CBSE Two Board Exams for Class 10: How the Second Exam Works

From 2026, CBSE gives every Class 10 student two board exams in the same year. The first is the main exam in February and March. The second, held in May, is a chance to improve marks in a few subjects or to clear a compartment. Many parents we meet have heard about the second exam but are not sure who can take it, or whether it changes how their child should prepare. This guide sets out the rules exactly as CBSE has published them.

What CBSE has announced

CBSE notified the two board exam scheme for Class 10 in June 2025, following the National Education Policy 2020, which asks boards to make board exams less high-stakes by allowing a second attempt in the same year. The scheme ran for the first time in 2026:

The first (main) exam was held from 17 February to 10 March 2026.
The second exam was held from 15 to 21 May 2026, with Mathematics on 15 May, Science on 18 May and Social Science on 21 May.

CBSE's List of Candidates circular for 2026-27 confirms the same system for the 2027 exams. The first board exam for Class 10 will be held during February and March 2027, and it is compulsory for every candidate. CBSE has not yet published the 2027 date sheet, so exact dates for either exam are still to come.

The first exam is compulsory

This is the rule that matters most. Every Class 10 student must appear in the first board exam. The second exam is not a replacement for it.

CBSE is strict about attendance in the first exam. A student who does not appear in three or more subjects in the first exam is not allowed to take the second exam. Such students are placed in the "Essential Repeat" category and can only sit the exam in the main February exams of the following year. In a clarification issued in February 2026, CBSE repeated that this applies whatever the reason for missing the papers, and that it will not consider requests on the matter.

Who can take the second exam in May

According to CBSE, the second exam is open to these students:

Improvement: students who have passed and want to improve their performance in up to three subjects from Science, Mathematics, Social Science and the languages.
Compartment: students whose result in the first exam is Compartment can appear in the second exam under the Compartment category.
Compartment and improvement: students in the Compartment category who also want to improve a different subject.
Students who passed through replacement of a subject, who may appear for improvement.

A few things are not allowed. Students cannot add a new subject after passing Class 10, and CBSE does not permit stand-alone subjects. Subjects also cannot be changed between the two exams, except where CBSE's policy permits it, such as switching between Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Basic.

What stays the same in both exams

Full syllabus: both exams cover the full syllabus for the year. The May exam is not a shorter or easier paper.
Same scheme: the scheme of studies and the scheme of examination stay the same.
Internal assessment once: internal assessment is carried out only once, before the main exam. It is not repeated for the second exam.
Separate registration: schools fill in a separate List of Candidates for the second exam after the first exam is over. No new names can be added at that stage, and the subjects must be the ones already registered for the first exam.

Results, DigiLocker and Class 11 admission

Under CBSE's scheme:

Results of the first exam are declared in April, and results of the second exam in June.
The marks from the main exam are made available in DigiLocker. A student who does not plan to take the second exam can use these for admission to Class 11.
The passing document is issued to all students only after the second exam's results. Merit certificates are also issued only after the second exam.
Photocopy, verification and re-evaluation of answer books, for both exams, are available only after the second exam's results are declared.
A student who does not qualify in the main exam is given provisional admission to Class 11, which is confirmed on the basis of the second exam's result.

If your child takes the second exam for improvement, ask the school how the improved marks will appear on the final marksheet, as CBSE's notification does not describe this step in detail.

Special cases

Sports students can take the second exam in subjects whose papers clashed with their sports event.
Winter-bound schools may choose either exam for the subjects they offer.
Facilities given to children with special needs apply to the second exam as well.

Something to check this month

Schools are submitting Class 10 students' details to CBSE right now. Once that is done, schools generate a data verification slip for each student. If the student's name, parents' names, date of birth or subjects are wrong, CBSE allows corrections only from 2 to 4 November 2026, and no changes after that. Ask your child's school for the slip and check it carefully, because the subjects on it are the only subjects your child can take in both exams.

How should your child prepare?

The second exam is a safety net, not a plan. Since the May exam covers the full syllabus and only up to three subjects can be improved, the best results still come from preparing for February as if it were the only chance. A child who aims to "fix it in May" ends up revising the entire syllabus again in April and May, just when Class 11 is about to begin.

Our advice to Class 10 families:

Prepare fully for February. Plan revision so the whole syllabus is covered at least twice before the first exam. Our Parent's Guide to Class 10 Board Exam Preparation has a month-by-month plan.
Never skip papers in the first exam. Missing three or more subjects closes the door to the May exam.
Decide on the second exam after the April result, not before. Choose up to three subjects where the gap between your child's score and their potential is clear, and plan focused revision for those only.
Plan May around Class 11. If your child is starting Science or Commerce, check when their Class 11 classes begin, so revision for the May exam does not clash with the start of the new course.

At Keystone Neev, Class 10 CBSE students prepare with a structured revision plan, regular tests and their own Mera Personal Mentor WhatsApp group, so parents see test reports as they happen and know early which subjects need attention. If you are unsure how the two exams fit your child's plans, speak to the team at your nearest Keystone branch.

Frequently asked questions

Is the second CBSE Class 10 board exam compulsory?

No. The first exam, held in February and March, is compulsory for every student. The second exam in May is optional, for students who want to improve their marks or who need to clear a compartment.

How many subjects can be improved in the second exam?

Up to three subjects, chosen from Science, Mathematics, Social Science and the languages.

Can a student who missed the first exam take only the second one?

No. A student who does not appear in three or more subjects in the first exam cannot take the second exam. They are placed in the Essential Repeat category and appear in the main exams the following February.

Is the syllabus for the second exam smaller?

No. Both exams are based on the full syllabus for the year, with the same scheme of examination.

When are the results of the two exams declared?

Under CBSE's scheme, results of the first exam come in April and results of the second exam in June.

Can my child get admission to Class 11 before the second exam's result?

Yes. Marks from the main exam are available in DigiLocker and can be used for Class 11 admission. A student who does not qualify in the main exam gets provisional admission, confirmed after the second exam's result.

When will CBSE release the 2027 date sheet?

CBSE has not announced it yet. We will update this guide once the official date sheet is published on cbse.gov.in.