CBSE Class 10 Final Exam 2026: Date, Time Table and other details
CBSE Class 10 Final Exam: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 board exams for 2026 will see the full implementation of the two-board-exam policy per academic year, a major reform under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. CBSE Class 10 Final Exam 2026: Date, Time Table and other details.
To reduce exam pressure on students and offer them two opportunities to perform well. CBSE board announced to conduct two board exams per year. The first phase of exams will be held in February-March 2026 and will be mandatory for all students.
The second phase will be held in May 2026 and will be optional. Students can choose to appear in this phase to improve their scores in up to three subjects (Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages). If a student appears in both phases, the better score from the two attempts will be considered for the final result. Results for the first phase are expected in April 2026, and for the second phase in June 2026.
Tentative Exam Dates (Phase 1 and Phase 2):
While the exact detailed date sheet is usually released closer to the exam period (around November 2025), tentative dates for the main subjects for 2026 have been indicated:
Phase 1 (February – March 2026):
Mathematics: February 17, 2026 (Tuesday)
Social Science: February 21, 2026 (Saturday)
Science: February 25, 2026 (Wednesday)
Hindi: February 27, 2026 (Friday)
English: March 2, 2026 (Monday)
Other subjects will be spread around these dates.
Phase 2 (May 2026 – Improvement/Optional):
Mathematics: May 5, 2026 (Tuesday)
Social Science: May 9, 2026 (Saturday)
Science: May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)
English: May 18, 2026 (Monday)
Hindi: May 21, 2026 (Thursday)
Other subjects will be spread around these dates.
Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme:
50% Competency-Based Questions: These will include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), case-study based questions, source-based integrated questions, and other types designed to assess critical thinking, analysis, and application of concepts.
20% Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Direct MCQs.
30% Constructed Response Questions: These are short answer and long answer type questions, following the existing pattern, requiring detailed explanations and derivations. Theory and Internal Assessment: Each subject will carry 80 marks for the theory paper and 20 marks for internal assessments. Internal assessments will be conducted only once before the first main examination.
Passing Criteria: Students must score a minimum of 33% in each subject (combined theory and internal assessment) and overall to pass.
Grading System: A 9-point grading system will be used for converting marks into grades.
Subject Substitution: If a student fails in a core subject (Science, Mathematics, Social Science, or a language), but passes a skill-based or optional language subject, the failed subject can be substituted with the passed skill/language subject for result calculation.
The CBSE Class 10 syllabus for the 2025-26 academic year has already been released on the official CBSE Academic website (cbseacademic.nic.in). There are no major changes in the core syllabus from the previous year. The emphasis remains on conceptual understanding and real-world applications.
Students should strictly adhere to the latest official syllabus for each subject to prepare effectively. NCERT textbooks remain the primary material for board exam preparation.
Key Points for Students:
Familiarize Yourself with the Two-Exam System: Understand how the two phases work and how the best score is utilized.
Focus on Concepts and Application: The shift towards competency-based questions means rote learning will be less effective.
Practice Regularly: Solve sample papers and previous year’s question papers according to the new pattern.
Manage Stress: The two-exam system is designed to reduce stress, so utilize the second opportunity wisely if needed.
Stay Updated: Always refer to the official CBSE websites (cbse.gov.in and cbseacademic.nic.in) for the most accurate and recent notifications regarding dates, syllabus, and guidelines.
