CBSE Two Board Exam System — How the February and May Class 10 Exams Work
How CBSE's two Class 10 board exams work: the compulsory Feb–Mar exam, the optional May exam for up to three subjects, and how 2026 went.
Since 2026, CBSE Class 10 students have two board exams in a year. The February–March main exam is compulsory. The May exam is optional and lets you improve up to three subjects among Science, Maths, Social Science and Languages. The better of the two performances counts. Each subject is still 80 marks board exam + 20 marks internal assessment. The system continues for the 2027 board exams.
If you're a Class 10 student, a parent, or a teacher trying to work out what this means in practice, this guide covers how the two Class 10 board exams work, how the first year went, and how to plan for 2027.
How the CBSE Two Exam System Works
Think of it as one main attempt plus an optional second attempt for a few subjects.
- Main exam (compulsory, February–March): Every CBSE Class 10 student appears. It covers the full syllabus and works like the traditional board exam.
- Main result: In 2026 it came out on 15 April.
- Second exam (optional, May): Students who want better marks can take up to three of Science, Maths, Social Science and Languages. Your school registers you.
- Better performance counts: CBSE uses the better of the two performances in each subject for the final result.
The internal assessment component (20 marks per subject) is done once, before the main exam, and stays the same. Only the board-exam marks (80 per subject) can change.
Main Exam vs May Exam — Side-by-Side
| Aspect | Main Exam | Second Exam (May) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Compulsory for all students | Optional |
| When (2026) | 17 February–11 March | 15–21 May |
| Subjects | All subjects | Up to three of Science, Maths, Social Science and Languages |
| Syllabus | Full Class 10 syllabus | Same syllabus |
| Maths | Standard or Basic | You can switch between Standard and Basic |
| Scoring | Stands if you don't take May | Counts only where it is better |
| Registration | Through school (regular LOC) | Separate LOC through school |
| Fee (2026) | Regular board exam fee | ₹320 per subject |
| Result (2026) | 15 April | 18 July |
How Scoring Works — 80 + 20 Per Subject
The per-subject split hasn't changed. Each subject is scored out of 100: 80 marks from the board exam + 20 marks from internal assessment. The difference is that the board-exam marks use the better of your two attempts.
Final Score = Better Board Exam Score (out of 80) + Internal Assessment (out of 20)
Say you scored 56/80 in Science in the main exam and 66/80 in May, and your internal assessment is 16/20:
| Component | Your Score | Max Marks | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Exam (better of two) | 66 (May score — higher) | 80 | 66 |
| Internal Assessment | 16 | 20 | 16 |
| Final Score | 100 | 82 out of 100 |
Without the May exam, your final Science score would have been 72.
Internal assessment is made up of periodic assessment, multiple assessment, portfolio and subject enrichment, 5 marks each. Your school submits these marks and they don't change between the two exams.
How the First Year Went (2026)
CBSE's press release of 18 July 2026 gave the numbers. Of the 5,13,955 students who took the second exam to improve, 3,08,095 (59.95%) raised their marks. Another 1,49,822 students took it in the Compartment category, and 52.40% of them passed. The overall pass percentage after combining the main and second exams was 96.78%. The system continues for 2027: the February–March main exam stays mandatory for every Class 10 student.
Who Should Take the May Exam?
Consider it if:
- You underperformed in the main exam because of illness, anxiety or poor time management
- You are just short of a marks target you need, for example for a stream in Class 11
- Your preparation was incomplete in February and you've since caught up
- One or two subjects pulled your overall marks down and you're confident you can improve them
You can probably skip it if:
- You're satisfied with your main-exam marks
- The likely improvement is small and doesn't affect your stream choice
- You'd rather start Class 11 or entrance-exam preparation
A lower May score can't hurt your result, but the weeks you spend preparing have a cost. Weigh it honestly.
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Chapter-wise practice, previous-year questions and revision notes for the CBSE Class 10 main and May board exams.
Start freeWhy CBSE Introduced Two Exams
1. Less riding on one day. A bad day in the main exam no longer has to define your result.
2. A real second chance. Students who were ill during the main exam, dealt with a family emergency, or simply had an off day can recover in the same year.
3. Marks that reflect what you know. Because the better performance counts, the final result can only stay the same or go up for students who take the second exam.
4. Aligned with NEP 2020. The National Education Policy recommended making board exams less high-stakes, and CBSE introduced the two exams in line with it.
Preparation Strategy — Planning for 2027
| Period | Focus | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| April–September | Build the foundation | Complete NCERT thoroughly. Make notes. This is your base for both exams. |
| October–November | Deepen understanding | Solve competency-based questions. Practise application-type problems. Take chapter tests. |
| December–January | Exam readiness | Full sample papers under timed conditions. Previous year questions. Find weak spots and fix them. |
| February–March | Main exam | Appear with full preparation. Treat this as your real exam. |
| April | Assess and decide | When the main result is out, decide which subjects (up to three), if any, to take again. Your school submits the second-exam LOC soon after the result. |
| April–May | Targeted improvement | Focus only on the subjects you're retaking. Revise weak chapters and solve full papers. |
The critical mindset: don't treat the main exam as a practice run. You can improve at most three subjects in May, the other subjects keep their main-exam marks, and missing three or more main-exam subjects rules you out of the second exam altogether.
