The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) began its Class 10 examinations on February 17, 2026 , with the Mathematics paper. Both Standard and Basic level exams were conducted, drawing immediate reactions from students and educators on social media.
Student Reactions Mixed Following Maths Exam
Following the exam’s conclusion, students reported mixed experiences. Some expressed confidence in their performance. Others described the paper as highly difficult, with some students reportedly distressed after the examination. Social media platforms saw a surge of posts from students, teachers, and parents discussing the exam’s perceived difficulty.
A significant number of students raised concerns about the exam’s difficulty level. Conversely, some students and educators countered these claims. They stated that many questions were direct and aligned with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) curriculum. However, reports indicate the exam was described as both extremely difficult and lengthy by many.
Exam Details and Expert Analysis
The CBSE Class 10 Mathematics examination occurred on February 17, 2026. The exam duration was from 10:15 AM to 1:30 PM, including 15 minutes for reading time. The exam was administered offline.
Experts analyzing the paper noted the Basic Mathematics section was moderate. However, they found the multiple-choice question (MCQ) section to be lengthy. The Standard Mathematics section was considered time-consuming by these analysts.
One user on social media questioned if the exam’s difficulty was intentional to increase the number of students appearing for a second board examination. Another student claimed the paper was difficult, comparable to JEE-level questions, despite thorough preparation from NCERT, ML Aggarwal, and the CBSE syllabus. This led to stress and time management issues.
Another student highlighted that while trigonometry questions were from NCERT, three out of four 5-mark questions were novel and challenging. These particular questions were described as unfamiliar.
Demands and Official Response
Reports indicate students and parents are requesting a re-examination or grace marks. They are also calling for leniency in the evaluation of attempted questions. As of now, the board has not issued an official statement regarding the students’ concerns or demands.
Key details of the examination are summarized below:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Class | 10 |
| Exam Subject | Mathematics (Standard and Basic) |
| Exam Date | February 17, 2026 |
| Exam Timing | 10:15 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Exam Mode | Offline |