What are competency based questions?#
A competency is the ability to use what you know. A recall question asks "What is Ohm's law?". A competency-based question gives you a household circuit and asks whether a fuse will blow. The concept is the same; the thinking is different.
CBSE describes these questions as case-based, source-based, integrated, data interpretation, situational and application-oriented. They are not an extra syllabus. Every competency-based question is built from the prescribed NCERT chapters, so the way to prepare is to understand each chapter well enough to apply it.
Share of the paper in 2026-27#
According to CBSE's Secondary Curriculum 2026-27 (Scheme of Studies, section on the nature of question papers), approximately 50% of the questions are competency-focused. CBSE's notification releasing the 2026-27 sample papers also states that there is no change in the question paper design and assessment pattern for the 2026-27 session.
Subject curricula also give a competency split. For example, the 2026-27 Class 10 Science curriculum sets the theory paper as 50% "Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding", 30% "Application of Knowledge/Concepts" and 20% "Formulate, Analyze, Evaluate and Create".
| Subject (2026-27 sample paper) | Where competency questions appear |
|---|---|
| Mathematics Standard | MCQs, Assertion–Reason, and three 4-mark case study-based questions at the end |
| Science | Across the Biology, Chemistry and Physics sections: Assertion–Reason items and questions set in real-life or experimental situations |
| Social Science | Case based questions with three sub-questions, 4 marks each |
| English Language and Literature | Unseen passages, and extract-based literature questions |
The best way to see the exact format is the official CBSE sample paper for each subject, which is the real cbse sample paper class 10 students should practise.
How competency questions are marked#
- Case-based questions are split into parts. Each part has its own marks, so you can score on the parts you know even if one part is hard.
- Step marking applies. In the official marking schemes, marks are given for the formula, substitution, working and final answer with unit, often in half marks.
- Reasoning counts. In "justify" or "give a reason" parts, the reason carries the marks, not just the final choice.
- Word limits matter in Social Science. The sample paper gives limits of 40, 60 and 120 words for 2-, 3- and 5-mark answers.
Maths examples (solved)#
These examples are written by our academic team in the CBSE competency style. They are not taken from any CBSE paper.
Example 1: Weekly savings (Arithmetic Progressions)
Riya saves ₹50 in the first week of the year and increases her saving by ₹20 every week.
- How much does she save in the 10th week?
- How much has she saved in total after 10 weeks?
- In which week does her weekly saving first reach ₹410?
Solution. The savings form an AP with a = 50 and d = 20.
- a₁₀ = a + 9d = 50 + 9 × 20 = 50 + 180 = ₹230.
- S₁₀ = (10/2) × [2a + 9d] = 5 × [100 + 180] = 5 × 280 = ₹1,400.
- aₙ = 50 + (n − 1) × 20 = 410 gives (n − 1) × 20 = 360, so n − 1 = 18 and n = 19. She saves ₹410 in the 19th week.
Example 2: Flying a kite (Heights and distances)
A kite is tied to a 60 m string that is pulled straight. The string makes an angle of 60° with the level ground.
- Find the height of the kite.
- If the angle drops to 30° with the same string length, how much lower is the kite?
Solution. Height = string length × sin (angle).
- h = 60 × sin 60° = 60 × (√3/2) = 30√3 m ≈ 51.96 m (using √3 ≈ 1.732).
- New height = 60 × sin 30° = 60 × 1/2 = 30 m. The kite is lower by 30√3 − 30 = 30(√3 − 1) ≈ 21.96 m.
Example 3: Lucky draw (Probability)
A box has 5 red, 8 blue and 7 green tokens. One token is drawn at random.
- P(blue) = 8/20 = 2/5.
- P(not green) = (20 − 7)/20 = 13/20.
- If 2 red tokens are removed first, P(red) = 3/18 = 1/6.
Science examples (solved)#
Example 4: Household circuit (Electricity)
A room is supplied at 220 V through a 5 A fuse. A 1000 W heater is switched on, and later two 60 W bulbs are also switched on.
- What current does the heater alone draw?
- What is the total current with the heater and both bulbs on?
- Explain what happens to the fuse.
