How to Study Social Science In Class 10?

In school life, the prescribed syllabus often finds us in the midst of a troublesome situation. There are subjects or parts of subjects that we absolutely love and then there is the part that we don’t. Social science or some aspects of this subject usually come under this group. It’s manageable in all other classes, but in class 10, with your Board Exams, things get difficult. You have to study a subject and score marks even if you don’t really find it in your list of interests.

If you are someone stuck in the same situation, the article here will help you. Scroll down for details, the syllabus, weightage ad tips on how to study social science for your class 10.

Social Science in class 10 – Overview and Paper Pattern

The class 10 social science paper includes brief concepts from History, Geography, Civics, and Economics. To have a better grasp of the subject, it is imperative to know the pattern of the paper and an overview of the questions that can be asked. The paper is divided into three sections with a total of 35 questions to be answered by a student. The total marks are 80 along with the internal assessment components.

Section A consists of multiple-choice, short answers, match the columns, or picture-based questions that are of a total of 20 marks.

Section B has 8 questions of the short answer type to be written within 80 words by the students.

Section C has long answer type questions that have to be answered in about 120 words.

The last part is a map-based question that tests the History and Civics knowledge of students. The paper has no overall choice but the individual questions may have an internal choice between topics of a chapter.

Social Science in Class 10 – Syllabus

The next thing to know before we go on to the details of how to study Class 10 Social science in class 10 is to understand the exact syllabus. This is as follows:

  1. India and the Contemporary World – II – 20 marks 

Section 1: Events and Processes:

a. The Rise of Nationalism in Europe:

  • The French Revolution and the Idea of the Nation
  • The Making of Nationalism in Europe
  • The Age of Revolutions: 1830-1848
  • The Making of Germany and Italy
  • Visualizing the Nation
  • Nationalism and Imperialism

b. Nationalism in India:

  • The First World War, Khilafat and Non – Cooperation
  • Differing Strands within the Movement
  • Towards Civil Disobedience
  • The Sense of Collective Belonging

Section 2: Livelihoods, Economies and Societies: Anyone theme of the following. The theme selected should be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in the Board Examination.

c. The Making of a Global World:

  • The Pre-modern world
  • The Nineteenth Century global economy, colonialism)
  • The Interwar Economy (Great Depression)
  • Rebuilding the World Economy

d. The Age of Industrialization:

  • Before the Industrial Revolution
  • Hand Labour and Steam Power
  • Industrialization in the colonies
  • Factories Come Up
  • The Peculiarities of Industrial Growth
  • Market for Goods
  1. Contemporary India – II – 20 marks

a. Resources and Development:

  • Types of Resources
  • Development of Resources
  • Resource Planning in India
  • Land Resources
  • Land Utilization
  • Land Use Pattern in India
  • Land Degradation and Conservation Measures
  • Soil as a Resource
  • Classification of Soils
  • Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

b. Water Resources:

Note: The theoretical aspect of this chapter will not be assessed in Periodic Tests and Board Examination. Only Map Items as given in the Map List from this chapter will be evaluated in Board Examination.

c. Agriculture:

  • Types of farming
  • Cropping Pattern
  • Major Crops
  • Technological and Institutional Reforms
  • Impact of Globalization on Agriculture

d. Minerals :

Note: The theoretical aspect of this chapter will not be assessed in Periodic Tests and Board Examination. Only Map items as given in the map list from this chapter will be evaluated in the Board Examination.

e. Manufacturing Industries:

  • Importance of manufacturing
  • Contribution of Industry to National Economy
  • Industrial Location
  • Classification of Industries
  • Spatial distribution
  • Industrial pollution and environmental degradation
  • Control of Environmental Degradation

g. Life Lines of National Economy:

  • Transport – Roadways, Railways, Pipelines, Waterways, Airways
  • Communication
  • International Trade
  • Tourism as a Trade

3. Democratic Politics – II – 20 marks

a. Power Sharing:

  • Case Studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka
  • Why power sharing is desirable?
  • Forms of Power Sharing

b. Federalism

  • What is Federalism?
  • What makes India a Federal Country?
  • How is Federalism practiced?
  • Decentralization in India

c. Political Parties:

  • Why do we need Political Parties?
  • How many Parties should we have?
  • National Political Parties
  • State Parties
  • Challenges to Political Parties
  • How can Parties be reformed?

d. Outcomes of Democracy:

  • How do we assess democracy’s outcomes?
  • Accountable, responsive and legitimate government
  • Economic growth and development
  • Reduction of inequality and poverty
  • Accommodation of social diversity
  • Dignity and freedom of the citizens

4. Understanding of Economic Development 

  1. Development:
  • What Development Promises – Different people different goals
  • Income and other goals
  • National Development
  • How to compare different countries or states?
  • Income and other criteria
  • Public Facilities
  • Sustainability of development

2. Sectors of the Indian Economy:

  • Sectors of Economic Activities
  • Comparing the three sectors
  • Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sectors in India
  • Division of sectors as organized and unorganized
  • Sectors in terms of ownership: Public and Private Sectors
  1. Money and Credit:
  • Money as a medium of exchange
  • Modern forms of money
  • Loan activities of Banks
  • Two different credit situations
  • Terms of credit
  • Formal sector credit in India
  • Self Help Groups for the Poor
  1. Globalization and the Indian Economy:
  • Production across countries
  • Interlinking production across countries
  • Foreign Trade and the integration of markets
  • What is globalization?
  • Factors that have enabled Globalisation
  • World Trade Organisation
  • Impact of Globalization on India
  • The Struggle for a Fair Globalisation

Social Science in Class 10 – Tips & Tricks

After knowing the syllabus and paper pattern, all you need is to get used to NCERT textbooks and other interesting study material, write more and more answers, understand the ideas, revise thoroughly and practice as many papers as you can. More importance should be given to understanding and going through the sample and previous year’s papers. Practice Map work and also focus on formatting. It is wise to underline important components in long answers to make it easier for the examiner to grasp your idea and knowledge on the specific topic.

FAQs on Social Science in Class 10

1. Is there any guidebook for the preparation of social science in class 10?

Answer. The NCERT book and previous year’s papers is the best way to study social science without the need for guidebooks.

2. Is it a scoring subject class 10 social science?

Answer. The scores will depend on your answers. To the point answers will be rewarded with more marks. However, since it a theory-based exam, there is a high possibility to score more marks as everything is from the textbook itself.

3. Is there a specific question pattern?

Answer. There is a common pattern comprising 3 sections as mentioned above but that can be changed with the commencement of each year.