CBSE class 10 new rule alert: Missing 3 subjects in first board exam leads to ‘essential repeat’
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday issued a strict clarification regarding the new dual-exam format for secondary schools, warning that Class 10 students must participate in the initial round of testing to remain eligible for the academic year.
Beginning in 2026, the board is transitioning to a system of two board examinations per year for Class 10. Officials noted the clarification was prompted by several appeals from students and parents requesting permission to skip the first session and debut in the second.
The board rejected these requests, stating that any student who fails to attempt at least three subjects during the first edition will be disqualified from the second and designated under the "essential repeat" category.
"It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first board examination. All passed, and eligible students will be allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages," said Sanyam Bhardwaj, CBSE Examination Controller.
The "Essential Repeat" Rule
The new policy aims to ensure that the second exam functions as an opportunity for performance enhancement rather than a primary testing window for those who avoided the first session.
According to the board's directive:
- Minimum Participation: Students must sit for at least three subjects in the first exam to qualify for the second.
- Consequences of Absence: Those who miss three or more subjects initially will be barred from the second session.
- Delayed Graduation: Students categorised as "essential repeats" will be ineligible to complete their board requirements until the following academic year's main examination cycle in February.
"If a student has not appeared in three or more subjects in the first examination, then he or she will not be allowed to appear in the second examination," Bhardwaj explained. "Such students will be placed in the 'Essential Repeat' category and can take the examination only next year in the main examinations in the month of February next year."
The dual-exam system is part of a broader shift in Indian education policy designed to reduce the high-stakes pressure associated with a single year-end assessment.
With inputs from PTI