In short: Nobody outside CBSE knows the exact 2027 Social Science questions, so this list ranks 30 question types by evidence: the revised four-section paper layout used in 2026, the questions in CBSE's own revised-pattern sample paper, the map-work topics named for 2026-27, and what teachers reported about the March 7, 2026 paper. The biggest change to know is structural. History, Geography, Political Science and Economics each carry 20 marks, and answers written in the wrong section are not evaluated, even in re-evaluation. Treat this as a practice priority list, not a leak.
Last updated: October 28, 2026. The 2027 date sheet is not out yet. I could not read the 2026-27 sample paper itself, so the layout below is the 2026 board layout. Check the official sample paper before you finalise your practice.
CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2027 — Quick Reference
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Subject code | 087 |
| Theory paper | 80 marks, 3 hours |
| Internal assessment | 20 marks |
| 2026 layout | Section A History, Section B Geography, Section C Political Science, Section D Economics, 20 marks each |
| Question types | MCQs, short answer, long answer, case-based and map-based questions |
| Map questions | Part of History and Geography |
| Choice | No overall choice. Internal choice in select questions |
| 2026 paper date | Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM |
| Reading time | 15 minutes |
| Questions in the 2026 paper | 38 |
Sources: PW Live on the revised pattern for the four-section layout and answer-booklet rules. PW Live paper analysis for the date, timing, code and 38 questions.
What I could not verify
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| The 2026-27 sample paper design | I could not open it. NDTV says CBSE released it at cbseacademic.nic.in. Confirm the layout there |
| Marks for each question type inside a section | Not confirmed from a readable source |
| Chapter-wise marks | Our weightage guide has estimates. I could not check them against an official page |
| The exact map-work item list | Download the official map-work PDF from CBSE and tick each item |
The Rule That Can Cost You Marks
Under the revised pattern, per PW Live:
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Divide your answer book | Make four labelled sections before you start |
| Stay in your section | Write History answers only in the History space, and so on |
| Mixed answers | Not evaluated |
| Verification and re-evaluation | Such errors are not corrected there either |
| Practice | Schools were told to follow this format in pre-boards |
Plan your answer book before you read question 1. Write the section headings first, leave pages for each, and tick off questions as you finish them.
What the 2026 Paper Showed
| Observation | Source |
|---|---|
| Moderate overall, with a mixed response from students | NDTV |
| Difficulty seemed to vary across sets | NDTV |
| Followed the competency-based pattern: objective, assertion-reasoning, case-based and descriptive questions | NDTV (Delhi vice principal) |
| Largely based on NCERT concepts and needed deeper analytical thinking | NDTV |
| Some questions had slightly twisted language, but answers stayed straightforward for students with clear concepts | NDTV (Bengaluru teachers) |
| Balanced coverage of all four sections | NDTV |
| Map-based questions from Geography and History were manageable for well-prepared students | NDTV (Lucknow teacher) |
| Economics was slightly lengthy and conceptual | PW Live |
| Most students finished within the time, though a few questions needed careful reading | NDTV |
Where reports disagree
| Topic | Report A | Report B |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | PW Live and NDTV (Bengaluru teachers): easy to moderate | NDTV (Delhi vice principal): moderate, mixed response, harder analytical thinking |
I cannot settle this from the paper. The common thread is that it was NCERT-based, competency-focused and rewarded students who had practised case-based questions.
Evidence Behind the Questions Below
Two sources give the strongest evidence for what is asked:
- CBSE's revised-pattern sample paper, as reproduced by NDTV on December 10, 2025. It was released for the 2026 boards. Questions marked "sample paper" below come from it.
- The 2026-27 map-work list, described by NDTV: Congress sessions, major soil types, energy and mineral resources, manufacturing industries and the lifelines of the national economy.
A question that appeared in a sample paper can still be replaced. Use these as models of the style, not as promises.
