Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE Board Exams 2026 will commence from February 17, 2026, for both Class 10 and 12. This year, the central board will be conducting two board examinations for Class 10. First exam will be conducted in February as per the final date sheet released. Second Board Exams are scheduled from May 15, 2026 to June 1, 2026.
There has been a lot of confusion regarding the 2nd board exam and who all can appear for the same. The confusion as to the choice of subject and who all can appear in what all subjects has confounded parents and schools alike.
To answer the queries, CBSE recently conducted webinar and subsequently released an FAQ for the two-board exam – what all it entails. Here is a quick explanation of the eligibility and who all can appear, summarized for parents.
CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Second Board Exam Eligibility
Before we begin, here are ground rules on who all can appear for the 2nd board exam or the May examinations
- Students who have appeared in February Examinations 2026 can appear for improvement/ compartment
- Compartment students of 2025 board examinations who fail in the February 2026 exam as well
Remember, only the students who have appeared in February examinations – fresh or compartment/improvement, can appear for the May 2026 examinations. February 2026 exams are the mandatory main board examinations. May examinations are more like another attempt given to students to pass or improve their score. Students who ‘Fail’ Feb Exam are not eligible for May Exams. (Barring 2025 Compartment Students).
Also Read | CBSE Datesheet 2026: CBSE Releases Class 10, 12 Final Date Sheet for 2026 February Exams
CBSE May Board Exams 2026 – Which Subjects Can I appear for
At the onset, students need to understand that they cannot appear for all the subjects in May Examination. There is an upper limit of 3 total subjects that the student can appear for.
These include a combination of but not limited to
- 1 Language + 2 Academic Subjects
- 3 Academic Subjects
No student will be allowed to appear for the additional subjects opted for. They can only choose from either the language subjects or the academic subjects that they have opted for while filling the examination form.
Subject Combinations Allowed for May Exams
Subjects a student can choose will depend on the subject combination that the students have chose while filling the examination form. For ease of understanding, we will divide based on original subject combination and what all can the student appear for.
Note,
- Academic Subjects are Mathematics, Social Science and Science.
- Students can only appear for improvement of a subject if they have appeared for that subject in February examination
5 Subjects – 2 Language + 3 Academic Subjects
| Appear in May 2026 Exam As | ||
| Compartment Candidate | Improvement Candidate | |
| Pass in All 5 Subjects | NA | 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 4, Fail/ Absent in 1 Language | Appear for Fail/Absent Language Exam as Compartment Candidate | Appear for any 2 Academic Subjects (IMPROVEMENT NOT ALLOWED FOR 2ND LANGUAGE EXAM) |
| Pass in 4, Fail/ Absent in 1 Academic Subject | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 language subject + any 1 academic subject; or other two academic subject |
| Pass in 3 subjects – FAIL/ ER Candidate | NA – ER Candidate, eligible to appear only in Feb 2027 exam | NA – ER Candidate, eligible to appear only in Feb 2027 exam |
6 Subject which include 2 languages + 3 Academic Subject + Skill Subject
| Appear in May 2026 Exam As | ||
| Compartment Candidate | Improvement Candidate | |
| Pass in All 6 Subjects | NA | 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 5, Fail/ Absent in 1 Language | Appear for Fail/Absent Language Exam as Compartment Candidate | Appear for any 2 Academic Subjects (IMPROVEMENT NOT ALLOWED FOR 2ND LANGUAGE EXAM) |
| Pass in 5, Fail/ Absent in 1 Academic Subject | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 language subject + any 1 academic subject; or other two academic subject |
| Pass in 5 Subjects, Fail/Absent in Skill Subject | NA | 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/Absent in 2 Language Subjects | Appear for 2 Language Exams | Appear for any 1 Academic Subject Exam |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/ Absent in 1 lanaguge exam and 1 academic subject | Appear for the 1 language and 1 academic subject which was fail/absent | Appear for any 1 academic subject exam |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/ Absent in 1 language exam and 1 skill exam | Appear for Fail/Absent Language Exam as Compartment Candidate | Appear for any 2 Academic Subjects (IMPROVEMENT NOT ALLOWED FOR 2ND LANGUAGE EXAM OR SKILL SUBJECT) |
