Class 10 board exams are permitted by CBSE twice a year: What time will each step take place?

Sports students may choose phase two if their schedule conflicts with the board exam schedule, while CBSE Class 10 students in winter-bound institutions may select either test phase.

Starting in 2026, children in class 10 will be permitted to take the CBSE board exams twice during a school year, but they must take the first one, officials announced Wednesday.

While participation in the second phase will be voluntary, students must attend the first. 

Any three of the following subjects—science, math, social science, and languages—will assist students to perform better.

• Officials said that all students will be required to take the exam’s first part in February, while those who want to raise their marks can choose to take the second phase, which is set for May. Only the higher score from the two stages will be taken into account for the final outcome if a student choose to participate in both.
• The results of the February exam will be released in April, while the results of the May session will be released in June, according to CBSE examination controller Sanyam Bhardwaj.
• In contrast to the existing system, which only permits improvement in two areas through supplemental tests taken in July, he said that students would be able to enhance their performance in any three of the following courses: science, mathematics, social science, and languages.
• Rahul Singh, the chairman of the CBSE, clarified that in order to maintain the board exams’ seriousness and legitimacy, the first part has to be made mandatory. According to him, a student will not be permitted to take the second phase if they do not show up for three or more topics in the first phase. These students will fall into the “Essential Repeat” category and won’t be able to retake the exam until February of the following year.
• Students who earn compartment results in the first exam can take the second phase under the compartment category, according to instructions released by the board. Students who successfully complete the first stage, however, will not be permitted to take further or independent courses in the future. The board also explained that no additional improvement exams will be administered under this new method; instead, the second phase will serve as a substitute for supplemental exams.
• Provisions for particular student groups are also included in the new policy. While students participating in sports activities that conflict with the board timetable may take the second phase for the concerned subjects, Class 10 students from winter-bound schools will have the option to select any of the two exam phases. Additionally, in order to expedite the evaluation process overall, internal assessments will only be conducted once during the school year.
• Both phases will cover the whole year’s curriculum in accordance with the authorized criteria, and the study plan and exam format will not alter.