CBSE Dual Board Exam for Class 10 and 12: Feb and May Best Score to Count

CBSE has released rules for 10th-grade board exams to be conducted twice a year, starting in 2026. People can share their opinions on these rules until March 9th, after which the final rules will be made.

Kolkata: As per CBSE new Dual Board exam rules, the first set exams are planned for February 17th to March 6th, and the second set from May 5th to 20th. Students will need to study the whole syllabus for both exams. Practical tests and internal assessments will only be done once a year, even though there are two exam periods. The same testing locations will be used for both exams, and the exam fees will be higher than usual.

A senior CBSE official told PTI, "Students will be tested on the entire syllabus in both exam periods, and they'll go to the same testing center both times. Students will pay higher fees for both exams when they apply."

Education Minister Pradhan explained that the plan to hold CBSE board exams twice a year aligns with the National Education Policy 2020's goal of reducing student stress. The NEP 2020 emphasizes skill-based learning alongside theoretical knowledge. Pradhan also mentioned the "10 bagless school days" initiative, promoting student engagement in arts, culture, and sports.

He made these remarks at the launch of PM SHRI Chhattisgarh, a program that will renovate 211 schools in the state. The event took place at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur. The Ministry of Education's New Curriculum Framework, released last August, supports holding board exams at least twice a year. This gives students more opportunities to improve their scores, and they can choose to keep their best results.

Pradhan emphasized that starting in the 2025-26 academic year, students in 10th and 12th grades will have the option to take board exams twice, in line with the NEP 2020.

The "best score counts" policy means that when a student takes the exam twice, the higher score they achieve in each subject will be considered for their final result. For example, if a student scores 80 in a subject in the first attempt and 90 in the second attempt, the 90 will be taken as their final score in that subject.

 What are the Change and Details Will be Followed from the CBSE 2025-26 Academic Year?

CBSE 2025-26 detailed changes are as follows:

• Implementation: The 2025-2026 academic year will be the first to implement the optional multi-board exam format.
• Exam Schedule: The first set of school exams for 2025 is expected in November-December 2025, and the second set in February-March 2026.
• Optional Exams: The twice-yearly school exams for classes 10 and 12 are optional, not mandatory.
• Purpose of Second Exam: The second exam opportunity is designed for students who wish to improve their scores.
• Scoring: The higher of the two scores will be considered for results.
• Goal: The new system aims to reduce student stress, especially for those concerned about missing a single exam opportunity.

What are the Benefits Students Can Get from the New Curriculum Framework:

• Score Improvement: Students can retain their best scores by taking exams twice a year.
• Stream Selection: Students can use their best scores to choose their academic stream in 11th and 12th grades.
• Language Requirement: Students in 11th and 12th grades must study two languages, including at least one Indian language.
• Updated Textbooks: Updated textbooks are being developed for the 2024 academic year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you choose which subjects to take in each session? +

Ans: This is still under clarification from CBSE. It's expected that students can choose to take exams in some subjects in one session and other subjects in the second session.

Will practical exams also be conducted twice? +

Ans: No, practical exams and internal assessments are expected to be conducted only once a year. The schedule for practical exams will be announced by the schools and CBSE.

Which syllabus will be covered? +

Ans: Both exam sessions will cover the full syllabus for the respective class. Also, the exam pattern and question types are expected to be consistent across both sessions.

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