CBSE second board exam: who can sit it

A CBSE Class 10 student can give the second board exam in May in set cases. A student who passed can try to improve up to three main subjects. A student with a Compartment result - a subject not yet passed - can clear it and also improve another. A student who missed three or more papers in February cannot sit it.

Who can give the second board exam in Class 10?

CBSE's notification on two board exams lists four groups who may sit the second exam:

• Students who passed and want to improve, in up to three main subjects.
• Students with a Compartment result - a subject to clear again - whether it is their first try at clearing it or their third.
• Students with a compartment who also want to improve another subject.
• Students who passed because a failed subject was replaced by an optional one, and now want to improve.

Is the first board exam compulsory?

"It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first Board examination."

The second exam is built on top of the first, not beside it. No new names can be added to the list for the second exam. So a student who skips February has not put off a choice. They have also lost the May exam.

Who cannot appear in the second board exam?

A student who did not sit three or more subjects in the first exam cannot sit the second. CBSE places them in a group called Essential Repeat. They take the main exam again the next February.

A student cannot add a new subject for the second exam either. Subject changes are not allowed, except where CBSE's policy allows them. In 2026, the one change allowed was between Maths Standard and Maths Basic.

How many subjects can you improve in the second board exam?

Up to three. The notification says a student may improve "in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages". Three is the most, not a set number. Your child can sit one, two or three.

Both exams cover the full syllabus for the year. The paper pattern stays the same. The second exam is the same exam again, not a lighter one.

Which score counts in the two board exams?

The better one. CBSE's press release of 18 July 2026 says "the better of the two performances is considered for preparing the final result". This is the best of two rule. A lower mark in May does not pull a February mark down.

One more rule from the 2026 cycle is worth knowing. Say a student is registered and the fee is paid, but misses the May paper. Then the February result stands as final.

What happens to the 20 internal marks?

"Internal assessment will be conducted only once before the main examinations."

Internal assessment means the 20 marks the school gives for tests and projects across the year. It is held once, before February, and carried to both exams. Only the written paper is sat again. Internal assessment: 20 marks, one attempt explains how those marks are made up.

Passing still needs 33% of each part on its own. What the passing rules actually say shows how the two checks work.

When are the results declared?

• The notification plans the first results for April and the second for June.
• In 2026, the first results came on 15 April and the second on 18 July.
• The February marks are put in DigiLocker. A student who does not sit the second exam can use them for Class 11 admission.
• A student who did not pass in February can get a provisional seat in Class 11. The second exam result then confirms it.
• The passing document and the merit certificate are issued only after the second results.

Who fills the form, and what is the fee?

The school fills the form for the second exam, not the family. CBSE calls this list the LOC, the List of Candidates. It is filled in separately from the list for February.

For the 2026 second exam, the CBSE circular on the second exam's LOC set the fee in India at Rs 320 per subject. There was a late fee after the last date. Fees and dates are set again each year, so check the current circular.

Should your child sit the second exam?

That depends on the child and the subject, not on the rules. Should your child sit the second board exam? sets out when it is likely to help and when it is not. If one paper went badly, why children lose marks they actually knew helps you find the cause first.

When can you see the marked answer book?

Only after the second exam's results. The copy, the check of totals and the fresh look open then, for both exams together. So the marked February paper cannot help you decide about May. Photocopy, verification and re-evaluation covers what comes after, and whether re-evaluation is worth it helps you decide.

Does ICSE have a second board exam?

ICSE has its own improvement exam in the same year. The CISCE regulations for the ICSE exam let a student sit up to three subjects again. The higher of the two marks counts. The rules above are CBSE's and do not apply to ICSE. These rules are from CISCE's latest published edition, the one for the 2028 exam. Check the edition for your child's exam year.

About the author

Prabhjeet Singh

Founder Member & Director

An MBA (Finance and Strategy) with over 16 years across strategy, technology and operations. At TRUtesting he makes sure the platform is built to serve schools reliably and at scale.

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