CBSE's Biannual Board Exam Plan for 2026 Raises Concerns Among Students, Parents

CBSE's new plan to hold board exams twice a year from 2026 is causing concern over logistical issues, stress levels, and coaching overlaps. Here's what experts and parents say.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)’s announcement to hold board exams twice a year starting in 2026 has triggered mixed reactions among students, parents, and school leaders. While the move aims to reduce exam stress and allow students to improve scores, several stakeholders are raising concerns about its potential impact on classroom learning, coaching timelines, and student wellbeing.

What Does the New System Propose?

The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 recommends a flexible assessment policy that includes multiple board exam attempts. Starting from the 2026 academic session, Class 10 and 12 students will be allowed to appear in board exams twice a year, with their best score being retained.

The policy is intended to reduce the one-exam pressure and offer students more than one opportunity to perform.

Reactions from Schools, Parents, and Students

While progressive educators see this move as a step toward more student-centric assessments, many school heads and parents are expressing apprehension.

“We understand the intent is student-friendly, but this reform needs better planning. Managing two sets of board exams, practicals, and pre-boards will stretch both teachers and students,” said the principal of a reputed CBSE school in Hyderabad.

“Unless the entire academic calendar is restructured—including syllabus pacing and vacation schedules—this change may overwhelm the system rather than improve learning outcomes,” added a senior teacher from a private school in Gurugram.

Schools are particularly worried about logistics, evaluation timelines, and alignment with competitive exam calendars like JEE and NEET.

“There’s a risk that regular classroom teaching may take a backseat, with students constantly preparing for either boards or entrances,” said an academic coordinator from a school in Lucknow.

Parents too appear divided over the policy shift.

“The idea sounds good on paper, but for students preparing for JEE or NEET, it could completely mess up their coaching timelines,” said Manohar Singh, a parent of a Class 11 student in Kota.

“Two board exams in a year might mean double the anxiety for our children. Instead of relieving stress, it may end up prolonging it,” remarked, Sachin Tawde, parent of a Class 9 student from Mumbai.

Students, the key stakeholders, have their own concerns.

“We already have enough pressure with school exams and coaching. Writing boards twice a year just adds more stress, not less,” said Ankit Shukla, a Class 11 student from Delhi preparing for NEET.

“If I don't perform well the first time, a second chance will help, but the pressure to prepare for both attempts will hang over us the entire year,” said Sujoy, a Class 10 student from Bengaluru.

Some students, however, feel the flexibility could reduce the fear associated with high-stakes testing, provided schools and boards communicate clearly about timelines and syllabus coverage.

Key Features of the CBSE 2026 Board Reform

Exam Attempts      2 per academic year (best score retained)

Applicable To         Class 10 and 12 from 2026 onwards

Objective               Reduce stress, improve flexibility

Concerns Raised  Timetable clash, evaluation burden, prolonged stress

The success of this reform, say experts, will depend heavily on how well the system adapts—from school-level academic planning to CBSE’s operational capacity.