CBSE Question Papers

Download CBSE previous-year board question papers and official sample papers with marking schemes — organised by class and subject. Each subject page shows the exam pattern and the topics that come up most often in official papers.

Find your subject

• Browse all subjects
• Exam help guides
• Frequently asked questions

Sample papers, past papers and marking schemes

CBSE publishes Sample Question Papers (SQPs) with marking schemes for board classes each session on its academic site — these are the single most reliable preview of the actual paper, because they carry the current pattern, the internal choice, and the step-wise marking the examiner follows.

Past papers remain useful for topic coverage, but the paper pattern can change between sessions — competency-based questions have grown steadily — so always practise from the current session's SQP first and use older papers for volume.

How toppers actually use a marking scheme

1. Solve the SQP first, unaided — Write full answers under time. Do not read the marking scheme before your attempt — it anchors you.
2. Score yourself step-by-step — The marking scheme shows exactly which steps earn marks. Award yourself marks only for the steps you actually wrote, not the final answer alone.
3. Rewrite one weak answer per paper — Take your worst answer and rewrite it to match the scheme's step structure. This trains presentation, which is where board marks are most often lost.

Class 10 two-attempt system: From the 2026 cycle CBSE runs two Class 10 board exam phases, with the first compulsory and the second optional in up to three subjects, counting the better score. Practise for Phase 1 as the real exam — Phase 2 follows the same pattern. Confirm the current rules for your cohort on cbse.gov.in.

Official question papers & sample papers

Frequently asked questions