CBSE Class 12th Exam 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is India’s premier national education board, governing both public and private schools across the country. Established in 1929, CBSE was envisioned as a unifying framework for secondary education, promoting interstate cooperation and standardization. Today, the CBSE network spans over 27,000 schools in India and 240 institutions in 28 other countries, all following the NCERT curriculum, especially from Grades 9 to 12.

CBSE holds a distinguished position among central and state education boards due to its government backing and emphasis on quality education. Its focus lies in exam reforms, evaluation improvements, and skill-based learning, incorporating job-oriented inputs to enhance employability. The board also sets examination standards and conducts public exams at the end of Class 10 and Class 12, awarding qualifying certificates to successful candidates.

Class 10 is a crucial academic milestone, helping students determine their preferred subjects for higher studies. Every year, millions of students appear for the Class 10 board exams, typically conducted between February and April, with results announced in May. For those who do not pass, CBSE offers a re-examination in August–September.

CBSE Class 10 Board Exam Date Sheet 2026 Released

For 2026, CBSE has released the tentative Class 10 date sheet. Exams will begin on February 17, 2026, and conclude on March 9, 2026. This year, exams are planned in two phases: the first phase for all major subjects from February 17 to March 9, and a second phase starting May 15, 2026, for students needing a second attempt. This phased schedule aims to reduce stress and provide greater flexibility.

Students can download the subject-wise timetable from the official CBSE website. It is advisable to carefully note exam dates and create a structured revision plan. Staying updated with notifications and changes will help students prepare efficiently and perform their best in the 2026 Class 10 board examinations.

CBSE Class 12 Board Exam Date Sheet 2026 Released

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the tentative date sheet for the Class 12 board examinations 2026. The exams are scheduled to commence on February 17, 2026, and will continue until April 9, 2026. Students from Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams can now check the schedule and plan their preparation accordingly.

This year, all Class 12 exams will be held in a single session, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, maintaining uniformity across all streams. CBSE has urged students to carefully follow the timetable and stay updated with any notifications or changes published on the official website.

CBSE 10th Exam Date 2026 - Highlights

Conducting Board	CBSE
CBSE Full Form	Central Board of Secondary Education
Exam Name	CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026
Session	2025-26
Release of CBSE 10th Date Sheet 2026	December, 2025*
CBSE Board Exam 2026 For Class 10 & 12	17 February, 2026 (Tentative)
Announcement of CBSE 10th Result 2026	May, 2026
Exam Mode	Offline
Official Website	cbse.gov.in

 CBSE Class 10 Exam Schedule - 2026

First Phase : 17th February - 09th March, 2026

Second Phase : 15th May, 2026

CBSE Class 12 Exam Schedule - 2026

First Phase : 17th February - 09th April, 2026

Key Exam Dates for Class 10

Subjects	Date
Mathematics	17th February, 2026
English	21st February, 2026
Science	25th February, 2026
Hindi	02nd March, 2026
Social Science	07th March, 2026

Major Changes in CBSE 2026 Board Exams

1.

Two Board Exams Per Year : Students can take two attmepts, with the best score considered for the final result.

2. Fixed Exam Days for Major Sujects : Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Hindi and English will follow a structured schedule.

3. Flexible Subject Choices : Regional & Foreign Languages will be tested together, while elective subjects will have multiple exam slots.

4. No Self-Centers : Examination centers will be pre-determined by CBSE.

5. Result Declaration : 

• Class 10 First Exam : By 20th April, 2026
• Class 10 Second Exam : By 30th June, 2026

Other Key Highlights

Practical / Internal Assessments will be conducted only once per academic year.

Mark Sheet cum Passing Certificate will include scores from both attempts, highlighting the best performance.

No additional or special exams will be conducted beyond the two planned cycles.

Schools will be assessed before being designated as exam centers.

CBSE's biannual board exam model aims to reduce stress, improve flexibility, and enhance competency-based learning, marking a major shift in India's school examination system.

CBSE Question Paper

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• Sample Question Paper

  CBSE Class 12 sample Question Papers

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• Marking Scheme

  CBSE Class 12 Marking Scheme

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CBSE Syllabus

• Board Syllabus

  CBSE Class 12 Syllabus

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What's New in CBSE Board Exam 2024-25

TThe Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced several significant changes for the 2025–26 academic session to make board exams more flexible, student-friendly, and aligned with modern learning methods.

