Picture this: You've poured your soul into studying. Late nights, flashcards, practice papers, the complete works. Exam day arrives, you're feeling confident…only to be met with questions that seem to exist in a parallel universe. You walk out, wondering, 'Where did that come from?' Turns out, the exam wasn't testing what you memorised, but how you applied it.
The educational landscape is evolving, and with it, the way students must approach learning. The CBSE Class 10 Board Exams are no exception, especially with a growing emphasis on competency-based questions.
Firstly, we’ll explain exactly what are competency-based questions for Class 10.
What are CBSE Competency-Based Questions?
Competency-based questions for CBSE Class 10 are designed to assess a student's understanding of concepts beyond simple recall.
Instead of simply asking, 'What is the Pythagoras theorem?', a CBSE competency-based question might present you with a scenario. This scenario may be phrased as such, ‘A ladder leans against a wall, forming a right triangle. You know the ladder's length and the wall's height, how far is the ladder's base from the wall?’ Because of this, you're not just reciting a formula, you're using it to solve a real-world problem. It's about applying what you know, not just remembering it.
CBSE competency focused questions are often case-study-based and include one or a mix of the different question types. We have broken them down below in simpler terms.
- Case studies: Analysing real-life situations and applying Mathematical principles.
- Data interpretation: Drawing conclusions from graphs, charts, and tables.
- Reasoning and Justification: Explaining the logic behind solutions.
Let’s take a look at some examples of competency-based questions:
1. Case Study I: Logic Based
To enhance the reading skills of grade X students, the school nominates you and two of your friends to set up a class library. There are two sections- section A and section B of grade X. There are 32 students in section A and 36 students in section B.
Q. What is the minimum number of books you will acquire for the class library, so that they can be distributed equally among students of Section A or Section B?
i. 144
ii. 128
iii. 288
iv. 272
2. Case Study II: Diagram Based
A Mathematics exhibition is being conducted in your school and one of your friends is making a model of a factor tree. He has some difficulty and asks for your help in completing a quiz for the audience.
Observe the following factor tree and answer the following:
Q. What will be the value of x?
i. 15005
ii. 13915
iii. 56920
iv. 17429
3. Case Study III: Graph Based
Basketball and soccer are played with a spherical ball. Even though an athlete dribbles the ball in both sports, a basketball player uses his hands and a soccer player uses his feet. Usually, soccer is played outdoors on a large field and basketball is played indoor on a court made out of wood. The projectile (path traced) of soccer ball and basketball are in the form of parabola representing quadratic polynomial.
Observe the following graph and answer.
Q. In the above graph, how many zeroes are there for the polynomial?
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
While CBSE competency-based questions are becoming increasingly prevalent across various subjects, they are particularly significant in Mathematics and Science. They are being introduced gradually across different classes, with a notable focus on CBSE Board Class 10 to prepare students for higher secondary education.
Why the Need for Competency-Based Questions?
The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 has outlined the importance of competency-based questions in CBSE classrooms as a means to reform curriculum and teaching methodologies. Thus, the CBSE is now focusing on evaluating students’ ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. This shift aims to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Which is why it became necessary to introduce CBSE competency-based questions.
Now that you’ve understood what CBSE competency-based questions are, we can move on to the analysis of the CBSE 2024–25 Class 10 Mathematics Exam that concluded recently. Along with the difficulty level, we will also be looking at specific questions, and how they reflect this competency-based methodology.
Analysis of the CBSE Board 2025 Class 10 Mathematics Exam
Many students felt after the recent CBSE exams, that it wasn't about recalling facts anymore—it was about applying knowledge in unexpected ways.
Concluding from the initial reactions from students who appeared in the Board exam and their teachers, it can be said that the difficulty level of the CBSE 2025 Class 10 Board Exam Mathematics paper was tough and the paper was time consuming.
There were no straightforward questions. Instead, the paper tested the students’ problem-solving skills. Class 10 Mathematics Board exam 2025 featured 50% competency-based questions as compared to previous years’ Board exam, which featured 40% competency-based questions .
This shift towards application and problem-solving, as observed in the exam, highlights the growing importance of resources that align with this new approach.
Interestingly, upon detailed comparison, we found a notable correlation between the competency-based questions featured in the CBSE exam and similar problems presented in our Class 10 CBSE Mathematics Competency-Based Questions Book.
To illustrate this connection, we've prepared a side-by-side comparison, showcasing the striking similarities between the CBSE Mathematics Class 10 Board Exam Question Paper and those found within our book.
| Comparison of Competency-Based Questions between CBSE 2025 Board Exam and Book | |
| Mathematics Competency-Based Questions from CBSE 2025 Board Exam | Competency-Based Questions from Target Publications’ CBSE Mathematics Competency-Based Questions Practice Book |
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You've seen the striking similarities between the exam questions and what's inside our book. But what does that really mean for you?
Being 100% Board-Ready with Target Publications
Imagine walking into the exam hall and feeling... prepared. Not just 'I studied' prepared, but 'Hey, I've seen these types of questions before' prepared. That's what we're talking about. Because, here's the thing with our Class 10 competency-based questions book:
- You won't be staring at a question thinking, 'Where did that come from?'
- You'll be honing the exact skills the exam is testing.
- When you can tackle those tough questions, you will walk out feeling satisfied.
- This book will facilitate in analysing problems and applying mathematical concepts effectively. It will help you be faster, sharper, and more efficient.
- It will also help you gain confidence in tackling complex, real-world problems.
What More Do You Get From Class 10 Competency-Based Questions Book?
- Smart revision: Revise every chapter quickly with ‘Synopsis’ and ‘Quick Review’
- Variety of question types: Practise solving MCQs, Assertion–Reason, and Case Study/Source Based Questions
- Competency-based questions from main CBSE Board resources like:
- Competency-Focused Practice Questions Handbook
- Past Board Questions
- Sample Question Papers (SQP)
- NCERT Textbook and Exemplar
- Additional Practice Question Papers (APQ)
- Detailed solutions: Understand how to solve questions.
- Tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes, to understand how topics are interrelated, and explanation of every solution.
- 6 Self-Assessment Tests and the latest solved Board Exam Paper
Basically, our book isn't just a resource. It's a well thought-out compilation of competency-based questions that will help you stay ahead in the CBSE Board exam. And it's not just for Mathematics! We've got you covered for Science too with our CBSE competency-based questions for Science.
Conclusion
The shift in CBSE Board exam paper pattern towards the inclusion of more competency-based questions is a step towards cultivating deeper, more meaningful learning. While it may seem challenging at first, with the right preparation and resources, you can excel in the CBSE Board Exams. Embrace the challenge, practise diligently, and succeed in the exams.
Source
CBSE Question Bank for Class 10: Mathematics Question Bank.
Also read
CBSE Implements Competency-Based Education for the Academic Year 2024-25 for Classes 9 to 12
CBSE Releases Parents’ Handbook on Career After School and Other Useful Resources. Direct Link Here
CBSE Announces Implementation of APAAR ID for CBSE Students. Check Official Circular Here