In what should ease the exam blues for those taking the Class X exams this year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is introducing a practical component in the mathematics paper and there will be two additional chances for compartmental candidates.

"For the first time, we are making changes in the question papers of mathematics and science for Class X. The mathematics question paper will comprise 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for internal assessment, while science paper will have 60 marks for theory and 40 marks for practicals," Controller of Examination M C Sharma told PTI.

Earlier, the science question paper had 75 marks for theory and 25 per cent for practicals, while there was no practical component in the Maths paper.

The CBSE had earlier introduced an internal assessment component in social sciences.

In the maths paper, internal assessment, that will account for a total of 20 marks will cover evaluation of activities, project work and continuous evaluation.

Similarly in science, the practical exam will have two components -- hands-on school based year-end practical examination and practical skill based multiple choice type year-end written examination -- each comprising 20 marks.

There will, however, not be any change in the types of questions, Sharma said.

"The questions will be the usual like long answer type, short answer type and very short answer type," he said.

The CBSE has also decided to extend the compartmental chances to five from the existing three.

"Students, who pass in four papers and fail in one, will get five chances to clear the paper," he said.

The CBSE had last year introduced additional 15 minutes time to read the question papers which will continue this year also. "The additional time was of immense help for the students last year. This will continue this year also," Sharma said.

While over seven lakh students would take the Class X exam this year, there are over five lakh candidates who will sit Class XII exam.