CBSE Board Exams Twice a Year from 2026: What Schools, Parents, and Teachers Need to Know

From 2026, CBSE Class 10 students will have the option to appear for board exams twice a year, once as a mandatory attempt in February and again as an optional improvement exam in May. This student-friendly move aims to reduce exam stress and improve learning outcomes, aligning with NEP 2020 goals for flexible, holistic education.

In this blog, we’ll explore what this change means for schools, teachers, and parents, how LEAD-powered schools are well-equipped to adapt, and why pairing CBSE flexibility with strong school learning systems is crucial.

Need help upgrading your school for next-gen education patterns like this one? [Explore how LEAD can transform your school’s learning outcomes]

Understanding the New CBSE 2026 Exam Pattern and Policy

Starting from the academic session 2025–26, all CBSE Class 10 students will sit for their first board examination in February 2026. Those who pass can opt to take a second exam in May 2026 to improve scores in up to three academic subjects.

This policy shift isn’t just a logistical change; it’s a philosophical reset aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, which promotes flexibility, reduces pressure, and encourages continuous learning evaluation.

But how should schools across segments in India, especially those without centralized systems, prepare? The answer lies in edtech partnerships that offer holistic support, like LEAD.

Understanding the New CBSE Exam Policy

What’s Changing in 2026?

This flexibility is especially useful for students in cities like Lucknow, Patna, and Guwahati, where weather, distance, or sports tournaments may cause complications during major exams.

Why This Matters for Schools and Parents

For School Leaders:

• Increased demand for exam support programs, including mock tests and targeted revisions
• The need to track performance after Exam 1 quickly to guide students on whether to opt for Exam 2
• Opportunity to integrate formative assessments into teaching modules

For Teachers:

• Clarity on how to teach core academic subjects like Maths, Science, and English
• Real-time tracking tools to help predict student readiness for improvement exams

For Parents:

• Less pressure on a single exam outcome
• Clarity between “pass but want to improve” vs. “need to pass” situations
• Faster results mean smoother Class 11 admissions and course selections

How LEAD’s Schools Are Ahead of the Curve

LEAD empowers over 8,500+ schools across segments in India to deliver 21st-century education. Here’s how LEAD-enabled schools are primed to thrive under this new CBSE system:

1. End-to-End Exam Preparedness

LEAD’s classroom system comes with:

• Weekly practice assessments
• Data-driven performance dashboards
• Predictive analytics to suggest which students should attempt the May exam

Example: In a LEAD-powered school in Bhopal, 92% of Class 10 students who attempted LEAD’s mock Term 1 assessment went on to score above 75% in their CBSE Board Exams.

2. How LEAD’s English Language And General Awareness(ELGA) Works

With English being a key subject in these board exams, LEAD’s English Language and General Awareness(ELGA) Program is designed to:

• Build spoken English confidence
• Improve reading comprehension and writing structure
• Ensure CBSE-compatible training from Grade 1

What if learners struggle to speak English in the classroom? LEAD’s built-in speaking assessments help track and improve oral fluency, something most schools overlook.

3. Teacher Training at Scale: LEAD Academy

Every teacher in a LEAD school receives structured, ongoing teacher professional development through LEAD Academy. It includes:

• Certification in instruction methods
• Workshops on exam readiness
• Modules on data-driven teaching

This prepares teachers to not only teach the syllabus but also accurately forecast student performance, which is critical when deciding on CBSE improvement exam candidates.

4. Parent Collaboration Tools

LEAD’s Parent App keeps families engaged:

• Track student readiness for both exams
• View practice test scores and homework submissions
• Get advice on improvement strategies directly from teachers

Adapting to CBSE’s Two-Exam Model: Practical Tips for School Leaders

1. Pre-plan academic calendars to accommodate both exam cycles
2. Use student-level dashboards to identify strong candidates for the improvement exam
3. Counsel students about strategic subject selection for improvement
4. Invest in a CBSE-aligned school management platform, like LEAD

Voice-ready tip: “What is the best school improvement program in India?”

Answer: LEAD Learning System is designed to boost CBSE performance across all subjects.

What Happens to Compartmentalized Students?

