CBSE to Conduct Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year

CBSE to Conduct Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year Starting 2026 

Are you studying in a school that offers education following the CBSE pattern? If yes, this blog is a must-read, as it has all the necessary information about the big changes coming for Class 10 students in 2026. The new rule introduced CBSE new exam pattern for Class 10 students, as they now have to appear for board exams in two phases. This decision is taken to make this easier and less stressful for the students. After the first phase of the exam, they can still prepare and score best in their second chance.

CBSE Class 10 board exams twice a year; this change is a big update on the latest exam pattern for class 10 students. This update follows the NEP 2020, which aims to reduce pressure on students through flexible learning methods. The latest rule will offer two chances for students to appear in the CBSE Class 10 exam in the same year. The board wants to give students a chance to improve their scores, learn concepts better, and feel more confident about their studies. Continue reading this blog to learn more about this big update, including how it will work and what students and parents must know. 

Understanding the New Two-Exam System by CBSE

CBSE is one of the most popular school boards in India, known for its student-friendly approach and globally recognized curriculum. It operates thousands of schools across the country and prepares students for major competitive exams like NEET and JEE. That’s why many parents prefer CBSE schools in Dehradun and other cities, known for their quality education.

The board is all set to implement a new two-exam system for Class 10 students from the upcoming academic year. With this new update, they can now appear in matriculation board exams twice in the same academic year. Moreover, the CBSE new exam pattern for class 10 offers the choice to students to appear in both or just one exam, depending on their preparation. 

After the CBSE class 10 exam changes, the first exam will be scheduled for February, which will be required for all students. The second phase exam in May will be optional, and students can appear in it to improve their scores. This change is a part of the NEP 2020, which aims to make education more adaptive to each student’s pace and capabilities. 

CBSE class 10 exam changes

How the CBSE New Exam Pattern for Class 10 Will Work

The announcement of CBSE Class 10 board exams twice a year is good news for students, as it will offer them a chance to improve their scores and appear in the exam without the pressure of just one final exam. If you appear in both exams, the better score will be counted in the final results. Even though the matriculation board exam will be conducted twice in a year, it won’t divide the syllabus, as both exams will cover questions from the full syllabus.

Students who miss the first exam due to illness or other serious reasons can take the second one. To emphasize performance-based learning, the new pattern will cover 50% of the competency-focused questions, 20% MCQs, and 30% long and short answer-type questions. Even after the implementation of the CBSE new exam pattern for class 10, schools will continue to conduct internal assessments, and 20 marks will be added to the overall score. 

CBSE Class 10 board exams twice a year

CBSE Class 10 Exam Changes: What Should be Known

With the introduction of the CBSE’s Class 10 exam’s new pattern, the board has also shared some important rules and conditions that students and parents should know. The CBSE class 10 exam changes aim to make the process less stressful and more organized for students. Here is what parents and students need to note. 

1. General Instructions

  • Every student should appear in Phase 1 of the Class 10 board exams. 
  • Only those students who pass Phase 1 will be given the option to choose three subjects, like Math, Social Science, or any language, to improve their scores in the Phase 2 exam. 
  • If a student does not appear in three or more subject exams in Phase 1, they will be marked as Essential Repeat, which means the student can only take the exam again next year. 
  • If students get compartment in the Phase 1 exam in any subject, then they can appear for that subject in the reappear category. 
  • The internal assessment marks will remain the same, which means they won’t be revaluated again in Phase 2. 

2. Conditions for Special Category

  • Students who could not appear in the Phase 1 exam due to participation in national and international-level sports events can appear in the Phase 2 exam. 
  • Students studying in winter-bound schools can choose to appear in either Phase 1 or Phase 2 for the Class 10 exams. 
  • Students in the Children with Special Needs or CWSN category will continue to get the support they need, even in the second exam phase. 

3. Additional Rules & Guidelines

  • Students must be aware that both Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams will cover the full syllabus after the implementation of CBSE new exam pattern for Class 10.
  • If a student wrote exams in both phases, the board will consider the higher marks for each subject.
  • The result of the first phase of the exam can be used to get temporary admission in Class 11, but the final result will be based on Phase 2 performance. 
  • Students can only access the facilities of answer sheet photocopies, verification, or re-evaluation after the Phase 2 results declaration. 
  • If a student only appears in Phase 1 and doesn’t write any exams in the second phase, the final results will be based on Phase 1 exams only. 
  • The final mark sheets, merit awards, and certificates will be issued only after the Phase 2 results, and all records will be available on DigiLocker. 
CBSE new exam pattern

Why This Matters for Career Coaches 

The announcement of CBSE Class 10 board exams twice a year is not only important for students and their parents, but also for their career and academic coaches. Here is how they can help students in planning, preparing, and performing better: 

1. Split-Year Strategy

They can treat the Phase 1 exam as a way to check their performance and, based on their performance, help them prepare for the Phase 2 exam. 

2. Result-Based Planning

After analyzing the Phase 1 results, they can guide students on how they can refine their study methods, improve time management, and adjust exam strategies for the Phase 2 exam.

3. Parental Communication

Career coaches can also help parents understand that the CBSE class 10 exam changes are giving opportunity to students to grow and improve without the risk of repeating a whole year. 

4. Support for Special Cases

Students in special categories, like CWSN, national and international-level athletes, and those studying in winter-bound schools, can get personalized guidance to perform better in their available schedule. 

Conclusion

The introduction of the two-phase Class 10 board exam system by CBSE is a positive change, as it offers a more flexible and student-friendly evaluation pattern. This will help students to reduce pressure, improve scores, and make better decisions about their future. Even these changes have given opportunities to day and boarding schools in Dehradun, Pune, and other major cities to redesign their academic schedule to support students and meet their needs in both exam phases. 

Moreover, parents also need to make the right decision and should evaluate which school can offer their children the right learning environment to prepare for the CBSE Class 10 exam changes. Many schools in Dehradun, Mumbai, Delhi, and other major cities are making changes in their curricula to offer students the necessary guidance and support for improvement in both phases of the Class 10 exam. 

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