As Class 10 and 12 students prepare for their CBSE board examinations, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced key changes to the exam structure, eligibility criteria, and registration process. These updates align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and are set to come into effect for the 2026 board exams.

Two Attempts for Class 10 Students

One of the most major revisions is the introduction of a two-attempt system for Class 10 students. The first attempt will be the mandatory board examination held in February. Students wishing to improve their marks may take a second attempt in May 2026.

The board has clarified that the higher score from the two attempts will be considered for the final result.

Application-Based Learning

CBSE has also revamped the exam format to focus more on analytical and application-based learning. Under the new pattern, competency-based questions such as case studies and real-world problem-solving will account for 50% of the paper.

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A further 20% of questions will be objective, while the remaining 30% will comprise a mix of short and long response questions. This structure will be applicable to both Class 10 and Class 12 examinations.

Strict Section-Wise Answering Guidelines

New sectional answering rules have been introduced for some subjects. For example, social science students must answer within subject-specific sections such as history and geography. Similarly, science students must respond in the correct sections for biology, chemistry, and physics.

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Responses written in the incorrect section will not be evaluated.

Stricter Eligibility Requirements

CBSE has also strengthened eligibility criteria. Internal assessment will contribute between 20% and 40% of the final marks, depending on the subject. A minimum attendance of 75% is now mandatory for students to qualify for board examinations.

All students must register through the Pariksha Sangam Portal, where they will receive unique APAAR IDs for online academic tracking.

Exam Dates

The Class 10 examinations will conclude on 11 March, while Class 12 exams will finish on 10 April.

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All exams will be conducted offline, in pen-and-paper mode, at designated centres across India and overseas.