Is it mandatory to appear for two board exams in CBSE?

More About CBSE 10th Exams: Is it Mandatory to Appear

• Mandatory First Exam (February): All CBSE Class 10 students are required to appear for the first board examination, which has started from February 17, 2026. This exam will cover the full CBSE 10th syllabus and serve as the primary assessment.

• Optional Second Exam (May): The second examination, set for May 15, 2026, is optional and intended for students who wish to improve their scores. Students can choose to reappear in any of the three subjects, specifically from Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages. The higher score between the two attempts will be considered for the final CBSE 10th result.

• Consequences of Missing the First Exam: If a student misses three or more subjects in the first examination, they will not be allowed to take the second exam. These students will be placed in the "Essential Repeat" category and can only retake the examination in February of the following year during the main examinations.

• Compartment Category for Second Exam: Students who receive a "Compartment" result in the first examination are permitted to appear for the second examination under the Compartment Category.

• No Additional or Stand-Alone Subjects After Class 10: Students cannot take additional or stand-alone subjects after passing Class 10.

• Applicability: This two-exam policy currently applies only to Class 10 students. CBSE Class 12 board examinations will continue to be conducted once a year as per the existing system.

This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, aiming to reduce examination stress and provide students with additional opportunities to enhance their academic performance.

CBSE 10th LOC 2025-26

Students appearing for the CBSE 10th exam must fill out the LOC form and submit it before the last date. Since the exam will be held twice, students need to fill out the LOC for the second examination separately. However, no new names or subject changes will be allowed after the submission of the LOC after the first examination. For the CBSE 1st exam, the board collected the LOC without late fees from August 29 to September 30, 2025. For the 2nd exam, the window for submitting the LOC will be open for 5 days only.