CBSE 10th Science Sample Paper 2026: Preparing for the CBSE Class 10 Science exam requires steady practice and a clear understanding of the question paper layout. Studying the syllabus is a good starting step, but testing knowledge with practice papers is what truly builds exam confidence. As the CBSE 10th official sample papers will be released by the board anytime soon. But in the meantime students can solve sample papers made by subject experts for scoring good grades. Solving sample papers helps students get familiar with the types of questions asked and how marks are shared across different sections. It improves time management so students can finish the test without rushing. Regular practice also highlights weak areas early on, giving students enough time to revise and score better in their final exams.
CBSE 10th Science Sample Paper 2026
Time Allowed: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
- This question paper consists of 39 questions in 5 sections: Section A, Section B, Section C, Section D, and Section E.
- All questions are compulsory. However, an internal choice of approximately 33% is provided.
- Section A consists of 20 objective-type questions (16 MCQs and 4 Assertion-Reasoning questions) carrying 1 mark each.
- Section B consists of 6 Very Short Answer questions carrying 2 marks each (30–50 words).
- Section C consists of 7 Short Answer questions carrying 3 marks each (50–80 words).
- Section D consists of 3 Long Answer questions carrying 5 marks each (80–120 words).
- Section E consists of 3 case-based/source-based units of assessment carrying 4 marks each.
| Section – A Marks |
|
1 Select the group in which all organisms have the same mode of nutrition.
A. Cuscuta, yeast, legumes, leeches and tapeworm B. Cactus, ticks, lice, leeches and cow C. Cuscuta, ticks, lice, leeches and tapeworm D. Cactus, grass, lice, lion and tapeworm 2 Which of the following options indicates the products formed after breakdown of the glucose in our muscle cells when there is lack of oxygen?
A. Ethanol + carbon dioxide + Energy B. Lactic acid + Energy C. Lactic acid + carbon monoxide + Energy D. Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy 3 Which of the following is a correct combination of function and part of the brain?
A. Posture and balance: Cerebrum B. Salivation: Medulla in midbrain C. Hunger: Pons in hindbrain D. Blood pressure: Medulla in hindbrain 4 The blood glucose level in a patient was very high. It may be due to inadequate secretion of:
A. growth hormone from pituitary gland B. oestrogen from ovary C. insulin from pituitary gland D. insulin from pancreas 5 In a cross between black furred rabbit (B) and white furred rabbit (b), all offspring were found to have black fur. What can be inferred about the genetic makeup of the parent rabbits?
A. BB X bb B. Bb X Bb C. Bb X bb D. bb X bb 6 Which are the correct statements related to ozone?
(i) Ozone layer helps in increasing the UV radiations reaching earth. (ii) Ozone is a deadly poison. (iii) Ozone layer shields the earth from UV radiations. (iv) Ozone layer prevents UV rays which cause skin cancer. (v) Ozone is formed with the help of Chloroflurocarbons. A. (i), (ii), (iii) B. (ii), (iii), (iv) C. (iii), (iv), (v) D. (i), (iv), (v) 7 Which of the following human activities has resulted in an increase of nonbiodegradable substances?
A. Organic farming B. Increase in tree plantation C. Use of plastic as packaging material D. Composting of kitchen waste The following two questions consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R).
Answer these questions by selecting the appropriate option given below: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. B. Both A and R are true, and R is not the correct explanation of A. C. A is true but R is false. D. A is false but R is true. 8 Assertion (A): Tallness of a pea plant is controlled by an enzyme.
Reason (R): The gene for that enzyme makes proteins which help the plant to be tall. 9 Assertion (A): Vulture will always have the least amount of pesticides in a food
chain. Reason (R): Vulture occupies the last trophic level and it gets only 10% of energy of the previous trophic level. 10 Unlike animals, plants do not have any excretory products as they do not eat food. Comment upon the statement with justification.
11 Students to attempt either option A or B.
A. How many chambers are there in the heart of the following organisms? How is mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood prevented in their body? (i) Fishes (ii) Humans OR B. Explain the mechanism by which the water is transported in plants? 12 About 100 acres of forest land was declared as Natural reserve park. The following organisms were predominant in the Natural reserve park:
rabbit, frog, grass, fish, fox, water insects, zebra, peacock, snake, trees, bird, owl, insects, tiger, vulture, duck.
Create a food web comprising two separate food chains with different producers by using the above data 13 Draw and explain how the nerve cells help in transmission of impulses?
