CBSE Class 10 Social Science exam 2026: Faculty-backed revision tips and mistakes students must avoid

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Social Science is often misunderstood as a test of memory. In the CBSE Class 10 board exam, it is more accurately a test of judgement. What to write. What to leave out. Where to pause. How to structure an answer so that the examiner sees understanding, not excess. Across its four units—History, Geography, Political Science and Economics—the paper rewards students who think like exam-takers, not note-hoarders.For the 2026 board cycle, CBSE Class 10 Social Science carries 100 marks, split between 80 marks for the theory paper and 20 marks for internal assessment and project work. The theory paper is evenly distributed across the four units.With the CBSE Class 10 Social Science exam scheduled on 7 March, we spoke to faculty from different schools to understand where preparation should deepen, where it should narrow, and how students can avoid losing marks they have already earned.

History

History answers rarely fail because students lack information. They fail because information appears without order. When events are presented without sequence or ideas without linkage, the answer reads unsure, even if it is factually dense.That distinction shapes how Sapna Kaushik, faculty at Uttam School for Girls, Ghaziabad, wants students to revise. “For the Class 10 board exams, students should focus on clarity, chronology, and conceptual understanding rather than rote learning,” she says.Her revision focus rests on Nationalism in Europe, Nationalism in India, The Making of a Global World, and Print Culture and the Modern World. Here are clear guidelines from Kaushik on these chapters:

“Create concept maps and timelines for every chapter. Visual tools help retain information better and allow quick revision before the exam,” suggests Kaushik. What she is really trying to protect students from is the familiar pattern of avoidable loss—answers that go off-track even when the chapter has been studied.“Students should avoid ignoring timelines or mixing up events,” Kaushik says. “They should also avoid writing long, unfocused answers instead of concise, point-wise responses, and they must not neglect map-based questions, because these often carry easy marks if prepared well.”

Geography

Geography is unforgiving of vagueness. Broad statements, half-remembered definitions, and unlabelled maps tend to unravel quickly under evaluation. Precision is not optional here; it is the currency of marks.That is why Maalvika Daniel, faculty for Geography at Uttam School for Girls, Ghaziabad, advises students to centre their preparation on Resources and Development, Agriculture, Water Resources, Forest and Wildlife Resources, Mineral and Energy Resources, and Manufacturing Industries. “These chapters form the backbone of the question paper, covering both theoretical and application-based concepts,” she says.Daniel’s approach shifts Geography away from memorisation towards interpretation. Revising core ideas, she suggests, works best when students go deeper through questions. “Ask yourself : Why is soil conservation important? or How do irrigation patterns vary across India?” she says. She observes that connecting theory with real-life examples strengthens understanding. “Discuss local crops when studying agriculture or nearby industries when learning about manufacturing. This practical approach builds conceptual clarity and lasting memory,” Daniel adds. Geography, in Daniel’s framing, works best when students stop treating it like a chapter list and start treating it like a lived map of the world around them. “Treat Geography as a story of our planet, not a subject to memorize,” she says. “Observe your surroundings – the soil beneath your feet, the transport network in your city, or seasonal weather changes. Linking classroom learning with real-world observations makes the subject come alive.”That shift, she argues, also changes how students revise in the final stretch. “Finally, revise thoroughly from the NCERT textbook, solve case-based and competency-based questions, and stay confident,” Daniel says. “Geography rewards curiosity, understanding, and thoughtful presentation – not rote memorization.”She is equally direct about where students slip, even after good preparation. “Many students rely on rote learning without grasping the reasoning behind concepts,” Daniel says. “Avoid writing vague answers. Instead, use accurate geographical terms, relevant data, and case-based examples.” Map work, she notes, is the other quiet mark-leak. “Neglecting map work is another frequent error. Regularly practise marking rivers, dams, crops, minerals, and industrial areas. Map questions are easy yet scoring, so don’t miss them.” Daniel also reminds students that evaluation is human, and readability counts. “Presentation also matters: Label neatly, underline keywords, and maintain clear handwriting for better readability,” she notes.

Political Science (Democratic Politics)

Political Science answers tend to slip when they start sounding like essays. In the board exam, the subject works best when treated with restraint—read the question carefully, define the idea clearly, explain it briefly, and stop before the answer begins to wander.According to Anurag Thakur, faculty (TGT SST) at Sunbeam School, Ballia, students should focus their revision on Power Sharing, Federalism, Political Parties, Gender, Religion and Caste, and Outcomes of Democracy.These chapters reward clarity of definition and balance of explanation rather than flourish.What quietly erodes scores are habits that build under pressure. “Misreading questions, slipping formats, rushing answers, and letting handwriting deteriorate as the clock runs down should be avoided,” Thakur notes. “Poor time management and lack of map practice only compound the problem,” he adds.Students who do well treat Political Science like a structured argument. Each answer has an entry point, a core explanation, and a clean exit.

Economics

Economics is where learning without understanding falters fastest. CBSE’s increasing emphasis on competency-based questions means that definitions now need context, and concepts need application.Surabhi Garg, faculty for Economics at Uttam School for Girls, Ghaziabad, advises students to revise chapters judiciously. In Development, she wants students to focus on the concept of comparative development, HDI indicators, and sustainability. “In Sectors of the Indian Economy, revise the classification of sectors, their contribution to GDP and employment, and the difference between organised and unorganised sectors. From Money and Credit, understanding formal and informal sources of credit, the role of the Reserve Bank of India, and the concept of collateral are vital. Lastly, Globalisation and the Indian Economy should be studied with emphasis on factors enabling globalisation, role of MNCs, and its impact on Indian producers and consumers,” she says.The answers that fall short, she observes, tend to sound memorised. “Students often memorise definitions without linking them to examples,” says Garg. The avoidable losses, Garg says, begin with basic mix-ups. “Avoid confusing HDI with GDP, or mixing up features of sectors. Many also skip diagrams, case studies, or data interpretation, which are now central to CBSE’s competency-based questions,” notes Garg.