CBSE to State Boards: 2025’s Exam Revolution Reshapes India’s Board Landscape

Updated: December 28, 2025 16:29

Image Source: Sakshi Education

India’s Class 10 and 12 board exams underwent major reforms in 2025, with CBSE and several state boards introducing biannual exams, competency-based assessments, and skill-focused electives. These changes aim to reduce student stress, promote conceptual learning, and align with the National Education Policy 2020’s vision for holistic education.

India’s Class 10 and 12 board exams witnessed a transformative shift in 2025, with CBSE and several state boards adopting flexible, competency-based assessment models. The reforms aim to reduce student stress, promote conceptual learning, and offer multiple opportunities for improvement, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020.

Major Highlights

CBSE’s Biannual Exam Model
CBSE introduced biannual board exams for Class 10, starting from 2026, with the first phase in February and an optional second in May. Students can now choose to improve their scores within the same academic year, marking a significant departure from the traditional single-attempt system. This approach is expected to be extended to Class 12 in coming cycles, ensuring a more student-friendly assessment experience.
Competency-Based Assessment
Both CBSE and leading state boards have increased the proportion of competency-based questions to 50% in 2025, focusing on application, analysis, and real-world problem-solving rather than rote memorization. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), case-based, and source-based integrated questions are now central to the exam pattern, encouraging deeper understanding and critical thinking.
State Boards Follow Suit
Several state boards, including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, have adopted similar biannual exam models, allowing students two attempts in a year and merging regular and improvement exams into a single, stigma-free process. West Bengal and others have also implemented semester-based or split exam structures, further diluting the pressure of a single final test.
Tamil Nadu’s Unique Step
Tamil Nadu abolished the Class 11 (Plus One) public examination, reverting to internal school assessments for Class 11 and reflecting only Class 12 marks on official board certificates. This move restores the pre-2017 system and streamlines the assessment process for higher secondary students.
Skill-Based Electives and Grading
New skill-based electives like Electronics & Hardware and Design Thinking have been introduced, along with a 9-point grading system for better evaluation. The emphasis is now on practical knowledge, innovation, and holistic development.
Operationalising NEP 2020
The reforms mark the institutionalisation of NEP 2020’s vision, with boards locking in timelines, issuing operational circulars, and clarifying that multiple exam attempts are optional. Supplementary exams are being phased out or absorbed into the new multi-exam framework.