Karnataka SSLC Class 10 Board Exam 2026: Time Table, Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Preparation Tips
Humanities & Social Sciences
Updated on January 1, 2026
The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) conducts the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams for Class 10 students annually. This certification is essential for pursuing higher secondary education in streams like Science, Commerce, or Arts. For 2026, KSEAB has introduced a dual-exam system: Exam-1 in March-April and Exam-2 (re-attempt) in May, providing students a second chance to improve scores. Preparatory exams in three phases help build confidence, while the revised pattern emphasizes competency-based questions.
Table of Contents
Karnataka SSLC Exam 2026 Important Dates
KSEAB released the final timetable in November 2025. Key dates include:
Preparatory Exam Phase 1: January 5-10, 2026
Preparatory Exam Phase 2: January 27-February 2, 2026
Preparatory Exam Phase 3: February 23-28, 2026
Main Exam-1: March 18-April 2, 2026
Exam-2 (Re-attempt): May 18-25, 2026
Results Announcement: May 2026 (Exam-1); July 2026 (Exam-2)
Admit cards download from kseab.karnataka.gov.in in February 2026. Monitor the official site for updates.
Karnataka SSLC Exam Pattern 2026
Exams are offline, pen-paper mode, with 3 hours 15 minutes duration (15 minutes reading time). Languages carry 100 marks; core subjects 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal/practical.
Question Types: MCQs, very short, short, long answers, competency-based.
No negative marking.
First Language: 100 marks written.
Second/Third Languages & Core Subjects: 80 marks written + 20 internals.
Subject
Theory Marks
Internal/Practical
Total Marks
Duration
First Language (Kannada/English/etc.)
100
0
100
3 hrs 15 min
Second Language (English/Hindi)
80
20
100
3 hrs 15 min
Third Language
80
20
100
3 hrs 15 min
Mathematics
80
20
100
3 hrs 15 min
Science
80
20
100
3 hrs 15 min
Social Science
80
20
100
3 hrs 15 min
Karnataka SSLC Syllabus 2026
Syllabus aligns with NCERT patterns at Class 10 level, focusing on conceptual understanding.
Science: Chemical Reactions, Acids/Bases, Metals/Non-Metals, Carbon Compounds, Life Processes, Electricity, Magnetism, Light, Human Eye, Environment.
Social Science: History (Nationalism, Industrialization), Geography (Resources, Agriculture), Political Science (Democracy, Power Sharing), Economics (Development, Sectors).
Download subject-wise PDFs from kseab.karnataka.gov.in under Syllabus section.
Karnataka SSLC Previous Year Performance Trends
In 2025, overall pass percentage reached 66.14% for freshers, with 22 students scoring perfect 625/625. Rural-urban gaps narrowed, and girls outperformed boys. Trends show rising perfect scores and improved pass rates due to multiple attempts and preparatory exams.
Toppers often excel through consistent revision and mock practice. Expected 2026 trends: Higher competition for 625/625, focus on competency questions boosting analytical scores.
Aim for 90%+ with consistent 4-6 months preparation.
Karnataka SSLC Passing Criteria and Grading
To pass: Minimum 35% per subject and overall (around 219/625 total). No grace marks in 2026. Grading:
563-625: A+ (90-100%)
500-562: A (80-89%)
Lower tiers down to C (35-49%)
Best of Exam-1 or Exam-2 considered for final certification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Karnataka SSLC 2026 Exam-1 will be conducted from March 18 to April 2, 2026, while Exam-2 will be held from May 18 to May 25, 2026.
Students must score a minimum of 35% in each subject as well as overall. This translates to at least 219 marks out of a total of 625.
Two main attempts are allowed—Exam-1 and Exam-2—and the best score out of the two is considered for the final result.
No, preparatory exams are not compulsory. However, they are highly recommended and are usually conducted in three phases to help students practice.
Karnataka SSLC model question papers can be downloaded from the official website kseab.karnataka.gov.in under the “Model Question Papers” section.
No, there is no negative marking in Karnataka SSLC examinations.
Each SSLC exam is conducted for 3 hours and 15 minutes, which includes reading time.
Students should practice application-based questions from official model papers and NCERT exemplar problems to perform well in competency-based questions.
Yes, students who pass Exam-1 can appear for Exam-2 to improve their scores. Appearing for Exam-2 is completely optional.
KSEAB and NCERT textbooks should be your primary resources. For additional practice, reference books like Oswaal or Arihant can be used.
Internal marks are calculated based on school assessments, practicals, and project work. Core subjects usually carry 20 marks internally.
Results for Exam-1 are expected in May 2026, while Exam-2 results will be declared later.
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