CBSE Class 10 Science Exam Analysis: Students found Physics challenging and Biology scoring

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 10 Science exam on Thursday, February 20, 2025. The examination began at 10:30 AM, with question papers distributed 15 minutes earlier for reading and concluded at 1:30 PM.

Student Reactions and Feedback

Many students felt that while the paper was moderate in difficulty, it required thorough conceptual understanding. Those who had practiced previous years’ questions and sample papers found the Physics section more manageable. Chemistry was widely considered the toughest section, with some students struggling with reaction-based questions.

On the other hand, Biology was the most scoring, as questions were directly from the NCERT syllabus. A student said, "The Biology section was straightforward, but Chemistry had some unexpected questions. Physics was easy but needed careful calculation."

Vedanshi Tiwari of Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Lucknow said, “The science paper was a blend of theoretical questions and case based questions. The difficulty level was more on the easier side and the paper consisted of more memory-based questions than experimental.”

Teachers’ Analysis

Teachers and subject experts found the CBSE Class 10 Science paper 2025 to be moderate in difficulty, with direct and concept-based questions. They noted that students who thoroughly prepared from the NCERT textbook and practiced questions regularly would likely score 60+ marks in the theory section.

The paper was well-balanced, with an equal distribution of questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. A science teacher said, "The exam followed the expected pattern, and students who focused on NCERT concepts and previous years' questions should perform well."

Section-wise Analysis 

• Section A of the question paper consisted of Objective Type Questions with a balance of theory based questions. The last four questions of section A consisted of four Assertion and Reason Questions based on remembering and understanding of the concepts. No numerical questions were asked in this section.
• Section B of question paper was moderate in difficulty and more focussed on the theoretical aspect of the subject.
• Section C of the question paper was a blend of both theoretical and case based questions. One or two questions were based on experimental aspects with moderate difficulty.
• Section D consisted of theory based questions from Physics, Chemistry and Biology with easy to moderate difficulty.
• Section E consisted of Competency Based Questions based on theoretical aspects of the subject. The question paper was easy and balanced.

CBSE Class 10 Science Question Paper Pattern 2025

The exam consisted of 39 questions in total:

• 16 MCQs
• 4 Assertion-Reasoning questions
• 13 Short Answer questions
• 3 Long Answer questions
• 3 Case-Based questions

CBSE Class 10 Science Exam Pattern 2025

The Science theory paper carried 80 marks, covering different topics under five units:

• Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour: Topics included chemical reactions, acids, bases and salts, metals and non-metals, and carbon compounds. This unit was allotted 25 marks.
• World of Living: It covered life processes, control and coordination in animals and plants, reproduction, and heredity and evolution. This section was also worth 25 marks.
• Natural Phenomena: Students answered questions on reflection and refraction of light, the functioning of a lens in the human eye, and refraction through a prism. This unit carried 12 marks.
• Effects of Current: Topics such as electric current, Ohm’s law, magnetic effects of current, alternating current, and domestic circuits were included in this 13-mark section.
• Natural Resources: The syllabus focused on environmental topics, contributing 5 marks to the overall score.

To pass the Class 10 board exams, students must:

• Score at least 33 percent in each theory paper.
• Obtain a minimum of 33 percent in practicals, projects, and internal assessments.
• Achieve an overall 33 percent when combining theory and practical marks.