CBSE Sample Papers 2025-26 with Marking Scheme: How to Use Them
Official CBSE Sample Question Papers (SQPs) are published by CBSE Academic on cbseacademic.nic.in before each board exam session. For 2025-26, both Class 10 and Class 12 SQPs are live, covering over 130 subjects in Class 12. Each SQP comes with an official Marking Scheme (MS) so you can see exactly how examiners award marks — including step marking and competency-question scoring.
Official SQP pages for 2025-26
| Class | Official page | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Class 12 | cbseacademic.nic.in/SQP_CLASSXII_2025-26.html | SQP + Marking Scheme for 130+ subjects, many bilingual |
| Class 10 | cbseacademic.nic.in/SQP_CLASSX_2025-26.html | SQP + Marking Scheme per subject |
New SQP pages are published each session (typically July–September). Older sessions are archived on the same host.
How to get the most out of an SQP
- Download the SQP and the Marking Scheme together — The MS is as important as the paper — it shows how marks are split across steps, diagrams, and competency questions.
- Attempt the SQP under exam conditions — Set a timer, work in silence, and do not look at the MS until you have finished every question.
- Mark your answers against the MS — Use the official marking scheme to assess partial credit — step marking in Maths and Science means you can earn marks even with a wrong final answer.
- Note which question types you lost marks on — Competency-based and case-study questions are the fastest-growing section of the CBSE paper; prioritise practising those formats.
Read the marking scheme as carefully as the paper: CBSE examiners follow the official MS strictly. Understanding how step marks, alternative responses, and "value-based" answers are awarded can raise your score without any extra revision — simply by writing in the format the examiner expects.
Frequently asked questions
Are CBSE sample papers available in Hindi?
Yes. CBSE publishes many SQPs and marking schemes in both English and Hindi medium on cbseacademic.nic.in. Look for the subject's Hindi version on the SQP page for your class.
How similar are SQPs to the actual board paper?
SQPs closely reflect the current exam pattern and difficulty level. They are designed by CBSE to show students exactly what to expect. While the actual paper will have different questions, the format, section structure, and mark weightage are representative.