About 40% students will take CBSE Class 10 second attempt, first board exams must, says chairman

CBSE Class 10 second board exams 2026 will be conducted only for those subjects with the external assessment component weighing more than 50%, practicals will be held only once, and students who fail to appear for three to four subjects in the first phase will not be allowed to take the second phase, clarified board chairperson Rahul Singh during a webinar on two board exams.

“It is estimated that around 40% of the candidates would appear in each of the main subjects in the second board exams at maximum,” the CBSE chairman stated, adding that the move will reduce the workload of evaluation on teachers.

Immediately after the declaration of CBSE Class 10 results 2026 for the first main exams, the board will open the List of Candidates (LoC) registration, for around 10-15 days, for the CBSE Class 10 second attempt.

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During the first phase of CBSE Board exams 2026 scheduled from February 17 to March 10, the total number of answer books to be evaluated by CBSE will arrive at around 1.5 crore. With the two-board exam policy in place, the board doesn’t expect more than 20-30 lakh answer books for evaluation in phase 2.

Who’s eligible for CBSE Class 10 second board exams?

Clearing the haze around the two-board exam scheme amongst teachers, CBSE exam controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said that the first board exams are compulsory for all students who will not be getting an option to sit for any one of the two phases. Those who wish to improve their performance, in any three subjects out of science, mathematics, social science and languages, can apply for the second board exams.

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Students with compartments will not be allowed the second chance, he said while answering the questions on CBSE 10th board exam pattern , timings, eligibility, and more. Recently, the board clarified that the special board exams for sports, olympiad students will be held along with the second exams.

CBSE board exams twice a year

In February, the board drafted the policy to hold CBSE board exams twice a year for high school students, starting from the 2025-26 academic session. Initially, the board said that students will be allowed to choose whether they want to take both the exams and there will not be any special exams for sports candidates. The decision sparked mixed reactions amongst students, parents, and teachers who wonder whether it’s a dual chance or double the burden. Parliament panel has opposed the two-exam scheme, warning of paper leaks and irregularities.