CBSE 2026 boards: Two exams for Class 10, new assessment rules

CBSE will begin the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations for the 2026 academic year on Feb 17, introducing multiple policy changes that will take effect simultaneously for the first time.

According to the revised schedule, Class 10 exams will end on March 11, 2026, while Class 12 examinations will continue until April 10, 2026.

The boards are being conducted under updated rules aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, bringing changes to assessment structure, eligibility, and evaluation.

A key change this year is the introduction of two board examinations for Class 10 students. The first exam, scheduled from Feb 17 to March 9, is compulsory for all candidates. A second exam will be held from May 15 to June 1 and is optional, limited to score improvement.

Both exams will follow the same syllabus, and the higher of the two scores will be considered for the final result. Students can opt to improve scores in a maximum of three subjects.

CBSE has also clarified eligibility rules linked to performance in the first exam. Students failing in one or two subjects will be placed in the compartment category and allowed to appear in the second exam.

Those failing in three or more subjects, or absent from three or more papers, will not be eligible for the second attempt and will have to wait for the 2027 examinations. Similar restrictions apply to students categorized as Essential Repeat.

Internal assessment has been redefined as a continuous process spread over two academic years and is now directly linked to attendance and board exam eligibility.

The minimum attendance requirement of 75% remains unchanged. CBSE has asked schools to maintain strict transparency in internal assessment due to increased monitoring.

Changes have also been introduced in answer writing guidelines, particularly for Class 10 science and social science papers. Students are required to write answers strictly section-wise as per the question paper structure. Failure to follow this format may lead to loss of marks, even if the answers are otherwise correct.

For private candidates, CBSE has restricted registrations from 2026 onward. Such candidates will be allowed to appear only in subjects they are already registered for and will not be permitted to add new subjects.

The board has further instructed schools to offer subjects only after ensuring proper infrastructure, laboratories, and qualified teachers, with subject approvals now under closer scrutiny.

CBSE said the changes aim to reduce dependence on single high-stakes exams, strengthen continuous evaluation, and provide flexibility while maintaining academic standards. With exams approaching, students have been advised to focus on the first board examination and follow all instructions carefully.