New Delhi. : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and detailed guidelines for conducting practical examinations, project assessments, and internal assessments for Classes 10 and 12 for the academic year 2025–26. These updated rules aim to standardize evaluation practices across schools and minimize errors during the assessment process.

According to the latest circular dated December 1, 2025, the board has emphasized strict adherence to the revised SOPs. Schools have been reminded that once marks are uploaded on the portal, no corrections will be allowed, making timely and accurate assessment essential.

Practical Exam Schedule for 2025–26

• Regular Schools: January 1 to February 14, 2026
• Winter-Bound Schools: November 6 to December 6, 2025

Schools must upload marks for each practical, project, or internal assessment on the same day through the CBSE portal. All entries must match the maximum marks notified in the board’s circular dated November 17, 2025.

Special Provisions & Assessment Rules

• Students participating in national or international sporting events may be allowed rescheduled practicals, but only within the official exam window.
• Any case involving unfair practices must be reported immediately to the CBSE for appropriate action.
• Schools must preserve attendance sheets, answer books, award lists, and all related documents for one year after the declaration of results.

Class 10: Important Instructions

• Practical exams for Class 10 will be conducted entirely by the schools with no external examiners.
• Schools must arrange and safely store all practical answer books.
• Certain records, as specified by the Board, must be forwarded to the concerned CBSE regional office.
• Complete documentation of all assessments must be maintained as per CBSE’s updated norms.

Class 12: Revised Guidelines

• External examiners will be appointed directly by the CBSE; schools are not allowed to nominate substitutes.
• Both internal and external examiners must be present throughout the practical examination process.
• The external examiner must conduct a pre-examination laboratory inspection to confirm the availability of equipment, chemicals, and other essentials.
• Practical exams must be organized in batches of 30 students, with the option to divide further into subgroups of 15 for written and lab components.
• Schools must upload group photographs featuring students, internal and external examiners, and observers as proof of conduct.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The Board has warned that any deviation from the prescribed procedures may result in the cancellation of practical exams. In such cases, the Board may order the institution to conduct the exam again under direct supervision.

CBSE Board Exam 2026 Dates

The CBSE has also finalized the dates for the 2025–26 board examinations. Written exams for both Class 10 and Class 12 will begin on February 17, 2026.

In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a significant change has been introduced for Class 10: from the 2026 academic year onward, students will appear for two board examinations each year.

Click Here for More Exams / Admission