CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2027: Two-Exam System, Dates, Fees
by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Official dates are not announced yet. The dates below are expected, based on last year's schedule.
- Expected: Register by
- Oct 2026
- Expected exam date
- Feb 2027
- Ends
- 15 May 2027
- Where
- Across India (incl. Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other Maharashtra centres)
- Who can join
- Class 10 students of CBSE-affiliated schools; eligible private candidates
The CBSE Class 10 board exam 2027 will again follow the two-exam system: a compulsory first (main) exam in February-March 2027 and an optional second exam later in the year to improve scores. As of 24 October 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education has not released the 2027 date sheet; based on 2026, when the main exam ran from 17 February to 11 March and the second exam from 15 to 21 May, the main exam is expected to start in mid-February 2027. Schools had to submit the List of Candidates (LOC) with the normal fee by 21 October 2026; the late-fee window runs until 30 October 2026.
Key dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| LOC submission by schools, normal fee | 24 September to 21 October 2026 | Closed |
| LOC submission with late fee (₹2,000 per candidate extra) | 22 to 30 October 2026 | Announced |
| Private candidates' forms, normal fee | 8 to 23 October 2026 | Closed |
| Private candidates' forms with late fee | 24 to 30 October 2026 | Announced |
| 2027 date sheet | Not released (2026's first date sheet came on 20 October 2025) | Expected |
| First (main) board exam | From mid-February 2027 (2026: 17 February to 11 March) | Expected |
| Main exam result | April 2027 (2026: 15 April, as reported) | Expected |
| Second board exam | May 2027 (2026: 15 to 21 May) | Expected |
How the two-exam system works
CBSE's Two Board Policy dated 26 June 2025 started two Class 10 board exams from 2026. The LOC circular of 17 September 2026 confirms the policy for 2027.
- The first board exam in February-March is mandatory for every Class 10 student.
- Students who pass can take the second exam to improve their performance in up to three subjects from Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages.
- A student who does not appear in three or more subjects in the first exam cannot take the second exam. Such students are placed in the "Essential Repeat" category and can appear only in the next year's main exam.
- Students placed in Compartment in the first exam can take the second exam under the Compartment category. Compartment plus improvement is also allowed.
- The LOC for the second exam is filled after the first exam is over, and the subjects available are the same ones filled in the main LOC.
- For regular students, the better of the two performances is used for the final result (CBSE press release, 18 July 2026).
Eligibility
Regular students must be bonafide students of a CBSE-affiliated school, meet the attendance norms in the Examination Bye-Laws, and be sponsored by the school in the LOC. Only students whose names are submitted in the LOC can appear. Private candidates (Essential Repeat, Compartment, earlier failed candidates, and 2026 pass-outs improving their performance) apply online on cbse.gov.in under the private candidate link.
Marks and passing
| Subject type | Theory | Internal assessment / practical | Total | Pass marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most academic subjects (languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Science) | 80 | 20 | 100 | 33 |
| Music and painting subjects | 30 | 70 | 100 | 33 |
| Most skill subjects | 50 | 50 | 100 | 33 |
These figures come from the subject table in CBSE's 2026-27 private candidate notice. Mathematics is offered as Standard (041) or Basic (241). Each subject's question paper design and sample papers are on cbseacademic.nic.in, and the 2027 syllabus is in the curriculum section for 2027.
Exam fee
| Item | Fee (schools in India) |
|---|---|
| Five subjects | ₹1,600 per candidate |
| Each additional subject | ₹320 |
| Late fee (22 to 30 October 2026) | ₹2,000 per candidate on top of the normal fee |
| Visually impaired candidates | Exempt from exam fee |
Private candidates pay ₹320 per subject, plus a ₹2,000 late fee if they apply between 24 and 30 October 2026. Fees are accepted online only.
Last year's numbers
- 2026 main exam: 17 February to 11 March 2026; second exam: 15 to 21 May 2026 (CBSE).
- Main exam result: 15 April 2026, with a 93.70% pass rate, as reported by the Free Press Journal.
- Second exam: 6,63,777 students appeared. Of 5,13,955 who appeared for improvement, 3,08,095 (59.95%) improved their performance. In the compartment category, 52.40% passed. The combined pass percentage after both exams was 96.78% (CBSE press release, 18 July 2026).
Tips for Maharashtra students
- Check your name, parents' names, date of birth and subject codes on the school's LOC checklist. After the LOC period ends, CBSE allows no corrections.
- Plan the second exam only as a backup. It covers the full syllabus, and only three of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages can be improved.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CBSE Class 10 date sheet 2027 out?
No. As of 24 October 2026, CBSE has not released the 2027 date sheet on cbse.gov.in. In the previous cycle the first date sheet came out on 20 October 2025.
When will the CBSE Class 10 board exam 2027 start?
The date is not announced. Based on 2026, when the main exam began on 17 February, the first board exam is expected to start in mid-February 2027.
Is the second CBSE Class 10 board exam compulsory?
No. Only the first exam is compulsory. The second exam is optional and lets students improve in up to three subjects from Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages.
Can I skip the first exam and write only the second?
No. If a student misses three or more subjects in the first exam, they are placed in "Essential Repeat" and cannot take the second exam that year.
Which score counts if I take both exams?
For regular students, CBSE uses the better of the two performances to prepare the final result.
What are the pass marks in CBSE Class 10?
CBSE's 2026-27 subject table lists 33 pass marks out of 100 for each subject, with most subjects split into 80 marks of theory and 20 of internal assessment.
Official sources
- CBSE official website
- CBSE circular: Submission of LOC for Class X and XII Main Examinations 2026-27 (17 September 2026)
- CBSE Reminder 6 on LOC last date (21 October 2026)
- CBSE notice: Private candidates for Class X Examinations 2026-27
- CBSE notification: Two Board Examinations in Class X, clarification (14 February 2026)
- CBSE press release: Class X Second Board Examination results 2026
- CBSE Academic: Curriculum 2026-27
Last checked 24 October 2026. Dates can change; always confirm on the official website.