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CBSE Will Conduct Board Exams Twice a Year for Class 10th Students: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made one of its biggest announcements yet: CBSE will conduct board exams twice a year for Class 10th students, starting from 2026. This game-changing reform aims to reduce pressure on students while offering them a second chance to improve their performance within the same academic year. But this change is not an isolated one; it’s part of a larger shift in CBSE’s overall assessment strategy, which has been evolving rapidly over the last few years.
To truly understand this latest update, it’s important to look at how CBSE has been transforming its exam structure from 2020 to 2026, steadily moving away from rote memorization and toward conceptual, competency-based learning.
The Bigger Picture: CBSE’s Gradual Transition
Over the last five years, CBSE has become increasingly strict and analytical in its assessment approach. Here’s how the board has evolved:
- 2020: Initiated the transition from rote learning to conceptual clarity.
- 2021: Introduced internal marking and alternative evaluation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2022: Launched competency-based questions, emphasizing real-life problem-solving skills over memorization.
- 2023: Increased the complexity of these questions to test deeper understanding.
- 2024: The syllabus was reduced by 15%, but skill-based questions were increased, making the paper tougher.
- 2025: Rolled out third-party checking, making evaluations stricter, especially affecting subjects like Maths and Physics.
All of this leads us to the latest and biggest change in 2026, CBSE will conduct board exams twice a year for Class 10th students.
The Landmark Change in 2026: Two Board Exams for Class 10
Starting in 2026, CBSE will hold two board exam sessions annually for Class 10 students:
- Main Exams: February 17 – March 6, 2026
- Improvement Exams (Optional): May 5 – May 21, 2026
This new system provides students a second chance to improve their marks within the same year, reducing long-term stress. If the results from the main exam are unsatisfactory, students can opt for the improvement exam. The best score from either attempt will be recorded in the final marksheet.
As of now, this two-exam system applies only to Class 10. Class 12 students will continue with a single board exam annually.
Key Details: What Students Need to Know About the Two-Exam System
Here’s what makes this reform both student-friendly and demanding:
- Full syllabus applies in both attempts: Whether students appear in February or May, they must prepare the entire syllabus.
- No need to resubmit internals in second attempt: Internal assessments, project work, and practicals will not be required again for the improvement exam. Students will only appear for the written exam.
- Same exam center for both attempts: The center allocated for the main exam will remain the same for the improvement exam.
- Exams may fall on state holidays: CBSE exams can now be conducted on state holidays (but not on national holidays).
- No extra/special exams: Outside of the two official sessions, no third or special exams will be conducted in the same academic year.
- Improvement allowed in up to 5 subjects: Students who fail or want to improve in 1–5 subjects in the main exam can do so in the improvement session.
- Only two attempts allowed per year: No third attempt will be permitted, even if a student underperforms again.
Added Flexibility: Add a Subject in the Second Attempt
Another student-friendly update: If a student didn’t opt for a certain additional subject during the first attempt, they may be allowed to appear for it in the second attempt, with school approval.
This means that the List of Candidates (LOC) submitted by the school to CBSE no longer locks a student’s subject choices entirely. Students now have room to expand or correct their academic plan without waiting for the next year.
Why This Shift Matters: Encouraging Conceptual Learning
This two-board-exam reform aligns with CBSE’s larger academic vision: encouraging deep, conceptual learning and discouraging surface-level cramming.
CBSE’s evolving exam strategy demands:
- Strong conceptual understanding
- The ability to apply knowledge in real-life scenarios
- Critical and analytical thinking
The aim is to prepare students for the real world, not just exams.
Exam Pattern 2026: Rise of Competency-Based & Statement-Based Questions
The new exam pattern is not just about timing; it’s also about how questions are asked.
1. More Competency-Based Questions
These questions focus on real-life applications, often embedding numerical problems within story-based scenarios. They may appear more complex, even if the math remains simple, due to added context.
Students are expected to:
- Read carefully and identify relevant information
- Apply concepts logically
- Ignore unnecessary “distractions” in problem statements
2. Increase in Statement-Based & Assertion-Reason Questions
These formats are becoming more common and more complex:
- Statement-Based Questions: Begin with a situation or short passage, followed by questions.
- Assertion-Reason Questions: Require students to evaluate if both statements are true, and whether one justifies the other.
Subjects like Science, Social Science, and English are especially impacted.
Success now depends more on reasoning and interpretation, not memorizing facts.
What Should Students Focus On?
To thrive under the new pattern, students should:
- Practice application-based questions from various formats
- Get comfortable with story-framed numericals
- Strengthen comprehension and analysis skills
- Understand how to answer effectively, especially in formats like assertion-reason
It’s clear that real understanding beats rote learning in the 2026 CBSE board exams.
A Second Attempt: A Safety Net, Not a Backup Plan
While the option of two board exams per year may seem like a relaxed system, it must be used strategically, not lazily.
Many students may think, “If I don’t do well the first time, I’ll do better in May.” But here’s the truth:
- The gap between exams is short, not enough to transform scores dramatically without serious effort.
- Don’t expect to boost scores by 40–50 marks unless you’re consistently working hard.
- Treat the first attempt like your final exam.
Second attempts are for emergencies or genuine improvement, not for procrastination.
Final Thoughts: CBSE will conduct board exams twice a year for Class 10th students.
CBSE’s decision to conduct board exams twice a year for Class 10 students is indeed one of the biggest educational reforms in recent years. But it’s not happening in isolation. It’s part of a system-wide shift toward better learning, deeper thinking, and real-world preparation.
Students who understand these changes, and prepare accordingly can not only adapt but also excel.
The key is lies in preparing early and consistently, embracing concept-based practice and treating every attempt like it matters because it does. The future of exams is here, and it’s designed to make students think, not cram.
