Story by Raksha Bhattacharjee
The Class 10 Science paper was administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on February 20, 2025, at multiple examination centers. The test occurred in one shift, running from 10:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Some students remarked that the Science paper contained a mixture of theoretical inquiries and case-based scenarios. Other students felt they struggled with challenging application-focused questions.
Students react:
The exam was average; I found the physics section somewhat challenging, but overall, the exam was satisfactory, said Harleen Kaur from Mohali. I blanked on a few terminology related to heredity after feeling overwhelmed by the paper. There were quite a few chemical reactions in the Chemistry section that were not included in the NCERT book, so I was able to tackle them easily, while the case studies in Physics posed a significant challenge, mentioned Ashwit Ratan from Lucknow. The exam was moderate; I completed it on time, but chemistry had some unexpected questions, which I found to be somewhat difficult. However, if one has a solid grasp of the concepts, the paper was manageable, shared Prabhjot Kaur from Mohali.The biology section was straightforward, and the exam was of a moderate level; I finished the paper in 2 hours. I had studied well, and the questions played to my strengths. The overall format of the paper was reasonable, and students who had been consistent in their studies likely did well. Reviewing past year question papers was extremely beneficial for me in today’s exam,” remarked Neha from Mohali.
Educators react:
The Grade X Science board exam featured a well-structured question paper with a mix of easy to moderate difficulty. Section A included objective-type questions, providing a fair distribution of theory-based inquiries. The final four questions in this section were Assertion and Reason questions focused on recalling and comprehending concepts.
No numerical problems were presented in this part. Section B of the exam was moderately challenging and concentrated more on theoretical elements of the subject. Section C presented a combination of theoretical and case-based questions, with one or two inquiries related to experimental aspects that were moderately difficult.
Section D consisted of theory-focused questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, with an easy to moderate level of difficulty. Section E contained Competency Based Questions centered on the theoretical components of the subject.
Overall, the question paper was straightforward and well-balanced. Students who had practiced CBSE sample papers, studied NCERT books, and completed Exemplar Exercises were likely to perform well.
In summary, students expressed satisfaction with the exam’s difficulty level.The paper is well-balanced, featuring mainly application-focused questions and those requiring higher-order thinking.
Section A presents a strong combination of understanding and skill-based multiple-choice questions. Section B includes five questions based on reasoning. Section C demands analytical skills and critical evaluation.
Section D aims to assess conceptual understanding. Section E consists of a case study with questions targeting the objectivity of concepts such as electric circuits, growth movement, and the properties of metals and non-metals,” explained Renu Tewari, Head of the Science Department at Vidgiyan School Bulandshahar.
This year, the CBSE is overseeing board exams for Class 10 and 12, with approximately 44 lakh students enrolled from 8,000 schools both in India and internationally.
