CBSE: New Guidelines for Class 10 & 12 Board Exams
Synopsis:
The CBSE board exam 2026 has introduced a new rule for Class 10 students taking the exam this year. Following a review of the pressure faced by Class 10 students during their board exams, CBSE released new guidelines to ease the examination environment. All information centres on the new CBSE boundary conditions. Furthermore, the education board has introduced new limits to reduce the burden on paper evaluators (teachers), thereby improving the accuracy of evaluations.
CBSE - Introduces a two-attempt system for Class 10 board Exams:
Students who are appearing for the board examination can now bank on the best score obtained in the two subsequent attempts of the board exams introduced by CBSE. It is an effort to reduce the students' pressure. The CBSE conducts the exam twice, with a one-month gap between them. The CBSE uses the best of two scores for each subject and then determines the final score.
Key takeaways:
The best of the two attempts for the Class 10 board exam counts as the subject score, and retaking the exam is not mandatory.
The CBSE revises the exam pattern. The question paper comprises 50% competency-based questions and 20% objective-type questions.
The CBSE rules and regulations comply with the National Education Policy (NEP) - 2020.
Note:
CBSE provides guidance to Class 10 students on how to complete the information proforma. It covers key issues, including the revised exam structure, eligibility criteria, and registration requirements, to avoid confusion at later stages.
What are the Two Attempts in the Class 10 Board Exams?
The most discussed topic during the board exams is the introduction of the two-attempt system for Class 10 students from this academic year (2025-26).
The Class 10 student must attempt the first in the tenth and the next in May. The first attempt is mandatory; the second attempt can help the student improve their score, but it is not mandatory. CBSE provides the second attempt to improve flexibility and score under less pressure.
Revised Exam Pattern
The CBSE emphasised application-based and analytical learning.
50 per cent of the paper will be competency-based questions that involve real-life problem-solving.
The paper will contain objective-type questions that carry 20 per cent weightage.
30 per cent of the paper will consist of short and long constructed-response questions.
CBSE has designed and developed this pattern for both class 10 and class 12 examinations.
Strict Sectional Answering Rules
In board examinations, CBSE has restricted students from answering questions from one section in another. The CBSE has made it implementational to the sectional answering rules. In science, Students must write about biology in the concerned section rather than using the space allotted for physics or chemistry. CBSE states that writing answers in the wrong sections shall be barred from corrections.
Stringent Eligibility norms :
CBSE declares that a minimum of 75 per cent attendance in Class 10 and Class 12 is mandatory.
The CBSE has defined internal assessment for every subject, accounting for 20-40 per cent of the marks.
In Class 10, students must enrol on the Pariksha Sangam Portal, where each student is issued a unique APAAR ID, a powerful tool for digital academic tracking.
The student must take the board exam on paper (offline), which is the mode of examination used at all centres in India and abroad.
CBSE Board Measures for Error-Free Evaluation
In an effort to create an error-free evaluation for the teachers in the evaluation hall, CBSE has undertaken the following measures:
CBSE updates the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in accordance with the current evaluation scheme.
To ensure quality evaluation, sufficient time is required; therefore, CBSE will assign fewer answer booklets per evaluator.
CBSE will implement well-planned capacity-building programs for evaluators.
CBSE shall circulate short, informative videos to guide evaluators.
The evaluation period will be completed in 8 to 10 days, a few days shorter than in previous years.
For additional information on the evaluation process, click the CBSE notification link.
Exam details:
Class 10 & 12 board exams shall begin on February 17 & 18 and shall finish by March 11, and April 10, 2026.
For Class 10 students, the first mandatory exam is from Feb 17 to March 9, 2026, while the schedule for the second optional improvement exam is from May 15 to June 1, 2026.
Summary:
The CBSE board issues new guidelines to ease students' preparation and exam-taking. In addition, the board has defined eligibility criteria for Class 10 and the exam pattern, which includes analytical, short-form, and long-form questions, as well as objective-type questions. The CBSE board has structured the exam pattern to align with national-level, career-oriented exams such as NEET, JEE Main, and JEE Advanced.
FAQs
1.Why did the CBSE board provide a second attempt for the class 10 board exam?
At the national level, Class 10 board exams are tough to score well in. So, to make students feel comfortable and appear board in an error-free manner for higher scores, the concept of a second attempt has been introduced.
2.What measures did the CBSE board take to achieve zero error-free evaluation?
The teacher (evaluator) shall be given a few answer sheets to evaluate, thereby lessening their burden. The evaluators shall be provided with a refresher course with a short video as part of the educational program.
3.What shall be the action taken for the non-compliance with the CBSE directives?
Any deviation from the prescribed norms shall be treated as an attempt to violate.
The school results shall not be declared.
The CBSE board will take action in accordance with the examination and affiliation by-laws.
Any deviation from the prescribed norms shall be treated as an attempt to violate.
The school results shall not be declared.
The CBSE board will take action in accordance with the examination and affiliation by-laws.