The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced Class 10 boards will be conducted twice a year, starting 2026.

The first exam, to be conducted in February, will be compulsory for all students. The second exam in May will be optional. Students who want to improve their scores in any three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and Languages can appear for the second exam. Internal assessments will be conducted only once during the academic session.

Results of the two exams will be declared separately in April and June. Students can write the improvement exam after reviewing their scores in the first exam. The second exam is optional. However, it is mandatory that all students appear for the first phase of the exams.

Students who do not appear or fail in three or more subjects will be placed in the ‘Essential Repeat’ category and can take the main exam only in the next academic year. Students who do not appear or fail in one or two subjects will be placed in the ‘Compartment’ category and will be allowed to appear in the second examination.

Holding examinations twice a year is part of the implementation of recommendations under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.