In 2026 the gap between the main result (15 April) and the second exam (15 May) was about a month. That's enough to improve one to three subjects, not to rebuild your preparation from scratch.
Does This Apply to Class 12?
No. The two-exam system applies only to Class 10. CBSE's LOC circular for 2027 (17 September 2026) again has a single main exam for Class 12. Class 12 students can improve one subject in the July supplementary exam. See the CBSE date sheet guide for exam timing.
What Parents Need to Know
Don't create extra pressure. The point of two exams is to reduce stress. If your child did well in the main exam, don't push them to take May unless they genuinely want to.
Know the cost. The second exam fee in 2026 was ₹320 per subject, paid through the school, with a short deadline after the main result.
Help them decide objectively. After the main result, look at the numbers together. Which subjects have realistic room for improvement? Is a few extra marks worth another month of study, or would they rather start Class 11 preparation?
Watch for burnout. A week of genuine rest after the main exam is often worth more than grinding straight on.
Understand the timeline. The second-exam result came out on 18 July in 2026. If a Class 11 admission depends on improved marks, check with the school early whether and how it will use them.
How This Relates to the Compartment Exam
For Class 10, the second exam now doubles as the compartment exam: students placed in the compartment category after the main exam take that subject in the May second exam. The July supplementary exam is now held only for Class 12.
| Aspect | Improvement (passed students) | Compartment category |
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Students who passed and want better marks | Students placed in compartment after the main exam |
| When | May second exam | May second exam |
| Scoring | Better of the two performances counts | You need to pass the subject |
| 2026 outcome | 59.95% improved their marks | 52.40% passed |
Key Dates
| Event | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Main exam | 17 February–11 March 2026 |
| Main result | 15 April 2026 |
| Second-exam LOC by schools | 16–22 April 2026 |
| Second-exam date sheet | 23 April 2026 |
| Second exam | 15–21 May 2026 |
| Second-exam result | 18 July 2026 |
| Scanned copies of answer books | 5–9 August 2026 |
| Verification / re-evaluation | 16–19 August 2026 |
For 2027, CBSE's LOC circular (17 September 2026) says the main Class 10 exam will be held in February–March 2027. The date sheets are published on cbse.gov.in; they had not been released as of 23 September 2026.
The two-exam system doesn't lower the bar: the syllabus is the same. What it gives you is a fair second shot at up to three subjects. Prepare seriously for the main exam, and decide about May with a clear head once your result is in.
Based on CBSE's press releases of 25 June 2025 and 18 July 2026, the second-exam LOC circular of 15 April 2026 and the LOC circular for 2026-27 (17 September 2026). Always verify details at cbse.gov.in and with your school.
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Start freeFrequently Asked Questions
Is the CBSE May exam compulsory?
No. The February–March main exam is compulsory for every CBSE Class 10 student. The May exam is optional: you sit it only if you want to improve your marks in some subjects. If you are happy with your main-exam result, you skip May and that result stands.
Which score counts — February or May?
The better of the two. For regular students CBSE uses the better performance of the main and second exams in each subject when it prepares the final result, so a lower May score does not pull your marks down.
Does the two exam system apply to Class 12?
No. The two-exam system applies only to Class 10. CBSE's LOC circular for 2027 (17 September 2026) again has a single main exam for Class 12. Class 12 students can improve one subject in the July supplementary exam.
Can I improve only specific subjects in the May exam?
Yes, but only up to three subjects. Students who pass the main exam can improve their marks in any three of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and Languages, and can switch between Mathematics Standard and Basic for the second exam. Students who missed three or more subjects in the main exam are placed in 'Essential Repeat' and cannot take the second exam.
How is the final CBSE Class 10 score calculated?
Each subject is scored out of 100: 80 marks from the board exam + 20 marks from internal assessment. The board-exam part uses the better of your main and second exam marks. Internal assessment (20 marks) is made up of periodic assessment, multiple assessment, portfolio and subject enrichment (5 marks each). It is done once, before the main exam, and does not change.
What if I score lower in the May exam than February?
Your better performance is used, so the main-exam marks stay. The May result only counts where it is higher.
When are the February and May exams held?
In 2026 the main exam ran from 17 February to 11 March, and the second exam from 15 to 21 May. The second exam lasts about a week because each student sits at most three subjects. For 2027, CBSE's LOC circular says the main exam will be held in February–March 2027; the 2027 date sheets are not out yet.
Do I need to register separately for the May exam?
Yes. Your school submits a separate List of Candidates for the second exam after the main-exam result; in 2026 the fee was ₹320 per subject (₹960 for three), due 16–20 April.