CBSE announces new syllabus, grading system for Classes 10, 12

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out its updated syllabus for the 2025-2026 academic session, introducing several changes aimed at enhancing the educational experience for students in Classes 9 to 12.

As per the latest CBSE notification, schools must follow new teaching methods, assessments, and subject structures aimed at making learning more practical and engaging.

Let's delve into the major updates and what they mean for students and educators alike.

Starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, Class 10 students will have the opportunity to sit for two board examinations annually—one in February and another in April. This initiative aims to provide students with a second chance to improve their scores within the same academic year.

However, it's important to note that this policy is currently in its draft stage, and the final proposal is yet to be confirmed.

The Class 12 board examinations will continue to be held once a year, with the 2026 exams commencing on February



17.

CBSE is transitioning to a 9-point grading system for both Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. Every 1/8th of passed students will be allotted one grade slot.

Under this system, marks obtained in examinations will be converted into grades more effectively, offering a more nuanced assessment of student performance.

This replaces the previous five-point grading scale and aims to provide a clearer picture of students' understanding and capabilities.

To successfully pass the Class 10 board exams, students must secure at least 33% in each subject.

In instances where a student fails in a core subject such as Science, Mathematics, Social Science, or a language paper but passes a skill-based or optional language subject, the failed subject can be substituted with the passed skill or language subject for result calculation.

For example, if a student does not achieve the required marks in Mathematics but passes a skill-based subject, the grades from the skill-based subject will replace those of Mathematics.