The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially finalized the schedule for the 2025-26 academic session, marking a significant transition by introducing a two-phase examination system for Class 10 to align with the National Education Policy. Both the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations are scheduled to commence on February 17, 2026. For Class 10, the first phase of examinations will conclude on March 10, 2026, while a second phase is tentatively planned to occur between May 15 and June 1, 2026, to provide students with more flexibility. Class 12 theory exams are set to continue until April 9, 2026, with all examinations generally starting at 10:30 AM. Practical examinations for this session are slated to begin on January 2, 2026, and will run through February 10, 2026, ahead of the main theory papers.
Additionally, the board has implemented several structural changes for this session, including an increased focus on competency-based questions that test analytical application rather than the construction of lengthy responses. Internal assessments now carry a higher weightage of 40% of the total marks, and the board has made it mandatory for students to maintain at least 75% attendance to be eligible for the exams. Students can download the official subject-wise revised timetable from the official CBSE website.
Important Dates
For the 2025-26 academic session, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the exam schedule. Both Class 10 and 12 theory examinations are set to begin on February 17, 2026.
Theory Exam Schedule 2026
● Class 10 (Phase 1/Main): February 17 – March 10, 2026
● Class 10 (Phase 2/Improvement): May 15 – June 1, 2026 (Tentative)
● Class 12 (All Streams): February 17 – April 9, 2026
● Exam Timings: All major theory papers start at 10:30 AM.
Practical & Internal Assessment Dates
● Regular Schools: January 1 – February 14, 2026
● Winter-Bound Schools: November 6 – December 6, 2025 (Completed)
Result & Post-Exam Timeline
● Result Declaration (Tentative): May 2026
● Compartment/Supplementary Exams: July 2026
● Final Results (Post-Compartment): August 2026
Major Subject Highlights (Theory)
Examination Details
For the 2025-26 academic session, the CBSE board has finalized a comprehensive set of examination details for both Class 10 and Class 12, reflecting a shift toward competency-based assessment.
Revised Question Paper Pattern
The 2026 board exams feature a significant overhaul in the typology of questions to prioritize conceptual understanding over rote memorization :
● Competency-Focused Questions (50%): These include case studies, source-based integrated questions, real-life application scenarios, and data interpretation challenges.
● Multiple-Choice Questions (20%): One-fifth of the paper consists of objective, select-response type questions.
● Constructed Response Questions (30%): Traditional short and long descriptive answers now make up less than one-third of the total marks.
Assessment & Marking Scheme
● Class 10: Operates on a consistent 80:20 ratio (80 marks for theory and 20 for internal assessment) across all core subjects.
● Class 12: The distribution varies by subject, such as 70:30 for science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and 80:20 for commerce and humanities (Accountancy, History, Economics).
● Passing Criteria: Students must secure a minimum of 33% marks in each subject and in aggregate to clear the exams.
Mandatory Eligibility Rules
● 75% Attendance: A strict 75% attendance policy is mandatory for students in Classes 10 and 12 to be eligible for board exams.
● Two-Year Continuous Study: Candidates must have studied the subjects for two years (Class 9–10 for Secondary and Class 11–12 for Senior Secondary) to qualify.
● Internal Assessment: Participation in internal assessments is compulsory; failure to complete these will result in an “Essential Repeat” category regardless of theory performance.
Exam-Day Protocol
● Reporting Time: Students should arrive at the exam center by 10:00 AM sharp.
● Reading Time: Question papers are distributed at 10:15 AM, providing a 15-minute window for students to read before writing begins at 10:30 AM.
● Prohibited Items: Digital devices, smartwatches, and calculators are strictly forbidden, except for non-programmable calculators specifically permitted for the Class 12 Accountancy exam in 2026.
CBSE Board Class 10th Exam Date Sheet 2025-26
| DATE | TIME | SUBJECT |
| Mathematics (Standard/Basic) | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | February 17, 2026 |
| English (Language & Literature) | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | February 21, 2026 |
| Science | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | February 25, 2026 |
| Hindi (Course A/B) | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | March 2, 2026 |
| Social Science | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | March 7, 2026 |
CBSE Board Class 12th Exam Date Sheet 2025-26
| DATE | TIME | SUBJECT |
| Feb 17, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Biotechnology / Entrepreneurship |
| Feb 18, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Physical Education |
| Feb 20, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Physics |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Accountancy |
| Feb 26, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Geography |
| Feb 28, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Chemistry |
| Mar 5, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Psychology |
| Mar 9, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Mathematics / Applied Mathematics |
| Mar 12, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | English Elective / Core |
| Mar 14, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Home Science |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Hindi Elective / Core |
| Mar 18, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Economics |
| Mar 23, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Political Science |
| Mar 25, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Computer Science / Informatics Practices / IT |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Biology |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Business Studies / Business Administration |
| Mar 30, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | History |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Sociology |
| Apr 8, 2026 | 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM | Sanskrit Core, French |
How TO Download CBSE Board Class 10th, 12th Exam Admit Card 2025-26
Regular students cannot download their own admit cards online; they must collect them from their respective schools. However, private candidates can download them directly from the official portal. Follow these 10 steps for the 2025-26 academic session (Exams 2026) :
● Visit the Official Website: Go to the official CBSE Portal.
