CBSE Board Exam 2026: Two exams for Class 10 ‘exhausting’ for teachers, cause more anxiety for students

CBSE Board Exam 2026: As CBSE rolls out its two-exam system for Class 10 starting 2026, teachers across India are warning that the reform, meant to reduce student stress, has left them overburdened. With back-to-back exams, evaluation duties, and overlapping schedules. The academic calendar has become what many describe as a “continuous examination cycle.”

“In trying to give CBSE students two chances , the board has left teachers with no breathing space,” said Maya*, a CBSE school teacher in Bengaluru. “With evaluation work, report submissions, and preparation for the next term all overlapping, the school calendar has turned into a continuous examination loop.”

Under the recent plan, the tentative schedule for the 2026 CBSE board examinations spans nearly five months, from February 17 to July 15, 2026, covering Classes 10 and 12. The first phase of Class 10 exams will be conducted from February 17 to March 31, while the second board examination for students seeking improvement or compartment clearance is scheduled for May 25 to June 25.

Alongside, Class 12 main exams and supplementary exams are also planned within this period, including special examinations for sports students. CBSE expects approximately 45 lakh candidates across 204 subjects to appear for exams in India and 26 countries abroad.

The board has also outlined an evaluation timeline – answer scripts for each subject will be evaluated starting roughly 10 days after the exam, with completion expected within 12 days. For instance, if the Class 10 Physics exam is scheduled on February 20, evaluation is likely to begin on March 3 and finish by March 15.

The CBSE board also notes that these date sheets are tentative, intended to help students, teachers, and schools plan study schedules, teaching assignments, and administrative tasks well in advance, while final schedules will be confirmed closer to the exams.

CBSE Board Exams: Teaching time shrinks

The longer CBSE exam cycle , teachers say, has compressed classroom learning and extended assessment work by several months. “We are already rushing through the syllabus to meet deadlines,” said Aranjina S, a science teacher from Bengaluru who has worked in Chennai as well. “Now we have to finish portions earlier, prepare students for two rounds, and manage evaluation work in between. It’s exhausting.”

Aranjina recalled the case of a student who had performed extremely poorly in her class 10 board exams, reportedly due to ill health. She said, “The student pleaded for a re-examination, but at that time, it wasn't an option. Through no fault of her own, she was forced to repeat the year. Yet, the following year, she scored the highest marks. It's indeed a twisted policy but I think with this for some it is like a lottery win, she concluded.

Anita Kesava V C , a teacher from Hyderabad, pointed to workload issues. “Two board exams mean two sets of invigilation duties, paper corrections, and re-teaching for improvement attempts,” she said. “If there’s no matching reduction in administrative load, the teaching focus gets diluted.”

Former principal and education consultant SK Dutt said, “This reform must come with systemic support — extra staff for evaluation, better timetables, and teacher training. Without that, schools will struggle.”

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Ravi Prakash, an NGO member in Nagercoil, said, “Two rounds of board exams in a year mean twice the correction work, twice the coordination, and no real break for planning lessons. The board must release a concrete academic calendar before rollout.”

CBSE Exams: Classroom reality

CBSE’s two-exam policy has reshaped teaching schedules. Lesson plans, project work, and conceptual discussions are repeatedly interrupted by evaluation and exam duties. “Every decision — from when to finish a unit to how many practice tests to hold — is now dictated by exam deadlines,” said Girija M, a social science teacher from Pune.

Girija also said with the shift to 50% competency-based questions , teachers must also prepare students for application- and reasoning-oriented tests. “Designing and teaching these new formats takes time and training. “Right now, we barely have time to complete the basics.”

Students say the new schedule makes planning impossible. “It feels like we’re always preparing for the next test,” said Ananya*, a Class 10 student in Chennai. “As soon as one paper ends, we’re already thinking about next month’s exam. There’s no real break to focus on learning or hobbies.”

Aditya Krishnan, a Class 10 student from Kochi, echoed the sentiment: “Everyone says it’ll reduce stress, but for us it’s double the anxiety. We’re constantly thinking about marks instead of understanding the subjects. Every month has something — unit tests, pre-boards, then Phase 1, then Phase 2. It’s like the whole year is one exam.”

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Kanni A, a student from Chennai, raised a practical concern. “What happens if the first exam is in December, right after half-yearlies? We barely get a break. Schools must plan better, or it’ll be exhausting”. Kanni also expressed her immense anxiety and frustration when she thinks about the whole system in place. “My friends go to therapy for the stress, I'm afraid I might have to go too…”

Aman V, student council representative from Tiruchy, said, “I look at this in both ways. If one exam becomes just a practice test and the other is taken more seriously, then the whole purpose is lost. With pre-boards and mocks already in place, it feels like we’re preparing for an exam every single month. It’s hard to stay focused on learning rather than just scoring.”

At the same time, he added, “It’s a progressive step. Students who don’t perform well under pressure finally get a fair chance. If implemented well, it can actually improve learning outcomes.”

Some students welcome the flexibility. Riya S, a Class 9 student in Bengaluru, said, “Knowing I’ll get another chance makes it easier to prepare without panic. But I understand why Class 10 students feel every month is another test.”

Sahana Gupta, a Class 9 student, said, “I’m really happy that we now get a chance to write the exam again if we don’t score well the first time. Who wouldn’t want that option — even toppers would. My senior actually improved his marks by rewriting. But I remember my brother saying it might feel a little unfair to those who did really well in the first attempt.”

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CBSE Class 10, 12 Exams: Implementation gaps

Ritu Malhotra, an education consultant in Chennai, said, “Multiple opportunities are good in principle. But it requires parallel planning — from teacher deployment to evaluation logistics. Otherwise, it adds pressure instead of easing it.”

She added that many of her friends who teach in CBSE schools have found the new schedule overwhelming. “A few teachers told me that the workload has become so intense that meaningful evaluation often suffers,” she said. “When exams, corrections, and internal assessments overlap, the focus shifts from quality correction to just completing the task. In some cases, papers are marked in haste, and that can easily lead to inconsistencies or bias.

“It’s a progressive move under the NEP as it gives students two chances and reduces the pressure of a single exam,” said a government official who recently cleared the Public Service Commission (PSC) exam. “However, the downside is it could shift the focus from genuine learning to merely passing the test, which might affect the overall quality of education.”

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With the current schedule, teachers face months of continuous correction, preparation, and administration, leaving little time for instructional focus or remedial learning. “It’s not the intent that’s wrong,” said Rajaa ML, a teacher from Kodaikanal. “It’s the pacing. We needed a full transition year. Instead, we’re learning while running.”

“The two-exam system marks one of the biggest shifts in India’s assessment framework in decades. While it promises flexibility, it also brings questions of preparedness, cost, and curriculum balance,” said Deeksha H, a parent and a member of a parents association in Telangana. “This decision is still going to be a debate and will possibly bring in various questions for everyone in CBSE schools,” she added.