This year Class 10 Board exams will start with Mathematics (Basic and Standard) Subject on Feb 17, 2026. English, Science, and Social Science have been spaced out to allow sufficient revision time.
CBSE Class 10, Class 12 Board Exam Tentative Dates Out
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued the tentative date-sheet for board exams for Class 10 and Class 12. The 2026 exams will start on Feb 17, 2026 for both the classes, while last year Class 12 exams started later than Class 10.
Key Changes in the 2026 Board Exam Schedule
As per the official date sheet issued by CBSE Controller of Examination, Sanyam Bharadwaj, students will notice some changes in the board exams 2026 compared to last year. Gap between main subjects like Mathematics, Science have been increased this time, giving students extra time to prepare.
In order to avoid overlapping of theory and practical papers, the practical examination for Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects of Class XII will be held before their theory papers. to avoid overlap.
CBSE has very carefully planned the dates for Electives and Vocational subjects so that it does not create any disturbance in relation to clash of dates.
Subject-wise Highlights: Class 10, Class 12
Class 10 Board exams will start with Mathematics (Basic and Standard) Subject on Feb 17, 2026. English, Science, and Social Science have been spaced out to allow sufficient revision time. Practical assessments for subjects like Information Technology and Computer Applications will take place before theory exams. The Class 10 exams will conclude by March 9, 2026.
Class 12 exam will also begin on Feb 17, with subjects like Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship first. The practical exams for Science stream will probably be conducted in the first week of February. Electives and vocational subjects appear later in the timetable to reduce stress. The exams will conclude by April 9, 2026.
Tips for Board Students
It would be better to prioritize high-weightage subjects when planning your study schedule.
Use gaps between exams to revise difficult topics.
Complete your practical exam on time to avoid last-minute pressure.
CBSE 2026 exam timetable has been made to reduce exam stress and help students prepare well.
Read More:
In the Accountancy subject, the CBSE Board has decided to do away with the answer books wherein tables were provided for the subject of Accountancy.
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Given below is the exam structure of CBSE class 10 social science 2025. Students can refer to it to plan their preparation:
Section
No. of questions
Type of questions
Marks per question
Total weightage (marks)
A
20
MCQs
1
20
B
4
Very short answer type questions
2
8
C
5
Short answer type questions
3
15
D
4
Long answer type questions
5
20
E
3
Case based questions
4
12
F
1
Map based
5
5
Total
37
80