The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an important circular dated 09 December 2025 to guide Class 10 students appearing for the 2025 Board Examinations. This year, CBSE has introduced a section-wise answer writing system for both Science and Social Science to improve the clarity of evaluation and ensure fair marking.
Schools and students must strictly follow these updated guidelines to avoid mistakes that may affect their marks.
1. New Section-Wise Paper Pattern Introduced by CBSE
🔬 Science Question Paper Structure (2025)
CBSE has divided the Class 10 Science question paper into three sections, each representing a specific subject area:
- Section A – Biology
- Section B – Chemistry
- Section C – Physics
Students must write answers for each section in the designated portion of the answer book only.
📚 Social Science Question Paper Structure (2025)
Social Science will now be divided into four clear sections, matching the four subject areas:
- Section A – History
- Section B – Geography
- Section C – Political Science
- Section D – Economics
This structured format helps evaluators assess answers more accurately and reduces errors in marking.
2. Mandatory Answer Book Guidelines for Students
CBSE has issued strict instructions that must be followed inside the examination hall:
✅ How Students Must Organize Their Answer Book
- Create 3 separate sections in Science answer books and 4 separate sections in Social Science answer books.
- Write answers only in the space allotted for that particular subject section.
- Do NOT mix sections.
For example, a Physics answer written in the Biology section will not be evaluated.
3. What Happens If Sections Are Mixed?
CBSE has clearly stated:
- If answers are written in the wrong section, they will not be evaluated.
- No marks will be awarded for such answers.
- These mistakes will not be corrected during verification or revaluation.
This makes it extremely important for students to practice section-wise writing before appearing for the final exam.
4. Instructions for Schools
CBSE has advised all affiliated schools to:
- Ensure that students get sufficient practice in writing section-wise answers.
- Implement these instructions in Pre-Board examinations.
- Guide students about the new answer book structure to prevent mistakes during the final exam.
5. Refer to CBSE Sample Papers for Clarity
CBSE has uploaded updated Sample Question Papers for Science and Social Science on the CBSE Academic website. Students must review these samples to understand:
- The pattern
- Section divisions
- Expected answer writing style
This will help them prepare confidently for the Board exams.
Official Note
The circular is signed by:
Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj
Controller of Examinations, CBSE
Conclusion
The CBSE Class 10 Exam Guidelines 2025 emphasize clarity, discipline, and systematic writing. Section-wise answer presentation will significantly improve evaluation accuracy—but only if students follow these instructions correctly. Practicing this format beforehand is the key to avoiding unnecessary loss of marks.