Section A: History (20 Marks)
| # | Expected question | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Silk Route was an example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural links. Explain with two examples | Sample paper |
| 2 | New crops could make the difference between life and death. Explain with two examples | Sample paper |
| 3 | A variety of cultural processes developed a sense of nationalism in India. Support with examples | Sample paper |
| 4 | The Salt March became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism. Analyse with reasons | Sample paper |
| 5 | In Britain the nation-state formed through a long-drawn-out process, not a sudden revolution. Analyse | Sample paper |
| 6 | The Treaty of Vienna of 1815 aimed to undo the changes of the Napoleonic wars. Highlight its provisions | Sample paper |
| 7 | Map: locate and label Congress session venues and centres of the national movement | NDTV map-work list. Items must be taken from the official PDF |
| 8 | Source-based or case-based question on a History passage | NDTV (case-based questions tested analysis in 2026) |
Answer format
| Style of question | What to write |
|---|---|
| "Explain with two examples" | A one-line claim, then two named examples with a one-line link each |
| "Analyse the statement" | State whether you agree, give three reasons, and close with a one-line conclusion |
| Map question | Mark the place with a dot, write the name next to it, and use the label the question names |
| Case-based | Quote the clue from the passage, then explain it using the chapter |
For dates, our History dates cheat sheet is a one-page revision.
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Section B: Geography (20 Marks)
| # | Expected question | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India. Justify with its role in the economy | Sample paper |
| 10 | A person plans a mineral-based industry and is advised to set up a bauxite industry in Odisha. Analyse the reasons | Sample paper |
| 11 | Which statement best evaluates the goal of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana | Sample paper (MCQ) |
| 12 | Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab but a subsistence crop in Odisha. Explain the difference | Sample paper |
| 13 | Which state made rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory | Sample paper (MCQ) |
| 14 | Map: locate soil types, minerals and energy sources, industries or lifelines | NDTV map-work list |
| 15 | Case-based question on resources, agriculture, water or industry | Question types in 2026 |
Answer format
| Question | What to write |
|---|---|
| Coal | Name its uses (power, industry), cite that it is the most abundant fossil fuel, and link it to economic growth. Finish with one environmental limit |
| Bauxite in Odisha | Give reasons tied to location and raw material. Use the facts in your NCERT chapter on mineral resources and industries |
| Rice | Link the crop type to geographical factors such as irrigation, climate and soil, and to economic practice such as the scale of farming |
| Rainwater harvesting | The NCERT water resources chapter names Tamil Nadu as the state that made it compulsory. Confirm it in your textbook before the exam |
| PMKSY MCQ | Choose the option on better irrigation and water conservation for farmers. Eliminate options that describe the opposite |
Section C: Political Science (20 Marks)
| # | Expected question | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Highlight two key features of federalism | Sample paper |
| 17 | Women in India face discrimination in many ways. Highlight two aspects of life where you see this inequality | Sample paper |
| 18 | Democracy leads to a peaceful and harmonious life among citizens in every sphere. Support with arguments | Sample paper |
| 19 | Political parties play a significant role in a democracy. Explain. Or analyse how leadership succession challenges parties | Sample paper |
| 20 | Case study on Sri Lanka's majoritarian measures and Belgium's power sharing. Two Tamil demands, the results of majoritarian government, and two provisions of the Belgian model | Sample paper |
| 21 | Forms of power sharing, or the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing | Syllabus |
| 22 | Fundamental rights and fundamental duties | NDTV (listed in the 2026-27 competencies) |
Answer format
| Question | What to write |
|---|---|
| Federalism | Two or more levels of government, a constitutional division of powers, and courts that interpret it. Pick the two features the question asks for |
| Sri Lanka and Belgium | Use the contrast: Sri Lanka's majority dominated and alienated the Tamils, while Belgium recognised regional differences and amended its constitution to share power. Tamil demands in the NCERT chapter include recognition of Tamil as an official language and regional autonomy. Check the full list in your text |
| Belgian model | Name two provisions from the NCERT chapter, such as equal representation in the central government and a separate government for Brussels. Confirm them from the text |
| Leadership succession | Mention that parties often lack internal democracy and may favour family members. Give an example the book uses |
| Democracy arguments | Give three arguments, each with a one-line example |
Section D: Economics (20 Marks)
| # | Expected question | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Evaluate how public services contribute to individual and social well-being | Sample paper |
| 24 | Expanding access to formal-sector loans is important, but loans must reach everyone. Justify | Sample paper |
| 25 | Highlight three factors that contributed to the growth of globalisation | Sample paper |
| 26 | Analyse the key differences between organised and unorganised sector employment, using a short interview scenario | Sample paper |
| 27 | Privatisation can have positive and negative effects on the economy. Support with arguments | Sample paper |
| 28 | Development indicators beyond GDP and income, and the link between development and the environment | NDTV competencies |
Answer format
| Question | What to write |
|---|---|
| Globalisation | The NCERT chapter points to improvements in technology, liberalisation of foreign trade and investment policy, and pressure from international organisations. Give a one-line explanation of each |
| Organised vs unorganised | Compare in a table: regulation, job security, wages, benefits and working conditions. Use the clues in the interview to place each person |
| Formal-sector loans | Say formal loans carry lower interest and support production, then say poorer households may still depend on informal sources, so access must widen |
| Privatisation | Give one positive effect and one negative effect with an example for each. End with a balanced line |
| Beyond-GDP indicators | Name at least two, such as health or education measures, and explain why income alone is a weak measure |
Economics was described as slightly lengthy and conceptual in 2026, so budget time for it.
