CBSE releases Class X and XII sample papers for 2026-27 board exams

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education has released Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes for Classes X and XII for the Academic Session 2026-27. The notification, dated 21 September 2026 and signed by Dr Praggya M. Singh, Professor and Director (Academics), is addressed to all heads of CBSE-affiliated schools.

The papers are live on the CBSE Academic website. Class X files are at https://cbseacademic.nic.in/SQP_CLASSX_2026-27.html and Class XII files at https://cbseacademic.nic.in/SQP_CLASSXII_2026-27.html. Schools, students and parents can download subject-wise sample papers along with the matching marking schemes from those pages.

What the Board says the papers are for

In notification CBSE/Academic/AP&AD(PV)/2026, also listed on the Academic site as Notification 132 of 2026, the Board says it issues Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes each year to give a broad template and guide for uniformity and proper coverage of the curricula. The samples are meant to help students understand question paper design, and to be used in classroom teaching and learning with a focus on applying concepts in real-life situations.

For schools that have been waiting for a pattern shock, the notice is clear. There is no change in the question paper design and assessment pattern for 2026-27. Passing criteria will remain the same as those that applied in 2025-26. That line will matter to Class X and XII cohorts who planned revision around last year's structure and do not want to rebuild timetables around a surprise redesign.

What is on the Academic site

The Class X page lists sample papers and marking schemes across core and elective subjects, including Science, Mathematics (Basic and Standard), Social Science, English (Language and Literature and Communicative), Hindi A and B, Computer Application, Home Science, NCC, painting, music streams and a long list of languages. The Class XII page similarly opens core streams such as Accountancy, Business Studies, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science and many languages and performing arts subjects, with SQP and MS links under the 2026-27 folder on the Academic server.

Students should treat the samples as practice maps, not as leaked board papers. The marking schemes show how answers are expected to be valued, including step marks where the Board has provided them. Teachers can pull classroom drills from the same packs without waiting for third-party compilations. Skill-subject sample papers sit on a separate Academic menu for schools that offer those courses.

Who needs to act

The circular asks school heads to take note and, through the usual copy list, reaches Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Sainik Schools, state education directors and CBSE regional offices for wider circulation. Queries or feedback can be mailed to cbsesqp@cbseshiksha.in.

Timing matters for winter revision. Many affiliated schools begin full-length mock schedules soon after the Diwali break. Having the Board's own SQPs and MS files in September gives principals a clean set to schedule, and gives students one official source instead of a pile of unofficial PDFs with unclear dates.

For an Education desk, the story is straightforward. Board year 2026-27 now has official sample papers online, the design is unchanged from 2025-26, and schools have a clean link set to push into student groups and notice boards. Candidates who have not opened the Academic pages yet should start with their own subjects and the matching marking scheme rather than waiting for coaching notes to summarise the Board's own files.