CBSE Class 10 to Have Two Board Exams from 2026; New Marksheet Format and Updates for Classes 11–12 Announced

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a major update for the 2026 board exams. For the first time, Class 10 students will have two board exams in a year, with a newly designed marksheet format. The second exam’s result will determine the final printed marksheet, while the first exam will provide a provisional marks statement that will be used for Class 11 admission.

Dual Exams and Marksheet Format

According to CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh, the Class 10 board exams in 2026–27 will follow this format:

• The printed marksheet will include internal assessment marks.
• Marks from all subjects in the first exam will be recorded.
• Marks for subjects attempted in the second exam will also be listed separately.
• A final score column will show the best score from the two exams, which will be considered final for all official purposes.

This dual-exam system aims to reduce exam stress among students. Feedback from students, parents, teachers, and experts will also be incorporated to improve the system further.

Registration for the Second Exam

Students who wish to appear for the second board exam will need to register separately, based on the results of the first exam.

Updates for Class 11 and 12

While Class 12 exams will not have two boards initially, authorities may consider this after reviewing the feedback from Class 10. Meanwhile, schools will need to follow common guidelines for Class 11 admissions. According to education experts, provisional admission to Class 11 will be based on the first exam results, and final admission will depend on the final marks after the second exam.

Questions remain about certain scenarios, such as students who improve their scores in the second exam and become eligible for a different stream (e.g., Arts to Commerce or Commerce to Science). The board will issue detailed procedures and guidelines to address these situations.

With these changes, CBSE aims to modernize assessment, reduce student stress, and provide a fairer evaluation system for secondary education across India.