CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice A Year: Tentative Class 10 Date Sheet for Phase 1 & 2 Exams
CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice A Year: CBSE has announced that in 2026, class 10 board exam will be conducted in two sessions. Students will have the option to take either one or both tests to improve their scores. As per the draft date sheet, the CBSE Class 10 Session 1 board exams 2026 will commence after February 15, 2026, while the Session 2 exams will commence on May 5, 2026.
This year, nearly 26.60 lakh students are expected to appear for the Class 10 board exams. For Class 10, key subjects like Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Hindi, and English will have specific exam dates, whereas other subjects will be held in different phases. In addition to the tentative date sheet, CBSE has also released the crucial guidelines for conducting class 10 board exams.
Key Highlights for CBSE Class 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice a Year
The CBSE has introduced a biannual board exam system for Class 10 in 2026, ensuring a structured and uniform evaluation process. Below are the important highlights regarding the new examination format:
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Exam Schedule: Both phases of the class 10 board exam will follow a fixed schedule, with no deviations or special exams under any circumstances.
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Practical Exams: Students will undergo a single practical assessment applicable to both phases.
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Marking Policy: The higher marks from either the first or second exam will be reflected in the final mark sheet.
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Passing Criteria: A student must qualify for at least five subjects to be declared as passed.
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Improvement Category: Those failing in one to five subjects will be given a chance to improve their scores.
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Merit Certificates: These will be awarded only after the second phase to students who qualify in all subjects.
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Additional Subjects: Once a student has passed Class 10, no extra subjects can be added.
CBSE Class 10 Date Sheet for Phase 1 & 2 Exams 2026
CBSE will conduct the class 10 board exams for the academic session 2025-26 in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to begin in February 2026, followed by the second phase in May 2026. Below is the expected subject-wise schedule for both phases to help students plan their preparation effectively.
CBSE Class 10 Phase 1 Exam Schedule 2026 |
|
Subject |
Date |
Mathematics |
17-Feb-2026 |
Social Science |
21-Feb-2026 |
Science |
25-Feb-2026 |
Hindi |
27-Feb-2026 |
English |
02-Mar-2026 |
Other Languages |
06-Mar-2026 |
CBSE will conduct the second phase of class 10 session 2 board exams 2026 in May for students who wish to improve their scores or for those who missed the first phase. The expected datesheet for CBSE class 10 phase 2 board exam is provided below.
CBSE Class 10 Phase 2 Exam Schedule 2026 |
|
Subject |
Date |
Mathematics |
05-May-2026 |
Social Science |
09-May-2026 |
Science |
13-May-2026 |
Other Languages |
15-May-2026 |
English |
18-May-2026 |
Hindi |
21-May-2026 |
CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026 Crucial Guidelines
CBSE has introduced new guidelines for conducting class 10 board exams in 2026. These guidelines aim to streamline assessments and provide clarity to students. Here are the new guidelines for the CBSE class 10 board exam 2026:
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The study and examination scheme for the class 10 exam will be more structured and will prioritise efficient assessments.
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Sports students will be required to appear in only one of the two phases.
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Children With Special Needs (CWSN) will continue to receive support as per existing provisions to ensure equal opportunities.
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The List of Candidates (LOC) for the first exam must be submitted by September 2025. No changes in subject selection will be permitted after submission of class 10 form.
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Examination centres will remain the same for both the first and second phases. Additionally, self-centres will not be allowed.
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CBSE class 10 examination fees will be non-refundable.
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Practical and internal assessments will be conducted only once during the academic year.
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CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice A Year FAQs
Q1. Will there be two board exams in 2026 for Class 10?
Ans. Yes, CBSE will conduct the class 10 board exam in two phases starting in 2026.
Q2. Is 90% good in CBSE Class 10?
Ans. Yes, achieving 90% in the CBSE class 10 exam is considered a good score.
Q3. Can students attempt both phases of the CBSE class 10 exam?
Ans. Yes, students can attempt both sessions of the CBSE class 10 board exam in 2026.
Q4. Will CBSE conduct separate practical exams for both phases of class 10 board exam?
Ans. No, CBSE will conduct a single practical exam for both phases of the CBSE class 10 board exam.
Q5. When will class 10 board exam be held in 2026?
Ans. CBSE class 10 Phase 1 board exam will be held in February, and Phase 2 exam will take place in May 2026.