The CBSE Class 10 board examinations began on 17 February 2026, with Mathematics as the first major paper, triggering a sharp debate online over the exam’s difficulty level
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) commenced the Class 10 board examinations on 17 February 2026. Mathematics was among the first key subjects conducted. The Science paper is scheduled as per the official CBSE date sheet later in the examination cycle.
Soon after the Mathematics exam concluded, reactions flooded social media platform X. A section of students described the paper as “extremely difficult and lengthy”, with some claiming that certain questions were out of syllabus. Reports from examination centres suggested that a few students appeared visibly distressed after the paper.
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One user, Ashish Upadhyay, criticised the board for allegedly setting a tough Basic Mathematics paper in the Delhi region and called for an immediate review. Another user, Deepanshu Rathi, questioned evolving academic standards and exam expectations. Meanwhile, a contrasting view was shared by Abhi Volk, who argued that the paper was not particularly difficult and suggested that concerns reflected broader academic preparedness issues.
Internet divided over difficulty level
Online reactions revealed two clear perspectives:
- Students’ concerns:
Some candidates described the paper as lengthy, saying the Multiple-Choice Questions required detailed calculations and consumed more time than expected. A few questioned whether the level of difficulty could affect overall scores and future academic prospects.
- Moderate-to-easy view:
Others, including educators and several users online, maintained that the paper was largely aligned with the NCERT syllabus. They argued that most questions were based on textbook exercises and familiar formats, making it manageable for well-prepared students.
The phrase “the bar has officially hit the floor” trended in discussions, reflecting criticism directed at students who struggled with what some considered a standard-level paper.
Teacher and school feedback
Feedback from educators indicated a more balanced assessment:
- The Standard Mathematics (041) paper was described as well-balanced and closely aligned with NCERT, with a majority of questions directly based on textbook concepts.
Direct questions reportedly included proofs such as the Basic Proportionality Theorem (BPT), properties of cyclic quadrilaterals, tangents and radii, and statistical calculations such as median and mode.
Case study–based and competency-based questions tested conceptual clarity and analytical skills.
- For Basic Mathematics (241), teachers noted that around 60% of the questions were drawn directly from NCERT exercises. However, certain questions from Quadratic Equations, Areas Related to Circles, and Arithmetic Progressions were described as relatively lengthy and requiring detailed working.
Overall, many educators categorised the paper as moderate in difficulty rather than extremely tough.
Demands for re-exam and grace marks
Following the exam, some students and parents demanded a re-examination, grace marks, or lenient evaluation. As of now, CBSE has not issued an official statement regarding these demands.
The debate highlights recurring tensions during board exam season, where perceptions of difficulty often vary between students, parents, teachers and online commentators.
With major subjects such as Science still scheduled in the ongoing examination cycle, attention remains on how students perform across the remaining papers and whether CBSE addresses the concerns raised online.
Published: 18 Feb 2026, 09:26 am IST
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