PSEB Class 10 Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Complete Guide
To prepare for the PSEB Class 10 Matriculation Examinations 2025-26, students should first learn about the syllabi and examination formats. By being knowledgeable of the topics they will be expected to study, how marks will be distributed, and what kinds of questions will be asked, students can develop a study plan that prioritises high-weightage topics and enables them to do well in the board exam. This resource will provide details on the entire subject-specific syllabus with a complete introduction of each PSEB Class 10 subject, and it will cover the format of all PSEB Class 10 subjects' exams including the overall assessment and grading methodology used for internal assessments of all PSEB Class 10 subjects.
1.0PSEB Class 10 Exam Pattern: Highlights
2.0About PSEB
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), headquartered in Mohali (SAS Nagar), is the apex state-level regulatory body responsible for secondary and senior secondary education in Punjab. Established in 1969, PSEB holds the administrative mandate to prescribe textbooks, define course curricula, affiliate public and private schools, and manage the single-shift Class 10 Matriculation Board Examinations across all districts of Punjab. PSEB follows the NCERT framework for Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, while prescribing its own textbooks for language subjects. Lakhs of students appear for the PSEB Class 10 Matriculation examination every year.
3.0PSEB Class 10 Exam Pattern - Marking Scheme
The assessment framework for PSEB Class 10 has a well-defined structure across all subjects:
Board Written Examination (80 Marks for major subjects / 65 Marks for Punjabi): The external theory paper is divided into four sections as per the PSEB blueprint:
- Section A — MCQ / Objective Questions (1 mark each): Direct knowledge-based questions answered on the answer sheet.
- Section B — Very Short Answer Questions (2 marks each): Brief 1–2 sentence answers covering factual and conceptual points.
- Section C — Short Answer Questions (4 marks each): Short paragraph answers covering definitions, differences, or brief explanations.
- Section D — Long Answer Questions (6 marks each): Detailed descriptive answers — mathematical proofs, derivations, diagram-based explanations, or analytical essay responses.
Marking of Internal Assessment (20 Marks for Major Subjects, 10 Marks for Punjabi) by School. Assessment will be done by the school for all eligible subjects throughout the year via various formats (group exam, submission of classwork and project, and doing a practical exam).
The Dual Question Paper Blueprint
The PSEB Class 10 examination uses a four-tier question structure that rewards both recall and analytical thinking:
Objective and Short Sections (Sections A & B): MCQs and very short answers test direct knowledge of facts, formulas, vocabulary, and definitions. These sections reward students who have thoroughly memorised chapter content and regularly practised objective questions.
Descriptive Sections (Sections C & D): Short and long answer questions test deeper understanding through derivations, mathematical problem-solving, diagram labelling, map pointing, and analytical or essay-style responses. All descriptive answers are evaluated using a physical answer sheet by external examiners.
Subject-wise Marks Distribution
4.0PSEB Class 10 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics
1. Punjabi — Paper A & Paper B (65 Marks Theory / 10 Marks Internal)
- Prose (Gadya): Understanding of and questions about context in prescribed prose portions of PSEB Punjabi text; questions about character sketches and central idea.
- Poetry (Kavita): Explanation of, appreciation of and questions about references to prescribed poems, and identification of poetic devices.
- Grammar (Vyakaran): Parts of speech, synonyms, antonyms, sentence correction, idioms, proverbs, and word formation exercises.
- Writing Skills: Essay writing, letter writing, story writing based on outlines, and précis writing.
- Punjab History & Culture (Paper B): Topics on Sikh history, Punjabi culture, heritage, and prominent figures — evaluated through short and long answer questions.
2. English (80 Marks Theory / 20 Marks Internal)
- Section A — Reading Skills: Two unseen comprehension passages with MCQ, vocabulary, and short-answer questions testing reading and contextual understanding skills.
- Section B — Writing Skills: Formal and informal letter writing, essay writing, application writing, notice writing, and short paragraph construction based on verbal or visual outlines.
- Section C — Grammar: Tenses, voice (active/passive), narration (direct/indirect speech), prepositions, articles, conjunctions, sentence transformation, and question framing.
- Section D — Literature: Prose and poetry from First Flight and Footprints Without Feet — comprehension, central theme identification, character sketch, and textual questions from both the main reader and supplementary reader.
3. Hindi / Urdu (80 Marks Theory / 20 Marks Internal)
- Prose (Gadya): Reading and understanding of the prose passages (from the prescribed textbook); analysis of characters as well as a summary of each passage
- Poetry (Kavya): Analysis of the subject matter and appreciation of the poetry as well as context-based question; use of devices in poetry (ras, alankar, chhind)
- Grammar: Tenses, voice, narration, sandhi, sandas, synonyms, antonyms, compound words, correcting sentences
- Composition/Essay Writing (Essay Writing): Writing in formal and informal modes of communication (such as an application and/or letter); reading of passages of text that are not known/previously studied/analyzed or "unseen."
