CBSE to Give Class 10 Students Option for 2nd Attempt at Exams

Class 10 students will have to mandatorily appear for board examinations in February, but those who wish to improve their scores will have the option of taking a second time in May.

- Sanjay Maurya

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced this on Wednesday.

The new regime of two tests will begin in 2026, the board announced. The first round of examinations will be held in mid-February, with results in April; the second round in May will be optional, with results in June. The final score for a student will be the best of the two attempts, the board said in a press statement on Wednesday.

Students can seek a re-do only in three subjects: science, mathematics, social science, and languages, the board added. At least 30,500 schools across India are registered with CBSE. Over 2.6 million students are expected to register for the Class 10 board examinations next year.

The development was welcomed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "Laudable and a much-needed step. This will reduce exam stress, provide more flexibility, and foster a joyful learning environment. A key recommendation of NEP 2020, twice-a-year exams, is a student-centric approach and also aligns with global education practices," Pradhan said in a post on X.