The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHHSE), Pune, has released the examination pattern and timetable for the Class 10 (SSC) examinations for the academic year 2025-26.
The Maharashtra Board Class 10 examinations will be conducted from February 20, 2026, to March 18, 2026. Each subject examination will be of 3 hours duration.
This article provides complete information about the new examination pattern, marking scheme, and blueprint.
Maharashtra SSC 2026 Exam Pattern: Quick Overview
| Feature | Details for 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Total Subjects | 6 (Main) |
| Marking Scheme | 80 Marks (Theory) + 20 Marks (Internal/Oral) |
| Passing Marks | 35% (Combined Theory + Internal) |
| Question Type | Mix of MCQs (Objective), Short & Long Answers |
| Negative Marking | No Negative Marking |
| Key Advantage | Best of 5 Rule applies for final % calculation |
Important Clarification: For Class 10 (SSC), the pattern remains largely stable, with the "Best of 5" rule still in effect.
Here are the actual Major Updates & Exam Pattern Details for Maharashtra SSC 2026.
Maharashtra SSC Exam 2026 – Confirmed Updates
Exam Dates Announced Early: The MSBSHSE board has released the official timetable much earlier than usual. The SSC exams will take place from February 20, 2026, to March 18, 2026.
"Best of 5" Rule Continues: There is no change to the popular "Best of 5" policy. Students will appear for 6 subjects, but only the marks of the top 5 performing subjects will be counted for the final percentage.
No Reduction in Total Marks: Unlike the HSC stream, the SSC total remains 600 Marks (or 500 when calculated for Best of 5).
Strict "Copy-Free" Campaign: The board is continuing its strict vigilance measures. Students must reach the exam center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Late entry is strictly prohibited.
Subject-Wise Maharashtra SSC Exam Pattern 2026
The Maharashtra SSC syllabus and marking scheme for 2026 remain unchanged compared to the previous year, but it's important to remember that each subject has its own specific examination pattern.
To thoroughly understand the evaluation framework and marking system for all subjects, students should carefully study the subject-specific Maharashtra SSC exam pattern for 2026.
Maharashtra 10th Subject Marks 2026
| Subjects | Theory Marks | Internal Assessment/ Practical Marks | Total Marks | Passing Marks |
| English | 80 | 20 | 100 | 35 |
| Hindi | 80 | 20 | 100 | 35 |
| Science | 80 | 20 | 100 | 35 |
| Social Science | 80 | 20 | 100 | 35 |
Subject-Wise Weightage 2026 Blueprint
Maharashtra SSC English Exam Pattern 2026
The Maharashtra Board Class 10 English exam is a 100-mark, 3-hour paper divided into four sections: Textual and Non-Textual Reading Skills, Grammar, and Writing Skills, as detailed in the 2026 pattern.
| Components | Sections | Marks |
| Written Test | Reading Skills (Textual) | 20 |
| Reading Skills (Non-textual) | 20 | |
| Grammar | 15 | |
| Writing Skills | 25 | |
| Internal Assessment | Oral Tests | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Maharashtra SSC Mathematics Exam Pattern 2026
The Maharashtra Class 10 Mathematics exam is a 3-hour, 100-mark paper divided into Algebra and Geometry. Each section is worth 40 marks, featuring diverse question types per the 2026 pattern.
Algebra Exam Pattern
| Type of Questions | Marks | Number of Questions |
| 1 Mark Questions | 5 | 5 |
| 2 Marks Questions | 8 | 4 |
| 3 Marks Questions | 9 | 3 |
| 4 Marks Questions | 8 | 2 |
| 5 Marks Questions | 10 | 2 |
| Total | 40 | 16 |
Geometry Exam Pattern
| Type of Questions | Marks | Number of Questions |
| 1 Mark Questions | 5 | 5 |
| 2 Marks Questions | 8 | 4 |
| 3 Marks Questions | 9 | 3 |
| 4 Marks Questions | 8 | 2 |
| 5 Marks Questions | 10 | 2 |
| Total | 40 | 16 |
Maharashtra SSC Science Exam Pattern 2026
The Maharashtra SSC Science exam is a 100-mark, 3-hour paper split into Science Part 1 and Part 2. Each section carries 40 marks, as per the 2026 exam pattern details.
Science & Technology Part 1 Exam Pattern
| Type of Questions | Total Marks | Number of Questions |
| 1 Mark Questions | 10 | 10 |
| 2 Marks Questions | 10 | 5 |
| 3 Marks Questions | 15 | 5 |
| 5 Marks Questions | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 40 | 21 |
Science & Technology Part 2 Exam Pattern
| Type of Questions | Total Marks | Number of Questions |
| 1 Mark Questions | 10 | 10 |
| 2 Marks Questions | 10 | 5 |
| 3 Marks Questions | 15 | 5 |
| 5 Marks Questions | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 40 | 21 |
Maharashtra SSC Social Science Exam Pattern 2026
The Maharashtra SSC Social Science exam is a 100-mark, 3-hour paper. Part A covers History and Political Science, while Part B includes Geography and Economics, each worth 40 marks per the 2026 pattern.
Maharashtra Board 10th Social Science Exam Pattern 2026
| Sections | Subjects | Marks Distribution |
| Part A | History | 28 |
| Political Science | 12 | |
| Part B | Geography | 28 |
| Economics | 12 | |
| Overall | 80 | |
Optional Subject in Maharashtra SSC Exam Pattern 2026
According to the Maharashtra SSC exam pattern 2026, the optional subject paper has a duration of 3 hours. Students have the freedom to choose any two languages from the available options, which include Modern Indian Languages, Classical Languages, and Modern Foreign Languages.
Each language paper is conducted for a total of 100 marks.
Maharashtra SSC Internal Assessment Pattern 2026
The 20-mark internal assessment is a great opportunity for students to score well. It is divided as follows:
Oral Examination: 5-10 marks (for language subjects)
Assignments/Homework: 5-10 marks
Practical Experiments (Science): In science, the entire 20 marks are allocated for journal work and experiments.
Project Work: Marks are awarded based on projects in Social Science and Mathematics.
| Periodic Test | 5 Marks |
| Multiple Assessment | 5 Marks |
| Portfolio | 5 Marks |
| Subject Enrichment Activity | 5 Marks |
Maharashtra Board SSC Grading System
Minimum Passing Marks: Students must obtain a minimum of 35% marks in each subject to pass.
Combined Passing: The good news is that the passing marks are determined by combining the marks from both the theory and internal assessments. For example, if you score 18 out of 20 in the internal assessment, you would only need 17 marks in the theory exam (out of 80) to pass (18 + 17 = 35).
Grading: Students are awarded grades such as Distinction (above 75%), First Division (above 60%), etc., based on their overall percentage.
Maharashtra SSC 2026 Grading System
| Grade Awarded | Marks Range |
| A | Top 1/8th of passed candidates (80-100) |
| B | Next 1/8th of passed candidates (60-70) |
| C | Next 1/8th of passed candidates (45-59) |
| D | Next 1/8th of passed candidates (33-44) |
| E* | Essential Repeat (Less Than 33) |
