How to Prepare for Class 10 Science CBSE Board Exams 2025?: Class 10 Science is one of the most important and scoring subjects in the CBSE board exams. With consistent effort, proper planning, and effective study techniques, you can excel in the subject and achieve full marks. This guide will help you prepare strategically and build confidence in tackling the exam.
The first step to excelling in Class 10 Science is understanding the syllabus thoroughly. Science is divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Each section has specific topics with varying difficulty levels. Begin your preparation with the NCERT textbook, as it is the core material for board exams.
Categorize Chapters into Difficulty Levels:
Easy Chapters:
Chapter 1: Chemical Reactions and Equations
Chapter 2: Acids, Bases, and Salts
Chapter 5: Life Processes
Chapter 13: Our Environment
Moderate Chapters:
Chapter 3: Metals and Non-Metals
Chapter 6: Control and Coordination
Chapter 7: How Do Organisms Reproduce?
Chapter 10: Human Eye and Colourful World
Chapter 11: Electricity
Difficult Chapters:
Chapter 4: Carbon and Its Compounds
Chapter 8: Heredity and Evolution
Chapter 9: Light – Reflection and Refraction
Chapter 12: Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Start with easy chapters to build confidence and gradually move to moderate and difficult ones. Allocate more time to high-weightage chapters like Electricity, Life Processes, Light, and Carbon and Its Compounds.
Chapter 1: Chemical Reactions and Equations
Key Topics: Types of chemical reactions: Combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, and redox, Writing and balancing chemical equations, Applications: Corrosion and rancidity.
Focus Areas: Practice balancing equations, Memorize the indicators of chemical reactions (change in color, temperature, formation of gas/precipitate).
Sample Questions: Define oxidation and reduction with examples, Write a balanced equation for the reaction of iron with steam.
Chapter 2: Acids, Bases, and Salts
Key Topics: Properties of acids and bases, pH scale and its importance, Common salts (e.g., baking soda, washing soda, bleaching powder).
Focus Areas: Learn the preparation and properties of important salts, Understand the role of pH in daily life (e.g., tooth decay, soil treatment).
Sample Questions: Why is baking soda used to neutralize an acid, Explain the preparation of bleaching powder.
Chapter 3: Metals and Non-Metals
Key Topics: Physical and chemical properties of metals and non-metals, Reactivity series, Alloys and their applications.
Focus Areas: Understand the displacement reactions based on the reactivity series, Learn corrosion and its prevention methods.
Sample Questions: Why is aluminium used to make aircraft?
What is galvanization?
Chapter 4: Carbon and Its Compounds
Key Topics: Covalent bonding, functional groups, and homologous series, Chemical properties: Combustion, oxidation, addition, and substitution, Soaps and detergents.
Focus Areas: Practice naming organic compounds (nomenclature), Learn the mechanism of cleaning action of soap.
Sample Questions: Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, Write a chemical reaction for the combustion of ethanol.
Chapter 5: Life Processes
Key Topics: Nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion in animals and plants.
Focus Areas: Learn the diagrams for the human digestive and respiratory systems, Understand the process of double circulation in humans.
Sample Questions: What are the raw materials for photosynthesis? Explain the role of nephron in excretion.
Chapter 6: Control and Coordination
Key Topics: Nervous system in humans, Plant hormones and movements.
Focus Areas: Draw and label the structure of a neuron, Understand tropic movements in plants.
Sample Questions: Explain reflex action with an example. What is phototropism?
Chapter 7: How Do Organisms Reproduce?
Key Topics: Modes of reproduction: Asexual and sexual, Reproductive health and contraceptive methods.
Focus Areas: Draw diagrams of the human reproductive system, Learn vegetative propagation in plants.
Sample Questions: Describe binary fission with an example, What is the role of the placenta in reproduction?
Chapter 8: Heredity and Evolution
Key Topics: Mendel’s laws of inheritance, Evolutionary relationships and fossil records.
Focus Areas: Learn to solve genetic cross problems, Understand homologous and analogous organs.
Sample Questions: Explain Mendel’s experiment with pea plants, What are vestigial organs?
Chapter 9: Light – Reflection and Refraction
Key Topics: Laws of reflection and refraction. Mirror and lens formulas.
Focus Areas: Draw ray diagrams for concave and convex mirrors and lenses, Practice numerical problems based on lens and mirror formulas.
Sample Questions: Derive the mirror formula. State and explain Snell’s law.
Chapter 10: Human Eye and Colourful World
Key Topics: Structure and functions of the human eye. Atmospheric refraction, scattering of light.
Focus Areas: Learn the causes and corrections of myopia and hypermetropia. Understand phenomena like the rainbow and twinkling of stars.
Sample Questions: Why is the sky blue? Explain the working of the human eye.
Chapter 11: Electricity
Key Topics: Ohm’s law, resistance, and series/parallel combinations, Electric power and energy.
Focus Areas: Solve circuit-based numerical problems. Learn the derivation for the heating effect of current.
Sample Questions: Derive the formula for resistances in parallel. What is electric power?
Chapter 12: Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Key Topics: Magnetic field and lines of force. Electromagnetic induction and devices like electric motors.
Focus Areas: Draw diagrams for magnetic field patterns. Learn Fleming’s rules and their applications.
Sample Questions: Explain the working of a DC motor. What is electromagnetic induction?
Chapter 13: Our Environment
Key Topics: Food chains and webs, Management of natural resources.
Focus Areas: Learn the impact of human activities on the environment. Understand the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
Sample Questions: Explain the concept of biomagnification. What is ozone depletion?
