Exam Schedule Overview
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) released a provisional calendar for the 2025‑26 academic session, laying out dates for both Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations. According to the board, the testing window opens on CBSE exams 2026 on 17 February and closes on 9 April for Class 12, while Class 10 has a split schedule.
For Class 10, Phase 1 is mandatory and will be conducted between 7 February and 9 March 2026. An optional Phase 2 is slated for 15 May to 1 July, giving students the chance to sit for the same papers a second time and retain the higher score. The dual‑phase model applies only to the 10th grade; Class 12 continues with the traditional single‑phase format, spanning 17 February to 9 April.
CBSE expects around 26.60 lakh candidates to sit for the 10th board and roughly 20 lakh for the 12th board. Results are projected to roll out in batches, with early estimates ranging from 20 April to 20 June for Class 10, and 20 May to 20 June for Class 12, depending on the source.
Key Changes and What They Mean for Students
The most talked‑about shift is the introduction of a dual examination system for the 10th grade. Under this arrangement, every student must appear for Phase 1. Those who feel they can improve their performance may opt for Phase 2, and the board will consider the better of the two scores when publishing results. This move is aimed at reducing exam‑related stress and giving learners a safety net.
Subject scheduling also sees a degree of restructuring. Major subjects for both grades—Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Hindi and English—are assigned fixed dates within the overall window, ensuring a uniform timetable across schools. Minor or elective subjects will be slotted in separate phases, allowing better resource allocation and smoother logistics.
Practical examinations retain the conventional format. For Class 12, external examiners will visit schools to assess lab work and projects, maintaining the board’s emphasis on hands‑on evaluation. In Class 10, practicals will be overseen by the respective school teachers, following established guidelines.
- Phase 1 (mandatory) – 7 Feb to 9 Mar 2026
- Phase 2 (optional) – 15 May to 1 Jul 2026
- Class 12 exam window – 17 Feb to 9 Apr 2026
- Result windows – Apr to Jun 2026 (varying dates per source)
To help schools, students and parents navigate the new system, CBSE announced a webinar slated for September 2025. The online session will walk participants through the revised rules, registration procedures, and answer common queries. Stakeholders are urged to keep an eye on the official CBSE portal (cbse.nic.in) for any updates or refinements to the schedule.
Overall, the dual‑phase experiment for Class 10 reflects CBSE’s attempt to make board assessments more flexible and student‑friendly, while preserving the rigor of the traditional paper‑pen format. With millions of learners poised to sit for these exams, the upcoming months will be a test not just of academic knowledge but of how well the new system supports them.