CBSE Class 10 second board exams 2026 start May 15; optional second attempt lets students keep best-of-two scores
The Central Board of Secondary Education's CBSE Class 10 second board exams 2026 begin on May 15 and run through May 21, 2026 . Mathematics (Standard and Basic) is the opening paper, with exams commonly scheduled from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM .
CBSE Class 10 second board exams 2026: who has registered and why it matters
The Union Territory education department says 1,752 students from government schools have registered for the optional second attempt. The scheme lets passed students and those with compartments try again to improve marks, with the board allowing retention of the better score from the two attempts.
UT government schools recorded a strong main-exam performance this year, with an overall pass percentage of 88.25% , up from 81.18% last year. That context explains why many registered students are aiming for grade improvement rather than basic pass requirements.
CBSE Class 10 second board exams 2026: schedule and paper details
The second board follows the same syllabus and exam pattern as the main February–March exam. Key papers and dates are: Mathematics on May 15 , English on May 16 , Science on May 18 , Languages (Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu) on May 19 , and Social Science on May 21 . Most papers run for three hours, though some may finish earlier depending on the subject.
Students may appear in up to three subjects among Science, Mathematics, Social Science and Languages. Those who sat the main exam can change their Maths level between Standard and Basic for the second attempt — a flexibility stemming from the dual-level Maths scheme introduced in 2019 .
Rules, eligibility and key student actions
The second board is open to passed students seeking improvement and to compartment candidates; students in the Essential Repeat (ER) category are not eligible. Registered students may withdraw after registration if they choose.
CBSE has made clear that if a student registers and then does not appear on exam day, the main exam result will remain final. Students must carry their admit card and a valid photo ID to the examination centre.
The second board attempt is designed to give students one more chance to boost marks while keeping the evaluation system consistent with the main exam. Local education authorities will run the exams at designated centres across the Union Territory.