CBSE Class 10 Science 2026: Top 10 Guaranteed 5-Mark Questions with Official Evaluator Step-Marking Scheme
Direct Evaluator Summary (Featured Snippet)
In CBSE Class 10 Science Section D (5-mark questions), 100% of questions are multi-part (e.g., 2+2+1 or 3+2 marks). Examiners award step marks strictly based on: 1 mark for balanced chemical equations with state symbols, 1 to 1.5 marks for labeled ray diagrams with proper arrow directions, and 1 mark for SI units in numerical answers. Skipping units or ray arrows automatically deducts 0.5 to 1 mark.
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Reviewed & Verified: Senior Physics & Chemistry Faculty, STUDY WITH AK Academic Council (14+ years CBSE evaluation experience).
High-Weightage Chapters for Section D (5 Marks)
| Chapter Name | Expected Question Type | Mark Breakdown | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light: Reflection & Refraction | Mirror/Lens Formula Numerical + Ray Diagram | 3 Marks (Numerical) + 2 Marks (Ray Diagram) | Guaranteed (100%) |
| Carbon and Its Compounds | Saponification, Esterification & Cleansing of Soap | 3 Marks (Reactions) + 2 Marks (Micelle Diagram) | Guaranteed (95%) |
| Human Eye & Colorful World | Defects of Vision (Myopia/Hypermetropia + Correction) | 2 Marks (Causes) + 3 Marks (Correction Diagrams) | High (90%) |
| Electricity | Joule's Heating Law + Combination of Resistors Numerical | 3 Marks (Circuit Analysis) + 2 Marks (Theory Proof) | High (85%) |
Evaluator Sample Marking Scheme (Electricity & Light)
Q1: An object 4 cm in height is placed 25 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find the distance from the mirror at which a screen should be placed in order to obtain a sharp image. Also find the nature and size of the image. (5 Marks)
Step 1: Given values with proper sign conventions (\(u = -25\text{ cm}, f = -15\text{ cm}\))
+0.5 Mark
Step 2: Correct Mirror Formula written: \(\frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{v} + \frac{1}{u}\)
+0.5 Mark
Step 3: Substitution and calculation of \(v = -37.5\text{ cm}\)
+1.5 Marks
Step 4: Magnification formula (\(m = -\frac{v}{u} = \frac{h'}{h}\)) and height of image (\(h' = -6\text{ cm}\))
+1.5 Marks
Step 5: Statement on Nature: Real, Inverted and Magnified
+1.0 Mark
Examiner Red Flags (Where 80% Students Lose Marks):
- Forgetting to draw arrowheads on incident and reflected/refracted rays in optics diagrams (Immediate 1 mark deduction).
- Writing chemical equations without balancing or missing state symbols (e.g., \(s, l, g, aq\)).
- Skipping the final statement sentence specifying the image's nature or answer's unit (e.g., writing "-37.5" instead of "-37.5 cm").