CBSE Class 10 First Board Exam: Why You Cannot Skip It

You're a Class 10 student, and you've been hearing a lot of things about CBSE's new two-exam system. Some of your friends are saying, "It's fine, we can just skip the February exam and try in May." Others are telling you to not worry at all. And somewhere in the middle, you're just sitting there confused, wondering what's actually true.

It is time to sort this out.

Are There Two Board Exams Now?

Yes. Starting 2026, CBSE is conducting two board exams for Class 10 in the same academic year. The idea comes from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aimed to reduce the "one shot, one chance" pressure that students feel.

Here's how the schedule looks:

First Board Exam: February 17 to March 2026
Second Board Exam: May 15 to June 1, 2026

Both exams cover the full syllabus, so no shortcuts there.

And if you appear in both, your better score is what counts for the final result. So in theory, you can only go up, not down.

The First Exam Is NOT Optional

This is the part many students are getting wrong, and it's a big deal.

CBSE has clearly stated: It is mandatory for all Class 10 students to appear in the first board examination.

No exceptions. Not for personal reasons. Not for medical reasons. Not for any reason.

CBSE even received requests from students asking if they could skip the first exam and directly appear in May. The board's answer is a firm no. CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj officially confirmed this, and the board has also said it will not respond to any individual requests seeking exemptions from this rule.

So if you or anyone around you was thinking of sitting out the February exam, please don't.

What Happens If You Miss the First Exam?

If you don't appear in 3 or more subjects in the first board exam, CBSE places you in what's called the "Essential Repeat" category.

What does that mean? It means:

You cannot appear in the second exam in May
You will have to wait until February 2027 to reappear as a regular candidate
You essentially lose an entire academic year

That's a heavy consequence for missing an exam you thought you could skip.

However, if you miss 1 or 2 subjects in the first exam (and your result comes as "Compartment" in those), you still get a chance to appear in the second exam under the Compartment category. That's a relief, but it's still not something you'd want to land in unnecessarily.

Who Can Appear in the Second Exam?

The second exam in May is not for everyone. It's for specific categories:

Improvement Category: You passed the first exam but want better marks. You can attempt improvement in a maximum of 3 subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages.
Compartment Category: You didn't clear 1 or 2 subjects in the first exam. You get a chance to clear them in May.
Compartment + Improvement: You can appear under both categories at the same time.
Improvement After Subject Replacement: If you passed the first exam after replacing a subject, you can still appear for improvement in the second exam.

One important thing: once you've passed Class 10, you cannot take additional or stand-alone subjects separately through the second exam. That window is closed.

A Quick Recap: The "Do's and Don'ts"

Do:

Appear for the first board exam. No matter what.
Treat it as your main attempt and prepare seriously for it.
Use the second exam as a bonus if needed, to improve marks or clear the compartment.

Don't:

Think of skipping the February exam to "prepare more" for May.
Assume CBSE will make exceptions for you.
Wait until the last minute to understand these rules.

A Word to Students Who Are Nervous

It's completely okay to feel nervous. This is a new system, and change always brings confusion. But this two-exam system was actually brought in to help you. You now have two shots in one year instead of one. That's less pressure, not more.

The key is to show up. Appear in the first exam, give it your best, and if you feel like you can do better, the May exam is there as your safety net. Your score can only improve.

And remember that CBSE's "best score counts" policy means there's truly no downside to attempting both. You're not risking your first-exam marks by appearing in the second.