CBSE decided to change the exam pattern for the class 10th and 12th boards this year, and the students have been in a state of panic and confusion. There is a significant amount of syllabus to cover, yet not enough clarity about how to go with it. Hence, in this article, we will be covering the syllabus of social science and its chapter-wise weightage for the upcoming term 2 board examinations.
There have been no announcements regarding adding chapters in CBSE class 10 social science, so the students can relax if it is a concern. However, there are only a specific number of chapters that the students would be assessed upon. It is strongly advised that for term 2, students stick to the syllabus strictly and keep the weightage and essential topics in mind while preparing for the examinations.
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Exam Pattern
The CBSE Class 10 exam pattern has changed entirely. For social science, there would be 13 questions in the paper, divided into five different sections.
Similar to term 1, the term 2 paper would also be 40 marks. However, term two is a personal paper – and hence, the time limit for this exam would be 2 hours in total. All questions would be compulsory, and the students would be provided with internal choices within specific questions.
Here is a tabular representation of the exam pattern:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Type of Questions |
| A | 5 questions (Q1 to Q5) | 2 marks each | Very short answer type questions |
| B | 3 questions (Q6 to Q8) | 3 marks each | Short answer type questions |
| C | 2 questions (Q9 to Q10) | 5 marks each | Long answer type questions |
| D | 2 questions (Q11 to Q12) | 4 marks each | Case-study based questions |
| E | 1 question (Q13) | 3 marks in total | Map-based question |
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Syllabus For Term 2 Exam
Since Social Science comprises four subjects – History, Political Science, Economics, and Geography – keeping track of the syllabus for every unit is a challenging task. With the introduction of the concept of term 1 and term 2 examinations, the total syllabus of social science has been divided too.
It means that students only have to study a specific number of chapters of the year’s second term of board examinations. Here is the list of social science syllabi, categorized based on the chapters.
History
Section 1: Events and Processes
| Chapter | Topic-wise syllabus |
| Nationalism in India |
|
Section 2: Only one of the following is to be asked in the periodic tests only
| Chapters | Topic-wise syllabus |
| The Making of a Global World |
|
| The Age of Industrialization |
|
Geography
Section 1: To be asked in the board examinations
| Chapters | Topic-wise syllabus |
| Manufacturing Industries |
|
| Life Lines of National Economy |
|
Section 2: To be asked in periodic tests only. However, map questions based on this section can be asked in the board examinations.
| Chapters | Topic-wise syllabus |
| Minerals and Energy Resources |
|
Political Science
| Chapters | Topic-wise syllabus |
| Political Parties |
|
| Outcomes of Democracy |
|
Economics
| Chapters | Topic-wise syllabus |
| Money and Credit |
|
| Globalisation and the Indian Economy |
|
Maps
- History
- Sessions of Indian National Congress:
- Calcutta (on Sep. 1920)
- Nagpur (on Dec. 1920)
- Madras (1927)
- Important Centres of the Indian National Movement
- Champaran – Movement of Indigo Planters
- Kheda – Peasant Satyagraha
- Ahmedabad – Cotton Mill Workers Satyagraha
- Amritsar – Jallianwala Bagh Incident
- Chauri Chaura – Calling off the Non-Cooperation Movement
- Dandi – Civil Disobedience Movement
- Geography
- Thermal Power Plants
- Namrup
- Singrauli
- Ramagundam
- Nuclear Power Plants
- Narora
- Kakrapar
- Tarapur
- Kalpakkam
- Cotton Textile Industries:
- Mumbai
- Indore
- Surat
- Kanpur
- Coimbatore
- Iron and Steel Plants:
- Durgapur
- Bokaro
- Jamshedpur
- Bhilai
- Vijaynagar
- Salem
- Software Technology Parks:
- Noida
- Gandhinagar
- Mumbai
- Pune
- Hyderabad
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Thiruvananthapuram
Chapterwise Weightage for CBSE Class 10 Social Science
One of the critical factors that should affect your focus on a particular topic is its weightage in the examination. One should always make sure that the highest-weightage chapters are covered first, and then one should move on to covering the lighter-weightage chapters in terms of marks.
