How Was the Class 10 Maths Exam 2026? Check Review, Difficulty & Expert Analysis

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 10 Mathematics board exam yesterday, February 17, 2026. This was one of the most crucial subjects for students across India. As lakhs of students stepped out of their exam centers, the reactions were mixed. While many found the paper manageable and strictly based on the syllabus, others complained that the paper was too long to finish on time.

If you are looking for a detailed review of how the paper was, which sections were difficult, and what experts are saying, we have covered everything below.

Overall Difficulty Level: Standard vs. Basic

For the 2026 board exams, CBSE continued offering two levels of Mathematics: Standard (Subject Code 041) and Basic (Subject Code 241).

• Standard Maths: Most students reported that the Standard paper was moderate. It was not extremely hard, but it was not very easy either. The questions tested conceptual understanding rather than just memory. Students who had practiced well from the NCERT textbooks found it familiar.
• Basic Maths: Surprisingly, many students found the Basic paper to be slightly tricky and lengthy. Usually, the Basic paper is expected to be easier, but this year, several students felt that the calculations took a lot of time, especially in the multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Section-Wise Analysis

1. MCQs were Lengthy (Section A)

The biggest talking point of the 2026 Maths paper was the Multiple Choice Questions. Both students and teachers agreed that the 1-mark questions were not “tick and mark” types. They required proper solving and calculation. This consumed a lot of time at the start of the exam, leaving less time for the longer questions later.

2. Case Studies were Practical (Section E)

The Case Study-based questions, which usually worry students, were practically designed. They covered topics like Arithmetic Progressions (AP), Surface Areas & Volumes, and Trigonometry. While the language was clear, a few questions required deep thinking to interpret the data correctly.

3. Long Answers (Section D)

This section was traditional. Most questions here were directly from the NCERT exercises. However, the questions on Geometry (Circles and Triangles) and Surface Areas involved long calculations. Students who did not manage their time well in Section A struggled to complete these 5-mark answers neatly.

What Are Students Saying?

Student reactions on social media and outside exam centers highlighted a “Time Management” issue.

One student from a Delhi school mentioned, “The paper was not out of syllabus, but I had to rush in the last 30 minutes. The MCQs took 45 minutes to solve, which panicked me.”

Another student who opted for Basic Maths said, “I thought Basic would be simple direct questions, but the logic required was almost the same as Standard. It was a moderate paper, not easy.”

Expert Review: “A Balanced Paper”

Maths teachers and subject experts believe the paper was fair. According to them, CBSE has successfully shifted the focus to Competency-Based Education.

Teachers noted that around 70% of the paper was directly from NCERT, which is good news for students who stuck to the main textbook. There were no shocking “out of syllabus” surprises. The experts stated that an average student can easily score between 50 to 60 marks (out of 80), while scoring above 75 will require high accuracy in the tricky MCQs.

Official Answer Key and Result Date

Now that the exam is over, students are looking for answer keys. Please note:

• Unofficial Keys: Many coaching centers and websites have released unofficial answer keys. You can use them for a rough idea.
• Official Key: CBSE generally does not release a public answer key immediately. The official checking happens internally.
• Result Date: The Class 10 results are expected to be announced in May 2026, after all exams are concluded and evaluation is complete.

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