First Class 10 board exam mandatory under CBSE’s two-exam system from 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that it will be mandatory for all Class 10 students to appear in the first board examination under the two-board-exam system to be implemented from 2026 . Students who fail to appear in at least three subjects in the first examination will be placed in the “essential repeat” category, officials said.

The clarification came after the board received several representations seeking exemption from the first examination and permission to appear directly in the second board exam due to personal or other reasons. The board has ruled out any such relaxation.

“ It is mandatory for all students to appear in the first board examination. All passed and eligible students will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages,” said CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj .

He further said that students who do not appear in three or more subjects in the first examination will not be permitted to take the second examination. “Such students will be placed in the ‘Essential Repeat’ category and will be allowed to appear only in the main board examinations scheduled for February next year,” he added.

From 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education will conduct two board examinations for Class 10 in one academic year. While the first examination will be compulsory for all students, the second examination, to be held a few months later, will be optional and meant solely for performance improvement. Only students who appear and pass the first examination will be eligible to take the second exam.

Students have been advised to treat the first board examination as final and compulsory, ensure preparedness in at least three subjects, and use the second exam only for targeted score improvement. Parents have been encouraged to support early syllabus completion, regular revision and mock tests, avoid assumptions about skipping exams, stay updated with CBSE guidelines, and provide emotional support to help students manage examination-related stress.

The move aims to reduce academic pressure by offering a second opportunity to improve performance, while maintaining strict eligibility norms to ensure continuity and discipline in the evaluation process.