CBSE to Conduct Two Board Exams for Class 10 from 2026
CBSE’s new dual-exam system marks a progressive step in aligning with the National Education Policy, aiming to reduce student stress while enhancing academic flexibility and fairness.
CBSE Introduces Dual Board Exams to Ease Student Pressure
In a significant policy shift aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), CBSE will conduct two board exam sessions for Class 10 students starting from 2026, with the first exam session in February being mandatory and a second optional session in May for students who wish to improve their scores. This revolutionary change aims to reduce exam pressure and provide students with better opportunities to showcase their academic abilities.
Flexible Assessment with Best-of-Two Marking System
The first board exam in February 2026 will be mandatory for all students, while the second board exam in May 2026 will be optional for improvement in up to 3 subjects. Results will be declared in April for the first exam and June for the second exam respectively. A combined mark sheet with the second exam marks, internal assessments, and the best of the two will be given after the second exam, with practical assessments conducted only once.
Modern Exam Pattern Emphasizes Conceptual and Competency-Based Learning
The new system introduces significant changes to the exam pattern, with up to 50% of questions in most subjects being multiple-choice questions (MCQs) or competency-based questions such as case-based or source-based questions. This shift towards a more applied and conceptual approach reflects CBSE’s commitment to modernizing assessment methods and reducing rote learning.
