👉Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) Board New Exam Pattern 2026: 50% of the question paper will consist of competency-based questions, 20% will be multiple-choice questions, and 30% will be short or long questions.
👉The CBSE practical exams for regular session schools are scheduled from January 1, 2026, to February 14, 2026. For winter-bound schools, the practical exams took place earlier, from November 6, 2025, to December 6, 2025.
Overall Exam Pattern
Competency-Based and Application-Oriented Questions (Class 10 and 12): make up 50% of the paper. They include MCQs, case-based questions, source-based or integrated questions, data interpretation, and situational problem questions.
Select Response Type Questions: MCQs account for 20% of the paper.
Constructed Response Questions: Short answer and long answer questions make up 30% of the paper.
Total Marks: The theory exam is for 80 marks, with 20 marks assigned for internal assessment.
The duration for theory exam papers is 3 hours.
The goal is to move away from rote memorization. The focus is on conceptual understanding, analytical thinking, and applying knowledge to real-life situations.
Class 12 students — How to prepare
- Expect more application-based questions; be ready to apply concepts rather than just memorize facts. Practice multiple-choice questions, case-based questions, data interpretation, and conceptual questions.
- Don't overlook descriptive or long-answer practice; about 30% of the exam will require clear, structured answers.
- Focus on understanding instead of quick memorization. The emphasis is shifting from recall to reasoning and analysis.
- If you have practical or internal assessment components, like lab work, projects, or assignments, maintain steady performance throughout the year. Those may carry weight depending on the subject or stream.
Dual Exam System for Class 10
- Starting in 2026, for class 10, there will be two board exams each academic year.
- The first exam will take place around February and is mandatory for all students.
- The second exam, in May, will be optional for those who want to improve their scores or retake failed subjects.
- Internal assessments, including practical work, projects, and assignments, will occur only once each academic year.
Note: Currently, the two-exam policy applies only to Class 10. Similar changes for Class 12 may be considered in the future.
Subject-wise structure changes (for Class 10)
- In Science, the paper will be divided into distinct sections for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, rather than mixing them.
- In Social Science, the paper will be split into sections like History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics, providing a clearer subject-wise division.
- In Mathematics, students can choose between Standard or Basic levels, and no major changes have been announced yet.
- For Class 12, the broad question-type distribution, including competency-based, MCQ, and descriptive questions, will remain similar to 2025, but there will be a greater focus on understanding concepts and their application.
What students / parents should know & prepare for
- Students must have at least 75% attendance to be eligible for board exams.
- The focus should move from memorization to understanding concepts. Students should practice multiple-choice questions, case-based questions, data interpretation, and application-based problems.
- Internal assessments, projects, and practicals carry significant weight. Consistent performance throughout the year is important.
- For Class 10, the first exam is mandatory, while the second exam is optional for improvement or compartment. Use the second chance wisely if needed.
- For Class 12, stay updated. Major changes are happening for Class 10 now, and similar reforms might be introduced for Class 12 in the coming years.
👉Exam Dates:
Class 10
Phase 1: February 17 to March 10, 2026
Phase 2: (Optional/Improvement): Starts May 2026
Class 12
Start Date: February 17, 2026
End Date: April 9, 2026
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