Solution. I = P/V.
- I = 1000/220 ≈ 4.55 A.
- Total power = 1000 + 60 + 60 = 1120 W, so I = 1120/220 ≈ 5.09 A.
- 5.09 A is more than the 5 A rating, so the fuse wire heats up, melts and breaks the circuit. This protects the wiring from overheating due to overloading.
For more numericals like this, see our notes of Electricity Class 10 CBSE.
Example 5: Four solutions (Acids, Bases and Salts)
Four colourless solutions P, Q, R and S have pH values of 1, 7, 13 and 8.5.
- Which solution turns blue litmus red? P, because pH less than 7 is acidic.
- Which has the highest concentration of OH⁻ ions? R (pH 13).
- Arrange them in increasing order of H⁺ ion concentration: R < S < Q < P.
- Which could be a solution of baking soda? S, since a baking soda solution is mildly basic.
Example 6: Assertion–Reason
Assertion (A): Copper is used for electric wiring in homes. Reason (R): Copper has a low resistivity.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Low resistivity means little energy is lost as heat in the wires.
Example 7: A hot pan (Control and Coordination)
Meena touches a hot pan and pulls her hand away before she even feels the pain.
- Name this type of action. Reflex action.
- Trace the path of the message: receptor in the skin → sensory neuron → spinal cord (relay neuron) → motor neuron → muscle of the arm (effector).
- Why is it so quick? The response is processed in the spinal cord, without waiting for the brain to think about it.
Social Science examples (solved)#
Example 8: A small family farm (Economics, sectors of the economy)
Read the case (hypothetical): A family of six works full-time on a small plot of land. An agricultural officer finds that four people are enough to do all the work on this plot, and output does not change if two members stop working on it.
- Name the situation. Disguised unemployment.
- How many members are disguisedly unemployed? Two.
- Suggest two ways to create work for them in or near the village. Examples: setting up a small processing unit such as a dal mill or a cold storage, better irrigation so more crops can be grown, or loans for a small business such as a shop or a dairy.
Example 9: Sharing power (Political Science)
Read the case (hypothetical): In the country of Varnika, the majority language group made its language the only official language, and government jobs were given mostly to its speakers. The minority group felt left out, and protests followed.
- Which idea from the chapter on power sharing does this case show? A majoritarian approach, where one community uses its majority to dominate.
- Give one prudential reason for power sharing. It reduces the chance of conflict between social groups and keeps the political order stable.
- Suggest one arrangement Varnika could adopt. Recognising both languages as official, or giving the regions where the minority lives more powers (vertical sharing of power).
English examples (solved)#
Example 10: Unseen passage (Reading)
Read the passage (written by our team):
When our school turned an empty corner of the playground into a vegetable garden, few students signed up. By the second month, the waiting list was longer than the list of members. The gardeners had learnt that a seed planted carelessly does not sprout, and that one missed week of watering shows in the leaves. Our science teacher says the garden has taught more patience than any lecture.
- What changed between the first and second month? Far more students wanted to join; the waiting list grew longer than the member list.
- What does "a seed planted carelessly does not sprout" suggest about the gardeners' learning? That results depend on careful, regular effort.
- Find a phrase in the passage that means "a list of people waiting to join". Waiting list.
- What is the tone of the passage? Positive and reflective.
Example 11: Grammar (reported speech)
Change into reported speech: The coach said to the team, "We will practise early tomorrow."
Answer: The coach told the team that they would practise early the next day.
How to practise competency questions#
- Learn the chapter first. Read NCERT, do the exercises, then move to case-based questions.
- Read the case twice. Underline numbers, units and key words before answering.
- Answer each part separately. Label parts (i), (ii), (iii) clearly.
- Use the official sample paper and marking scheme. They show the exact style; see our CBSE sample paper guide.
- Mix chapters. Integrated questions can join ideas from two chapters, such as electricity and magnetic effects.
- Revise from good notes. Our Class 10 Science notes list key points chapter by chapter.
These questions fit into the bigger revision plan in our CBSE Class 10 preparation guide. For more cbse important questions class 10 practice, a free account gives you chapter-wise practice quizzes.