CBSE dual exams to impact academic year

UAE SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO ADJUST AS CLASS 10 STUDENTS WILL TAKE SECOND EXAM IN APRIL WHEN GRADE 11 BEGINS

- 

The new dual-exam policy for class 10, announced by India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), is expected to require CBSE schools in the UAE to adjust the academic year for class 11 starting in 2026.

The CBSE released the syllabus for class 10 and class 12 for the academic year 2025-26 last week. According to media reports, a significant change in the updated framework is the introduction of a dual-exam system for grade 10 students, enabling them to take board exams twice a year once in February and again in April.

This initiative aims to reduce academic stress and offer students an additional opportunity to improve their scores.

The problem

However, CBSE schools in the UAE and other Gulf countries follow an academic calendar running from April to March.

Though participation in the dual-exam system is optional, the new rule will require schools here to delay the start of the academic year for grade 11 until all students who choose the dual exam system have completed their second exams and all grade 10 students are ready to move on to grade 11.

Impact on grade 11 students

Gulf News spoke to principals and senior educators in various CBSE schools about how this will affect their schools.

Punit MK Vasu, CEO, The Indian High Group of Schools, said the new measures appear to be aimed at serving two fundamental purposes.