The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has once again clarified important guidelines for students appearing in CBSE Class 10 and CBSE Class 12 Board Examinations. In an official public notice, the board underlined essential eligibility criteria that every student and school must strictly follow to appear in the upcoming exams.
Two-Year Study Requirement for Eligibility
CBSE emphasized that Class 10 and Class 12 are structured as two-year academic programs.
- For Class 10 exams, students must study continuously through Class 9 and Class 10.
- For Class 12 exams, preparation involves both Class 11 and Class 12.
The board made it clear that students must complete study of all subjects over the full two-year period to qualify for board exams. Partial or one-year study is not acceptable.
75% Attendance Mandatory
One of the most critical points highlighted by CBSE is the requirement of minimum 75% attendance in school.
Students failing to meet this threshold will not be allowed to sit in the Board exams and will instead be placed in the “Essential Repeat Category”, regardless of their regular student status.
Internal Assessment Is Crucial
As per the guidelines introduced by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, internal assessment is a mandatory, ongoing part of the evaluation process for all subjects.
Without proper attendance and active participation in school, internal assessment cannot be completed, and hence the board will not declare the result of such students.
Rules for Additional Subjects
CBSE permits students to take additional subjects beyond the core ones:
- In Class 10, up to two additional subjects can be taken.
- In Class 12, a maximum of one additional subject is allowed.
Students opting for these additional subjects must study them for the full two years, just like their main subjects.
No Permission, No Subject
The board strictly stated that if a school is not officially authorized by CBSE to offer a subject — meaning it lacks the required infrastructure such as qualified teachers or labs — its students are not allowed to offer that subject, whether as a main or additional subject.
Private Candidate Rules
If a student fails in a subject and is placed in the “Compartment” or “Essential Repeat Category”, they are only eligible to appear again as a private candidate for that specific category.
However, students who do not meet the minimum two-year study or attendance requirement cannot opt for these subjects as private candidates.
The notice issued by Sanyam Bharadwaj, Controller of Examinations, CBSE, stresses the need for strict adherence to these guidelines to maintain academic standards and fairness in the board examinations.
Students and schools are advised to regularly visit the official CBSE website for updated information and further instructions.
