New exam schedule for CBSE Class 10 Board exams: Results, rules, Subjects-All you need to know
For all those who wish to know whether CBSE has introduced Biannual Board Exams, the answer is-Yes! Now Class 10 Board exams 2026 will be held twice a Year. First Mandatory, Second Optional.
As per the recent announcements, New Exam Schedule states that CBSE Class 10 Board exams will be conducted twice in an academic year starting from Session 2025–26. First phase will be held in February & second will be held in the month of May. Here, in this blog, we will clarify all your doubts by giving details about the New Phase Exam System, ideology behind it and its Benefits for Students as well as for Parents.
This change is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), which recommends reducing exam pressure by offering students a second attempt within the same academic year. This move aims to mitigate exam-related stress among students and is a key step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). By allowing students to appear for exams twice, similar to the JEE Main format, they will have the flexibility to choose the better score. A major step toward a stress-free learning environment and a more balanced evaluation system.
it will be mandatory to appear in the first phase of the exam to be held in February. Officials said on Wednesday that the second phase to be held in May will be optional for those who want to improve their performance in any three subjects out of science, mathematics, social science and languages. The results for the two phases will be announced in April and June, respectively. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the norms for conducting board exams twice a year for class 10, which has been recommended in the new National Education Policy.
CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026 will be in Two-Term Format
CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said, the first phase will be in February and the second in May. This way students will get a chance to improve their performance. According to the set norms, class 10 students of schools closed in winter will get the option to appear in any phase. According to this, internal assessment will be done only once during the academic session.
CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said that students whose result in the first exam is compartment will be allowed to appear in the second exam under the compartment category. The board has clarified that there will be no separate supplementary exam.
Opportunity will be given in three subjects: Every student of CBSE 10th will be given a chance to improve his performance in three subjects. If a student has not appeared in three or more subjects in the examination held in February, then he will not get a chance to appear in the second exam.
Only the best marks will be considered final: If a student appears in both the examinations of the year, then those marks of his which are the best will be considered final. If someone has more marks in the first exam and less marks in the second exam, then only the marks obtained in his first exam will be recognized.
Some may embrace it or some may still confuse it with the additional burden on Class X students who might be juggling with the vast syllabus, their coaching and above all the fear of appearing for boards for the first time. The reform is absolutely in favour of students and will take them closer to success.
Happy Learning!