CBSE Class 10 Second Board Exam: Over 3 Lakh Students Improve Scores Under New Policy
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the results of the Class X Second Board Examination 2026, marking a significant step in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. With the release of these results, the overall pass percentage for Class X, combining both the main and second examinations, has risen to approximately 96.8 per cent.
In the main board examination conducted earlier this year, CBSE recorded an overall pass percentage of 93.7 per cent for Class X. The second examination, introduced as an optional improvement opportunity, saw participation from 5.1 lakh students. Among them, nearly 3.1 lakh students – about 60 per cent – scored higher than their marks in the main examination, indicating the policy's potential to reduce exam-related stress.
Additionally, 1.5 lakh students appeared in the compartment category during the second exam, of which 78,503 passed. This resulted in a compartment pass percentage of 52.4 per cent, up from around 48.7 per cent last year, reflecting a marginal improvement in performance for those who needed to clear specific subjects.
Under the new two-board examination system introduced this year, the main board examination remains compulsory, while the second examination is optional for regular candidates. For students, the final marksheet reflects the better score obtained across the two attempts, ensuring that a single examination does not determine their final performance. This policy is intended to promote competency-based assessment, reduce dependence on high-stakes testing and coaching, and provide greater academic flexibility, according to a CBSE official.
The main board examination was conducted from February 17 to March 11, followed by the second board examination from May 15 to May 21. Students can access their results through the DigiLocker results portal. School-wise results have also been shared with schools via registered email addresses, and digital academic documents can be accessed through the CBSE repository using credentials already provided to schools.
The move aligns with the NEP 2020's vision to transform assessment practices, moving away from rote learning and towards a more holistic evaluation of students' abilities. Education experts have cautiously welcomed the policy, noting that while it offers flexibility, its long-term impact on learning outcomes and equity remains to be assessed.