The new system also modifies how students are treated:

• Pass the exam? You’re eligible for the May improvement exam (optional) for up to 3 subjects.
• Fail in 1–3 subjects? You can take a compartment exam in May for only those failed subjects.
• Fail in more than 3 subjects? You’ll be marked as Essential Repeat and must reappear next year.

When to Take Admission in Class 11?

Provisional Class 11 admission will be allowed after the February exam results. Final confirmation will depend on the June results (after the May improvement or compartment exam).

This ensures students and schools don’t lose an entire academic year unnecessarily, and planning for senior secondary education can begin early.

Explore how LEAD can transform your school’s learning outcomes, teacher performance, and board exam results.

FAQ: CBSE 2026 Board Exam Update

Q1: What happens if a student fails the February exam?

The CBSE Draft scheme specifically states that Class X students who fail in 1 to 3 subjects in the February board exam are permitted to re‑sit those as compartment exams in May under the same subject code.

The official Notification (25 June 2025) reiterates that students failing in more than three subjects in the first attempt will be treated as “Essential Repeat” and cannot appear again in the same academic year.

Q2: What happens if a student fails in May?

• The Notification (25 June 2025) makes clear that the May exam is either an improvement (if the February attempt was passed) or a compartment (if failed).
  
  
• Clause 3 of the Notification states that only the higher marks achieved in either February or May are eligible to be recorded. Therefore:
  • If the student passed in February and fails in May, the February score remains valid.
  • If the student is at the compartment level and fails in May, then the student is classified as an Essential Repeat and must reappear next year.

Q3: Which marks are to be recorded out of the two(if a student scores less in May exam)?

Both the Draft Scheme and official Notification explicitly state that only the higher score of the two board appearances (February vs. May) will be included in the final CBSE marksheet (“Board will record best-of-two marks”).

The Notification mentions that marksheets and merit certificates will be issued only after the May session, based on the better performance; the lower score is disregarded.

Q4: Who is eligible for the second CBSE improvement exam 2026?

Only students who pass the exam in February 2026 are eligible. You can opt to improve up to three core subjects like Maths, Science, Social Science, Hindi, or English.

Q5: What if a student misses the first exam?

They will not be allowed to appear for the second one. Attending the first board exam is mandatory.

Q6: Can this second exam help me improve my result for college admissions?

Yes. The better score between the two attempts will be recorded on your final mark sheet. This directly supports college or stream-specific eligibility.

Q7: How can teachers ensure students are ready for both exams?

Using tools like LEAD’s Learning System, which includes digital lesson plans, skill trackers, and mock exams, teachers can benchmark student capabilities in real-time.

Q8: What did the CBSE guideline say?

CBSE has approved the plan to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The first attempt will be mandatory in February, and the second will be optional in May for improvement.

Q9: Is the February exam attempt mandatory for all students?

Yes. All CBSE Class 10 students must appear for the February exam, which will be considered the primary board exam attempt.

Q10: Is the May exam mandatory? Who can appear for it?

No. The May exam is optional and is intended for students who wish to improve their performance. Students who appear in both exams will have their best score recorded.

Q11: Can students take the May exam for all subjects?

Not all. Students can choose to improve up to three core subjects, including: Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Languages (English/Hindi, etc.)

Special provision: Students involved in sports tournaments during the February exams can appear for those subjects in the May attempt.

Q12: Will the syllabus be different for each attempt?

No. Both the February and May board exams will be based on the same full-year syllabus. The scheme of study and examination remains unchanged. However, internal assessment will be done once only, before the February exam.

Q13: When will the results be declared?

February Exam Results: Likely by April

May Exam Results: Will be declared by June

This faster timeline will enable smoother Class 11 admissions.

Q14:Will this two-exam system apply to Class 12 as well?

No. As per current CBSE guidelines, this policy is only for Class 10 students. There is no change for Class 12 board exams.

Q15: Will both scores appear on the marksheet?

No. Only the higher score from the two attempts will be officially recorded on the final CBSE marksheet. The lower score will be disregarded.

Q16: How can teachers help students decide whether to appear in May?

Teachers can use tools like LEAD’s student readiness trackers, mock tests, and predictive performance dashboards to help guide student decisions. The goal is to make informed, stress-free choices.

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