NIOS 10th Exam Pattern 2025: Latest NIOS class 10 paper pattern and Marking scheme

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has uploaded the NIOS 10th exam pattern 2025 on its official website. Students must go through the exam pattern well and then accordingly prepare for the examination.

Twinkle GuptaUpdated on : Feb 27 2025 12:59 IST

NIOS 10th Exam Pattern 2025: The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has released the exam pattern for NIOS class 10 exams 2025 on its official website. In order to qualify for the NIOS 10th exam 2025, students are required to pass in a minimum of five subjects including one or maximum of two languages from Group ‘A’ and other three or four subjects from Group ‘B’. However, a learner is free to take upto two additional subjects and thus can choose maximum of seven subjects.

The board has uploaded the NIOS class 10 exam pattern and sample papers on its official website. Candidates are advised to develop a clear understanding of the NIOS 10th syllabus 2025 while preparing for the exams.

NIOS Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025: Key Points

In order to appear for the NIOS class 10 examination 2025, students must select at least 5 subjects from two groups of subjects: Group A and Group B. Five subjects with either one or two languages from Group A and the remaining subjects from Group B and two additional subjects can be taken from either of the two groups with additional fees as per NIOS norms.

Group A

Group A
S.No.	Code	Subjects
1.	(201)	Hindi
2.	(202)	English
3.	(206)	Urdu
4.	(209)	Sanskrit
5.	(203)	Bengali
6.	(204)	Marathi	Examination of these subjects will be held on same day and same time.
7.	(205)	Telugu
8.	(207)	Gujarati
9.	(208)	Kannada
10.	(210)	Punjabi
11.	(228)	Assamese
12.	(230)	Indian Sign language**
13.	(231)	Nepali
14.	(232)	Malayalam
15.	(233)	Odia
16.	(235)	Arabic
17.	(236)	Persian
18.	(237)	Tamil
19.	(238)	Sindhi

Group B

Group B
S.No.	Code	Subjects
1.	(211)	Mathematics
2.	(212)	Science and Technology
3.	(213)	Social Science
4.	(214)	Economics
5.	(215)	Business Studies
6.	(216)	Home Science
7.	(222)	Psychology
8.	(223)	Indian Culture & Heritage
9.	(224)	Accountancy
10.	(225)	Painting
11.	(229)	Data Entry Operations
12.	(242)	Hindustani Sangeet
13.	(243)	Carnatic Sangeet
14.	(244)	Folk Art
15.	(245)	Veda Adhyyan	Indian Knowledge Tradition
16.	(246)	Sanskrit Vyakarana
17.	(247)	Bharatiya Darshan
18.	(248)	Sanskrit Sahitya
19.	(285)	Natyakala
20.	(249)	Entrepreneurship

NIOS Class 10 Certification Criteria

Candidates can check the certification criteria for NIOS secondary course (class 10) exams in the table below.

Course	Pass Criteria in a Subject	Certification Criteria
Secondary Course (Class X)	A minimum of 33% marks in the aggregate including TMA as well as 33% marks (Theory plus Practical wherever applicable) in the Public examinations exculting allotted marks of TMA	Pass in 5 subjects including at least one but not more than two languages

NIOS Class 10 Scheme of Examination

Sections in the question paper	Weightage (in terms of Marks)
Section A: Reading	15
Section B: Writing	25
Section C: Grammar	30
Section D: Literature	30
TOTAL MARKS	100

Type and No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
3 Long answer questions	6	3 X 6 = 18
11 Short answer questions	4	11 X 4 = 44
7 Very short answer questions	2	7 X 2 = 14
9 Multiple choice questions	1	9 X 1 = 9
TOTAL MARKS (THEORY)		85
TOTAL MARKS (PRACTICAL)		15
GRAND TOTAL		100

Type and No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
1 Multiple Choice Question	9	1 X 9 = 9
3 Very Short Answer	11	3 X 11 = 33
5 Short Answer	6	5 X 6 = 30
7 Long Answer	4	7 X 4 = 28
GRAND TOTAL		100

Type and No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
4 Multiple Choice Questions	1	4 X 1 = 4
7 Very Short Answer	2	7 X 2 = 14
16 Short Answer	4	16 X 4 = 64
3 Long Answer	6	3 X 6 = 18
GRAND TOTAL		100

Type and No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
7 long answer type	5	7 X 5 = 35
9 short answer type	3	9 X 3 = 27
8 very short answer type	2	8 X 2 = 16
7 objective type	1	7 X 1 = 7
TOTAL MARKS (THEORY)		85
TOTAL MARKS (PRACTICAL)		15
GRAND TOTAL		100

NIOS 10th Mathematics Exam Pattern 2025

No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
16 Multiple Choice Questions	1	16 X 1 = 16
10 questions	3	10 X 3 = 30
8 questions	5	8 X 5 = 40
2 questions	7	2 X 7 = 14
GRAND TOTAL		100

No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
16 questions	1	1 X 4 = 4
6 questions	4	6 X 4 = 24
1 question	6	1 X 6 = 6
6 questions	9	6 X 9 = 54
GRAND TOTAL		100

Type and No. of Questions	Marks per question	Total Marks
4 Long Answer	6	4 X 6 = 24
12 Short Answer	4	12 X 4 = 48
10 Very Short Answer	2	10 X 2 = 20
8 Multiple Choice Questions	1	8 X 1 = 8
GRAND TOTAL		100

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the full form of NIOS?

NIOS stands for the National Institute of Open Schooling. It is a national level board/institute in India similar to CBSE and ICSE. NIOS is responsible for conducting the secondary and senior secondary school examinations and also offers various vocational courses to the learners/students.

What is the passing criteria for the NIOS class 10 exam 2025?

Students must secure a minimum of 33% marks in the aggregate that is theory plus practical examinations (wherever applicable) in the NIOS class 10 exam 2025 in order to pass the NIOS examination.

From where can I download the NIOS exam pattern 2025 for class 10 and the sample papers?

You can download the NIOS exam pattern 2025 and sample papers for your respective subjects directly from the official website of NIOS.

Can I choose three language subjects for appearing in the NIOS class 10 examination 2025?

Students must select at least 5 subjects from two groups of subjects: Group A and Group B. Five subjects with either one or two languages from Group A and the remaining subjects from Group B and two additional subjects can be taken from either of the two groups with additional fees as per NIOS norms.