Unit |
Marks |
| India and the Contemporary World -1 | 10 |
| Contemporary India – I | 10 |
| Democratic Politics – I | 10 |
| Economics | 10 |
All four social studies sections – History, Political Science, Geography, and Economics – carry 10 marks each, combined to form a 40 marks paper. However, some subjects have only one chapter – like History. Hence its weightage would be more than the chapters like outcomes of democracy – one of the two chapters from Political Science.
Also See:
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Important Chapters
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Preparation: Important Topics
An intelligent preparation for any examination requires undivided attention to essential topics. Here are some critical sections of social studies subjects that you should not overlook while preparing for term two board examinations.
Also See:
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Preparation Tips
- History
- Nationalism in India
- Rowlatt act
- Khilafat movement
- Movements by Gandhi
- Satyagraha
- Geography
- Manufacturing Industries
- Factors on which the location of industries depends
- Iron and steel industry
- Industries and globalisation
- Life Lines of National Economy
- Transport and development
- Significance of border roads
- Types of communications
- Issues faced by Indian railways
- Political Science
- Political parties
- National and state political parties
- Need for political parties
- Kinds of party systems
- Merits and demerits of various government systems
- Outcomes of democracy
- Benefits of democracy over other forms of government
- Basic outcomes
- Economic development under democracy
- Economics
- Money and credit
- Barter system and existing forms of money
- Importance of banks in India
- Role of RBI in formal sector loan
- Formal and informal sources of credit and loans
- Globalization and the Indian economy
- Working and strategies of MNCs
- World trade organization and its role
- Merits and demerits of globalization in India
- The connection between the IT sector and globalization
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Short Notes for Term 2 Exam
Here are some short notes for your quick reference:
History
- World war I created a new social and economic situation in India.
- Gandhi returned to India in 1915.
- The first satyagraha movement was held in 1916 (Champaran, Bihar )
- The second satyagraha movement was held in 1917 (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)
- The third satyagraha movement was held in 1918 (Kheda, Gujarat)
Political Science
- India is a multi-party form of government. (Political Parties)
- There are many functions of political parties, even the ones that don’t win the election. The winning party forms the government, while the losing parties form the opposition. (Political Parties)
- Major national political parties are BJP, INC, BSP, AITC, CPI, CPI-M, and NCP. (Political Parties)
- Democracy helps create an accountable and answerable government. (Outcomes of Democracy)
- Economic outcomes of nations are slightly better in dictatorial countries than in democracies. (Outcomes of Democracy)
Economics
- Only RBI is allowed to issue money in India. (Money and Credit)
- Collateral is an asset that people should submit to authorities such as banks in exchange for a loan. (Money and Credit)
- There are two kinds of loans in India – formal credit loans and informal credit loans. (Money and Credit)
- An MNC is a company that works and owns a company in more than one country. Examples include Ford, Panasonic, and so on. (Globalisation and the Indian Economy)
- At present, 164 countries are a part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). (Globalisation and the Indian Economy)
- Government should protect small business owners from the cons of globalization. (Globalisation and the Indian Economy)
Geography
- The location of an industry depends upon the following factors: raw material, labour, capital, power, market and government policies. (Manufacturing Industries)
- Agro-based industries include textile, cotton, jute, and sugar industries. (Manufacturing Industries)
- Mineral-based industries include the iron and steel industry, aluminium smelting, chemical industries, fertiliser industries, cement industry, automobile industries, and so on. (Manufacturing Industries)
- There are six kinds of roads in India: national highways, state highways, district roads, other roads, border roads, and golden quadrilateral superhighways. (Lifelines of Indian Economy)
- National waterways in India are N.W1, N.W.2, N.W.3, N.W.4, and N.W.5. (Lifelines of Indian Economy)
Also Read:
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science
CBSE Class 10 term 2 Study Materials
Important Questions for CBSE Class 10 Social Science Term 2 Exam
