CBSE to hold class 10 board exams twice a year starting 2026, move aims to reduce pressure

The Central Board of Secondary Education has announced that class 10 board exams will be held twice in a single academic year. The move aims to reduce the "high stakes" aspect, reduce exam pressure and offer students a chance to improve their performance without waiting an entire year.

Under the revamped system, all students will be required to take the first board exam in mid-February. Those wishing to improve their scores or who fail in up to three subjects will have another opportunity in a second exam held in May. This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes flexible and student-friendly assessment methods.

More Opportunities, Reduced Pressure

In a press release dated June 25, 2025, CBSE explained that the first exam is open to all categories of students—fresh candidates, those with compartment or essential repeat status, and students aiming for improvement. The second exam will cater to improvement cases, students attempting their first or third compartment attempt, and those combining improvement and compartment subjects.

Special considerations will be made for certain groups. Athletes whose competitions coincide with exams, students from winter-bound schools, and CWSN (Children With Special Needs) students may treat the second exam as their primary attempt if necessary.

Internal assessments will be carried out only once, ahead of the first board exam.

CBSE also signaled the possibility of upcoming changes, such as modular exams, dual-level papers, and a mix of objective and descriptive formats becoming a part of regular assessments.

The board stated that the revised structure aims to reduce the pressure of single high-stakes exams and promote continuous learning with built-in chances for improvement.

While this two-exam format has been officially introduced for Class 10 students starting in 2026, CBSE is considering extending a similar model to Class 12 in the future, though no formal decision has been announced yet.