My child sits CBSE Class 10 in 2027 under the two-board-exam system. What do we have to do, and when, from the October LOC through the first exam to the optional second exam?
Every CBSE Class 10 student sits the first board exam in February and March 2027; CBSE says it is compulsory. The second exam is optional and only open to students who sat the first. There they can improve up to three of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and the languages, or clear a compartment. The plan starts this October, because the subjects the school puts in the LOC are the only ones your child can take in the second exam. Missing three or more first-exam papers, for any reason, rules the second exam out, and a subject left out of the October LOC can't be added later.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 January 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Built from the February 2026 notification, the 2026-27 LOC circular and the 2026 result notices. The 2027 date sheet and second-exam notice were not on cbse.gov.in on 30 October 2026; this page is re-checked when they appear.
Does the second exam matter for your child, and what does that change this year?[1]
Do it now
Plan for the first exam as the real oneEvery Class 10 student. The first exam is compulsory, and the second only opens to students who sat it.
Check first
Keep the second exam as a backupYour child passed but wants a better score in up to three of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and the languages, or got a compartment result.
Not for you
The second exam is closedYour child missed three or more first-exam papers, for any reason. CBSE puts them in Essential Repeat and they sit next February's main exam.
Get help
Ask the school to check with CBSEYour child's result fits none of CBSE's four categories. The school's exam in-charge takes it to the CBSE regional office.
Compare the data verification slip with what your child actually studies, code by code. The second exam takes only subjects filled in this LOC, and the only change CBSE allows between the two exams is Mathematics Standard (041) to Basic (241) or back.[2]
Have ready
LOC data check does this step for you.
CBSE counts attendance up to 1 January of the session, and 75% is the minimum to sit the board exam. If your child falls short, only the school can send a condonation case, and it has to reach the regional office by 7 January.[3]
Have ready
75% attendance calculator does this step for you.
Treat each first-exam paper as compulsory. A student who does not appear in three or more subjects cannot take the second exam, whatever the reason, and CBSE says it will not answer requests to make an exception.[1]
Have ready
Note the result in each subject: passed, compartment, or passed because a skill subject or seventh language replaced a failed subject. That decides which of CBSE's four second-exam categories applies.[1]
Have ready
Second-exam eligibility (Class 10) does this step for you.
A passed student can retake up to three of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and the languages. A compartment student takes the compartment subject, and can add improvement in another. No new or stand-alone subject is allowed.[1]
Have ready
The school fills a separate LOC for the second exam once the first exam is over. Tell the exam in-charge the category and subjects in writing, and ask to see the entry before it goes in.[2]
Have ready
For regular students CBSE uses the better of the two performances. In a subject taken in both exams, you can get scanned copies of both answer books, but verification or re-evaluation of only one, chosen before you apply.[5]
Have ready
What happens: The second exam can only use subjects from this LOC. Standard to Basic or back is the one switch allowed; any other wrong code follows your child into May.[2]
Fix: Check the slip and report errors in writing before the window closes on 4 November 2026.
What happens: No second exam that year. CBSE places the student in Essential Repeat, and they sit the main exam next February.[1]
Fix: Plan travel, functions and appointments around the date sheet.
What happens: CBSE allows no additional or stand-alone subject after a student passes Class 10.[1]
Fix: Settle the full subject list before the October LOC.
What happens: CBSE takes verification or re-evaluation for only one of the two answer books in a subject, and won't take a second request.[5]
Fix: Get the scanned copies of both first, then pick the one you want checked.
What happens: Your child may not be allowed to sit the board exam. A shortage case only goes through the school, and the regional office has to get it by 7 January.[3]
Fix: Count the days now and keep a written leave application for every absence.
| If this is you | What changes |
|---|---|
| Passed every subject in the first exam | Category (a): improve up to three of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and the languages, or skip the second exam.[1] |
| Compartment in the first exam | Category (b) for the compartment subject, or (c) to add improvement in another subject.[1] |
| Passed because a skill subject or seventh language replaced a failed subject | Category (d). For languages, Hindi or English must still be a passed language among the first five after the swap.[2] |
| Absent in three or more first-exam subjects | No second exam. Essential Repeat, and the full main exam next February.[1] |
Books on Amazon.in
The NCERT textbooks first, then chapter-wise practice.
Or search Amazon.in yourself. Type what you need, or tap a common search.
NCERT Class 10 ScienceNCERT Class 10 MathsCBSE Class 10 sample papersCBSE Class 10 previous year papers
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Ratings checked October 2026. We don't show prices; Amazon has the current one.
CBSE's LOC circular puts the first 2027 exam in February and March. When we checked cbse.gov.in on 6 October 2026, the 2027 date sheet and the second exam's dates were not out yet. For a sense of the gaps: in 2026 the main exam ran from 17 February to 11 March and the second exam from 15 to 21 May. Results for both came through the DigiLocker results portal.[4]
Both exams cover the full year's syllabus, and the scheme of studies and of examination stays the same. A student sitting it for improvement is taking the same subject again, and for regular students CBSE uses the better of the two performances for the final result. CBSE's press release does not say whether that comparison is made subject by subject.[2]
Free printable
Class 10 two board exams: the year plan: one A4 page, black and white, with the decision, every step with a date box, and blanks to fill in.
Class 10 two board exams: the year plan
Parents of CBSE Class 10 students sitting the 2027 board exams
Decide
Does the second exam matter for your child, and what does that change this year?
Checklist
| Done | Step | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Slip subjects and codes match what my child studies | ||
| Maths code checked: Standard 041 or Basic 241 | ||
| Errors reported to the school in writing by 4 Nov 2026 | ||
| Attendance at 75% or more on 1 Jan 2027 | ||
| Every first-exam paper sat | ||
| First result read subject by subject | ||
| Category chosen: improvement, compartment, both, or none | ||
| Second-exam subjects given to the school in writing | ||
| Recheck: one answer book picked per subject |
Student name
School exam in-charge and phone
Subjects and codes (from the slip)
Subjects for the second exam
Source: CBSE notification No.31 dated 14.02.2026. Check the official circular before you act. correctpath.in/cbse/class-10-two-board-exams/
Two Board Examinations in Class X from 2026: Clarification, notification No.31/CBSE/CE/2-Board Examination-X/2026 dated 14.02.2026, Central Board of Secondary Education (p. 1, points 1-6). Checked 30 October 2026.
Every step above cites a numbered source; the full list is at the end of the page. If the board issues a newer circular, it overrides this page.
No. The first exam in February and March is compulsory for every Class 10 student. The second exam is an extra chance, open only to students who sat the first.[1]
No. CBSE's notification of 14 February 2026 says the first exam is mandatory for every student. A student who misses three or more papers in it, for any reason, can't take the second exam and is placed in Essential Repeat.[1]
Yes. The LOC circular says both exams are on the full syllabus for the year, and the scheme of studies and the scheme of examination stay the same.[2]
CBSE's press release of 18 July 2026 says that for regular students the better of the two performances is used for the final result. It does not say whether this is worked out subject by subject.[4]
No, not when we checked cbse.gov.in on 30 October 2026. The LOC circular only says the first exam is in February and March. In 2026 the main exam ran from 17 February to 11 March and the second exam from 15 to 21 May.[4]
Yes. The LOC circular asks schools to hold an orientation for Class 10 students and parents about the second exam, and to tell them that only the subjects filled in this LOC can be taken in it.[2]
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 30 October 2026.
Free alerts
We post board circulars, rule changes and deadlines on the day the official notice comes out.
How often each channel posts