking | 5 |
CBSE Class 10 Hindi Chapter-Wise Weightage
Refer to the detailed Hindi chapter-wise weightage. All chapters from both books are mentioned along with a number of questions and marks from that chapter.
| Section | Chapter / Topic | Unit / Book | Marks (Indicative) |
| Reading Comprehension | Unseen Prose (250 words) | – | 5 |
| Unseen Poetry (120 words) | – | 5 | |
| Writing Skills & Grammar | Paragraph Writing | – | 6 |
| Letter Writing (Formal/Informal) | – | 5 | |
| Resume / Email Writing | – | 5 | |
| Letter / Advertisement Writing | – | 4 | |
| Grammar: वाक्य भेद | – | 4 | |
| Grammar: वाच्य | – | 4 | |
| Grammar: पद परिचय | – | 4 | |
| Grammar: अलंकार | – | 4 | |
| Language through Literature – क्षितिज, भाग–2 (Prose) | Chapters 1–7 | Prose | 7 |
| Language through Literature – क्षितिज, भाग–2 (Poetry) | Poems 1–7 | Poetry | 7 |
| Language through Literature – कृतिका, भाग–2 (Supplementary) | Short Stories / Supplementary Texts | Supplementary | 8 |
Smart Preparation Strategy Using the Most Important Chapters
Focusing on the most important chapters allows students to prepare efficiently and maximize their scores in the CBSE Class 10 exams. By understanding the chapter-wise weightage, students can allocate their time effectively, strengthen core concepts, and avoid last-minute stress. Here are some actionable strategies:
- Prioritize High-Weightage Chapters: Focus more on chapters that carry higher marks in each subject.
- Create a Revision Schedule: Allocate dedicated time for both high and low-weightage chapters based on their importance.
- Practice Previous Year Questions: Solve questions from important chapters to understand exam patterns and recurring concepts.
- Make Quick Notes: Prepare concise notes for formulas, key points, and definitions from high-weightage chapters.
- Take Mock Tests: Regularly test your knowledge to identify weak areas and improve speed and accuracy.
- Focus on Application-Based Learning: Understand concepts deeply to handle both theoretical and numerical problems efficiently.
FAQs
CBSE Class 10 chapter-wise weightage refers to the marks distribution assigned to each chapter in the board exam question paper. It helps students identify high-scoring chapters and prepare more strategically.
CBSE does not release an exact chapter-wise marks list but provides a blueprint and unit-wise weightage. Chapter-wise weightage is prepared based on the official syllabus, exam pattern, and previous year question trends.
Knowing chapter-wise weightage helps students:
Focus on high-mark chapters
Save time by avoiding over-preparation of low-weightage topics
Plan revision effectively
Improve overall board exam scores
Science, Social Science, and English have high-scoring potential due to:
Clear theory-based questions
Predictable patterns
Strong internal assessment weightage
Maths is also high-scoring if practised well.
High-weightage chapters in Maths include:
Algebra (Polynomials, Quadratic Equations, Linear Equations)
Trigonometry
Statistics and Probability
Mensuration
These units together contribute the majority of marks.
Each subject carries 20 marks for internal assessment and 80 marks for the theory exam, making a total of 100 marks per subject.
Biology carries the highest overall weightage, followed by Physics and Chemistry. Units like Life Processes, Light, Electricity, Metals and Non-Metals are very important.
Yes, History, Civics, Geography, and Economics carry equal weightage (20 marks each) in the Social Science theory paper.
