The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a major change in the 10th-grade board exam pattern starting from 2026. Students will now have the opportunity to appear for the board exams twice a year. The goal is to reduce academic pressure and give students a second chance to improve their performance.

CBSE Exam Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj stated that the 10th board exams will now be conducted in two phases – the first in February and the second in May. Importantly, the first exam will be mandatory for all students, while the second will be optional. This means if a student is not satisfied with their marks in the first attempt, they can opt to appear for the second.

This decision aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), aiming to provide students with a flexible and stress-free learning environment, where they can learn from their mistakes and grow. CBSE believes that a student's true potential cannot be fully assessed through a single exam.