Cross-Paper Question Types
| # | Expected question | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Assertion-reason questions in any section | NDTV (the paper included assertion-reasoning) |
| 30 | Case-based question with sub-parts in any section | NDTV, PW Live |
How to answer
- Assertion-reason: test the assertion and the reason separately, then ask whether the reason explains the assertion.
- Case-based: read the passage twice, underline the clue, and answer each sub-part using the passage plus one chapter fact. Our case-based practice set has more.
4-Week Practice Plan
| Week | Focus | Questions in this list |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | History and its map items | 1 to 8. Write each answer in your own words, then check |
| Week 2 | Geography and its map items | 9 to 15. Practise maps from the official list |
| Week 3 | Political Science and Economics | 16 to 28. Make a comparison table for every "differences" question |
| Week 4 | Cross-paper and full papers | 29, 30, then two full timed papers, using four labelled sections |
This is a suggestion, not an official schedule. Our Class 10 last 100 days plan gives the full calendar.
Paper-Day Time Plan
| Step | Suggested time |
|---|---|
| Reading time (15 minutes) | Label four sections in the answer book and choose your internal choices |
| Each section of 20 marks | About 40 minutes |
| Map work | Do it within its section, not at the end of the book |
| Review | About 15 minutes for labels, section order and spellings |
These timings are illustrative. CBSE publishes no per-section time split.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these the exact questions in the 2027 Social Science board exam?
No. Nobody outside CBSE knows the 2027 questions. This list ranks question types by evidence from the 2026 layout, CBSE's revised-pattern sample paper and the map-work list. Any page or channel that promises the actual paper is a scam.
What is the paper layout for CBSE Class 10 Social Science?
The 2026 board paper had four sections of 20 marks each: History, Geography, Political Science and Economics, for 80 marks in 3 hours. Map questions sit in History and Geography. I could not read the 2026-27 sample paper, so confirm the layout on the CBSE academic site.
What happens if I write an answer in the wrong section?
Per PW Live's account of the revised pattern, mixed responses across sections will not be evaluated, and such errors are not corrected during verification or re-evaluation. Label four sections before you start writing.
Was the 2026 Social Science paper difficult?
Reports differ. PW Live and some Bengaluru teachers called it easy to moderate. A Delhi vice principal quoted by NDTV called it moderate with a mixed response, and said difficulty varied across sets. Economics was slightly lengthy and conceptual.
Which map-work topics should I practise?
NDTV lists Congress sessions, major soil types, energy and mineral resources, manufacturing industries and the lifelines of the national economy for 2026-27. Download the official map-work PDF from CBSE and tick every item, since the exact list matters.
How should I answer an "analyse the statement" question?
State your view, give three reasons with a short example each, and close with one line. Several History, Civics and Economics questions in the revised-pattern sample paper use this style, so practise it across all four subjects.
Related Guides
- CBSE Class 10 Social Science Chapter-Wise Marks Weightage 2027
- CBSE Class 10 Social Science Important Questions 2027
- CBSE Class 10 SST Map Work and Dates Cheat Sheet 2027
- CBSE Class 10 SST Competency-Based Questions Practice 2027
- CBSE Class 10 Social Science Scoring Strategy
- CBSE Class 10 Last 100 Days Plan 2027 — Week by Week
Sources
- PW Live: CBSE Class 10 Social Science paper pattern 2026
- PW Live: Class 10 Social Science paper analysis 2026
- NDTV: Social Science paper analysis, difficulty varied across sets
- NDTV: Social Science sample paper with revised pattern
- NDTV: Class 10 Social Science sample paper 2027, question types and map work
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