The CBSE syllabus is the curriculum the Central Board of Secondary Education releases for each academic session, listing units, marks per unit, practical work and the question paper design for every subject in classes 9 to 12. Your school teaches from it, and the class 10 and class 12 board papers are set strictly within it.
This hub explains how the CBSE board syllabus and exam pattern work, then compares the other boards on this site: CISCE (ICSE and ISC), NIOS, UP Board, JKBOSE and the MSBTE diploma board. Pick your class below for the full unit list, starting with the CBSE class 10 syllabus.
Exam at a glance
Board
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)Board exam classes
Class 10 and class 12 (classes 9 and 11 are school exams)Textbooks
NCERT books for most subjectsTypical marks split
80 theory and 20 internal in most class 10 subjects; 70 theory and 30 practical in class 12 science subjectsPass mark
33 percent in each subjectClass 10 board exams
Two chances: a main exam in February and an optional second exam in MayOfficial site
How the CBSE syllabus is set each session
CBSE does not keep one fixed syllabus for years. Before every academic session, it publishes a fresh curriculum document for each subject of classes 9 to 12. Each document gives:
- the units and chapters, mapped to NCERT textbooks;
- the marks each unit carries in the year end paper;
- the practical work, projects or internal assessment, with their marks;
- the design of the question paper: how many marks go to recall, application and analysis.
Chapters can be dropped, merged or brought back between sessions, so a printed guide from your elder cousin may not match your year. Download the current document from the board's academic website and keep it in the front of your subject file.
CBSE board exam pattern and passing rules
| Class | Theory | Internal or practical | Who sets the exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 9 | Set by school | Internal assessment | Your school |
| Class 10 | 80 in most subjects | 20 internal assessment | CBSE board |
| Class 11 | Set by school | Practicals and projects | Your school |
| Class 12, science subjects | 70 (physics, chemistry, biology) | 30 practical | CBSE board |
| Class 12, other subjects | 80 in many, such as maths and English | 20 project or internal | CBSE board |
You need 33 percent in each subject to pass. In class 12, the theory and the practical part of a subject are cleared separately, so a strong practical score cannot cover a weak theory paper.
The CBSE board exam pattern also fixes the type of questions. For classes 11 and 12, half of each paper is competency focused (case based, source based and application questions, including MCQs), 20 percent is select response and 30 percent is short and long answers. Class 10 papers follow a similar competency focus; the sample question paper for your subject shows the exact mix.
Two board exams for class 10
Class 10 students now get two chances at the board exam in a year.
- First exam (compulsory): held in mid February, with results in April.
- Second exam (optional): held in May, with results in June. You can use it to improve your score in up to three subjects, picked from the languages, science, social science or maths. Students in the compartment category can also appear.
- Internal assessment: done only once, before the first exam.
Class 12 still has one main board exam, with supplementary exams for those who need them. Confirm the rules on the board circular for your year.
CBSE board syllabus by class and subject
- CBSE class 9 syllabus: the base year for class 10 concepts, with science and maths.
- CBSE class 10 syllabus: all subjects, plus science, maths and social science.
- CBSE class 11 syllabus: the start of streams, with physics.
- CBSE class 12 syllabus: every stream, with physics, chemistry, maths and biology.
- Class 12 economics and accountancy for commerce students.
Other school boards compared
| Board | Run by | Main exams | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBSE | Central Board of Secondary Education | Class 10 and class 12 | NCERT textbooks; used by most entrance exam syllabi as the base |
| ICSE and ISC | Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) | ICSE at class 10, ISC at class 12 | Detailed English language and literature, internal work in many subjects |
| NIOS | National Institute of Open Schooling | Secondary and senior secondary | Open schooling; you choose subjects and study at your own pace |
| UP Board | Uttar Pradesh's secondary education board | High school (10) and intermediate (12) | Large Hindi medium cohort; see class 12 |
| JKBOSE | Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education | Classes 10, 11 and 12 | Board level exam in class 11 too; see class 12 |
| MSBTE | Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education | Polytechnic diploma semesters | The K scheme is its newest diploma curriculum; see MSBTE syllabus |
The NIOS class 12 syllabus page explains how open school subjects line up with entrance exam needs. ICSE details live on cisce.org.
Studying from the syllabus, not around it
The curriculum PDF is a study plan in disguise. Use it in three passes.
- Mark the heavy units. In class 10 maths, for example, algebra carries more marks than any other unit. Give your hours in roughly the same ratio as the marks.
- Read NCERT line by line. Board questions, especially in science and social science, are often worded close to the textbook. Solve every in text and end of chapter question.
- Practise the paper design. Case based and assertion reason items need practice of their own. Solve the board's sample papers under a clock and check them with the marking scheme, which shows the exact points examiners look for.
Previous board papers help in the last two months. Start with the class 10 previous papers or the class 12 previous papers, then subject sets such as class 10 maths.
From board exams to entrance exams
Your class 11 and 12 syllabus feeds straight into national entrance tests. NEET and JEE Main draw on physics, chemistry, biology and maths at the NCERT level, and CUET UG domain papers follow class 12 subjects. If you plan for these, study the board chapters with the entrance pattern in mind from class 11 itself. See the entrance exams hub, the NEET syllabus and the CUET syllabus to see where the overlap is largest.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get the official CBSE syllabus?
CBSE posts the curriculum for classes 9 to 12 on its academic website before each session, subject by subject, along with sample question papers and marking schemes. Prefer that copy over any PDF forwarded in a class group.
What is the passing mark in CBSE board exams?
You need 33 percent in each subject. In class 12 subjects with practicals, the theory paper and the practical are passed separately. Check the current scheme of studies for any change.
Is the CBSE syllabus the same as the NCERT syllabus?
For most subjects CBSE prescribes NCERT textbooks, so the content matches closely. The CBSE curriculum adds the marks per unit, the practical list and the question paper design, which NCERT books do not give.
How many subjects can I improve in the second class 10 exam?
Up to three, chosen among the languages, science, social science or maths, according to the scheme CBSE approved for two board exams. The first exam in February is compulsory for everyone.
Are class 9 and class 11 exams conducted by CBSE?
No. Your school sets and marks the class 9 and class 11 exams using the CBSE curriculum. CBSE conducts the board exams only at class 10 and class 12.
Which is harder, the ICSE or the CBSE syllabus?
ICSE usually has more detail in English and a wider spread of topics in some subjects, while CBSE stays close to NCERT and lines up better with national entrance tests. Neither is harder for everyone; it depends on your strengths and plans.