Explore: CBSE Class 10 hub · Syllabus & pattern · Class 10 2026
Answer first
We tagged all 1070 questions in 40 official CBSE Class 10 papers (2016–2026) by chapter. In Mathematics, Coordinate Geometry leads with 32 questions. In Science, Light: Reflection and Refraction leads with 36 questions. In Social Science, History: Indo-China, Global World, Industrialisation, Print Culture, Novels leads with 29 questions. In English Language and Literature, Literature: First Flight / Literature Reader leads with 29 questions. Use the tables to see how often each chapter appears each year, then open a chapter for every question it has had.
Mathematics
All Mathematics chapters on one page: CBSE Class 10 Mathematics PYQs. Mathematics chapters by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 40 papers.
| Chapter | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Numbers | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Polynomials | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Quadratic Equations | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 22 |
| Arithmetic Progressions | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 28 |
| Triangles | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| Coordinate Geometry | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 32 |
| Introduction to Trigonometry | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Some Applications of Trigonometry | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| Circles | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 28 |
| Constructions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Areas Related to Circles | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 17 |
| Surface Areas and Volumes | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 27 |
| Statistics | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Probability | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
Most-asked Mathematics chapters: Coordinate Geometry (32), Arithmetic Progressions (28), Circles (28), Surface Areas and Volumes (27), Probability (27).
Science
All Science chapters on one page: CBSE Class 10 Science PYQs. Science chapters by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 40 papers.
| Chapter | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Reactions and Equations | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Acids, Bases and Salts | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Metals and Non-metals | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Carbon and its Compounds | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 33 |
| Periodic Classification of Elements | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Life Processes | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Control and Coordination | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| How do Organisms Reproduce | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Heredity and Evolution | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 24 |
| Light: Reflection and Refraction | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 36 |
| The Human Eye and the Colourful World | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 20 |
| Electricity | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Magnetic Effects of Electric Current | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Sources of Energy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Our Environment | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
| Sustainable Management of Natural Resources | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
Most-asked Science chapters: Light: Reflection and Refraction (36), How do Organisms Reproduce (35), Carbon and its Compounds (33), Life Processes (25), Heredity and Evolution (24).
Social Science
All Social Science chapters on one page: CBSE Class 10 Social Science PYQs. Social Science chapters by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 40 papers.
| Chapter | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| History: Rise of Nationalism in Europe | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 19 |
| History: Nationalism in India | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 21 |
| History: Indo-China, Global World, Industrialisation, Print Culture, Novels | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Geography: Resources and Development | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Geography: Forest, Wildlife and Water Resources | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Geography: Agriculture | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Geography: Minerals and Energy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| Geography: Manufacturing Industries and Lifelines | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 22 |
| Map Work | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| Political Science: Power Sharing and Federalism | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Political Science: Democracy and Diversity; Gender, Religion and Caste | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Political Science: Political Parties and Popular Struggles | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 25 |
| Political Science: Outcomes of and Challenges to Democracy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 15 |
| Economics: Development | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Economics: Sectors of the Indian Economy | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Economics: Money and Credit | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 22 |
| Economics: Globalisation and Consumer Rights | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 25 |
| Disaster Management | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Most-asked Social Science chapters: History: Indo-China, Global World, Industrialisation, Print Culture, Novels (29), Political Science: Political Parties and Popular Struggles (25), Economics: Globalisation and Consumer Rights (25), Geography: Manufacturing Industries and Lifelines (22), Political Science: Power Sharing and Federalism (22).
English Language and Literature
All English Language and Literature chapters on one page: CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature PYQs. English Language and Literature chapters by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 40 papers.
| Chapter | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 |
| Writing Skills | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| Grammar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
| Literature: First Flight / Literature Reader | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 29 |
| Supplementary Reader and Novel | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
Most-asked English Language and Literature chapters: Literature: First Flight / Literature Reader (29), Grammar (21), Reading Comprehension (20), Writing Skills (19), Supplementary Reader and Novel (17).
How we tagged the papers
- Source: only official CBSE Class 10 papers published by the conducting body and hosted on our year pages. 2026: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2025: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2024: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2023: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2022: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2020: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2019: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2018: English Language and Literature (2/1); Mathematics (30/1); Science (31/1); Social Science (32/1) · 2017: English Language and Literature (2/1); Mathematics (30/1); Science (31/1); Social Science (32/1) · 2016: English Language and Literature (2/1); Mathematics (30/1); Science (31/1); Social Science (32/1).
- Chapters: one NCERT chapter per question for Mathematics, Science, Social Science and English, including chapters that later syllabi removed. Internal choices are tagged by their first option.
- Answers: shown only where an official key is hosted.
- Summaries are ours, so you can scan a chapter quickly. Open the official PDF for the full question.
Not included:
- 2021: CBSE cancelled the 2021 board examinations because of COVID-19 and assessed students on school marks, so there is no 2021 paper.
FAQ
Which CBSE Class 10 chapters have the most questions?
Mathematics: Coordinate Geometry (32), Arithmetic Progressions (28), Circles (28). Science: Light: Reflection and Refraction (36), How do Organisms Reproduce (35), Carbon and its Compounds (33). Social Science: History: Indo-China, Global World, Industrialisation, Print Culture, Novels (29), Political Science: Political Parties and Popular Struggles (25), Economics: Globalisation and Consumer Rights (25). English Language and Literature: Literature: First Flight / Literature Reader (29), Grammar (21), Reading Comprehension (20). Counts are totals across the 40 official CBSE Class 10 papers tagged here.
Which CBSE Class 10 papers are included?
Only official papers that the conducting body published and that we host: 2026: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2025: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2024: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2023: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2022: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2020: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics Standard (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2019: English Language and Literature (2/1/1); Mathematics (30/1/1); Science (31/1/1); Social Science (32/1/1) · 2018: English Language and Literature (2/1); Mathematics (30/1); Science (31/1); Social Science (32/1) · 2017: English Language and Literature (2/1); Mathematics (30/1); Science (31/1); Social Science (32/1) · 2016: English Language and Literature (2/1); Mathematics (30/1); Science (31/1); Social Science (32/1). Years without an official paper, or whose text could not be read reliably, are left out and listed in the method section.
Are the answers official?
CBSE marking schemes give model answers and step marks rather than single options, so we link the marking scheme on each year page instead of showing an answer here.