Important Viva Questions for Class 10 Science Practical Exam
10 Important Long Questions for Class 10 Science Board Exam
Achieving full marks in Class 10 Science requires a strategic approach that involves mastering your concepts, practicing consistently, and reviewing key topics regularly. Below is a detailed guide with specific tips that will help you excel in your upcoming board exams.
Master NCERT:
The NCERT textbook is the primary source for CBSE board exams. Most of the questions in the exam are directly derived from NCERT, making it essential to thoroughly understand every line. Read each chapter carefully: Don’t just skim through it. Understand the underlying concepts and principles. Complete all exercises: Solve all the in-text and end-of-chapter questions in the book. These questions not only test your understanding but also give you an idea of how to approach questions in the exam. Focus on key concepts: Some chapters have concepts that are often tested (like Newton’s laws of motion in Physics, photosynthesis in Biology, and chemical equations in Chemistry). Understand these thoroughly. Don’t ignore the solved examples: These examples help in understanding how to approach problems and equations.
Practice Numerical Problems Regularly:
Physics and Chemistry are full of numerical and conceptual applications. Regular practice helps you master problem-solving skills, understand formulae, and develop speed and accuracy. Solve at least 10 numerical problems daily from both Physics and Chemistry. This ensures that you cover a wide range of problems and gain proficiency. Focus on units and conversions: Always pay attention to units in numerical problems. Many students lose marks by not converting units correctly. Use formulae consistently: Practice using formulas correctly in different types of problems (e.g., Ohm’s Law, laws of motion, chemical calculations). Analyze solved examples: Before solving the exercise, go through the solved examples in the NCERT and understand the method used.
Revise Diagrams Regularly:
Diagrams play a critical role, especially in Biology and Physics. They help in understanding and visualizing concepts better, and well-drawn, labeled diagrams can fetch easy marks.
Draw diagrams daily: For Biology, practice drawing labeled diagrams like the structure of the human heart, digestive system, flower, etc. For Physics, practice ray diagrams (concave/convex mirrors, lenses), circuit diagrams, etc. Label all parts properly: Always ensure that your diagrams are clear and all parts are labeled accurately. Use a pencil to draw and a ruler for straight lines. Review important diagrams from each chapter and make sure you understand the underlying concepts. Diagrams can help clarify your answers in the exam.
Work on Formulae and Derivations:
Most Physics and Chemistry questions involve formulas or require derivations. These are critical for obtaining full marks in your board exams. Memorize key formulas: Write down formulas for important chapters like Electricity, Light, Acids and Bases, and Chemical Reactions. Keep a list and revise it daily. Understand the derivations: Don’t just memorize the steps. Understand the logic behind each step in derivations, such as deriving the mirror and lens formulas, laws of motion, or laws of thermodynamics. Solve derivations and problems from the textbook to practice how to approach them logically.
Regularly Solve Previous Year Papers:
Solving previous year’s papers helps you understand the exam pattern, the types of questions asked, and how much time to allocate to each section. Simulate exam conditions: Take a mock test under timed conditions to get accustomed to the pressure of the actual exam. Solve at least the last 5-10 years of board exam papers. Focus on frequently asked questions and recurring topics. Analyze your mistakes: After solving, review the answers carefully. If you make mistakes, understand why and revise that topic thoroughly.
Focus on Important Topics:
Some topics have more weight in the exams than others. By focusing on these high-weightage chapters, you can maximize your score. Prioritize high-weightage chapters: Chapters like Electricity, Life Processes, Light, and Chemical Reactions are important. Practice numerical-heavy chapters: Topics like Electricity, Chemical Calculations, and Magnetic Effects of Current are known to be numerically intensive. Practice them more frequently. Review Science topics with diagrams: Make sure you’re comfortable with important diagrams in Biology (like human digestive system, excretory system, etc.) and Physics (ray diagrams, circuit diagrams).
Master the Art of Answer Writing:
Presentation is important in board exams. Answering questions clearly and concisely can help in fetching better marks. Structure your answers well: Start with a brief introduction, followed by the main explanation, and end with a conclusion or summary. Use bullet points for clarity. Use proper terminology: Avoid informal language and write in scientific terms, especially in Physics and Chemistry. Be precise: Stick to the point. Don’t write lengthy explanations unless the question demands it. Include diagrams wherever applicable: Label diagrams clearly, and use them to support your written answers.
Time Management:
Time management ensures that you attempt all questions in the exam within the allocated time, allowing you to maximize your score. Allocate time to each section based on marks and difficulty level. For example, long answer questions should be given more time. Practice with a timer: While solving previous year papers or mock tests, time yourself and aim to finish the paper within the given time.
Revise Regularly:
Regular revision helps reinforce what you have learned and improves retention.
Revise each subject weekly: Set aside a day for revision each week to go over the chapters you’ve covered. This will ensure you don’t forget important topics. Use your short notes: Write concise notes for each chapter with key points, formulas, and important definitions to revise quickly before the exam.
Stay Calm and Confident:
A calm and focused mind is key to performing well in exams. Stress can hinder your ability to recall information and solve problems effectively. Stay positive: Believe in your preparation and stay motivated. Take breaks: While studying, take short breaks (e.g., after 45 minutes of study, take a 5-10 minute break) to keep your mind fresh. Practice relaxation techniques: Practice deep breathing or meditation to reduce exam stress.
By following these tips, focusing on understanding key concepts, and practicing consistently, you can increase your chances of scoring full marks in your Class 10 Science board exam.
