The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has shared the likely dates for the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams in 2026 . The exams are expected to start on February 17, 2026 . This early announcement aims to help the estimated 40 lakh students who will take these crucial exams to plan their studies better. While these are tentative dates, the final schedule will be confirmed after schools send in all student details to CBSE.
For Class 10 students, the first phase of board exams is set to finish by March 9, 2026 . For Class 12 students, the board exams will conclude around April 9, 2026 . Students can download the draft exam schedule (PDF) from the official CBSE website, cbse.gov.in , to start planning their balanced study routines.
Concerns for Class 12 Students: Short Gap Before Entrance Exams
A major concern has come up among Class 12 students, especially those aiming for engineering or medical courses. These students need to appear for important national entrance tests like JEE Main and NEET-UG , which are usually held in late April or early May. This means there will only be a very short break of about 2 to 4 weeks after the CBSE Class 12 board exams end in mid-April.
A poll conducted by Shiksha.com asked students about this gap:
- A significant 52% of students felt that this window for preparation was "too short."
- Only 30% believed they had "plenty of time" to prepare.
- Another 19% thought the time given was "just enough."
Teachers and parents are also worried about this tight schedule. They fear that students might face extreme tiredness or 'burnout' because they will have very little time to relax and revise for these highly competitive entrance exams. Sumit Jain, a teacher from a well-known school chain in Noida, explained, "Students need more time to smoothly shift their focus from board exams to the different formats and demands of entrance exams."
Uniform Exam Timings
The CBSE board exams will follow a single time slot, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM each day. While this ensures fairness and consistency for all students, it also leads to a more compact exam period. This could potentially lead to clashes with other state-level or national entrance exams, making it harder for students to manage their schedules.
Class 10 Dual Exam Format: Mixed Student Feedback
For Class 10 , CBSE has introduced a dual exam format. Students can take the first session of exams in February-March and an optional second session in May-June . This new approach aims to give students more flexibility and reduce stress. However, feedback from Class 10 students has been mixed:
- 44% of students believe this dual format will effectively "reduce exam stress," which is a goal of recent educational changes.
- In contrast, 19% of students think it will "increase preparation duration," meaning they have to stay focused on exams for a longer part of the year.
- A notable 20% of students reported that they plan to "only take the first session" to avoid an extended period of study and pressure.
- Additionally, about 15% of students expressed that they are "still confused" about how the dual process works and are waiting for clearer guidance from CBSE.
Student Confidence in Board Exam Preparation
The level of confidence among students regarding their CBSE 2026 exam preparation also varies:
- 32% of students feel "very confident," mainly because the exam timetable was released early, giving them a clear roadmap.
- However, 27% of students stated they are "not confident" about their readiness.
- A further 20% admitted they have "yet to start" their serious preparation for the upcoming board exams.
What Students Should Do Now
With the tentative dates out, students should use this time wisely. Board exam results are generally announced in June 2026 . CBSE urges all students to visit cbse.gov.in , download the provisional datesheet, and create a balanced study plan that covers all subjects and allows for revision. The findings from these polls show that while new reforms are being introduced, it is also important to ensure students receive enough support to adapt and perform their best.
