CBSE Releases Tentative 2026 Board Exam Date sheets for Classes 10 and 12
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the tentative date sheets for the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations for the year 2026. Students can now access the timetables on the board’s official website, cbse.nic.in, to begin their preparations. The exams are set to be conducted in the traditional pen-and-paper format.
Major Changes for Class 10: A Two-Phase Examination
In a significant update, the CBSE will conduct the Class 10 board exams in two phases.
- Phase 1: This phase is mandatory for all students and is scheduled to run from 17 February to 9 March 2026.
- Phase 2: This phase is optional and will take place from 15 May to 1 June 2026. It will only be held for key subjects, including Maths, Science, Social Science, and Languages. Students will have the opportunity to retain the best score from the two exams.
Additionally, the board will conduct compartment exams for students who do not clear their Class 10 Phase 1 exams alongside the Phase 2 examinations.
Class 12 Exams to be Held Once
Unlike the new format for Class 10, the Class 12 board exams will be conducted just once. The examination period for Class 12 students is scheduled from 17 February to 9 April 2026.
It is important to note that these date sheets are tentative. The final timetables for both classes will be released by the board after schools submit the final List of Candidates (LOC).
Key Dates for Major Subjects: At a Glance
To help students plan their studies, here are the tentative dates for some of the major subjects.
Class 10 (Phase 1) Important Dates:
- Mathematics (Standard/Basic): 17 February 2026
- English (Communicative/Language and Literature): 21 February 2026
- Science: 25 February 2026
- Hindi (Course A/B): 2 March 2026
- Social Science: 7 March 2026
Class 12 Important Dates:
- Physics: 20 February 2026
- Business Studies: 21 February 2026
- Chemistry: 28 February 2026
- Mathematics / Applied Mathematics: 9 March 2026
- English (Elective/Core): 12 March 2026
- Economics: 18 March 2026
- Biology: 27 March 2026
- Accountancy: 28 March 2026
- History: 30 March 2026
Students are advised to refer to the tentative datesheet and begin planning their preparation strategy accordingly. For the full, detailed timetable, students should visit the official CBSE website.
Piya Rey is a passionate educator and content creator dedicated to making learning simple, engaging, and accessible for students. With a strong background in academics and a keen interest in innovative teaching methods, he specializes in breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand lessons. His goal is to inspire curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and help learners achieve academic success. Through his educational articles and resources, Aashish empowers students to build strong foundations and develop a lifelong love for learning.