CBSE Board Exam Preparations Intensify, Pre-Boards to Be Held in December; Find Out When and How the Exams Will Be Held

The Central Board of Secondary Education has released the dates for the pre-board exams. Students appearing for the board exams this year should begin preparing.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 and 12 board exams are scheduled for February 2026, and preparations have begun in full swing in schools. Pre-board exams are being conducted in December to assess students' preparation before the exams.

The Directorate of Education has announced the dates for these pre-board exams for government and aided schools. Class 10 exams will begin on December 11 and continue until December 20, 2025, while Class 12 pre-board exams will be held from December 11 to December 27, 2025. These exams will be conducted through a fully centralized system to assess students' actual preparation levels.

Both government and private schools will conduct their own pre-board exams, although their dates will vary. Pre-board exams are a final rehearsal for students, as they determine how well they can handle the pressure of board exams.

Exams will be held in two shifts.

According to the Directorate of Education, pre-board exams in government schools will be conducted in two shifts. The morning shift will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The evening shift will run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Students will be given the question paper 15 minutes before the exam begins so they can carefully read the questions and strategize their answers. These 15 minutes are considered crucial for students as they gain confidence and reduce anxiety.

Know which will be the first papers

The first paper of the Class 10 pre-board exam will be Science, while Class 12 students will begin with Mathematics and Geography. After this, exams for other subjects will be conducted sequentially. For subjects whose exam dates have not yet been announced, schools will decide their own dates. The Education Department has already issued instructions to inform students about the exams in such subjects in advance so that they do not face any difficulties in preparing.