CBSE 2026 Exam Schedule Announced – Check Class 10th & 12th Dates
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced the CBSE 2026 board exam schedule for Class 10th and 12th students. Lakhs of students appear for the exam every year as it is the most important academic milestone. The release of the exam dates brings clarity and focus for the final phase of preparation.
The CBSE 2026 exams will be conducted offline, just like previous years. The date sheet announcement allows schools, students, and parents to streamline their revision plans, manage internal assessments, and ensure timely syllabus completion.
CBSE 2026 Exam Overview
The CBSE conducts board exams for Class 10 and Class 12 students across India and in several other countries. These exams are crucial for students’ academic progression, Class 10 results determine the choice of stream (Science, Commerce, or Arts), while Class 12 marks play a key role in college admissions.
Particulars | Details |
Exam Conducting Authority | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
Mode of Exam | Offline |
Exam Level | National |
Exam Duration: 3 hours per paper | 3 Hours per paper |
Frequency | Once a Year |
Official Website | :cbse.gov.in |
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CBSE 2026 Class 10th Exam Date Sheet Term 1
As per the official schedule, the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026 tern 1 is expected to be held from 15th February to 20th March 2026. The detailed subject-wise date sheet is released separately by CBSE, usually around December 2025. The exam duration will be for three hours from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
The exams generally begin with language papers like Hindi or English, followed by Science, Mathematics, and Social Science. Students should note that CBSE ensures a balanced gap between core subjects to facilitate proper revision.
CBSE Proposed Exam Date Sheet for Class 10th Term 1 | |
Dates | Subject |
February 17, 2026 | Mathematics Basic & Mathematics Standard |
February 18, 2026 | Home Science |
February 20, 2026 | Beauty and Wellness, Marketing & Sales, Apparel, Multi Media, Multiskill Foundation Course, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TRAINER, Data Science |
February 21, 2026 | English (Communicative), English (Language and Literature) |
February 23, 2026 | Telugu-Telangana, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Urdu Course-A, Bengali, Manipuri |
February 24, 2026 | Elements of Business, Urdu Course B |
February 25, 2026 | Science |
February 26, 2026 | Retail, Security, Automotive, Introduction to Financial Markets, Introduction to Tourism, Agriculture, Food Production, Front Office Operations, Banking and Insurance, Health Care, Apparel, Electronics and Hardware, Foundation Skill for Sciences, and Design Thinking & Innovation. |
February 27, 2026 | COMPUTER APPLICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE |
February 28, 2026 | Gurung, Urdu Course B, Sanskrit, Tamang, Rai, Sherpa, Sanskrit (Communicative) |
March 2, 2026 | Hindi Course B, Hindi Course A |
March 3, 2026 | Japanese, Spanish, Mizo, German, Elements of Book Keeping and Accountancy, Bhoti, Elements of Business, Bodo, Tangkhul, Bhutia Kashmiri, National Cadet Corps, Telugu-Telangana, Bahasa Melayu, Tibetan |
March 5, 2026 | Malayalam, Odia, Sindhi, Kokborok, Kannada, Assamese |
March 6, 2026 | Painting |
March 7, 2026 | Political Science |
March 9, 2026 | Persian, Nepali, Limboo, Russian, Carnatic Music (Vocal), Carnatic Music (Percussion Instruments), Thai, Hindustani Music (Percussion Instruments), Hindustani Music (Vocal), Arabic, Carnatic Music (Melodic Instruments), German, Physical Activity Trainer, Elements of Book Keeping & Accountancy, Telegu, Hindustani Music (Melodic Instruments) |
March 10, 2026 | French |
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CBSE Exam Datesheet Term 2
From this year, 2025-26, CBSE will have two terms for the students of class 10th to reduce stress and give them one more opportunity to score well in the exam. The detailed datesheet of term 2 is given below:
CBSE Term 2 Proposed Exam Datesheet | |
Date | Subject |
15 May 2026 | Mathematics (Standard & Basic) |
16 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
18 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
19 May 2026 | Science |
20 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
21 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
22 May 2026 | Social Science |
23 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
25 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
26 May 2026 | Language Exam |
28 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
29 May 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
30 May 2026 | Language Exam |
1 June 2026 | Compartmental Subjects |
CBSE 2026 Class 12th Exam Dates
For Class 12 students, the CBSE Board Exams 2026 are also scheduled to begin from February 15, 2026, and will continue till April 10, 2026. CBSE conducts exams for all three streams: Science, Commerce, and Arts. The date sheet is meticulously structured to avoid overlapping major subjects and to give students enough revision time for each subject so that they can score well in each exam.
