CBSE Board Exams 2025: Starting February 15, Major Changes Implemented

In a recent announcement, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) revealed the dates for the class 10 and class 12 board exams, setting the commencement for February 15, 2025. This early announcement, made approximately 86 days prior to the start of the exams, outlines the schedule with class 10 exams ending on March 18 and class 12 exams concluding on April 4. This move is set to affect around 44 lakh students across India and in 26 countries worldwide, marking a significant logistical endeavor for the board.

This year, a major modification has been introduced to the exam pattern, indicative of a shift towards assessing students' practical application skills. For class 12, there will be a notable increase in competency-based questions. These changes are in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to evaluate students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios. The adjustment in question format is designed to enhance problem-solving skills, requiring students to navigate through competency-based scenarios.

Furthermore, the structure of the class 10 exams will mirror that of the previous academic year, with 50% of the questions being competency-based. This is an adjustment from the class 12 exams, where the percentage of competency-based questions has been bumped up from 40% to 50%. The exams will incorporate Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), case-based, and source-based integrated questions. This shift signifies a reduction in the number of constructed response questions, such as short and long answer questions, in both class 10 and 12 exams.

In terms of eligibility for the board exams, students are required to have at least a 75% attendance record. However, CBSE offers a 25% attendance relaxation for students unable to meet this criterion due to medical emergencies, participation in National or International sports tournaments, or other significant reasons, conditional upon the submission of required documentation.

Looking ahead, starting from the 2025-26 academic year, CBSE plans to implement biometric authentication measures for exam takers. This will include digital fingerprint capturing, photo capturing, and face matching with scanned photos of candidates to ensure authenticity during and after the examinations. Additionally, the board has decided to reintroduce the concept of two-term board exams from 2026, allowing students multiple opportunities throughout the academic year to showcase their learning progress. This decision indicates CBSE's commitment to refining the exam process, while also finalizing the logistical details of conducting exams in two terms.