● Select the Portal: On the home page, click on either the “Main Website” or the “Pariksha Sangam” link.
● Navigate to Schools/Private Candidates :
Private Candidates: Look for the link “Admit Card for Private Candidates – Class 10 / Class 12 Board Examination 2026”.
Schools (for Regular Students): Select the “Schools” section and then click on “Pre-Exam Activities.
● Find the Admit Card Link: Locate and click the link titled “Admit Card, Centre Material for Board Exam 2026”.
● Choose Authentication Method: You will be prompted to search for your admit card using one of three options :
1. Application Number
2. Previous Roll Number and Year
3. Candidate Name.
● Enter Required Details: Input your chosen credentials. For a name search, you typically need the candidate’s name, mother’s name, and father’s name.
● Submit Information: Click the “Proceed” or “Submit” button after carefully entering all details.
● Verify the Admit Card: Once the admit card appears on the screen, verify all details, including your name, roll number, exam center, and subject-wise dates.
● Download and Print: Save the document as a PDF and take multiple clear printouts. Schools must ensure the Principal signs and stamps the printed cards for regular students.
● Store Safely: Keep the original and a few photocopies safe. You must carry the original printed admit card to the examination center on all exam days; entry is not allowed without it.
POINT TO REMEMBER
For the 2025-26 academic session (Board Exams 2026), here are the 10 most important points for Class 10 and 12 students to remember regarding exam rules, admit cards, and preparation:
● Mandatory Documents: You must carry both your original printed Admit Card and your School ID Card to every examination. Entry will not be permitted without these.
● Reporting Time: Arrive at the exam center by 9:45 AM. The gates close strictly at 10:00 AM, and no candidate will be allowed entry after this time under any circumstances.
● Reading Time Utility: You will receive the question paper at 10:15 AM for a 15-minute mandatory reading period before writing begins at 10:30 AM.
● Uniform & Dress Code: Regular students must wear their full school uniform. Private candidates should wear comfortable, light-colored formal attire.
● Strict Stationery Rules: Carry all pens (blue/black only), pencils, and geometry tools in a completely transparent pouch.
● Prohibited Items: Do not bring any electronic gadgets, including smartwatches, mobile phones, calculators, or Bluetooth devices. Only simple analogue watches are permitted.
● New Paper Pattern: For 2026, 50% of the questions are competency-based (MCQs, case-based, or source-based) to test conceptual application rather than rote learning.
● Verify Admit Card Details: Immediately check your admit card for spelling errors or incorrect subject codes. Any discrepancy must be reported to your school or the CBSE Regional Office for correction before the exams start.
● Attendance Eligibility: Students must have maintained at least 75% attendance to be eligible to sit for the board examinations.
● Unfair Means (UFM) Warning: Any attempt at cheating, spreading rumors about question papers on social media, or possessing barred items can lead to a permanent ban or disqualification for up to 5 years.
Important Question
Ques 1. When will CBSE Board Sarkari Result 10th & 12th Exams 2025-26 start?
Answer. The CBSE Board 10th & 12th Exam 2025-26 will start from 3rd March 2026.
Ques 2. When will the CBSE Board 10th Exam 2025-26 end?
Answer. The CBSE Board 10th Exam 2025-26 will end on 11th March 2026.
Ques 3. When will the CBSE Board 12th Exam 2025-26 end?
Answer. The CBSE Board 12th Exam 2025-26 will end on 10th April 2026.
Ques 4. Who can appear in CBSE Board 10th & 12th Exam 2025-26?
Answer. Students who are enrolled with the CBSE Board in class 10th and 12th Exam 2025-26.
Ques 5. How to Download the CBSE Board Sarkari Result Exam Date Sheet 2025?
Answer. To download this timetable, first of all, you have to go to the Official Sarkari Result, which is SarkariExam.com, and download it through this timetable page. The official download link of the timetable will be made available in the important links above.
Ques 6. What is the CBSE Board Official Website?
Answer. The Official Website of the CBSE Board is https://www.cbse.gov.in/
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