CBSE Class 12th Exam Datesheet 2025-26 | |
Date | Subject |
February 17, 2026 | Entrepreneurship, Shorthand (Hindi and English), Biotechnology |
February 18, 2026 | Physical Education |
February 19, 2026 | Engineering Graphics, Bharatanatyam – Dance, Kuchipudi – Dance, Odissi – Dance, Manipuri – Dance, Kathakali – Dance, Horticulture, Cost Accounting. |
February 20, 2026 | Physics |
February 21, 2026 | Automotive, Fashion Studies. |
February 23, 2026 | Mass Media Studies, Design Thinking and Innovation. |
February 24, 2026 | Accountancy |
February 25, 2026 | Beauty & Wellness, Typography & Computer Application. |
February 26, 2026 | Geography |
February 27, 2026 | Painting, Graphics, Sculpture, Applied Art (Commercial Art). |
February 28, 2026 | Chemistry |
March 2, 2026 | Urdu Elective, Sanskrit Elective, Carnatic Music Vocal, Carnatic Music Mel Ins (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM), Carnatic Music Per Ins Mridangam, Kathak – Dance, Urdu Core, Front Office Operations, Insurance, Geospatial Technology, Electrical Technology. |
March 3, 2026 | Legal Studies |
March 5, 2026 | Psychology |
March 6, 2026 | Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Sindhi, Marathi, Gujarati, Manipuri, Odia, Assamese, Kannada, Arabic, Tibetan, German, Russian, Persian, Nepali, Limboo, Lepcha, Telugu (Telangana), Bodo, Tangkhul, Japanese, Malayalam, Bhutia, Spanish, Kashmiri, Mizo. |
March 7, 2026 | Yoga, ELECTRONICS & HARDWARE |
March 9, 2026 | Applied Mathematics, Mathematics |
March 10, 2026 | Early Childhood Care & Education, Office Procedures and Practices, Food Production, Library & Information Science |
March 11, 2026 | Hindustani Music Vocal, Health Care, Design. |
March 12, 2026 | English Core, English Elective |
March 13, 2026 | Air-conditioning & Refrigeration, Tourism |
March 14, 2026 | Home Science |
March 16, 2026 | Hindi Core, Hindi Elective |
March 17, 2026 | HINDUSTANI MUSIC VOCAL |
March 18, 2026 | Economics |
March 19, 2026 | Physical Activity Trainer |
March 20, 2026 | Marketing |
March 23, 2026 | Political Science |
March 24, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence, RETAIL |
March 25, 2026 | Information Technology, Informatics Practices, Computer Science |
March 27, 2026 | Biology |
March 28, 2026 | Business Studies, Business Administration |
March 30, 2026 | History |
April 1, 2026 | Salesmanship, Agriculture, Medical Diagnostics, Financial Market Management |
April 2, 2026 | Food Nutrition & Dietetics, National Cadet Corps (NCC) |
April 4, 2026 | Sociology |
April 6, 2026 | Electronics Technology, Knowledge Tradition & Practices of India, Banking, Bhoti, Kokborok |
April 7, 2026 | Web Application |
April 8, 2026 | Textile Design, Retail, Taxation, French |
April 9, 2026 | Data Science, Sanskrit Core, Multi-media |
Important Points
- Exams will be held in a single shift (morning session only).
- Each paper will carry a maximum of 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for internal/practical assessment.
- Gaps between major subjects have been thoughtfully planned to help students revise.
- The Class 10 and 12 practical exams are expected to be conducted in January- February 2026 in the respective schools.
Important Exam Day Instructions
- Students must carry their CBSE admit card and valid school ID to the exam hall.
- Reach the exam centre at least 30 minutes early.
- Use only blue/black ballpoint pens for writing answers.
- Electronic devices, smart watches, or calculators (unless permitted) are strictly prohibited.
- Double-check the subject code and name on the question paper before starting.
Preparation Tips for CBSE 2026 Board Exams
- Start Early Revision: Begin revising key subjects at least three months before the exam.
- Focus on NCERT Books: CBSE strictly follows NCERT-based questions, especially in Science and Maths.
- Solve Sample Papers: Practice CBSE-issued sample papers and previous years’ papers to understand the question pattern.
- Time Management: Divide study hours wisely among theory, revision, and mock tests.
- Health and Rest: Sleep well, eat healthy, and take short breaks during study hours.
- Mock Practice: Attempt 3-hour mock exams in real exam conditions to build writing speed and accuracy.
Conclusion
The CBSE exam date announcement is an important milestone in the academic journey of class 10th and 12th students. The exam date announcement clarifies how much time they have left to prepare for a significant exam. At SSR Academy, we prepare our students to tackle the CBSE class 10th & 12th exams and help them score well in the exam with our expert team.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the CBSE 2026 exams start?
Answer: The exams are expected to begin on February 15, 2026, for both Class 10 and 12. The class 10th exam will finish on March 10, 2026, while for class 12th they will end on April 9, 2026.
How can I download the CBSE 2026 date sheet?
Answer:>Visit cbse.gov.in and click on the date sheet link under ‘Latest Announcements’. You will find the CBSE class 10th and 12th exam date sheet. You can also get the latest exam datesheet from our SSR Academy.
Will CBSE conduct two-term exams in 2026?
AnswerYes, in 2026, the class 10th exam will be conducted in two terms; the first term will be from February 15 to March 10, 2026, while the second term will be from May 15 to June 1, 2026.
When are the CBSE practical exams for 2026?
Answer: Practical exams are likely to be held in January–February 2026. The practical exams will be conducted in the respective schools, and the information will also be shared by their school.
What is the exam timing for CBSE 2026?
Answer: All exams will be held from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM in a single shift.