The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released crucial guidelines for the 2026 Board examinations. Whether you are in Class 10 or Class 12, the way you write your answers this year matters more than ever.

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The CBSE has issued a strict warning: disorganized or untidy answer sheets may result in zero marks for some questions. To avoid unnecessary deduction of marks, here are the complete details of the new rules for both classes.

For the first time, students will have to write their answers according to the sections provided in the question paper. The board has issued a strict warning: if you write answers in the wrong section or mix answers from different sections, your answers will not be evaluated. You will receive zero marks for such answers.

The aim of this change is to make the evaluation process more accurate. However, this means you will have to exercise extra caution while preparing your answer sheet.

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1. What Has Changed in the Question Paper?

The question papers for Science and Social Science will be divided into specific sections based on the subject matter. You cannot treat the paper as one single block anymore.

Here is the new breakdown you will see in the exam:

CBSE has already uploaded sample papers on their official academic website that demonstrate this new pattern.

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2. What You MUST DO in the Answer Sheet

This is the most important part of the update. To ensure your paper is graded correctly, you must follow these four rules strictly.

Rule 1: Divide Your Answer Sheet

You must create separate sections in your answer booklet that exactly match the question paper.

• For Science: Clearly label sections for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

• For Social Science: Create distinct sections for History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics.

Rule 2: Write Answers ONLY in Their Respective Sections

You must keep subjects separated.

• If you are solving a History question, write it only in the designated History section.

• If you are solving a Physics question, it belongs only in the Physics section.

Rule 3: Do NOT Mix Answers

Never mix subjects.

• If you write a Geography answer inside the History section, it won't count.

• If you sneak a Chemistry answer into the Physics section, the examiner will skip it.

• The Result: CBSE will NOT evaluate these misplaced answers. You will get ZERO marks for them.

Rule 4: No Marks & No Corrections Later

This is a strict "no-mercy" rule. Even if you apply for marks verification or revaluation later, CBSE will not correct this mistake. It will be treated as the student's fault, and your marks will not be changed.

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3. Instructions for Schools

To prevent mass errors in the final board exams, schools have been instructed to take immediate action:

• Train students on this new format during regular classes.

• Enforce these rules strictly during pre-board exams so students get used to the habit.

• Spread awareness to ensure every student knows that mixing sections leads to mark deductions.

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For Class 12: Internal Sections and Competency

For Class 12 students, the rules are slightly different because your subjects (like Physics, Chemistry, and Math) are already separate papers. However, you still need to follow strict formatting for subjects that have internal sections.

1. Don't Mix Internal Sections

For subjects like English, Business Studies, or Accountancy, the question paper is divided into parts (e.g., Reading Skills, Creative Writing, Literature).

• The Rule: Do not jump between sections randomly. If you start "Section A: Reading Skills," finish it completely before moving to "Section B."

• Why it matters: Examiners are often assigned specific sections to grade. If you hide a Section A answer in the middle of Section C, it might get overlooked.

2. The "Competency" Shift

The biggest change for Class 12 in 2026 is the type of questions.

• 50% of your paper will now be Competency-Based Questions (Case studies, Real-life applications, Assertion-Reasoning).

• The Warning: Rote learning (memorizing definitions) won't work. You need to understand the concept to solve these.

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Quick Summary: What You Must Do

Here is a simple checklist to keep you safe on exam day:

Instructions for Schools

CBSE has directed all schools to start training students now. Teachers must:

1. Enforce the "Section-Wise" format during Pre-Board exams.

2. Ensure students practice writing answers on separate pages for different sections.

3. Warn students that "mixing sections" is a mistake that cannot be fixed later.

The Bottom Line: Being neat is no longer enough. You must be organized. Label your sections clearly, keep them separate, and don't let a formatting error cost you your hard-earned marks.

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👉 CBSE Class 12 Study Materials

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