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CBSE Class 10 Maths syllabus 2026-27: units, marks, chapters, and Standard vs Basic
This guide sets out what the CBSE Class 10 Mathematics syllabus for 2026-27 contains, taken straight from CBSE's curriculum document, the two 2026-27 sample papers and the NCERT textbook. It covers:
- the seven units and their marks;
- the 14 NCERT chapters;
- the limits the curriculum puts inside some topics;
- what is the same and what is different between Mathematics Standard (code 041) and Mathematics Basic (code 241);
- internal assessment;
- how the 80-mark paper is laid out.
Every number names its document and page, listed at the end. Page numbers are PDF pages.
The official curriculum is a 10-page PDF on cbseacademic.nic.in: CBSE Mathematics curriculum, Class X, 2026-27.
The marks at a glance
The board theory paper is 3 hours and 80 marks for both Standard and Basic, and internal assessment at school adds 20 marks (curriculum, pages 8 and 9).
| Unit | Name in the curriculum | Theory marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | Number Systems | 6 |
| II | Algebra | 20 |
| III | Coordinate Geometry | 6 |
| IV | Geometry | 15 |
| V | Trigonometry | 12 |
| VI | Mensuration | 10 |
| VII | Statistics and Probability | 11 |
| Total | 80 |
Source: curriculum, page 3 ("Course structure, Class X").
Algebra is the largest unit, a quarter of the paper. Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry together carry 47 of the 80 marks.
The 14 NCERT chapters, unit by unit
The prescribed textbook is NCERT's Mathematics, Textbook for Class X (curriculum, page 10). The current edition (Reprint 2026-27) has 14 chapters (NCERT contents, PDF pages 11-13). The curriculum names the topics of each unit (pages 3-7); the chapters below are the NCERT chapters with those names.
| Unit (marks) | NCERT chapters (chapter number, title, start page in the book) |
|---|---|
| I Number Systems (6) | 1 Real Numbers (p. 1) |
| II Algebra (20) | 2 Polynomials (p. 10); 3 Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables (p. 24); 4 Quadratic Equations (p. 38); 5 Arithmetic Progressions (p. 49) |
| III Coordinate Geometry (6) | 7 Coordinate Geometry (p. 99) |
| IV Geometry (15) | 6 Triangles (p. 73); 10 Circles (p. 144) |
| V Trigonometry (12) | 8 Introduction to Trigonometry (p. 113); 9 Some Applications of Trigonometry (p. 133) |
| VI Mensuration (10) | 11 Areas Related to Circles (p. 154); 12 Surface Areas and Volumes (p. 161) |
| VII Statistics and Probability (11) | 13 Statistics (p. 171); 14 Probability (p. 202) |
The book also has two appendices, Proofs in Mathematics (p. 218) and Mathematical Modelling (p. 239) (NCERT contents, PDF page 13). The curriculum's unit lists do not include them.
What each unit covers, and the limits inside it
The curriculum lists these topics (pages 3-7). It also limits several of them, shown in bold below.
- Number Systems. The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic; proofs that √2, √3 and √5 are irrational.
- Algebra.
- Zeros of a polynomial and the relation between the zeros and coefficients of a quadratic polynomial.
- Pairs of linear equations: the graphical method, the conditions for the number of solutions, and solving by substitution and by elimination.
- Quadratic equations: standard form, solving by factorisation and by the quadratic formula (only real roots), and the discriminant and nature of roots.
- Arithmetic progressions: the nth term and the sum of the first n terms.
- Coordinate Geometry. The distance formula and the section formula (internal division).
- Geometry.
- Similar triangles. Prove the Basic Proportionality Theorem; state without proof its converse and the three similarity criteria.
- Circles. Prove two theorems: the tangent at a point is perpendicular to the radius, and the tangents from an external point are equal.
- Trigonometry.
- The ratios of an acute angle; values for 30°, 45° and 60°; the ratios defined at 0° and 90°.
- The identity sin²A + cos²A = 1 (only simple identities).
- Heights and distances: no more than two right triangles, and angles of elevation or depression of only 30°, 45° and 60°.
- Mensuration.
- Areas of sectors and segments of a circle; for a segment, central angles of 60°, 90° and 120° only.
- Surface area and volume of a solid made by joining any two of these shapes: cube, cuboid, sphere, hemisphere, cylinder, cone.
- Statistics and Probability. The mean, median and mode of data in class intervals (no bimodal data); the classical definition of probability and simple problems.
Is anything deleted for 2026-27?
The curriculum does not list any chapter or topic as deleted, and, unlike the Science curriculum, it marks no Maths topic as assessed only at school. What it does have are the limits in bold above: they limit what a question on that topic can ask.
Standard vs Basic: what is the same and what is different
The same:
- The syllabus. The curriculum is headed "Subject Code – 041 & 241" and gives one course structure and one set of unit marks for both (pages 1 and 3).
- The marks and time: 80 marks in 3 hours (pages 8 and 9).
- Internal assessment: the same 20 marks (pages 8 and 9).
- The layout of the 2026-27 sample papers (each paper, page 1). Both have 38 questions in five sections, A to E:
- A: 20 one-mark questions (18 multiple choice, 2 assertion-reason);
- B: 5 two-mark questions;
- C: 6 three-mark questions;
- D: 4 five-mark questions;
- E: 3 four-mark case studies.
