CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026: Two chances to ace your results

CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that starting from the 2026 examinations, students in Class X will have the option to appear for Board Exams up to two times in a given school year. This decision, in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and stakeholder consultations, aims to reduce the “high stakes” nature of these examinations.

This means students will have a “main examination” opportunity and a second chance for “improvement,” if they wish to retake a subject or improve their scores.

“To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board Exams, all students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.” said CBSE in a notification dated 26 June,

CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026: Scheme of Two Board Examinations

General Conditions

1. It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first Board examination.
2. All passed and eligible students will be allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages.
3. If a student has not appeared in 3 or more subjects in first examination, then s/he will not be allowed to appear in the 2nd examination. Such students will be placed in the “Essential Repeat” category and can take the examination only next year in the main examinations in the month of February next year.
4. For students whose result in the first examination is Compartment, such students will be allowed to appear in second examination under Compartment Category.
5. Additional Subjects will not be permitted after passing class X, students will not be allowed in stand-alone subjects.

Scheme for Special Category

1. Sports students will be allowed to appear in 2nd examinations in the subjects whose examinations have coincides with their sports event.
2. Winter Bound Schools’ students may choose to appear either in first examinations or second examinations in offered subjects.
3. The facilities extended to CWSN candidates will be extended in 2nd examinations also.

Conduct of Internal Assessment

1. Internal assessment will be conducted only once before the main examinations.

Schedule of the Examinations

1. Main or 1st examinations will begin from Mid-February as conducted
   now.
2. Second examination will be conducted in the month of May. Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in the Examinations
3. First examination will be the main examination. The eligibility to appear in the first examination will be:

(a) Fresh students of Class X
(b) Second Chance Compartment
(c) Essential Repeat of previous year
(d) Improvement examination

2. The eligibility to appear in the second examination will be:

(a) Improvement category up to 3 main subjects
(b) First/Third Chance Compartment
(c) Compartment + Improvement
(d) Improvement for the students passed by the replacement of the subject.

Syllabus and Scheme of Examinations

1. Both the examinations will be conducted on the full syllabus meant for the year.
2. The scheme of studies and scheme of examinations will remain the
   same.

LOC Submission for the examinations

1. Filling of LOC and appearing in the Main/first examination will be compulsory.
2. LOC for the 2nd examinations will be filled in separately. However, no new names will be added to the LOC of the 2nd examination.
3. Subject change will not be allowed from first examination to second examinations except permitted as per policy.

Result Declaration

1. Result of First examinations will be declared in the month of April.
2. Result of second examinations will be declared in the month of June.
3. Result of all the students will be declared as per Examination Bye- Laws.
4. Performance of main examination will be made available in DigiLocker. This could be used for admission to class XI if the student does not wish to appear in 2nd examinations for improvement. Passing document will be issued to all the students after the results of Second examinations.
5. Merit certificate will also be issued only after second examination.

Post Result Facilities

1. Facilities of Photocopy, verification and re-evaluation will be available only after declaration of results of 2nd examination for both the examinations i.e. Main and 2nd examinations.

Admission in Class XI

1. Students not qualified in the main examination will be allowed. provisional admission in Class XI and based on the result of the 2nd examination, their admission will be confirmed.
   All schools are accordingly directed to bring the policy of two examinations 2025-2026 to the notice of parents and students and to orient them well about the policy. It is also directed to collect all relevant data correctly from students for filling up of LOC with correct subjects offered by them.
   As Board will hold two examinations, hence, it is desired from the parents, students and schools that they will take ensure timely completion of all the activities with correct data.

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