New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a major change to hold the Class 10 board exams in two phases starting from the 2026 academic year. This new two-phase exam system aims to give students more flexibility, reduce stress, and improve performance.
According to CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj, this new format offers more chances for students to showcase their knowledge and aims to reduce exam pressure. Bhaaradwaj also stated that this new format of the CBSE 10th Class exam will encourage continuous learning and will also support students who may have faced challenges during the first exam attempt.
This change is also in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes flexibility and holistic development in education. For in-depth detail, here is an explainer on how the new CBSE Class 10 board exam system will work.
Two Exams a Year, What’s Changing?
CBSE will now conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting 2026. However, the internal assessments will now be conducted only once a year instead of multiple times.
- First Phase: To be held in February. This phase is mandatory for all students
- Second Phase: To be held in May. It is optional and is only for students who wish to improve their marks
Mandatory First Exam, Optional Second Chance
All Class 10 students must appear in the first board exam in February. The second exam in May is optional, and only those students who:
- Want to improve marks in up to three subjects
- Were unable to perform well due to personal reasons
- Had a compartment (failed in one or two subjects)
Subjects Allowed for Improvement
Students can choose to appear for improvement in any three subjects from the following:
- Science
- Mathematics
- Social Science
- Languages
Who Can Appear in Which Exam?
Eligibility for First (Main) Exam in February:
- All fresh Class 10 students
- Students appearing for a compartment exam (second chance)
- Students placed in the ‘Essential Repeat’ category from the previous year
- Students appearing for improvement
Eligibility for Second Exam in May:
- Students appearing under the improvement category (up to 3 main subjects)
- First or third chance compartment cases
- Students with compartment plus improvement
- Students who passed via subject replacement and wish to improve
Important Guidelines to Follow
- If a student misses three or more subjects in the first phase, he or she will not be allowed to appear in the second phase. They will be placed in the ‘Essential Repeat’ category and will have to reappear in the next year’s main exam.
- Students who fail in one or two subjects (compartment) in the first exam can appear in the second exam for those subjects.
- No additional subjects will be allowed after passing Class 10.
- Students cannot appear for standalone subjects in the second exam.
Syllabus in Both Exams
Both the February and May exams will be on the basis of the full syllabus for Class 10. There will be no reduced or different syllabus for either exam.
When Will Results Be Declared?
- First Exam Result (February) – Expected in April
- Second Exam Result (May) – Expected in June
Provisional Admission to Class 11
Students can use their February results to apply for Class 11 admission, even if they plan to appear in the May exam. Students who do not pass the first (main) exam can take provisional admission in Class 11. The admission will be confirmed only after the result of the second exam in June.
Certificates and Marksheets
The final passing certificate and merit certificate will be issued after the second exam in June. Students’ results from the main exam will be uploaded on DigiLocker, and can be used for school admissions and other purposes. The facilities for photocopy, verification, and re-evaluation will be available only after the second exam for both February and May attempts.
