The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) successfully conducted the Class 10 Science examination on February 20, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students were allotted additional time prior to the exam to review the question paper, after which they began the exam process with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
Post-examination, student reactions varied, but many expressed relief and satisfaction with the paper's overall design and content. A significant number reported finding the exam questions easy to moderate, with most aligning closely with the content from the NCERT syllabus.
According to Tejas, a Grade 10 student from Shiv Nadar School, “The paper was easy to attempt, and I was relieved there were no diagrams to draw.” This sentiment was echoed by many students who felt confident about the questions posed. Diksha, another student, noted, “Only one or two assertion-reasoning and MCQs were confusing but manageable.”
The structure of the question paper was organized and included 39 compulsory questions, divided among five sections. Section A consisted of 20 multiple-choice questions valued at one mark each. Section B included six short answer questions, each worth two marks; Section C comprised seven short answer questions worth three marks each; Section D featured three long answer questions, each worth five marks; and Section E consisted of three case or source-based questions valued at four marks each.
Many teachers lauded the paper for its balance of theoretical and application-based questions. Nisha Sharma, science teacher at KIIT World School, Gurgaon, remarked, “The paper was based on the NCERT curriculum, which helped students stay focused on the prescribed text and concepts.” This adherence to the syllabus allowed students to prepare effectively and demonstrated their knowledge comprehensively during the exam.
The responses varied depending on the subject area; students indicated the chemistry section was predominant, making up about 70% of the questions. They believed it was straightforward, though some mentioned challenges particularly associated with the biology segment.
Post-exam discussions indicated most students confirmed their fears about certain parts of the biology section being tricky, with one group stating, “Paper wasn't easy. Biology was pretty difficult, and there were some unexpected questions.” Despite these challenges, many still felt positive about their overall performance.
Following the exam, various coaching institutes began sharing unofficial answer keys to provide candidates with immediate feedback. This practice enables students to gauge their performance more accurately and adjust their study strategies as necessary for future exams.
Experts highlighted the importance of self-evaluation, where students use these answer keys for benefits like score estimation and mistake identification. This allows students to clearly outline their areas for improvement. The unofficial answer keys released today provide answers corresponding to various sections of the paper.
The exam’s overall difficulty was characterized as easy to moderate across feedback from students and teachers alike. Parvathy V, academic coordinator at JAIN International Residential School, stated, “The Grade 10 CBSE science paper was well-structured and balanced.” The presence of direct questions and the combination of diagrammatic and numerical problems also contributed to the exam's comprehensive assessment strategy.
Students were also reassured by the absence of rumors surrounding paper leaks. The CBSE confirmed these claims as baseless and emphasized their measures to secure examination integrity, which is reassuring to both students and parents alike. The board strongly encouraged students and families to continue relying on credible sources for updates, refraining from engaging with misinformation circulated on social media.
The upcoming exam schedule remains active with notable dates approaching, including the Class 10 Social Science examination slated for February 25, 2025. This presents another opportunity for students to demonstrate their academic skills and knowledge.
Overall, CBSE's commitment to maintaining high educational standards is evident as classrooms around India prepare students for these challenges. The emphasis on adherence to the prescribed syllabus aids students not only for exam day but throughout their educational experience.