CBSE Announces Two Board Exams for Class 10 Students Starting 2026

CBSE Announces Two Board Exams for Class 10 Students Starting 2026

In a major step towards reducing exam stress and offering more opportunities for students to succeed, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a new examination policy starting from the academic year 2026. As per the latest notification issued on 25 June 2025, students of Class 10 will now get two chances to appear for their Board Exams in a single academic session. This decision is aligned with the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes flexibility, student choice, and less pressure during high-stake exams.

What’s Changing from 2026

Starting from 2026, all Class 10 students will appear for a main Board Exam, followed by an option to take an improvement exam. This new system allows students to take Board Exams in two phases during the same academic year – once in mid-February and again in May. The best score out of the two exams will be considered for the final result. This approach is expected to reduce the anxiety associated with a single final exam and encourage students to perform better without the fear of failure.

Why This Move Matters

According to the policy, one of the key goals is to remove the high-stakes pressure and promote learning through flexibility. With options like improvement exams, compartment exams, and multiple levels of difficulty in subjects like Mathematics, the CBSE is ensuring that every student gets a fair chance. The exams will continue to cover the full syllabus, and the format will remain the same. However, in the future, the Board is also considering objective-type and descriptive-type paper divisions.

Key Highlights of the New Policy

All students must appear in the first exam.

Students can improve up to three subjects in the second exam.

The result of the first exam will be declared in April.

The second exam will be held in May and results will be declared in June.

Provisional admission in Class 11 will be allowed after the first exam. Final admission confirmation will be based on the second exam result.

Merit certificates and final documents will be issued after the second exam.

Internal assessment will be done only once before the first exam.

Special provisions for sports students, winter-bound schools, and students with special needs (CWSN) will continue.

What Schools and Parents Need to Do

All schools are instructed to inform students and parents about this policy change. Accurate subject data must be collected from students during the submission of examination forms. Since there are now two Board Exams, it is essential that schools, students, and parents ensure all formalities are completed on time with correct details.

In Conclusion

This landmark change is a welcome move towards student-friendly reforms. With the flexibility of two Board Exams in one academic year, students can now learn with less stress and more confidence. It reflects a new era in school education that puts students first, giving them the second chance they truly deserve.