The 2025 CBSE Class 10 Social Science exam, held on February 25, has been met with mixed reviews from students and educators, labeling it as moderate yet thoughtfully structured.
Students across various schools described the exam as moderate in difficulty, making it accessible for many. Pratibha Shinghal, a Social Science educator at JAIN International Residential School (JIRS) in Bengaluru, analyzed the exam's structure, noting it was "well-organized" and emphasized coverage of the syllabus. "The question paper for Class 10 was moderate in difficulty, with nearly 90 percent of the syllabus covered, and no questions beyond the prescribed curriculum," she added.
She highlighted the straightforward nature of the multiple-choice questions (MCQs), mentioning, "The questions were easy to answer. The paper did not include high-order thinking or competency-based questions, which is a relief for many students who likely stayed focused with clear preparation." Shinghal confidently stated students could aim to score above 71 out of 80, provided they approached the exam with clarity.
Chinka Kapoor, TGT Social Studies from Silverline Prestige School, echoed these sentiments, stating, "The exam featured a well-balanced mix of questions, assessing both conceptual and analytical skills. While it was fairly crafted, some questions were quite tricky, requiring careful interpretation and thorough thinking. Overall, it was a fair and thoughtfully structured assessment."
Rishikesh Jha, SME for Social Science at Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools, remarked how the exam's diverse array of question types contributed to the overall balance. He noted, "The exam provided students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge without feeling overwhelmed. It included map-based questions, case studies, and analytical problems, promoting application-based learning, especially through the MCQs and long-answer questions."
According to Vidhi Sharma, Educator at Shiv Nadar School, the exam was predominantly based on the NCERT syllabus. She asserted, "The direct and straightforward questions particularly stood out, ensuring students who engaged with the material found the exam manageable. The subjective section aligned well with the syllabus, which was beneficial for those with strong conceptual grasp." Sharma also remarked on the mix of recall and analytical challenges present within the MCQs.
The subjective questions were described as direct yet straightforward by Manisha Pundir, Social Science Subject Coordinator at VidyaGyan School. She stated, "While objective questions were fair, some required precise conceptual understandings due to closely framed options. The map-based section focused on specific chapters, aligning well with the CBSE sample questions for the year."
Students, like Richa Pandey from VidyaGyan, found familiar topics aligning with their class discussions helped bolster their confidence. She shared, "I found the subjective question about sustainability of development quite interesting since we discussed it extensively, and similar ones appeared in our pre-board exam, making me feel prepared for this section."
Conversely, Smita Patel from the same school reported encountering tricky MCQs, noting, "Some of the options were too closely related, but overall, the experience was manageable, with most questions being direct."
That balanced mix of conceptual and application-based questions was also echoed by Anthony Fernandes, Founder of Shaalaa.com. He indicated, "This year’s exam integrated real-world application more than last year's slightly theoretical approach. The map-based questions were straightforward, which many students appreciated. Some long-answer questions posed challenges, but the overall feedback appeared moderately positive."
Overall, the 2025 Class 10 Social Science exam exemplified how clarity and structure could significantly affect student performance. With numerous educators underscoring the importance of thorough preparation rooted deeply within the NCERT frameworks, students who excelled this year likely engaged actively with their syllabus, applying themselves rather than mere rote memorization. This year's CBSE Social Science assessment surely reminded educators and students alike of the value of conceptual clarity amid rising educational expectations.