The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released new rules for students appearing in the 2026 board exams. These rules explain who can take the second board exam, which is held in May, after the first exam in February. The CBSE shared these updates during a national online meeting on November 20 .
A main point of the new rules is that students who miss too many subjects in the first exam will not be allowed to take the second exam. This update is very important for all students planning for their Class 10 and Class 12 board exams in 2026.
Who Can Take the Second Board Exam?
Under the new two-board exam system, not all students can appear for the second exam in May. There are clear rules about who is eligible. The second exam offers a chance for some students to improve their scores or to take exams they missed earlier.
| Situation | Eligibility for Second Exam (May Session) |
| Absent in 1 or 2 subjects in First Exam (February) | YES , allowed to appear |
| Failed in 1 or 2 subjects in First Exam (February) | YES , can appear for compartment exam |
| Wants to improve marks in subjects from First Exam | YES , allowed if all other rules are met |
| Absent in 3 or more subjects in First Exam (February) | NO , not allowed. Will get 'Essential Repeat' status. |
What 'Essential Repeat' Means
The CBSE has made it very clear: if a student is absent from three or more subjects in the first board exam held in February, they will not be allowed to take the second exam in May. These students will get an 'Essential Repeat' status. This means they will have to wait until the next year to take their board exams again.
This rule aims to make sure students take the first exam seriously. It also ensures that the second exam is used for its intended purpose: to help students who faced minor issues or want to do better, rather than those who missed a large part of their first attempt.
Purpose of the Second Board Exam
The CBSE has stressed that the second board exam is not a replacement for the first one. It is an extra chance. This chance is mainly for two types of students:
- Students who could not take their first exam for valid reasons.
- Students who want to improve the marks they got in their first exam.
It is important for students and parents to understand that the first board exam remains the main and primary examination. The second exam is a supportive option.
Which Subjects Will Have a Second Exam?
The second board exam in May will not be held for every subject. It will only be conducted for subjects where more than half ( more than 50% ) of the total marks come from the external written paper. This means subjects that have a large practical or internal assessment component, and a small written exam, might not have a second exam option.
Students should check their subject list carefully to understand which exams they can retake in the May session if needed. This information will usually be detailed in official notices from CBSE.
Expectations for Student Participation
CBSE Chairman, Rahul Singh, spoke during the webinar about how many students are expected to take the second exam. He mentioned that the board expects up to 40% of students to appear in each subject during the second board exam. This shows that the CBSE expects a good number of students to use this opportunity to either improve their scores or complete their exams if they missed them.
These new guidelines are put in place to help students plan their studies and exam attempts better for the 2026 board exams. Students and schools must follow these rules carefully to ensure a smooth examination process.
