CBSE clarifies two-exam policy: Skipping 3 subjects in first session means ‘Essential Repeat’

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it mandatory for all Class 10 students to appear in the first Board examination under its newly introduced two-exam system, beginning February 17. In a directive issued on the eve of the examinations, the Board clarified that the first session is not a “trial run” and that students who fail to appear in three or more subjects will be placed in the “Essential Repeat” category.

Under the new framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CBSE will conduct two Board examination opportunities in a single academic year from 2026 onward. The second session, scheduled in May, is designed as an improvement or supplementary opportunity and not as a substitute for the main February–March examination.

According to the Board, students who pass the first examination may reappear in up to three subjects — Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Languages — to improve their scores. Those placed in the compartment category for one or two subjects will also be eligible to appear in the second session to save their academic year, subject to existing rules.

However, CBSE has issued a strict warning that students who skip three or more subjects in the first session will not be permitted to sit for the second examination in May. Such students will be categorised as “Essential Repeat” and will be allowed to reappear only in the main Board examination cycle in February 2027.

The Board also clarified that no additional or stand-alone subjects will be permitted after a student has passed Class 10. It stressed that no individual appeals or exceptions will be entertained regarding absence from the first examination, urging students to prioritise the initial session to avoid losing an academic year.