CBSE Class 10 Board Exams Now Twice a Year! Big Change Coming in 2026; Check Exam Dates & Other Details

From next year, i.e., 2026, students appearing for the CBSE Class 10 board exams will have two chances in a year to take their exams. The Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE, has officially announced in a press briefing that the board exams will be held in two phases, February and May, which is expected to give students chances to improve their scores.

CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026: February & May Sessions Confirmed

As per the announcement by CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj, the first phase of the CBSE 10th board exam 2026 will be held in February, and the second phase in May.

The CBSE has clarified that appearing in the February phase is mandatory for all Class 10 students. However, the May session will be optional, and students can choose to appear only if they want to improve their scores in certain subjects.

Students will be allowed to improve marks in up to three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages. This will give students a fair chance to boost their academic performance without waiting an entire year.

CBSE Class 10 Results in 2026: April & June

For those appearing in the first phase, results will be declared in April 2026. Students who opt for the second phase will get their results in June 2026. This two-phase result system allows students to plan their next academic steps, like selecting streams for Class 11, with more confidence.

CBSE Internal Assessments to Be Held Only Once

The board has also confirmed that internal assessments will only be conducted once during the academic session, regardless of whether students appear in one or both exam phases.

This major change by CBSE was made after the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends reducing the "high-stakes" nature of board exams.

Earlier in February, CBSE had released the draft guidelines for conducting the Class 10 board exams in two phases and invited feedback from teachers, students, and education experts. The final decision was made after considering public feedback and educational reforms suggested under NEP.

CBSE Board Exam 2026 Update

As per the draft policy released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Class 10 board exams in 2026 will be conducted in two phases-the first exam from February 17 to March 6 and the second exam from May 5 to May 20. This new structure aims to reduce exam-related pressure and give students a second chance to improve their scores within the same academic year. By introducing this two-phase format, CBSE is taking a student-friendly approach, allowing more flexibility and encouraging better performance without the stress of waiting another year for reattempts.