The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted the Class 10 Mathematics examination today, February 17, 2026, in both Standard and Basic formats. Early reactions from students and teachers indicate a noticeable difference in difficulty levels between the two papers. While the Standard paper was largely balanced and manageable, the Basic paper drew criticism for being lengthy and challenging.CBSE Class 10 Maths Basic Paper 2026: Check and download question paper, students call it moderately difficultPrincipal Dr. Alka Kapur of Modern Public School shared with TOI, “The Standard paper was balanced, well-structured, and manageable within the allotted time, while the Basic paper was relatively tough and lengthy, with graph-based questions proving particularly challenging.” Several teachers across India also shared their analyses. Manpreet Kaur, TGT Mathematics at Global Indian International School, noted, “The Grade 10 Mathematics board exam paper was balanced and prepared according to the prescribed board pattern. Overall difficulty was easy to moderate. Most questions were concept-based and straightforward, though a Triangles question and a Probability question were tricky. Time management was important, but well-prepared students could attempt most questions confidently.”CBSE Class 10 Maths Standard Paper 2026: Check and download question paper, students find it difficultSimilarly, Suneeti Sharma, TGT Mathematics at Global Indian International School, said, “The paper was moderate in difficulty, with some sections leaning toward easy. Case-study and application-based questions, particularly from Trigonometry, required careful thinking. Students who had practised NCERT examples thoroughly found the paper manageable.” From JAIN International Residential School, Bengaluru, Vamanrao S Patil and Benasir P A described the paper as “moderate and largely NCERT-focused. While MCQs and two-mark questions were accessible, Section D and the case-based Section E required deeper analysis, careful reading, and effective time management.”Shaifali Bhatt, HOD Mathematics at DPS Sector 45, shared her expert view on the exam: “The Class X Mathematics examination, both Standard and Basic, was well-structured and strictly aligned with the NCERT curriculum. The paper was balanced in difficulty, covering all key concepts fairly. Importantly, no questions were outside the prescribed syllabus, and both papers maintained consistency in structure and conceptual clarity, effectively assessing students’ understanding and application skills without being unpredictable.” Students also expressed their views. Abhhisek Sen, a Class 10 student, said, “The paper set 430/2/2 was extremely lengthy and also difficult, especially when it is a Basic paper. CBSE should shed its ego and reconduct the exam and this time must set the difficulty level equivalent to basic level.”Teacher Sanjay Sharma from Yamuna Vihar added, “The Basic paper demanded extensive calculations, whereas the Standard paper tested conceptual clarity without being overly lengthy.”Competency-Based Questions Test Conceptual ClarityOne of the key highlights of this year’s paper was the presence of competency-based questions. Teachers noted that these questions required students to apply concepts rather than rely solely on memorisation.“The competency-based questions were thoughtfully framed. They tested students’ understanding of concepts in real-life contexts,” said Mr. Abhishek Mehra, PGT Mathematics. “CBSE is clearly moving towards assessing application skills.”In particular, some word problems and case-study based questions required step-by-step reasoning. Students who had practised exemplar problems reportedly found these manageable.Challenging Areas: Circles and Lengthy MCQsWhile the overall paper was accessible, early reviews of the Mathematics Basic paper highlighted that a few questions from the ‘Circles’ chapter posed challenges. Some students felt that these questions required deeper conceptual understanding.“I was slightly confused in one of the questions from Circles, but after re-reading it, I could attempt it,” said another student from Yamuna Vihar.Additionally, a section of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) was described as lengthy. Though not necessarily difficult, these questions required time and careful calculation. Time management, therefore, played an important role. Another student from Mumbai told TOI, “Section E was difficult while the rest of the paper was moderate. Many students looked tense, and some were even crying after coming out of the exam hall.”What Lies AheadWith Mathematics marking the beginning of the board exams, students seem relieved and hopeful about the upcoming subjects. As the board exams progress, expert analyses and actual question papers are expected to be out soon.On the whole, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 Maths Paper 2026 has been termed as moderately difficult, with a mix of direct and application-based questions. Although some students found the paper manageable with proper preparation, certain parts of the paper demanded a better understanding of concepts and time management. Despite its difficulties, the paper was found to be fair and in line with the syllabus, marking a steady start to this year’s board exams.In conclusion, while the Standard paper was largely fair and student-friendly, the Basic paper challenged many learners. Competency-based and application-driven questions tested conceptual understanding and time management. Students and educators alike are now analysing both papers to gauge performance and prepare for upcoming subjects.