4. Mathematics (80 Marks Theory / 20 Marks Internal)
- Real Numbers: Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, decimal expansions, and proving irrationality of numbers.
- Algebra: Polynomial roots, pair of linear equations in two variables, quadratic equations, and arithmetic progressions (nth term and sum).
- Coordinate Geometry: Distance formula, section formula, area of triangle using coordinate axes.
- Geometry: Triangle proportionality theorems, circle tangent properties, and geometric constructions.
- Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios, standard identities, and application-based height and distance problems.
- Mensuration: Areas related to circles; total surface area and volume of spheres, cylinders, and cones.
- Statistics & Probability: Mean, median, and mode for grouped data; basic probability calculations.
5. Science (80 Marks Theory / 20 Marks Practical)
- Chemistry — Chemical Substances: Balancing chemical equations, acids, bases and salts, extraction of metals, covalent bonding in non-metals, and structures of carbon-based compounds.
- Biology — World of Living: Nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion (life processes); neurological control and coordination; reproductive patterns in plants and animals; principles of heredity.
- Physics — Natural Phenomena & Electricity: Light reflection and refraction, human eye optical structure and defects, electric circuits, Ohm's law, heating effects of current, and magnetic field forces.
- Environment: Food chain structures, ecosystem energy flows, ozone depletion, waste management, and natural resource preservation.
6. Social Science (80 Marks Theory / 20 Marks Internal)
- History: Rise of nationalism in Europe and India, industrialisation eras, making of a global world, development of print media. Includes mandatory historical map pointing.
- Geography: Resource distribution and conservation, forests and wildlife, water bodies and agriculture, minerals and energy, manufacturing industries, and transport and communication. Includes map work.
- Political Science: Methods of power sharing, federalism, structure and function of political parties, mechanics of democratic systems, and outcomes and challenges of democracy.
- Economics: Sectors of the Indian economy, the banking system, money and credit, impact of globalisation on India, and consumer rights.
5.0PSEB Class 10 Internal and Practical Exam Details
Each subject has a 20-mark internal/practical contribution (10 marks for Punjabi) towards the total score, evaluated at the school level through multiple components:
- Periodic Tests & Class Examinations: Results are tabulated from completed sets of periodic tests, unit examinations, and oral questioning conducted throughout the academic year at the school level.
- Project Work & Portfolios: Independent project assignment booklets, topic presentation tasks, or subject-specific research work assigned and evaluated by subject teachers.
- Practical Examinations (Science, Computer Science, Home Science, Vocational/NSQF): The practical examination will be conducted separately (school level basis) over a period of ten days (February 2nd through to the 12th) across the State. They will occur in two shifts — Morning shift (9:00AM to 12:00PM) and Afternoon shift (1:00PM to 4:00PM). The Science practical exams will include assessments of practical and experimental skills, including the performance of viva. The NSQF subjects will also include an element of on-the-job training for a period of 7 days following the written exam, which will be carried out by the teacher from the respective school.
- Attendance & General Conduct: Awarded based on the student's regular presence and everyday classroom discipline, homework timeliness, and general values shown inside the classroom throughout the academic year.
6.0How to Use the Syllabus & Pattern for Planning
- Prioritise high-weightage clusters early: Use the PSEB blueprint (available at pseb.ac.in) to identify which chapters carry the most marks in long-answer (6-mark) questions for each subject. In Mathematics, target Algebra and Geometry. In Science, focus on Electricity, Light, and Life Processes — these consistently yield long-answer questions.
- Practise within the 3-hour timeline: Simulate full-length PSEB previous papers under a timed setting (11:00 AM to 2:15 PM). A suggested time split: 20–25 minutes for MCQs → 20–25 minutes for very short answers → 40–50 minutes for short answers → remaining time for long answers.
- Incorporate neat diagrams and maps for extra marks: In Science subjective sections, neatly labelled diagrams earn additional marks. In Social Science, practise map pointing regularly to build accuracy and speed for Geography questions.
- Lock in the 20 internal/practical marks: To maintain a consistent score for your subject, you must keep up your attendance, as well as regularly participate in class assessment through tests and submission of project files. You can achieve the 20 internal assessment marks for your course through your attendance and regular completion of classwork, along with successfully preparing for and completing the practical tests to be held from February 2-12, 2026.