Ahmedabad: With calculators banned and nerves high, Class 10 students faced their mathematics paper as CBSE board exams began nationwide. About 85,000 students appeared on the first day, nearly 39,000 of them from Class 10. Ahmedabad saw roughly 8,900 candidates take the test. Teachers said the basic maths paper was smooth, while the standard maths paper demanded sharper focus.Manjula Mehta, Class 10 maths teacher at Udgam School for Children, said the basic paper was easy, while the standard paper was balanced but included a few tricky questions. “One question each in two of the sets can be considered from the rationalised syllabus,” she said. Though some students found parts of the paper challenging, she described the overall level as manageable.Devashish Divyam, who teaches mathematics at Doon Castle International School, termed the paper well-structured and aligned with the prescribed syllabus. “The paper reflected a strong linkage with the concepts and practice covered during preparation. The overall difficulty level was easy to moderate and student-friendly,” he said. According to him, Sections A, B and C of the standard paper were very easy and closely mirrored classroom practice. Section D carried one competency-based question in each set, while Section E was of average difficulty. The basic paper, though easy overall, was slightly lengthy.Arti Maheswari, teacher at DPS Bopal, said the standard paper was moderately challenging and somewhat lengthy, requiring careful time management due to detailed calculations. “Geometry questions tested conceptual clarity, and case-study questions integrated multiple chapters. Some students struggled to complete the standard paper within the allotted time,” she said, adding that the basic paper was comparatively more accessible and balanced.Teachers also welcomed the internal choices provided across sections, saying they gave students flexibility. Overall, educators described the paper as fair, comprehensive and appropriate for a board-level exam.
