Imagine getting a second chance to ace one of the most important exams of your school life—without the pressure of “one-shot-only.” In a move that’s set to shake up the Indian education system, the CBSE has announced a major shift: starting in 2026, Class 10 students will face board exams twice a year. This isn’t just about more exams—it’s about less stress, better preparation, and more opportunities. But what does this really mean for students?
Two Examinations For Class X From 2026
On Wednesday, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declared that students in Class 10 will be able to take the board exams twice within a school year beginning in 2026. With the first exam set for February and the second for May, the move attempts to make the examination system less stressful and more focused on the needs of the students.
According to Sanyam Bhardwaj, the controller of the CBSE exams, students must take the first phase, but they can choose not to take the second. “Any three subjects out of science, math, social science, and languages will be open to students to improve their performance in,” he continued.
Students in Class 10 who attend winter-bound schools will have the choice to take the board exam in either of the two phases, under the current requirements.
In the meantime, this grade of class will only have one internal assessment per academic session. Following the CBSE’s February announcement, the draft standards were made public to get opinions from those who were interested.
CBSE Response To The NEP 2020 Recommendations
The NEP 2020 states, “To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board exams, all students will be allowed to take Board exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.”
The policy further emphasizes the need for flexibility, core capacity-based assessments, and a reduction in pressure and coaching culture. It encourages boards to explore models such as semester or modular exams and differentiated subject-level assessments to foster deeper understanding rather than rote learning.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the CBSE decision, calling it “laudable and a much-needed step.” In a post on social media, he said, “This will reduce exam stress, provide more flexibility and foster a joyful learning environment.”
CBSE Class 10 Exams 2026: Key Highlights
- Class X and Class XII examinations will begin on the first Tuesday after 15 February.
- The entire current syllabus and textbooks will be used for both exams.
- Except for Science, Maths, Social Science, Hindi, and English, the rest of the subjects are grouped in the following manner:
– Regional and Foreign languages in one group
– The rest of the subjects are in another group - Examinations of Science, Maths, Social Science, Hindi, and English will be conducted on fixed days as done currently.
- Examinations of Regional and Foreign Languages will be done in one go on a single day.
- The first phase results will be announced in April, and the second phase results will be released in June, providing students with an opportunity to raise their marks.
- For both test phases, internal assessments will only be done once during the school year.
No More Pressure For The Students
Students have walked into their board exams carrying the weight of a single shot—no do-overs, no second chances. One bad day could overshadow an entire year of hard work. But with CBSE’s new twice-a-year exam format, that pressure eases. Now, students can appear in two board exams and choose their best score, just like giving themselves a safety net. It means fewer sleepless nights, reduced fear of failure, and more freedom to learn at their own pace. Instead of cramming for one “make-or-break” moment, students can plan better, study smarter, and focus on truly understanding the subjects. It’s not just an exam change—it’s a mindset shift toward learning, not just scoring.
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