CBSE 2025-26 Sample Papers Released: Check Out Complete Subject-wise Analysis for Class 10 & 12

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released sample question papers and marking schemes for the academic session 2025-26, providing students with authentic preparation material for their upcoming board examinations scheduled in February 2026.

Important Exam Timeline - Before anything, most important for students is to know the schedule of the board examinations for academic session 2025-26. Here's the tentative timeline students should note:

Key Highlights of CBSE 2025-26 Sample Papers

The newly released sample question papers represent an important resource for Class 10 and Class 12 students. These papers are based on the updated syllabus and incorporate the National Education Policy (NEP) framework, emphasizing competency-based assessment over rote learning.

a) Major Features and Changes

The 2025-26 sample papers showcase several important updates that students must understand:

• Question Variety: The papers include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), competency-based questions, case-based problems, assertion-reasoning type questions, and traditional short and long answer questions.
• Practical Application Focus: Unlike previous years, these papers emphasize practical knowledge application and real-world problem-solving rather than theoretical memorization.
• Balanced Assessment: The structure ensures comprehensive evaluation across different cognitive levels, testing students' analytical thinking and conceptual understanding.

b) Official Access Method

Students can access these authentic sample papers through the official CBSE Academic portal by following these steps:

1. Visit the official CBSE Academic portal
2. Navigate to the 'Sample Question Papers' section
3. Select your class (10 or 12)
4. Choose the required subject
5. Download both the sample question paper and marking scheme

Class 10 Sample Papers Analysis (Subject-wise)

To help students prepare effectively for their board exams, Sample Papers for Class 10 have been analyzed. This overview highlights the key features and focus areas of each subject's paper.

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This analysis serves as a valuable resource for understanding the exam pattern and prioritizing important topics in each subject.

Class 12 Sample Papers Analysis (Subject-wise)

Similarly, to support students in their board exam preparation, Sample Papers for Class 12 have been thoroughly analyzed. This analysis provides insights into question patterns, marking schemes, and key focus areas.

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This subject-wise breakdown helps students plan their studies more strategically and align their preparation with the latest exam trends.

How to Prepare: What do the Experts Say?

Education experts recommend a systematic approach to utilizing these sample papers effectively:

• Start with Syllabus Review: Thoroughly examine the latest syllabus for class 10 and syllabus for class 12  before attempting sample papers to align preparation with actual exam content.

• Understand New Question Patterns: Familiarize yourself with updated question types including competency-based questions, MCQs, and case-based problems.
• Practice Time-bound Mock Tests: Solve official sample papers under exam-like conditions to build speed, accuracy, and confidence.
• Use Marking Schemes Strategically: Study the official marking schemes to understand evaluation criteria and expected answer formats.
• Analyze Answer Formats: Learn how marks are distributed across different response types to structure answers more effectively.

Solving Sample Papers is “BEST for Boards” - WHY?

These official sample papers serve as the most authentic preparation material available to students for several key reasons:

• Designed by CBSE Experts: Created by the same subject specialists who design actual board exam papers, ensuring complete alignment with real exam standards.
• Accurate Exam Representation: Unlike commercial practice books, these papers mirror the exact structure, tone, and difficulty level of upcoming board exams.
• Clear Topic Weightage: Students can identify how marks are distributed across different chapters and topics, enabling efficient revision prioritization.
• Application-based Learning Focus: The inclusion of competency-based questions reflects CBSE's shift toward assessing real-world understanding and analytical skills.

The release of CBSE 2025-26 sample papers marks a milestone in board exam preparation. Students are strongly advised to download these papers immediately and incorporate them into their study routine. Regular practice with these official resources, combined with thorough concept revision, will significantly enhance examination performance.

Best of luck for your exams!