The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced new guidelines regarding the conduction of practical exams, project evaluations, and internal assessments for Classes 10 and 12 in winter-bound schools. For the academic year 2025-26, these assessments will take place between November 5 and December 6, 2025. This early window is necessary because winter-bound schools typically remain closed from January, ensuring that students can complete all practical and internal tasks before their holiday break.
The academic year for CBSE-affiliated schools in India and abroad will officially begin on January 1. By moving the practical examinations ahead, CBSE wants to enable a seamless schedule for schools in colder regions and avoid any disruption to students’ academic progress.
Key Instructions and Guidelines for Schools
CBSE has issued comprehensive instructions to maintain fairness and transparency during these assessments. Here are some of the main points schools must follow:
- Only students whose names appear in the finalized List of Candidates (LOC) submitted online may attend these exams and assessments.
- For Class 10, the internal assessment will only occur once throughout the year. All marks from this must be recorded and uploaded by the deadline provided.
- Schools must appoint external examiners and observers by coordinating with their respective CBSE regional offices.
- All answer sheets and assessment records should be promptly sent to the concerned regional office once evaluations are complete.
Ensuring Fair and Efficient Assessment
To accommodate large student numbers, CBSE has asked schools to conduct practical exams in two or three sessions per day if there are more than 30 participants, depending on the lab resources available. It is the joint responsibility of the school principal and the examiner to verify that marks are accurately entered on the CBSE portal because no changes will be permitted afterward.
Schools are encouraged to:
- Carefully organize student lists and ensure no eligible candidate is left out.
- Complete all project work, practicals, and assessments within the set period.
- Double-check that all marks are correctly uploaded and avoid last-minute errors.
CBSE’s updated approach is designed to help schools in winter-bound locations run practical and internal evaluations efficiently, maintaining both transparency and fairness throughout the assessment process.
