Finance
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has confirmed that beginning in 2026, Class 10 students will be able to retake up to three courses from science, mathematics, social science, and languages in the second exam session for higher grades. The announcement was reinforced during a national webinar held on November 20, during which the board discussed critical elements about the new dual-exam system that will be implemented for the 2025-26 academic year.
CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh launched the live webinar, which was webcast to audiences across India and around the world. It was aimed at stakeholders such as school principals, teachers, and parents. The event aimed to clarify the facts of the planned changes, address questions, and ensure that everyone engaged is well prepared for the transition.
Dual exam sessions
Starting in 2026, Class 10 students will sit for two board exams each year. The first, held in February-March, is mandatory for all students, while the second exam, scheduled for May, will be optional for those wishing to improve their scores.
Best score counts
Students can choose their best score from either of the two attempts, with the higher mark recorded on their final transcript, giving them a clear opportunity to enhance their performance.
Improvement option
Students can reattempt up to three subjects — science, mathematics, social science, and languages — in the second exam session to improve their scores. CBSE will not offer the second board exam in all subjects, but only in those subjects where the external assessment component is more than 50.
Compartment exam
Students who fail in one or two subjects in the first exam can appear for the second exam under the compartment category. However, students who miss three or more subjects in the first exam will be marked as Essential Repeat and will not be allowed to take the second exam. They will have to appear again in the following year’s main exams.
Assessment and result cycle
Results for the first session will be released in April, and for the second session in June, ensuring timely admissions and reducing academic downtime. After the results of the first exam are declared, students will be able to register for the second exam, and the Board will then finalise the list of candidates.
The webinar also emphasised the importance of feedback and provided an email address for addressing queries, which will also be responded through updates to the FAQ section.
This CBSE Class 10 dual-exam format attempts to relieve student stress by providing numerous possibilities for achievement rather than depending solely on a single, high-stakes exam. It allows students to repeat exams and improve their performance during the same academic year, in accordance with best practices seen internationally. The system is also intended to promote more equitable and transparent assessments, with the added benefit of prompt results for seamless admissions.
CBSE hopes that by implementing this new format, it would establish a more supportive and student-centric assessment system, ensuring clarity and decreasing uncertainty in the coming years.
Source: IE