- Both papers have internal choice in 2 questions each of Sections B, C and D, and calculators are not allowed in either.
The difference is in what kind of thinking the marks reward. The curriculum gives each paper its own question paper design (pages 8 and 9):
| Type of question | Standard (041) | Basic (241) |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering and understanding | 43 marks (about 54%) | 60 marks (about 75%) |
| Applying | 19 marks (about 24%) | 12 marks (about 15%) |
| Analysing, evaluating and creating | 18 marks (about 22%) | 8 marks (about 10%) |
| Total | 80 | 80 |
So the Basic paper puts three-quarters of its marks on recall and understanding, while the Standard paper puts almost half of its marks on applying and analysing.
The curriculum does not say what each choice allows later, for example which Maths a student can take in Class 11. Check that with your school and CBSE's own notices before choosing.
Internal assessment: the other 20 marks
The split is the same for Standard and Basic (pages 8 and 9):
| Part | Marks |
|---|---|
| Pen-paper test and multiple assessment (5 + 5) | 10 |
| Portfolio | 5 |
| Lab practical (activities from the prescribed books) | 5 |
| Total | 20 |
The prescribed books are the NCERT textbook, CBSE's Guidelines for Mathematics Laboratory in Schools, Class X, NCERT's Laboratory Manual: Mathematics, Secondary Stage, and NCERT's Mathematics Exemplar Problems for Class X (page 10).
How the 80-mark paper is built
Section by section, the sample papers give 20 + 10 + 18 + 20 + 12 = 80 marks (each sample paper, page 1). Every page of both sample papers carries CBSE's note that the question paper design and assessment pattern have not changed for 2026-27.
Our section-by-section guide to the 2026-27 Maths Standard sample paper goes through each section and how the marking scheme gives marks.
FAQ
How many chapters are there in Class 10 Maths for 2026-27? The NCERT textbook (Reprint 2026-27) has 14 chapters, from Real Numbers to Probability, plus two appendices (NCERT contents, PDF pages 11-13).
Is the syllabus different for Maths Standard and Maths Basic? No. The curriculum gives one course structure and the same unit marks for codes 041 and 241. The difference is the question design: Basic puts about 75% of the marks on remembering and understanding, Standard about 54% (curriculum, pages 3, 8 and 9).
Has anything been deleted from Class 10 Maths for 2026-27? The curriculum does not list deleted chapters or topics. It does limit some topics, for example quadratic equations with real roots only and heights and distances with at most two right triangles (curriculum, pages 4 and 6).
Which unit carries the most marks? Algebra, with 20 of the 80 theory marks, then Geometry (15) and Trigonometry (12) (curriculum, page 3).
Are calculators allowed in the Class 10 Maths paper? No. Both 2026-27 sample papers say the use of calculators is not allowed (each sample paper, page 1).
Practise
- Timed: the free Class 10 revision papers include a Maths paper and a mixed paper, marked in your browser (shorter than the real paper; our own questions, still waiting for teacher review).
- Chapter by chapter: the Class 10 worksheets and the practice page (pick Class 10), in English, Hindi and Marathi.
- Chapter guides: Real Numbers, Quadratic Equations and Introduction to Trigonometry.
- Practice questions with answers, chapter by chapter: Polynomials, Pair of Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Progressions, Triangles and Coordinate Geometry.
Where CMDLearn fits
CMDLearn is building an AI tutor for Classes 1 to 10 that explains a step and checks the child's working, but leaves the writing to the child. It is still in development, and no child uses it yet. If you would like to hear when there is something to try, you can join the waitlist.
Sources
All opened and read on 21 October 2026. Page numbers are PDF pages.
- CBSE, Mathematics, Subject Code 041 & 241, Class X (2026-27), curriculum: page 1 (title, both codes), page 3 (course structure and unit marks, Units I-II), pages 4-7 (unit topics and limits), page 8 (Standard question design, internal assessment), page 9 (Basic question design, internal assessment), page 10 (prescribed books). cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/CurriculumMain27/SecPart1/Maths_SecP1X_2026-27.pdf
- CBSE, Mathematics Standard (041) Sample Question Paper, Class X, 2026-27: page 1 (general instructions: 38 questions, sections A-E, internal choice, no calculators). cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/SQP/ClassX_2026_27/MathsStandard-SQP.pdf
- CBSE, Mathematics Basic (241) Sample Question Paper, Class X, 2026-27: page 1 (general instructions). cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/SQP/ClassX_2026_27/MathsBasic-SQP.pdf
- CBSE, Mathematics Standard (041) and Basic (241) Marking Schemes, Class X, 2026-27: cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/SQP/ClassX_2026_27/MathsStandard-MS.pdf and cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/SQP/ClassX_2026_27/MathsBasic-MS.pdf
- NCERT, Mathematics, Textbook for Class X (Reprint 2026-27), front matter, contents (PDF pages 11-13). ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/jemh1ps.pdf
Every number and syllabus fact on this page is from the documents above. The grouping of chapters under units, the summaries and the FAQ wording are ours. Always follow your school and the official CBSE notices.
Practise this class: Class 10 worksheets, chapter by chapter · free practice, marked instantly · timed revision papers