CBSE Class 10 Maths Exam Writing Tips: Every year after the Class 10 Mathematics board exam, thousands of students walk out of the exam hall saying the same thing: “Paper was easy but it was time taking.” And that is exactly where most marks are lost.
CBSE Class 10 students are going to appear for one of the most important papers tomorrow, Mathematics. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the exam for both Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Basic, and both follow the same question paper format and marking scheme. Students preparing for the Class 10 Maths exam need to understand one important truth: Success in boards is not only about completing the syllabus, but it is equally about how you manage time, present solutions, and attempt the paper smartly within 3 hours. Many students know the concepts but still leave 10-15 marks unattempted simply because they did not plan their writing strategy beforehand.
In this article, we will explain a practical, section-wise writing strategy, a proven time division plan, and smart attempt techniques that toppers use to finish the entire Maths paper calmly and confidently.
CBSE Class 10 Maths Exam: Paper Pattern & Marking Scheme
Before diving into tips, it is crucial to understand the layout of the battleground. The paper is designed to test your knowledge across various typologies, from direct multiple-choice questions to complex case studies.
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Total Marks: 80 Marks (Theory).
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Time Duration: 3 Hours (180 minutes).
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Reading Time: An additional 15 minutes is provided before the writing starts.
Section-wise Question Distribution
| Section | Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
| Section A | MCQs & Assertion-Reason | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Section B | Very Short Answer (VSA) | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Section C | Short Answer (SA) | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| Section D | Long Answer (LA) | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| Section E | Case Study-Based | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Total | 38 | 80 |
Check CBSE Class 10 Maths Chapter-Wise Weightage for Board Exam 2026
Top 5 Tips to Finish Your Maths Paper on Time
1. Master the First 15 Minutes Reading Time
The 15-minute reading window is not for solving the paper but for planning your writing. Experts suggest that a strategic approach here can boost your score by 10-15 marks, ensuring you don't panic later.
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Categorise Questions: Quickly mark questions as "Easy," "Medium," or "Tough".
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Choose Internal Options: Use this time to decide which "OR" questions you are more confident in solving.
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Choose Priority: Plan which section you will start first (ideally, the one you are most confident in).
2. Attempt Sections in the Right Order
Many students start from Question 1 and move in order, which may work in school exams but not in board exams. In the CBSE Maths paper, some 1-mark questions take just seconds, while a 5-mark question can take several minutes. So, attempt sections based on marks and difficulty, not question number, to avoid running out of time.
Ideal Attempt Sequence
| Order | Section | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section A | Fast marks build confidence |
| 2 | Section B | Direct formula questions |
| 3 | Section C | Method-based scoring |
| 4 | Section E | Repeated concepts |
| 5 | Section D | Long and time consuming |
| Last | Revision | Boost score |
By the time you reach long questions, you already have most marks secured and no panic remains.
3. Follow Strict Time Limits Per Section
To finish 15 minutes early for revision, you must follow a strict timeline for each section. If you get stuck on a question for more than 2-3 minutes without progress, move on and come back later.
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Section A (MCQs): Aim for 35-40 minutes. Don't spend too long on 1-mark calculations.
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Section B (VSA): Aim for 20-25 minutes.
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Section C (SA): Aim for 40–45 minutes.
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Section D (LA): Aim for 45–50 minutes. These carry high weightage and need careful steps.
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Section E (Case Study): Aim for 25–30 minutes.
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Revision: Reserve the last 10–15 minutes for re-checking calculations.
Don't Get Stuck—Manage the "Panic Zone"
If you hit a difficult question mid-paper, your reaction determines your final score. Anxiety can lead to silly calculation errors in other easy questions.
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The 2-Minute Rule: If you haven't figured out the next step in 2 minutes, leave a few lines and move to the next question.
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Start Fresh Sections: Start every new section on a fresh page to keep the answer sheet organised and easy to grade.
4. Maximise Marks with Step-Wise Presentation
CBSE follows a strict step-marking policy. Even if your final answer is wrong, you can still score a majority of the marks if your method is correct.
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Standard Format: For every descriptive answer, write: Given → To Find/Prove → Formula Used → Calculation → Final Answer with Units.
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Box the Answer: Draw a box around your final result to make it stand out for the examiner.
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Clean Calculations: Use the right-hand margin for rough work instead of scribbling near the main solution.
5. Use the Last 15 Minutes Only for Checking
The final minutes decide the difference between average and high scores.
Instead of re-solving entire questions, perform a targeted check.
Focus only on common mistakes:
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Missing units
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Sign errors (+/−)
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Wrong copying of numbers
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Unattempted sub-parts
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Graph or diagram labelling
These are small corrections but they add marks quickly because the concept is already correct.
Final Advice for Class 10 Students
Most students believe Maths marks depend only on preparation. In reality, they depend equally on execution. A student who knows 90% syllabus but attempts 100% paper often scores more than a student who knows 100% syllabus but leaves questions due to time shortage. So tomorrow your goal should not be perfection, it should be completion with clarity.vEnter the exam hall with a plan, follow the time strategy calmly, and you will walk out confident instead of rushed.
Check the Following Reasources for Last Minte Revision
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