First 10th Board Exam Is Mandatory For All Students, Clarifies CBSE
Any student missing three or more subjects in the main examination cannot be allowed to appear in the second board examination, says CBSE
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a clarification regarding Class 10 board examinations starting 2026, with the first board exams set to begin tomorrow.
In response to requests from students seeking permission to appear directly in the second board examination due to unavoidable reasons, the CBSE has outlined clear rules regarding eligibility.
To view the detailed official notification, click here.
Key takeaways from the CBSE clarification
Mandatory First Exam: All students must appear in the first board examination.
Improvement Opportunity: Passed and eligible students may improve their scores in up to three subjects, including Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages.
‘Essential Repeat’ Category: Students who do not appear for three or more subjects in the first exam will not be allowed to sit for the second examination. These students will be placed in the Essential Repeat category and can only take the main examination next year in February.
Compartment Category: Students whose first examination results are ‘Compartment’ will be allowed to appear in the second exam under the Compartment category.
No Additional Subjects: After passing Class 10, students cannot appear in stand-alone additional subjects.
Eligibility for Second Exam
- Improvement in up to three main subjects
- First or third chance Compartment
- Compartment plus Improvement
- Improvement for students who passed by subject replacement
The CBSE said that any student missing three or more subjects in the main examination cannot be allowed to appear in the second board examination.
The board will not respond to the requests seeking exemptions from this rule.