How many marks is Class 10 History in the board exam?

History is one of the four equal units of the 80-mark Social Science theory paper, carrying about 20 marks (25%). Social Science also has 20 marks of internal assessment, for 100 in total.

How many chapters are there in Class 10 History?

There are 4 chapters in the current CBSE Class 10 History syllabus, all listed above.

Is the whole syllabus included in the board exam?

Yes. Questions can be set from any chapter, so it is safest to prepare the entire syllabus rather than guess "important" chapters.

CBSE Class 10 History · 2026-27

Syllabus & Marking Scheme

History is one of the four units of the Class 10 Social Science paper, carrying about 20 of the 80 theory marks. Its long-answer and source-based questions are some of the most scoring in the whole paper — once you know the syllabus and exactly how the board awards the marks.

Here is the full picture: the chapters, where History sits in the paper, the question pattern, and how to prepare.

At a glance

80Theory marks

20Internal assessment

100Total

3 hrsDuration

History is one of the four equal units of the Social Science paper — about 20 of the 80 theory marks (25%), and it includes map work.

Social Science paper — marks distribution

Section / Unit	Marks
History — India and the Contemporary World II	20
Geography — Contemporary India II	20
Political Science (Civics) — Democratic Politics II	20
Economics — Understanding Economic Development	20
Theory total	80

CBSE sets weightage by section/unit, not per chapter. Always confirm the latest official syllabus on cbseacademic.nic.in.

History — 4 chapters

Question paper design

Objective / MCQs, including assertion–reason (1 mark each)
Very short & short answer questions (2–3 marks)
Long answer questions (5 marks)
Case-based / source-based questions
A rising share of competency-based questions
Map-based questions (History map items)

How to prepare

Cover all 4 chapters — questions can come from any of them, so nothing is "optional".
Practise case-based / source-based questions — they carry easy, guaranteed marks if you read the extract closely.
Master the map work — it is near-free marks and very scoring.
Write long answers in points, with a one-line introduction and conclusion — the marking scheme rewards structure.
Drill the most-repeated questions and MCQs (see the free guides linked above).

Frequently asked — History syllabus

How many marks is Class 10 History in the board exam?: History is one of the four equal units of the 80-mark Social Science theory paper, carrying about 20 marks (25%). Social Science also has 20 marks of internal assessment, for 100 in total.
How many chapters are there in Class 10 History?: There are 4 chapters in the current CBSE Class 10 History syllabus, all listed above.
Is the whole syllabus included in the board exam?: Yes. Questions can be set from any chapter, so it is safest to prepare the entire syllabus rather than guess "important" chapters.