February phase mandatory, May phase optional for performance improvement
Hyderabad: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday confirmed that two board examinations will be held for Class 10 students from 2026, formalising a proposal that had been under discussion since February.
According to an official release, the first exam will take place in February and the second in May. Students may use the second chance to improve scores in up to three subjects, with the better performance considered for their final marksheet. This move is being positioned as part of NEP 2020’s attempt to reduce exam stress and introduce flexibility into the school system.
It is, however, compulsory for all students to sit for the first exam, and those who skip three or more subjects in the first attempt will not be allowed to appear in the second. The full syllabus will apply to both sessions, and results will be declared in April and June, respectively. Students, who do not clear the main examination, can be provisionally admitted to Class 11, and the final admission will depend on their second attempt scores.
Back in February, the proposal had drawn mixed responses from Hyderabad. While students and parents were largely relieved, school administrators worried about logistics.
A member of the Hyderabad Sahodaya Schools Complex had warned that summer holidays would no longer exist for teaching staff, calling it a “cumbersome” shift for those already working with limited faculty. “It’s great for students but difficult for teachers. Many will have to work through their May break,” the teacher said.
Others, however, welcomed the plan without hesitation. They felt the academic year would still wrap up neatly by June and said students who struggle with learning speed would benefit most. “This could really prevent dropouts. Many students quit because of one failed exam. This gives them another chance, and that’s what the NEP wants,” Nandita Sunkara, principal of a city school, had said earlier.
Mental health professionals also responded positively. Dr Vishal Akula, a city-based psychiatrist, had noted that the pressure of a single decisive exam often pushed students into extreme distress.
The board clarified that students cannot change subjects between exams unless permitted by policy. Additional subjects will not be allowed post-Class 10, and merit certificates will only be given after the second exam. Internal assessments will happen once before the first exam, and both sets of exams will follow the same pattern and syllabus. Further, the scheme will apply to fresh students, repeaters, compartment cases, and those seeking improvement.
- Two board exams per academic year starting 2026
- First exam in February, second in May
- Mandatory for all students to take the first exam
- Students can improve scores in up to three subjects in the second exam
- Full syllabus will be covered in both exams
- Best scores from either attempt will be considered for the final marksheet
- Results declared in April (first attempt) and June (second attempt)
- Students failing the first exam can be provisionally admitted to Class XI
