NEW DELHI – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will allow Class 10 students to re-attempt up to three subjects in a second board examination for the 2025-26 academic session. This measure offers students a chance to improve their scores. Officials announced the policy during a webinar held on November 20 , detailing a new dual exam system for secondary students.
Dual Exam System Introduced
The CBSE will implement a new dual examination system for Class 10 students, starting with the 2025-26 academic year. This system mandates two board examinations annually. The first examination is scheduled for February-March 2026 . A second, optional examination will follow in May 2026 .
The May 2026 exam serves as an opportunity for students to improve their theoretical scores. Participation in the second exam is voluntary. The system aims to reduce pressure on students and provide a clear pathway for academic improvement.
Subject Re-attempts and Eligibility
Students can choose to re-attempt a maximum of three subjects in the May 2026 improvement examination. The eligible subjects for re-attempt include Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages. This option is specifically available for subjects where the external assessment component accounts for more than 50 percent of the total marks.
The board will not offer the second examination for all subjects. Only those meeting the external assessment criteria will be available for re-attempt. This policy targets core academic areas where theoretical understanding is primarily assessed.
Score Calculation and Benefits
For subjects attempted in both examinations, the CBSE will consider the best score obtained. If a student appears for a subject in both the February-March 2026 and May 2026 exams, the higher mark will be recorded for the final result. This ensures students benefit from their strongest performance.
This approach provides a significant advantage for students seeking to enhance their overall academic profile. It allows for focused preparation on specific subjects without requiring a full re-examination of all subjects.
Compartment and Essential Repeat Rules
Specific rules apply to students failing subjects in the first examination. Students who fail in one or two subjects in the February-March 2026 exam can appear for these specific subjects in the May 2026 second exam. This falls under the compartment category, allowing targeted recovery.
However, students missing more than three subjects in the first examination face different rules. These students will be marked as ‘Essential Repeat.’ They will not be permitted to appear in the May 2026 second examination. Instead, they must re-appear for all subjects in the subsequent academic year, effectively repeating the Class 10 board exams.
Key Dates and Registration Timeline
The results for the first examination, held in February-March 2026 , will be announced in April 2026 . Results for the second, optional examination, conducted in May 2026 , will be declared in June 2026 .
This staggered result announcement ensures timely university and college admissions for students. Following the announcement of the first exam results, students will be able to register for the second examination. The CBSE will then issue a final list of eligible candidates for the improvement exam, advising students to monitor official announcements for registration deadlines and procedures.