In a significant move to reform the examination system, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting from 2026. Students will have the option to appear in either one or both of the exams, with the first session scheduled for February 17 to March 6 and the second from May 5 to May 20. This decision aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), which aims to reduce the stress of high-stakes exams by providing multiple opportunities for students.
According to CBSE officials, students can choose to sit for both exams or just one, depending on their preference. If they are satisfied with their scores in the first exam, they can skip the second attempt for specific subjects. The exams will be based on the full syllabus, and students will be assigned the same examination centers for both attempts. Exam fees will be collected for both sessions at the time of application.
The second session of the board exams will also serve as a supplementary exam, eliminating the need for separate compartment exams. Once the list of candidates (LOC) is finalized in September of the previous academic year, no new registrations will be allowed for the second session in May. Furthermore, students will not be able to change subjects after finalizing their LOC. However, they will have the flexibility to skip a subject in February and attempt a different one in May.
Practical and internal assessments will be conducted only once per academic year. Unlike the current system, where separate certificates are issued after each exam, CBSE will issue a single marksheet after the May session. This marksheet will display scores from both exam sessions and include the best score achieved in each subject.
With this reform, CBSE aims to make board exams more flexible and student-friendly, reducing pressure while ensuring a fair evaluation system. The introduction of biannual exams is expected to benefit students by providing them with a second chance to improve their scores without waiting for supplementary exams.
