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CBSE makes Class 10 1st board exam mandatory
CBSE has clarified its policy

CBSE makes Class 10 1st board exam mandatory

Feb 16, 2026
03:25 pm

What's the story

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it mandatory for Class 10 students to appear in the first board examination from February 17. Students who don't attempt at least three subjects in this exam will be put under the "Essential Repeat" category. This clarification comes after some requests were received asking for permission to skip the first exam due to various reasons.

Policy details

Students can improve their performance in 3 subjects

CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said, "It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first board examination." He added that students who pass and are eligible will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects from Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages. However, those who don't appear for at least three subjects in the first examination won't be allowed to sit for the second phase.

Exam restrictions

What happens if students don't appear for 3 subjects?

Bhardwaj further clarified that students who don't appear for three or more subjects in the first examination will be placed under "Essential Repeat." These students can only take the main examinations next year in February. The CBSE also said students whose results are Compartment in the first examination will be allowed to appear for the second examination under the Compartment Category.

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Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria for appearing in 2nd examination

The board has also set eligibility criteria for appearing in the second examination. This includes improvement in up to three main subjects, first/third chance compartment, compartment plus improvement, and improvement for students who passed with a replacement of the subject. Additional subjects won't be allowed after passing Class X and students won't be allowed in stand-alone subjects, according to the board's statement.

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