| Pass in 4 Subjects; Fail/Absent in 1 academic subject and 1 skill subject | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 language subject + any 1 academic subject; or other two academic subject |
| Pass in 3 subjects – FAIL/ ER Candidate | NA – ER Candidate, eligible to appear only in Feb 2027 exam | NA – ER Candidate, eligible to appear only in Feb 2027 exam |
6 Subject which include 3 languages + 3 Academic Subject
| Appear in May 2026 Exam As | ||
| Compartment Candidate | Improvement Candidate | |
| Pass in All 6 Subjects | NA | 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 5, Fail/ Absent in 1 Language | Appear for Fail/Absent Language Exam as Compartment Candidate (OPTIONAL) | If appearing for comparttment in 1 language then – Appear for any 2 Academic Subjects IF NOT — 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 5, Fail/ Absent in 1 Academic Subject | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 language subject + any 1 academic subject; or other two academic subject |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/Absent in 2 Language Subjects | Appear for Fail/Absent Lanagueg Exam | Appear for any 1 Academic Subject Exam IMPROVEMENT NOT ALLOWED FOR 3rd LANGUAGE EXAM |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/ Absent in 1 lanaguge exam and 1 academic subject | Appear for the 1 language and 1 academic subject which was fail/absent | Appear for any 1 academic subject exam |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/ Absent in 2 Academic Subjects | Appear for Fail/Absent Academic Subjects Compartment Candidate | Appear for any 1 Academic Subjects (IMPROVEMENT NOT ALLOWED FOR LANGUAGE EXAM) |
| Pass in 4 Subjects; Fail/Absent in 1 academic subject and 3rd Language | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 language subject + any 1 academic subject; or other two academic subject |
| Pass in 3 subjects – FAIL/ ER Candidate | NA – ER Candidate, eligible to appear only in Feb 2027 exam | NA – ER Candidate, eligible to appear only in Feb 2027 exam |
7 Subjects which includes 3 languages, 3 academic subjects and 1 skill subject
| Appear in May 2026 Exam As | ||
| Compartment Candidate | Improvement Candidate | |
| Pass in All 7 Subjects | NA | 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 6 Subjects, Fail/Absent in Skill Subject | NA | 1. Any one language + any of the two academic subjects, OR 2. Any or all of the three academic subjects |
| Pass in 6 Subjects, Fail/Absent in 1 Language Subject | Appear for Fail/Absent Language Exam as Compartment Candidate (optional if fail/absent in 3rd language) | Appear for a maximum of 2 Academic Subjects |
| Pass in 6 Subjects, Fail/Absent in 1 Academic Subject | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 language subject + any 1 academic subject; or other two academic subject |
| Pass in 5, Fail/ Absent in 1 Language and 1 Skill Subject | Appear for Fail/Absent Language Exam as Compartment Candidate (Optional) NO Exam for Skill Subject | Appear for any 2 Academic Subjects |
| Pass in 5, Fail/ Absent in 2 Languages | Appear for Fail/ Absent Language Exam (Either 1 or both) – OPTIONAL | Appear for any 1 academic subject for improvement |
| Pass in 5, Fail/Absent in 2 Academic Subject | Appear for 2 academic subject as compartment candidate | appear for 1 academic subject |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/Absent in 2 Language Subjects and 1 Skill Subject | Appear for 2 Language Exams | Appear for any 1 Academic Subject Exam |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/Absent in 3 Languages | Appear for 2 Language Exams | Appear for any 1 Academic Subject Exam |
| Pass in 4 Subjects, Fail/ Absent in 1 lanaguge exam, 1 academic subject and 1 skill subject | Appear for the 1 language (optional) and 1 academic subject which was fail/absent | Appear for any 1 academic subject exam |
| Pass in 4 Subjects; Fail/Absent in 2 academic subject and 1 skill subject | Appear for Fail/ Absent Academic Subject | Appear for any 1 academic subject exam |
IMPORTANT
Students who pass in 4 out of seven but fail in 1 language and 2 academic subjects are also essential repeat students. They need to appear for examination next year in February. Simillarly, students passing in only three or less subjects are also not applicable to appear for May examination.
For any further query. Information – please contact our expert on khurana.kanika@gmail.com. Mention CBSE 2 Board Exam Query in Subject Line.