Indian school principals in the UAE have welcomed the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) decision to introduce biannual Class 10 board exams starting 2026, calling it a ‘student-friendly reform’ aimed at easing exam-related stress.
As per the revised guidelines, the first phase of the board exam will be held in February and will be mandatory for all students, while the second phase in May will be optional.
In a significant relief for students, the best score from either attempt will be retained for the final result — offering them a better chance at academic success without the pressure of a single high-stakes exam.
The decision represents a significant transformation in India’s education system, aligning with the key goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which prioritises student-focused learning and aims to ease exam-related pressure.
Lalitha Suresh, Principal/CEO, GEMS Our Own Indian School said, “There will not be many changes from the present structure of examinations. In the new model, the first round of examinations will be finished sooner, and results will be declared earlier. Only those students who wish to improve their results will have to appear for the second round of examinations. These students will be impacted, as they will miss some days of the new academic year. Students who have not qualified in the main examination will be allowed provisional admission into Class 11, with their admission then confirmed based on their results in the second examination.”
“This is a positive move from CBSE, aimed at reducing examination stress among students. I am sure pupils will benefit from this new scheme,” he added.
Principals also clarified that marks from this single internal assessment will apply to both attempts.
While the first set of exams in February will be mandatory for all and the second exam in to be held in May is optional, it is worth noting, that students will be allowed to improve performance in a maximum of three subjects only.
Shedding light on the implications of this decision on schools and teachers, Dr S. Reshma, Principal / School Director, Gulf Indian High School Dubai, said,
“Academic calendar adjustment will be necessary where schools must realign annual plans to prepare students for an earlier February exam. Summer exam attempt will add an additional planning cycle post-results. Teachers will experience increased workload as they will be required to prepare revision plans again, conduct internal assessments earlier, and support both exam cycles. Administrative coordination for exam logistics, invigilation, and result analysis will intensify. Deploying staff and scheduling during both exam phases has to be more careful in allocation.”
School leaders also emphasised that extended academic support and remedial classes may be required post-February for May aspirants.
Echoing similar challenges, Deepika Thapar Singh, Principal, Credence High School, said, “The changes to the CBSE Class 10 board exams from 2026 bring several significant implications for schools and teachers, especially in terms of scheduling, workload, pedagogy, and internal assessments. More intense planning will be needed to balance academic coverage with deep learning. Teachers must prepare students for two board exam windows, including identifying and mentoring students for improvement attempts. Teachers will analyse first-attempt performance and help students select subjects to retake in May.”
© Khaleej Times
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