In short: UP Board Class 10 practical/internal assessment carries 30 marks — broken into practical work (15 marks), project work (10 marks), and periodic tests (5 marks). The science practical exam includes physics and chemistry experiments with a viva voce component. Unlike CBSE which has a separate 20-mark practical, UP Board bundles everything into the 30-mark internal assessment conducted by your school. This guide covers the full experiment list, expected viva questions, and how to secure maximum marks.
UP Board Class 10 Internal Assessment Structure
The total marks for each subject in UP Board Class 10 is 100:
| Component | Marks | Who Conducts |
|---|---|---|
| Written Exam (Descriptive) | 50 | UPMSP (Board) |
| Written Exam (Objective/MCQ) | 20 | UPMSP (Board) |
| Internal Assessment | 30 | School |
| Total | 100 |
The 30-mark internal assessment is further divided:
| Internal Assessment Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Practical / Lab Work | 15 |
| Project Work | 10 |
| Periodic Tests (best of 3) | 5 |
| Total Internal | 30 |
How UP Board Practicals Differ from CBSE
| Aspect | UP Board | CBSE |
|---|---|---|
| Practical marks | 15 (part of 30 internal) | 20 (separate practical exam) |
| Conducted by | School teachers | School + external examiner |
| Viva voce | Conducted by school | External examiner asks questions |
| Practical notebook | Required, checked by school | Required, checked by external |
| Project work | 10 marks (separate from practical) | Included in internal/practical |
| Board oversight | Guidelines issued, school implements | More standardized across schools |
The key difference: UP Board practicals are entirely school-controlled. This means your school teachers evaluate you. Maintain good rapport, submit practical notebooks on time, and attend all lab sessions.
Science Practical Experiments — Complete List
Physics Experiments
Experiment 1: Verification of Ohm's Law
- Apparatus: Ammeter, voltmeter, rheostat, battery, resistance wire, connecting wires, key
- Objective: Show that V/I is constant for a given conductor (V = IR)
- What to record: At least 5 readings of voltage and current
- Graph: Plot V vs I — should be a straight line through origin
Experiment 2: Finding the focal length of a concave mirror
- Apparatus: Concave mirror, mirror stand, screen, candle/object, meter scale
- Objective: Determine focal length using distant object method and u-v method
- Key formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f (mirror formula)
- Record: At least 3 sets of u and v values, calculate f for each
Experiment 3: Finding the focal length of a convex lens
- Apparatus: Convex lens, lens holder, screen, candle, optical bench/meter scale
- Objective: Determine focal length using distant object method and u-v method
- Key formula: 1/v - 1/u = 1/f (lens formula)
- Record: At least 3 sets of readings
Experiment 4: Refraction through a glass slab
- Apparatus: Glass slab, drawing board, pins, protractor, white paper
- Objective: Verify that the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray
- What to show: angle of incidence = angle of emergence, lateral displacement
Experiment 5: Verification of Joule's Law of Heating (demonstration)
- Understanding that H = I²Rt
- Observe the heating effect of current through a resistance wire
Chemistry Experiments
Experiment 6: Types of chemical reactions
- Perform and identify: combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement
- Examples: burning magnesium ribbon (combination), heating lead nitrate (decomposition), zinc + copper sulphate (displacement), sodium sulphate + barium chloride (double displacement)
Experiment 7: Properties of acids and bases
- Test with litmus paper (red and blue)
- Test with phenolphthalein and methyl orange indicators
- Record observations in a table format
- Test common substances: HCl, NaOH, vinegar, lemon juice, soap solution
Experiment 8: pH of various solutions
- Use universal indicator/pH paper to find pH of given solutions
- Classify as acidic (pH < 7), neutral (pH = 7), or basic (pH > 7)
- Solutions: salt solution, sugar solution, dilute HCl, dilute NaOH, tap water
Experiment 9: Preparation of temporary mount of a leaf peel (stoma observation)
- Apparatus: Microscope, slide, cover slip, glycerin, safranin, leaf
