As 2025 comes to an end, India's school examination system is going through its biggest change in decades. This year wasn't about pandemic-related cancellations or sudden pattern changes. Instead, it brought something more lasting: a major shift away from the traditional once-a-year board exam model.

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Central and state boards across India have started putting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 into action. The focus is now on flexible, student-friendly assessments. Most boards will now offer two board exams a year for Classes 10 and 12. Karnataka has gone even further with three attempts. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu has decided to scrap the Class 11 public examination completely.

These changes show a complete rethink of how board exams will work from 2026 onwards. Board exams are no longer a single make-or-break moment. They're now a process that gives students choice, room for recovery, and a chance to improve.

The End of One-Shot Board Exams

For decades, board exams in India meant extreme pressure. One timetable, one question paper, and just one chance. A single illness, family problem, or bad day could change everything — college admissions, career options, and future plans.

This approach is now changing.

NEP 2020 and the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) have pushed all school boards to make exams more flexible and less stressful. One major suggestion was to hold Class 10 and 12 board exams at least twice a year. Students would keep their best score.

By the end of 2025, this idea has moved from paper to actual implementation.

CBSE Leads the Way

As India's largest national board, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken the lead in this transformation.

Starting from the 2025-26 academic year, CBSE will hold Class 10 board exams twice a year. The first exam in February will be mandatory for all students. The second exam in May will be optional. Students can use it to improve their scores or make up for a poor first attempt.

CBSE will announce first-phase results in April. Second-phase results will come out in June. The final marksheet will show the best score from both attempts. This ends the concept of a "single final exam" for good.

CBSE officials have made it clear that the second exam isn't compulsory. It's meant as an improvement opportunity, not something every student must do. The syllabus, exam pattern, and marking standards will stay the same for both exams.

The initial rollout covers Class 10 only. However, Class 12 is expected to follow the same pattern in future years.

State Boards Follow CBSE's Lead

Several state boards have announced similar changes during 2025 to align with NEP guidelines.

Madhya Pradesh has adopted a twice-a-year exam model for both Class 10 and Class 12. Students get two exam windows in the same academic year. The board keeps the better score for the final result. This effectively combines regular and improvement exams into one system.

Gujarat, through the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB), has also approved two annual board exams. Officials have confirmed that both exams will follow the same syllabus and format. The second exam serves as a clear improvement option.

Haryana has moved to a similar system. The second board exam is positioned as a way to reduce pressure rather than a mandatory re-test. Students can choose whether to appear again based on their first performance.

Rajasthan has announced plans to follow CBSE's model from the 2026-27 academic year. Class 10 and 12 exams will be held twice annually. Marksheets will reflect the best-of-two scores.

Some states had already started experimenting with new assessment methods. West Bengal, for example, had moved to a semester-based structure for Class 12. This splits the board exam across two phases and reduces the weight of a single final test.

Chhattisgarh has already implemented the two-board exam pattern for 2025. The first exam was held in March, and the second in June-July. Students got a chance to improve their scores without waiting a full year.

Karnataka Offers Three Exam Attempts

Karnataka has gone the farthest in changing board assessments. The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board introduced up to three exam opportunities per year in the 2023-24 academic year.

Under this system, students can appear in one, two, or all three exam windows. The best score goes on the final marksheet.

This model removes the old distinction between "regular" and "supplementary" exams. All attempts are now part of one continuous process. Students happy with their scores can skip later exams. Others can keep trying without any stigma attached.

Education officials call this a shift from a "failure-focused" to an "opportunity-focused" system. It directly follows NEP's emphasis on flexibility and student choice.

Why Are Multiple Exams Being Introduced Now?

The reasons behind multiple board exams go beyond just convenience. Officials at central and state levels see this as three things combined: a mental health intervention, an equity measure, and an academic reform.

Multiple attempts reduce anxiety. They allow students to recover from unexpected problems. They also acknowledge that one day's performance doesn't truly measure a student's learning.

NEP 2020 clearly stated that board exams should test core skills rather than memorisation. It recommended offering exams more than once a year and giving students enough chances to perform their best.

For colleges and universities, this system could also help. More students might meet cut-off marks, especially for competitive courses where small improvements in board marks make a big difference.

What Actually Changed in 2025?

Unlike previous years with sudden reforms, 2025 was about making things official. Boards finalised timelines, issued circulars, and confirmed that second exams are optional. They also made clear that syllabi and patterns will stay the same across all attempts.

Supplementary exams are being phased out in many places. They're now absorbed into the new multi-exam framework.

Schools have started adjusting their guidance. Students are encouraged to treat the first board exam as their main attempt. The second exam is now positioned as a safety net, not an expectation.

Tamil Nadu Takes a Different Path

While most states are adding more board exams, Tamil Nadu has made a surprising move at the Class 11 level.

In October 2025, the Tamil Nadu government abolished the Plus One public examination from the 2025-26 academic year. This brings back the pre-2017 system. Class 11 students will now be assessed internally by their schools instead of a state-level board exam.

The government will also discontinue integrated Class 11-12 mark certificates. Only Class 12 marks will appear on official board marksheets.

The Directorate of Government Examinations will continue Class 11 public exams until March 2030. This is only for repeaters who failed earlier attempts. The exam will be completely phased out over five years.

School managements and teachers' groups had long argued that the extra Class 11 board exam added pressure without improving learning. The government's decision shows a growing belief that fewer external exams — if designed well — might actually help students more.

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