Condition to Appear in Second Board Examinations

CBSE has issued a circular to specify the conditions for appearing in the Second Board Examinations. In line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CBSE introduced the Two-Board Examination Policy on 25 June 2025. Under this policy, Class X students have the opportunity to improve their performance in up to three subjects by appearing in the Second Board Examinations scheduled for May 2026.

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The following are the conditions for appearing in the Second Board Examinations:

Not for All

The second board exam is not for all students. Only students who fulfil the conditions are eligible to appear in board exams. It is the duty of the school principals to guide students and their parents about the rules of the Second Board Examinations and use this facility only in dire need.

CBSE has placed particular emphasis on the term “dire need,” which clearly indicates that it does not intend for a large number of students to appear for the second board examination. The Class 10 board result is primarily used for stream selection in Class 11. Therefore, if a student has already secured around 90% marks and is able to obtain their desired stream, there is little reason to opt for the second examination for marginal improvement. Doing so may only lead to additional stress without offering any significant benefit.

Compulsory for Compartment Students

Candidates who appeared in the main examinations and are placed in the compartment category must resubmit their List of Candidates (LOC), as their subject choices for improvement may change. For such students, appearing in the Second Board Examination is compulsory.

In Class 10, a student can be placed in the compartment category in a maximum of two subjects. If a student receives a compartment result in one or two subjects, they must appear in the Second Board Examination to obtain the passing certificate in the same academic year. Failing to do so will require them to reappear in the compartment examination the following year to secure the CBSE passing certificate.

Students should note that, due to the limited number of examination centres, the allotted centre may not be located nearby. Additionally, once an examination centre has been assigned, no requests for change will be entertained.

Who can appear in the Second Board Exam

Here are the conditions to appear in the Second Board Examinations.

• It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first Board examination.
• All passed and eligible students are allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages.
• If a student has not appeared in 3 or more subjects in the first examination, then he/she is not eligible to appear in the second examination. Such students are allowed to appear in the main examination only next year in the month of February. Accordingly, they will not be able to submit LOC.
• For students whose result in the first examination is Compartment, such students are allowed to appear in the second examination under the Compartment Category.
• No new names will be added to the LOC of the second examination.
• Subject changes are not allowed from the first examination to the second examination, except as permitted by policy in case of Mathematics.
• No correction in the student’s data from the first examination to the second examination is allowed.
• Candidates who were registered as CWSN candidates in the first examination will only be extended the facilities as provided by the CBSE. No new candidate is allowed under the CWSN category in the Second Board Examinations.

Eligibility in Short

Only the following two cases can appear in the second board exam:

1. Improvement Cases
2. Compartment Cases

Eligibility Criteria for Second Board Exam

The eligibility to appear in the second examination is as follows:

1. a student must have appeared in at least 3 examinations in the first Examinations,
2. Must have passed Class X to appear in the improvement
3. Placed in the compartment category.
4. Passed Class X by replacing with the 6th subject.
5. Students placed under UFM category 1 (if otherwise eligible).
6. Students were placed in the Compartment category in the 2025 examinations.
7. Any student who has not appeared in 03 or more subjects in the 2026 Main examination is not eligible for the Second Board Examination.
8. Improvement category up to 3 main subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and language
9. First/Third Chance Compartment
10. Compartment + Improvement
11. Improvement for the students passed by the replacement of the subject.
12. Sports students who were given permission by the Board.
13. If a student has not appeared because of any reasons/ failed in 3 or more subjects in the First Examination, then he/she is not eligible to appear for the Second Board Examinations.
14. Students placed in the ER category are not eligible for the Second Board Examinations. They are allowed next year in the main examinations.

Conclusion

If you want to give another name to this so-called second board exam, you can name it “Compartment-cum-Improvement Exam” with so many conditions. So, the second board exam is not actually the same as the name suggests; it’s simply a combination of the compartment and improvement exam.