CBSE Class 10 12 board exam date sheet announced: Know the key changes

CBSE Class 10 12 board exam: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the tentative date sheet for the Class 10 and 12 Board Examinations for the 2025-2026 sessions. The first phase of exams is scheduled to start on February 17, 2026.

Key Details for the 2026 Board Exams:

Class 10Phase 1/Main exam on February 17, 2026 to March 9, 2026 and Class 10 second phase exam on May 15 to June 1, 2026. First time that the Class 10 board exam will be conducted twice in the same academic year (the second phase is optional for improvement).

Class 12 exam will start from February 17, 2026 to April 9, 2026    N/A (Single Examination) Will be conducted only once with the standard full syllabus.

Export to Sheets:

All examinations for both classes will be held in a single shift, commencing at 10:30 AM (IST).

Important Note on the Date Sheet:

The released schedule is a tentative date sheet. Students should:

Refer to the official CBSE website (cbse.gov.in) for the final, confirmed date sheet and any further updates.

Note that the dates provided are for the theory exams. Separate dates will be announced for the practical examinations.

Exam Dates:

The board examinations for both Class 10 and Class 12 are scheduled to begin on February 17, 2026.

Class 10 (Exam 1): Scheduled from February 17 to March 9, 2026.

Class 10 (Exam 2): Scheduled from May 15 to June 1, 2026 (as a new two-phase system is being implemented).

Class 12: Scheduled from February 17 to April 9, 2026.

You should monitor the official CBSE website for the release of the final date sheet.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced several key changes for the 2026 board examinations for Classes 10 and 12, largely aligning the assessment framework with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The major reforms focus on reducing academic stress, enhancing conceptual understanding, and providing students with multiple opportunities to perform well.

Key Examination Policy Changes:

1. Dual Board Exam System for Class 10 (Optional)

The most significant change is the introduction of a dual-exam structure for Class 10 students, offering them two chances to appear for the board examination within the same academic year.

Phase 1 (Main Exam): This is the primary and mandatory board examination, scheduled for February–March 2026.

Phase 2 (Improvement/Compartment): This optional exam will be held in May–June 2026.

Best-of-Two Scores: If a student appears for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, the better score obtained in each subject will be considered for the final result. This feature aims to reduce pressure and give students a chance to improve their marks.

Single Exam for Class 12: Class 12 will continue with the conventional single-annual-exam format, with exams starting from February 17, 2026.

2. Focus on Competency-Based Assessment

The structure of the question papers is being revised to shift away from rote learning and towards assessing critical thinking and application skills.

Higher Weightage for Competency Questions: The board exams will feature an increased proportion of competency-based questions, including Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), case-based questions, and assertion-reason questions. These are designed to test analytical skills and the application of concepts in real-life scenarios.

New Assessment Structure (80:20): The board exams will continue to carry 80 marks for the theory paper, with 20 marks allocated to internal assessment (projects, practicals, and periodic tests).

3. Mandatory Eligibility and Assessment Rules

CBSE has also tightened several non-academic requirements essential for a student to be eligible for the board exams:

75% Attendance: A minimum of 75% attendance across the entire two-year program (Classes 9 and 10 for Class 10 exams; Classes 11 and 12 for Class 12 exams) is strictly mandatory to appear for the board examination.

Compulsory Internal Assessment: Participation in the two-year internal assessment program is compulsory. Failure to participate in internal assessments for any subject will result in the student being placed in the ‘Essential Repeat’ category.

New Grading System: A revised 9-point grading system is being introduced to replace the previous grading scheme, ensuring a more standardized evaluation.

Also Read: CBSE Class 10 12 board exam date sheet announced: Know the key changes