The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a significant change for Class 10 board examinations. Starting in 2026, students will have the option to appear for board exams twice a year. This new policy aims to reduce exam pressure and provide students with a second chance to improve their scores.
The first, mandatory exam will take place in mid-February. The results for this phase are expected in April. A second, optional exam will be held in May, with results released in June. This allows students to improve their performance without waiting an entire year. The committee will consider the better score from the two attempts for the final result.
This decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP advocates for flexible and student-friendly assessments to reduce the “high-stakes” nature of board examinations.
CBSE Class 10 Exams 2026
- Two Exams Annually: The first exam is mandatory (February), and the second is optional (May).
- Results: April for the first phase, June for the second phase.
- Internal Assessment: Conducted only once during the academic year, applicable to both exam phases.
- Improvement Opportunity: Students can reappear in up to three subjects (Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages) in the second exam to improve their scores.
- Special Provisions: Sportspersons, students from winter-bound schools, and CWSN candidates may take the second exam as their main attempt if needed.
CBSE’s Initiative to Promote Skills Education in Schools
This reform focuses on continuous learning. It gives students more opportunities to recover or perform better. From 2026, CBSE will implement this dual-exam system for Class 10, and it has hinted at a similar system for Class 12 in the future.
