Desk
Share
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a major reform in the Class 10 examination system, introducing two board exams from 2026. This dual-exam system will allow students to:
Take the exam once or twice.
Retake specific subjects to improve scores.
Get their best score reflected in the final mark sheet.
CBSE has invited feedback from students, parents, and educators on the draft norms via a feedback form available on its website. The deadline for submissions is March 9, 2025.
Key Highlights of CBSE’s Dual Exam Policy
Exam Options for Students:
Students can choose to take the exam once or both times.
If appearing twice, they can opt out of subjects they don’t want to retake.
Result Declaration Dates:
First Exam Result: April 20, 2026
Second Exam Result: June 30, 2026
Final Mark Sheet: Will feature the best score from both attempts.
Exam Duration Reduced:
The exam period is now 16-18 days instead of the current 32 days.
Shorter gaps between exams—students will get 1-2 days between papers instead of the current 5-10 days.
CBSE Class 10 Draft Date Sheet 2026
First Exam Schedule (February 17 – March 6, 2026)
| Subject | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 17-02-2026 | Tuesday |
| Social Science | 21-02-2026 | Saturday |
| Science | 25-02-2026 | Wednesday |
| Hindi | 27-02-2026 | Friday |
| English | 02-03-2026 | Monday |
| Languages (Last Exam) | 06-03-2026 | Friday |
Second Exam Schedule (May 5 – May 21, 2026)
| Subject | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 05-05-2026 | Tuesday |
| Social Science | 09-05-2026 | Saturday |
| Science | 13-05-2026 | Wednesday |
| Hindi | 21-05-2026 | Thursday |
| English | 18-05-2026 | Monday |
A Boon or a Challenge for Students?
Pros:
More chances to improve marks.
Less pressure on students.
Better flexibility in subject selection.
Cons:
Shorter preparation time between exams.
Additional stress for students opting for both attempts.
