Physics
Light — Reflection and Refraction. Spherical mirrors and lenses, image formation, and the lens and mirror formulas. A strong foundation here makes the Human Eye chapter much easier.
The Human Eye and the Colourful World. Defects of vision and their correction, and everyday light phenomena like the scattering of light. Mostly conceptual, with a few diagram-based questions.
Electricity. Ohm's law, resistance, series and parallel circuits, and electrical power. Usually the single highest-weightage Physics chapter and the one most students need repeated numerical practice on.
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current. Magnetic fields, the right-hand rule, electromagnets, and the basic working of an electric motor and generator. Diagram accuracy matters as much as the concept.
Chemistry
Chemical Reactions and Equations. Balancing equations and identifying reaction types (combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, oxidation-reduction). Sets up notation used through the rest of Chemistry.
Acids, Bases and Salts. Properties, the pH scale, and everyday examples and reactions involving acids, bases, and common salts.
Metals and Non-metals. Physical and chemical properties, the reactivity series, and extraction and corrosion of metals.
Carbon and its Compounds. Covalent bonding, structure of carbon compounds, homologous series, and everyday organic chemistry like soaps and detergents. Usually the most conceptually dense Chemistry chapter.
Periodic Classification of Elements. The modern periodic table, trends in properties across periods and groups. Builds on the Class 9 introduction to atomic structure.
Biology
Life Processes. Nutrition, respiration, transportation, and excretion in plants and animals. A long, definition- and diagram-heavy chapter that rewards early, spaced revision.
Control and Coordination. The nervous system, reflex actions, hormones in animals, and coordination in plants.
How do Organisms Reproduce? Modes of reproduction in plants and animals, and human reproductive health basics.
Heredity and Evolution. Mendelian inheritance, sex determination, and the basics of evolution and speciation.
Our Environment. Ecosystems, food chains, and environmental issues — a shorter, largely conceptual chapter often used to round out the paper.
How the sections connect across the year
The three sections are taught largely independently, but each has its own internal logic: Physics chapters build on formulas and diagrams from earlier chapters, Chemistry builds on reaction types and bonding introduced early, and Biology chapters share vocabulary and diagrams across Life Processes, Control and Coordination, and Reproduction. A study plan that revises each section separately every few weeks, rather than only once before exams, keeps definitions and diagrams from blurring together closer to the boards.
Because the exact chapter list and any deletions can be revised by CBSE from year to year, always cross-check the current syllabus against the official CBSE circular or your child's school before finalising a study plan.
Turning this syllabus into a study or tuition plan
A common approach is to work through Physics, Chemistry, and Biology chapters alongside the school's own pace from June to December, keeping a running list of formulas, reactions, and diagrams to revise weekly rather than leaving them for the end. From January, the focus shifts to previous years' paper practice and closing whatever chapter gaps remain. TutorHive's online science tuition covers this syllabus with dedicated concept explanation and revision across all three sections. For a broader look at how Class 9 and 10 science tuition works, see our guide on online science tuition for Class 9 and 10.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters are there in CBSE Class 10 Science?
CBSE Class 10 Science is split across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, together covering around a dozen chapters depending on the current year's rationalised syllabus. CBSE periodically revises and trims the chapter list, so always confirm the exact set against the current year's official circular.
Which part of Class 10 Science is hardest?
There is no single hardest section for every student. Physics chapters like Electricity and Light involve numerical problems and diagrams that trip up students weak in formula application, while Chemistry's Carbon and its Compounds and Biology's Life Processes require more conceptual memory and reasoning. The "hardest" part is usually whichever style of thinking — numerical, conceptual, or diagram-based — a particular child finds least natural.
Is Class 10 Science harder than Class 9 Science?
Class 10 Science builds directly on Class 9 foundations in each of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and applies them in more numerical and application-based board questions. Students with unclear Class 9 basics, particularly in Chemistry reactions and Physics formulas, usually find Class 10 noticeably harder.
How should a student plan the year around this syllabus?
A common approach is to cover chapters alongside the school timetable from June to December, keeping a running list of diagrams, reactions, and formulas to revise weekly, then spend January to the board exam on previous years' paper practice and closing specific gaps identified from pre-board results.