- Explain the idea of Satyagraha according to Gandhi. (History)
- What was the main reason to withdraw from the Non-cooperation Movement? When was it withdrawn? (History)
- How had the First World War created a new economic situation in India? Explain any two. (History)
- What made Rowlatt act outrageous? (History)
- Why is it important for our country to keep the mill sector looming lower than the power loom and handloom? (Geography)
- How make trade between countries be a fair practice? (Geography)
- List two merits of roadways in India. (Geography)
- Differentiate between local and international trade. (Geography)
- Explain the concept of ‘partisan’. (Political Science)
- Define the term ‘recognized party. (Political Science)
- How does democracy stand much superior in promoting the dignity and freedom of the citizens? (Political Science)
- Explain the basic outcomes of democracy. (Political Science)
- Why are demand deposits also called money? (Economics)
- Explain the role of banks in India’s economy. (Economics)
- What are trade barriers? (Economics)
- Explain what are special economic zones. (Economics)
ALSO READ:
CBSE Class 10 Term 2 Hindi Syllabus, Chapter-wise Weightage
Class 10 Term 2 English Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Important Study Material
CBSE Class 10 Term 2 Exam: Maths Syllabus & Chapter Weightage
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Preparation Books
Choosing the right book for preparation is extremely important when studying for boards. Here is a list of recommended books that every class 10th board student should refer to.
- India and the Contemporary World-II (History) – Published by NCERT
- Contemporary India II (Geography) – Published by NCERT
- Democratic Politics II (Political Science) – Published by NCERT
- Understanding Economic Development – Published by NCERT
Also See: CBSE Class 10 term 2 preparation tips
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Sample Papers/Previous Year Papers
If you are looking to prepare from the previous year’s sample papers, then check out here:
Sample paper for Social Studies by CBSE CLASS 10
Previous year papers for Social Studies CLASS 10
You should practice sample papers to enhance your problem-solving skills. Practicing more and more sample papers will boost your confidence and help you build strong fundamental concepts of the subject.
Key Takeaways
In this article, the syllabus’s chapter-wise and topic-wise breakage have been provided to the students. Some practice questions and previous year’s papers have also been provided to brush and polish up the knowledge and concepts. So, if you are looking for a complete guide on preparing for the upcoming Social Studies exam, then look above for various sources provided to you in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the weightage of social studies in term 2 examinations?
The weightage of social studies is 40 marks for theory and 10 marks for internal assessment in term 2. The paper would be of a total of 50 marks as it was in the term 1 exam, the only difference being questions. While the questions in term one included objective questions, term 2 would consist of subjective ones.
2. Is it true that CBSE is reducing the weightage of the term 2 exams?
CBSE has confirmed that the notice circulating regarding deducting the weightage of term 2 examinations is completely fake. No such step would be taken as of yet. Hence students should not pay attention to such information at all.
3. What would be the weightage of term 2 examinations in the total result?
In the final result, both term 1 and term 2 would be equally contributing. Hence, the 40 marks for theory and 10 marks for internal assessment of term 1 would be added to the 40 marks for theory and 10 marks for internal assessment of term 2 – making up a total of 100 marks per subject.
4. How many hours should I study in Class 10?
The number of hours a student should study varies from person to person. There are some students who prefer studying at night while there are other kids who prefer studying during the day time. Studying 7 hours every day with patience and dedication from the start of your course, no one and nothing can stop you from becoming CBSE Class 10 topper.
5. What are the 3 secret study tips?
Here are some interesting tips to help you score excellent marks:
1. Before you start studying a topic, write down your lecturer’s learning objectives for that topic
2. Make a proper study plan
3. Use effective study techniques
Conclusion
With the term 2 board examinations just around the corner, students should start putting all their efforts into studying. Hopefully, the contents of this article will help you prepare better for your class 10 social science term 2 examinations.
