CBSE Major Updates 2025-26: Dual Exams, Skill-Based Subjects & New Grading System

In Short: CBSE Major Updates for Classes 9 to 12 (2025-26)

• Once a Year Dual Board Exams for Class 10: Two annual exams (February & April) for more flexibility.
• Class 12 Exams: Remains once a year, with exams starting on February 17, 2026.
• New 9-Point Grading System: More nuanced grading to reduce unhealthy competition.
• Revised Passing Criteria: Skill-based subjects can replace failed core subjects.
• Skill-Based Subjects: Enhanced focus on practical, career-relevant subjects like AI, IT, and Design Thinking.
• Calculators in Accountancy Exams: Allowance for basic calculators to reduce calculation errors.
• New Teaching Methodologies: Project-based, inquiry-driven, and tech-enabled learning.
• Competency-Based Assessment: Focus on critical thinking and practical knowledge over rote learning.
• Inclusion of NEP 2020 Principles: Alignment with holistic, skill-based learning approaches.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced significant reforms for the academic year 2025-26, which will redefine how students in India learn, study, and are assessed. Aiming to promote holistic education, skill development, and a stress-free learning experience, these updates reflect a paradigm shift from rote learning toward conceptual clarity and real-world application.

With changes covering exam schedules, grading system, subject structures, and teaching methodologies, the reforms cater to students from Classes 9 to 12. This holistic update by CBSE aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to make education more inclusive, practical, and meaningful.

Let’s understand each change in detail:

1. Dual Board Exams for Class 10: A Game-Changer

CBSE is reorganizing its board exams. Rather than taking a single exam every year, Class 10 students will now take two—one in February and one in April. This dual-exam approach is part of a draft policy and aims to offer students a second opportunity to improve their performance within the same academic year.

Main Points:

• Students may take both exams or one, depending upon the level of confidence and preparedness they possess.
• The syllabus for both examinations will be identical, offering equal academic rigor.
• The better score of the two will be considered for the final mark sheet.

This move is expected to reduce academic pressure and allow students to pace their learning. It promotes a more flexible and personalized learning experience while also providing a fair chance for improvement.

2. Class 12 Exams Remain Once a Year

While Class 10 gets a second chance format, Class 12 board examinations will continue to follow the once-a-year pattern, with the 2026 exams scheduled to begin on February 17. The reasoning here is that Class 12 scores play a significant role in college admissions, and keeping the exam once a year maintains consistency for higher education institutions.

3. Introducing a New 9-Point Grading System

One of the most impactful changes is the shift from a five-point to a nine-point grading system. The grades will be awarded based on octiles, meaning each 1/8th of the passed candidates will fall into one of the grades:

• A-1: Top 1/8th of passed students

• A-2: Next 1/8th

• B-1: Next 1/8th

• B-2: Next 1/8th

• C-1: Next 1/8th

• C-2: Next 1/8th

• D-1: Next 1/8th

• D-2: Next 1/8th

• E*: Essential Repeat (Fail)

This change enables a more nuanced understanding of student performance and helps reduce the unhealthy competition centered around minor mark differences.

4. Revised Passing Criteria with Skill Subjects

CBSE has taken a bold step toward promoting inclusivity and skill recognition by updating the passing criteria for Class 10.

What’s New?

• If a student fails in a core academic subject like Mathematics, Science, or Social Science but passes in an optional skill-based subject or an additional language, then the passing marks from the skill subject can replace the failed subject for result calculation.

Example:

• If a student scores below 33% in Mathematics but clears the subject Artificial Intelligence, the score from AI can replace the Mathematics score.

This substitution policy encourages students to explore and take seriously the growing list of skill-based subjects offered by CBSE.

5. Skill-Based Subjects: A Focused Push in Classes 10 and 12

For Class 10:

• Computer Applications

• Information Technology

• Artificial Intelligence

Students must also choose either English or Hindi as a language subject during Classes 9 and 10. This aims to improve their linguistic and communication proficiency.

For Class 12:

• Land Transportation Associate

• Electronics and Hardware

• Physical Activity Trainer

• Design Thinking and Innovation

These subjects are designed to foster practical knowledge and provide students with an early start on future career paths.

6. Calculators Allowed in Class 12 Accountancy Exams

Recognizing the need for precision in financial calculations, CBSE will now allow the use of basic, non-programmable calculators in Class 12 Accountancy board exams.

Conditions:

• Only simple calculators are allowed.

• Scientific or programmable models remain banned.

This small but crucial change is expected to significantly reduce errors and help students focus on concepts rather than arithmetic accuracy.

7. From Rote Learning to Real-World Application

The new CBSE policy pushes schools to evolve from traditional chalk-and-talk methods to more engaging, real-world-oriented teaching strategies. Teachers are encouraged to adopt:

• Project-Based Learning

• Inquiry-Driven Education

• Tech-Enabled Classrooms

• Collaborative Lesson Planning

• Assessments Aligned with Competency-Based Education

CBSE is shifting focus from memory-based evaluation to competency-based assessments. The exams will now test:

• Critical Thinking

• Analytical Ability

• Conceptual Clarity

• Practical Knowledge

Question formats will include:

• Case studies

• Situational judgment

• Application-based MCQs

How to Access the New Syllabus

The detailed syllabi for Classes 9 to 12 are now available on CBSE’s official academic website: cbseacademic.nic.in

Available Information:

• Subject-wise syllabus

• Project guidelines

• Practical exam details

• Assessment rubrics

Final Thoughts: What These Reforms Mean

The CBSE 2025-26 reforms aim to reshape the Indian education landscape by making it more student-friendly, skill-based, and future-oriented. From multiple chances to perform better in board exams to a grading system that reflects actual competence, the reforms take a giant leap forward in aligning school education with global standards.

Key Takeaways:

• Flexible exam schedules to reduce pressure
• Skill subjects valued equally with core academics
• Real-world projects and tech-integrated learning
• Assessments that test application, not memory
• Visual grading system that rewards performance bands, not just marks

These reforms not only help in academic growth but also prepare students for career and life challenges ahead.

Last Updated on April 3, 2025