PSEB Exam Pattern 2026 Update: Big changes are coming to the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) exams for the 2025-26 academic session. If you are a student, parent, or teacher, here is a simple breakdown of what is changing and how to prepare.
Why the Change?
The board is shifting away from rote learning (memorizing without understanding). The goal is to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to help students develop critical thinking and practical skills.
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Top 3 Major Changes in PSEB Exam Pattern 2026 for Everyone
These changes apply to both Class 10 and Class 12 students.
1. No More “Easy” Passes
The exams will be tougher than before. The board has changed the difficulty mix:
- Easy Questions: Reduced from 40% to 30%.
- Average Questions: Remain at 40%.
- Difficult Questions: Increased from 20% to 30%.
What this means: You can no longer rely on just the easy questions to pass. You need a deeper understanding of the subjects.
2. Fewer Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
During the pandemic, papers had many MCQs (tick-mark questions). Now, the board wants you to write more.
- Old Pattern: 40% MCQs.
- New 2026 Pattern: Only 25% MCQs.
What this means: You will see more Short Answer and Long Answer questions. You need to practice writing clear sentences and paragraphs.
3. The “Inside Chapter” Rule
You can no longer just memorize the questions at the end of the chapter.
- 25% of questions will now come from inside the chapter text (like side-boxes, diagrams, or middle paragraphs).
- 75% of questions will still come from the back exercises.
What this means: You must read your textbooks cover-to-cover, not just the summaries.
Directives for Teachers & Schools
- District Education Officers have been instructed to inform all teachers teaching these grades about these changes immediately.
- Teachers must ensure that students are prepared according to this new pattern, specifically focusing on conceptual clarity rather than just memorizing back exercises.
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Changes for Class 10 (Matriculation)
- Mathematics: Expect more multi-step problems. Long answer questions (6 marks) will test critical thinking, often using case studies.
- Science: A new “Case Study” section has been added. You might be given data or an experiment setup and asked to analyze it.
- Social Science: Less memorization, more analysis. 20% of the paper will be based on Case Studies and Map Work.
- English: A new “Poster-Based Comprehension” section tests if you can understand information from ads or infographics.
| PSEB Exam Pattern 2026 CLASS 1OTH | PSEB Exam Pattern 2026 CLASS 1OTH PDF |
| Agriculture | Computer Science |
| English | Home Science |
| Maths | Music (Instrumental) |
| Physical Education | Punjab History And Culture Paper-A |
| Punjab History And Culture Paper-B | Punjabi Paper A |
| Science | Social Science |
| Urdu Elective | Urdu (In lieu Of Hindi) |
| Sanskrit | Machenical Drawing And Painting |
| Hindi | Science |
Changes for Class 12 (Senior Secondary)
- Computer Science is Now Core: This is a huge update. Computer Science marks will now count towards your final percentage (just like Math or Physics). Practical exams will be conducted by external examiners, not your school teachers.
- General English: The paper is designed to reduce guessing. You will see more one-line answers and fewer MCQs.
- Science Stream: Physics and Math questions will be strictly from the syllabus to avoid confusion. Questions will test your ability to apply concepts, not just repeat definitions.
- Commerce Stream: Focus will be on analyzing financial statements and understanding the logic behind accounting entries.
How to Prepare PSEB Exam : 3 Simple Tips
- Read the Full Chapter: Don’t skip the text. Read every line, including captions under images and side-notes.
- Practice Writing: Since there are fewer MCQs, practice writing out your answers clearly and neatly.
- Take Projects Seriously: Internal assessment (20 marks) is becoming stricter. Ensure your project files and activities are genuine, as they may be checked by external auditors.
Important Dates
- Winter Break: Dec 22, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026 (Use this time for deep study!).
- Practical Exams: Expected late January/early February 2026.
- Theory Exams: February – April 2026.
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