- Objective: Observe stomata on the lower surface of a leaf
- Draw labeled diagram of stomata (guard cells, stomatal pore, epidermal cells)
Experiment 10: Testing for starch in leaves (photosynthesis)
- Steps: Boil leaf in water, decolorize in alcohol, wash, add iodine solution
- Observation: Blue-black color indicates starch presence
- One part of the leaf covered with black paper should not show starch (control)
Biology Experiments
Experiment 11: Binary fission in Amoeba / Budding in yeast
- Observe prepared slides under microscope
- Draw labeled diagrams showing stages of reproduction
- Identify the type of asexual reproduction
Experiment 12: Homologous and analogous organs identification
- Compare diagrams/models of forelimbs of different vertebrates (homologous)
- Compare wings of bird and insect (analogous)
- Relate to evolution concepts
Practical Notebook Format
Your practical notebook carries marks. Follow this format for each experiment:
- Experiment Number and Date
- Aim/Objective — One line stating what you are trying to find/verify
- Apparatus Required — List all materials and instruments
- Theory — Brief explanation of the principle (3-4 lines)
- Diagram — Neat, labeled circuit/setup diagram
- Procedure — Step-by-step in numbered points
- Observation Table — Tabular format with proper headings and units
- Calculation — Show working with formula
- Result — State what was verified or the value obtained
- Precautions — At least 3 relevant precautions
Viva Voce Question Bank — Physics
Ohm's Law
- What is Ohm's Law? State it.
- What is the SI unit of resistance?
- What happens to current if resistance is doubled at constant voltage?
- Why do we use a rheostat in the circuit?
- What is the function of the ammeter and voltmeter?
- What does the slope of the V-I graph represent?
Optics (Mirror and Lens)
- What is the difference between real and virtual image?
- What type of image does a concave mirror form when the object is at 2F?
- What is the sign convention used in mirror formula?
- Why is the focal length of a concave mirror negative?
- What is the power of a lens? What is its SI unit?
- What happens when you use a convex mirror — can it form a real image?
Refraction
- What is Snell's Law?
- Why does the emergent ray come out parallel to the incident ray in a glass slab?
- What is lateral displacement?
- What causes refraction of light?
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Viva Voce Question Bank — Chemistry
Chemical Reactions
- What is a chemical equation?
- How do you balance a chemical equation?
- What is a catalyst? Give an example.
- What is the difference between displacement and double displacement?
- What type of reaction is burning of magnesium ribbon?
- What gas is released when zinc reacts with dilute HCl?
Acids, Bases, and pH
- What is an indicator? Name three indicators.
- What is the pH of pure water?
- What happens when you add an acid to a base?
- Name a natural indicator found in the kitchen.
- Why does phenolphthalein turn pink in NaOH?
- What is the range of the pH scale?
Viva Voce Question Bank — Biology
Photosynthesis and Stomata
- What is the function of stomata?
- Which cells surround the stomatal pore?
- Why is the leaf boiled in alcohol?
- What is the role of iodine in the starch test?
- Where does photosynthesis occur in a cell?
Reproduction
- What is binary fission?
- Name an organism that reproduces by budding.
- What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?
- What are homologous organs? Give two examples.
Marks Distribution Tips — How to Get Full 15 in Practical
| Component | Marks | How to Maximize |
|---|---|---|
| Performing the experiment | 5 | Follow steps correctly, handle apparatus carefully |
| Practical notebook/record | 4 | Neat writing, proper format, all experiments written |
| Viva voce | 3 | Answer confidently, know theory behind experiments |
| Diagram and observation | 3 | Labeled diagrams, properly filled observation tables |
| Total | 15 |
Top Tips for Full Marks:
- Attend every lab session. Schools track attendance. Missing sessions = reduced marks.
- Complete your practical notebook before the exam. Do not leave it for the last week. Teachers notice rushed handwriting.
- Label all diagrams neatly. Use pencil for diagrams, pen for labels. Keep lines straight using a ruler for label lines.
