BIANNUAL BOARD EXAMS: BOON FOR STUDENTS OR BURDEN ON SCHOOLS?

Decision aimed at reducing exam stress and promoting flexible learning

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

By now, you all are aware of the big change for CBSE Class 10 students. Starting 2026, board exams will be held twice a year. Yes, you read that right. In a bid to reduce stress and give students a fair chance to improve their scores, CBSE has approved biannual board exams. Under this new system, all students will have to appear for the first set of exams, while the second phase will be optional, for those who want to try and better their marks. Only the best score out of the two attempts will be counted in the final result.

This move is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages a more student-friendly, flexible approach to learning, moving away from the pressure of one high-stakes exam deciding everything. But the decision has sparked mixed reactions especially from educators. While many teachers agree that it's a student-first move, they're also worried about how this will affect the already tight academic calendar, teaching time, and overall workload.