Starting next year, Class 10 students will have the option to appear for two board exams, as per the draft norms released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday. Students can choose to take the exam once or both times. If they opt for both, they can “opt out” of specific subjects or papers in the second attempt.
As per the proposed schedule, the first phase of the Class 10 board exams will be held from February 17 to March 6, while the second phase is scheduled from May 5 to May 20. The exam duration in both phases has been compressed to 16-18 days, significantly shorter than the current 32-day schedule.
This change means students will have only one or two days between two papers, depending on their subject choices—much shorter than the current gaps, which can extend up to five to ten days.
Results and Registration
The results of the first exam are expected by April 20, while the second exam results will be declared by June 30. For students appearing for both exams, the best scores will be reflected on the final marksheet.
CBSE has sought public feedback on the proposal by March 9, after which it will be reviewed and finalized before the new academic session begins in April.
Registration for the 2026 Class 10 board exams will be completed by September 2025, requiring students to indicate whether they wish to take the first exam, both, or just the second exam.
After the April results, only those students who registered for the second exam in September will be eligible to appear for it, with the option to “opt out” of subjects they no longer wish to attempt.
Exam Flexibility and Final Scorecard
A CBSE source explained:"If a student is satisfied with their Social Science, English, and Mathematics scores in the first exam, they can opt out of these subjects for the second attempt and appear only for the remaining subjects. The final scorecard will reflect the best scores."
However, students registering only for the second board exam will not be allowed a further attempt.
The first exam results will be available on DigiLocker, enabling students to use them for Class 11 admissions if they choose not to take the second exam. However, official passing documents will be issued only after the second exam results are declared. Internal assessments will be conducted only once, as per the draft norms.
Alignment with NEP 2020
This proposal aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to reduce the high-stakes nature of board exams by allowing students to take board exams twice in a year—one main attempt and one improvement attempt if needed.
CBSE has been working to implement this system without disrupting the next academic year, ensuring a smooth transition for students and schools.
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