CBSE Class 10 Board Exams to Be Held Twice a Year Starting 2026

New Delhi: Starting in 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce a significant change to the Class 10 board examination system by allowing students to take the exams twice in a single academic year. This move aims to reduce the high-stakes nature of board exams, ease pressure on students, and give them a fair chance to improve their performance without waiting an entire year.

Under the new format, all Class 10 students will be required to appear for the first board exam, which will be held in mid-February. The second exam, scheduled for May, will be optional and open to students who wish to improve their scores or need to reappear in up to three subjects. The results for the February exam will be declared in April, while those for the May exam will be released in June, offering students timely feedback and opportunities for improvement.

This reform is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for more flexible and student-centric assessment systems. CBSE, in a press note dated June 25, 2025, confirmed that fresh candidates, compartment cases, essential repeat students, and those seeking improvement will be eligible to appear for the first exam. The second exam will be open to improvement candidates, first and third chance compartment students, and those combining both compartment and improvement subjects.

To ensure fairness, special provisions will be made for specific groups. Sportspersons whose events coincide with the exam schedule, students from winter-bound schools, and children with special needs (CWSN) will be allowed to treat the second exam as their primary attempt if necessary. Internal assessment, however, will be conducted only once during the academic year and will apply to both exam attempts.

CBSE has also indicated that further reforms may follow. Ideas under consideration include modular exams, dual-level question papers, and a mix of objective and descriptive formats. These changes are intended to shift the focus of education away from one-time, high-pressure testing towards a more continuous and flexible model of learning.