- Know the "why" behind each experiment. Viva questions test understanding, not just procedure memorization.
- Practice drawing circuit diagrams and optical ray diagrams. These appear in both practical viva and the written paper.
- Carry your own stationery. Sharp pencil, ruler, eraser, pen — do not depend on borrowing during the practical exam.
Project Work — 10 Marks
The project carries 10 marks. Choose a topic related to the Science syllabus and prepare a detailed project file:
Suggested Science Project Topics:
- Pollution in your city — causes, effects, and solutions
- Renewable vs non-renewable energy sources
- Water purification methods
- Human diseases — prevention and cure
- Biodiversity in your local area
Project File Format:
- Title page with school name, student name, roll number
- Acknowledgement
- Certificate
- Index/Table of contents
- Introduction (1-2 pages)
- Main content with diagrams/pictures (8-10 pages)
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Not maintaining the practical notebook throughout the year. Teachers give marks based on the complete notebook. Writing all experiments in the last week is obvious and leads to marks deduction.
- Ignoring viva preparation. Students focus only on the procedure but cannot explain why a step is performed. When the teacher asks "Why do we use a rheostat?" and you cannot answer, viva marks drop.
- Rushing through the project file. A project done with effort (neat diagrams, proper formatting, original content) scores 9-10/10. A rushed project scores 5-6/10. The difference of 4-5 marks matters.
- Not practicing diagram drawing. In the viva, you may be asked to draw a circuit diagram or label a biological diagram on the spot. Practice beforehand.
- Forgetting units in observation tables. Every measurement needs a unit. Current in amperes (A), voltage in volts (V), distance in centimeters (cm).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UP Board Class 10 practical exam conducted by the school or the board?
The practical exam (15 marks) is conducted entirely by your school teachers. UPMSP provides guidelines and the experiment list, but the actual evaluation is done by school staff. There is no external examiner for Class 10 practicals in UP Board.
Can I fail in the practical exam?
It is very rare to fail the practical component if you attend classes, submit your notebook, and appear for the practical exam. Schools generally award marks generously. However, if you are absent for the practical exam without valid reason, you may get zero in that component.
When is the practical exam held?
UP Board Class 10 practical exams are typically conducted in December-January, before the written board exams in February. Your school will announce the exact dates. Internal assessment marks are submitted to UPMSP before the written exams begin.
Do practical marks affect my overall percentage?
Yes. The 30 marks (15 practical + 10 project + 5 periodic tests) are added to your 70-mark written exam score to make the total 100 marks per subject. If you score full 30 in internal, you only need 40/70 in the written paper to reach 70%.
What if my school does not have a proper science lab?
Many UP Board affiliated schools, especially in rural areas, may have limited lab facilities. In such cases, schools often conduct practicals as demonstrations. Students still need to maintain a practical notebook and answer viva questions. The experiment list remains the same.
Is the viva in Hindi or English?
You can answer viva questions in Hindi or English — whichever medium you are studying in. Most UP Board Hindi-medium students answer in Hindi. The key is to answer correctly, not the language.
How many experiments should be in my practical notebook?
Your notebook should contain all experiments listed in the UPMSP syllabus — typically 10-15 experiments across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Write every experiment your teacher conducts in class. A complete notebook demonstrates sincerity.
Do practicals matter for competitive exams?
Practical marks contribute to your board percentage, which matters for some college admissions and scholarship cutoffs. For competitive exams like JEE or NEET, the practical knowledge (especially in Science) helps in understanding concepts, but the practical marks themselves are not directly counted.
Related Reads — UP Board Class 10
UP Board Class 10 Maths Weightage Hindi | UP Board Class 10 Science Weightage Hindi | UP Board Class 10 Science Important Questions Hindi | UP Board Class 10 Scoring Strategy 90% Hindi | UP Board 12th Ke Baad Career Options | UP Board Class 10 Taiyari Tips Hindi
NCERT Solutions — Common Across All Boards
UP Board follows NCERT for Science. Get complete step-by-step solutions for all chapters: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science →
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