14 In a genetic experiment, plants with pure round green seeds (RRyy) were crossed with plants with wrinkled yellow seeds (rrYY).
(i) Show the gametes formed when F1 was self-pollinated. (ii) A total of 144 seeds were produced which developed into saplings. Show the ratio in which these traits are independently inherited in these144 sapling. 15 Neha consumed boiled sweet potatoes and boiled eggs for breakfast. Help her to understand some steps in the process of digestion of the food taken by her by answering the questions given below.
Attempt either subpart A or B.
A. Which of these food items is rich in proteins? In which part of the alimentary canal is the digestion of this component initiated? Name the enzymes, conditions required and the glands associated with the digestion here.
OR B. Which of these food items contains fats? How is it digested? C. Which of these food items is rich in starch? How is its digestion initiated? D. The figure given below represents parts of the human alimentary canal. Which of these parts will have the maximum amount of digested food as soon as the process of digestion is completed? 16 Attempt either option A or B.
A. Puneet wanted to grow banana plants. (i) Based on your knowledge on plant reproduction should he opt for seeds or any alternate method of reproduction. Justify your answer. (ii) Offsprings of a banana plant usually show very little variation. What causes variation and are variations good or bad? Justify. OR B. Annie was conducting research on the number of fruits produced by watermelon under different conditions. She grew 25 watermelon plants each in both glass house A and B. She introduced pollinators in glass house A only. (i) What difference will she observe in the number of fruits produced in the two glass houses? Explain with reason. (ii) List 3 changes that will occur in a flower once it gets fertilized. other section will be updated soon...
|
CBSE 10th Science Sample Paper 2026: Answer Key
Here are the solutions to the provided questions formatted clearly in a structured table:
| Question No. | Answer & Solutions |
| 1 |
C. Cuscuta, ticks, lice, leeches and tapeworm
|
| 2 |
B. Lactic acid + Energy
|
| 3 |
D. Blood pressure: Medulla in hindbrain
|
| 4 |
D. insulin from pancreas
|
| 5 |
A. BB X bb
|
| 6 |
B. (ii), (iii), (iv)
|
| 7 |
C. Use of plastic as packaging material
|
| 8 |
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
|
| 9 |
D. A is false but R is true.
|
| 10 | The statement is incorrect. Plants do produce excretory products as byproducts of metabolic processes |
| 11 (A) |
(i) Fishes: 2 chambers (1 atrium, 1 ventricle). No separation; deoxygenated blood goes directly to the gills for oxygenation.
(ii) Humans: 4 chambers (2 atria, 2 ventricles). Complete separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is maintained by a muscular wall (septum).
OR
11 (B): Water transport involves Root Pressure (active absorption of ions creating a water concentration gradient) and Transpiration Pull (suction force created by evaporation of water through stomata pulling a continuous water column upward via xylem).
|
| 12 |
Food Web Construction:
|
| 13 | |
| 14 |
|
| 15 |
A: Boiled eggs are rich in protein. Digestion begins in the Stomach. Enzyme: Pepsin; Condition: Acidic (pH ~1.8, provided by HCl; Glands: Gastric Glands.
OR
B: Egg yolk/sweet potato contains fats. Digested in the small intestine via bile salts (emulsification) and pancreatic lipase (converts fats to fatty acids and glycerol).
C: Sweet potato is rich in starch. Digestion starts in the Mouth by Salivary Amylase.
D: Part O (Small Intestine) has the maximum amount of absorbed/digested food via villi.
|
| 16 (A) |
(i) Opt for vegetative propagation (e.g., suckers) as commercial cultivated bananas produce seedless, non-viable seeds.
(ii) Variations are caused by errors during DNA copying or sexual recombination. Variations are beneficial for species survival during environmental environmental changes.
|
| 16 (B) |
(i) Glasshouse A will produce significantly more fruits because pollinators enable successful cross-pollinated fertilization.
(ii) Post-fertilization changes:
1. Ovules develop into seeds.
2. Ovary matures and expands into fruit.
3. Petals, sepals, and stamens wither and fall off.
|
The sample papers follow the most updated format prescribed by CBSE, giving students a clear idea of how their board exam question paper will be structured. With the help of the official marking scheme, students can understand how toanswers correctly and score maximum marks, including how step-wise marks are allocated in subjective questions.
Also Check: CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2026-27 Released: Download Subject-Wise PDF Here