Two Board Examinations for Class 10

For the first time, CBSE will conduct two annual board exams for Class 10 students:

• First Exam: February 17 to March 6, 2026

• Second Exam: May 5 to May 20, 2026

Students may appear in one or both exams, and the higher score will be considered for the final result. This initiative is designed to reduce stress and offer students a chance to improve performance.

Open Book Assessments

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, select subjects will include open book assessments, encouraging critical thinking and application-based learning instead of rote memorization.

Minimum Attendance Requirement

Students must maintain 75% attendance in Classes 9 and 10 to be eligible for the board exams, emphasizing regular classroom learning.

Continuous Internal Evaluation

CBSE is strengthening continuous internal assessment to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a student’s overall abilities across the academic year.

Introduction of STEM Subjects

Additional STEM-oriented subjects are being introduced to enhance interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, preparing students for higher studies and careers in these areas.

‘Professor of Practice’ Model

Industry professionals will be engaged under the ‘Professor of Practice’ model to teach specialized subjects, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications.

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CBSE Class 12 Grading System

Annually, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts the board examinations between February and March.Over 10 lakh candidates appear for the examination every year.Most of the Class 12 students get confused with the grading system followed by the CBSE.The grading system is the same as Class 10.The board will put all the students in a rank order and will award grades as follow.

• A-1 - Top 1/8th of the passed candidates
• A-2 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• B-1 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• B-2 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• C-1 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• C-2 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• D-1 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• D-2 - Next 1/8th of the passed candidates
• E - Failed candidates

CBSE will make the minor variations in the proportion of candidates to adjust ties.All the students will be getting the same grade in case of a tie.The smaller segment will go with the larger if the number of students at a scoring point needs to be divided into two segments. 

The board will use the method of grading in subjects where the number of candidates who have passed is more than 500.CBSE has clearly stated that the grading would be adopted on the pattern of grading and distribution in other similar subjects if the total number of candidates passing in a subject is less than 500.

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CBSE 12th Preparation Tips

We have compiled some useful preparation recommendations to pupils to follow in order to perform well in their forthcoming  Class 12 board examination.

1.Follow a proper schedule

Sleep early, get up early, eat a proper breakfast, and then sit down to study.Avoid staying up late at night.Take an hour or two during the day to relax and not to think about the exams.Read, Sleep, Play or do whatever you believe will distract you from your tests.Consume nutritious foods while studying.Junk food is strictly prohibited.

2.Do not have too much on the plate

Exercise your brain constructively and avoid overloading it with thoughts.Set attainable goals for the day.Do not attempt to learn everything in a single day.Take it slowly and divide the revision accordingly.Instead of scanning 8-10 topics, take up two or three themes and pick a topic or two from each, delving into the depths of the issues.

3.Mix and Match

Plan your day carefully.Do not overload a day with easy subjects / topics or overburden with difficult issues.To get the  most out of the time, start with a light subject for an hour or so, then go on to a big subject or issue.

4.Solve sample papers

Practising sample papers familiaries students with the test pattern, marking method, and types of questions asked in exams.

5.Practise the art of relaxation

Exercise and meditation can help you focus better.Meditation strengthens the mind, brings it under control, and enables it to provide appropriate guidance to the physical body in order for it to carry out all of its projects properly.Psychological exercise are an effective approach to improve concentration and mental strength.During exam time, a student's goal should be to perform to the best of his or her abilities while simultaneously focusing on staying healthy.

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CBSE Frames New Rules On Low Attendance

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to monitor the attendance of students of all its affiliated schools.It has issued a new set of instructions to schools and made it mandatory to share the attendance report of its students.Based on the attendance, the Board will decide on allowing the students to appear for the examinations it is responsible for. 

The Board took this decision because the recent result indicated that students with low attendance performed badly in the examinations.The CBSE has also developed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with low-attendance cases.

• The Board has framed new rules on low attendance. 
• Exemption will be given to students in case of prolonged loss of mother or father, illness, participation in sports or any similar reasons.
• Schools should complete the attendance and report the same to CBSE by January 1 of the academic year.In case of any short attendance, they should submit the supporting documents to CBSE's Regional Office by January 7. 
• Schools should fill all the requirements before the last date, i.e., February 7. 

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