CBSE Confirms Class 10 Board Exams Twice A Year From 2026; First Attempt Mandatory

From the 2026 academic session onwards, students writing the CBSE Class 10 board exams will also be able to take the exams twice a year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has ratified. The development was officially confirmed by CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj on Tuesday, marking a significant departure from the way board tests will be administered henceforth.

According to the new format, the first session of the board exam will be compulsory for all the students, whereas the second session will be on voluntary basis. Students can opt to appear in the second phase if they want to enhance their performance, and the higher of the two scores will be preserved in the final mark sheet.

The proposal states that the tests will be administered in two stages: the first part will take place from February 17 to March 6 and the second phase will take place from May 5 to May 20.

Internal and Practical assessment will be done once a year

According to the new standards, internal and practical tests will be held once a year, while the board exams will be held twice a year. The goal of this arrangement is to reduce the stress of a single annual exam by giving students greater choice to choose the session that works best for them.