CBSE Practical Exam Guidelines 2026: Key Dates & New Rules for Class 10 & 12
The Central Board of Secondary Education has released updated CBSE practical exam guidelines 2026 and Standard Operating Procedures for the 2025-26 academic year, introducing stricter protocols that schools and students must follow. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming practical examinations.
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Critical Exam Dates
Regular schools will conduct practical exams from January 1 to February 14, 2026, while winter-bound schools have already begun their assessments from November 6 to December 6, 2025. The theory examinations will follow after practical assessments are completed.
The One-Day Upload Rule
This year’s biggest change is that marks must be uploaded to the CBSE portal on the same day the practical exam is conducted. Once submitted, these marks become final and unchangeable. Schools have been specifically warned to exercise extreme caution during mark entry, as correction requests will not be entertained.
Class-Specific Requirements
For Class 10: No external examiner will be appointed by the board, and schools must arrange their own practical answer books. Internal assessments will be conducted entirely by school staff.
For Class 12: External examiners appointed by CBSE are mandatory for conducting practical examinations and project assessments. Schools cannot make alternate arrangements at the local level.
Batch System & Sports Flexibility
Students will be organized into batches of 30 per subject, and batches can only be finalized after confirming external examiner availability. Students participating in national or international sports events can reschedule their exams within the official examination period though no extensions beyond the scheduled dates will be granted.
Strict Compliance Warning
CBSE has warned that if schools fail to follow procedures, practical exams can be cancelled. Answer sheets must be preserved for at least one year after results are declared, and all documentation requires proper signatures and secure storage.
Preparation Tips – CBSE practical exam guidelines 2026
Students should familiarize themselves with laboratory equipment, review experiment procedures thoroughly, and prepare for viva-voce questions. Practical examinations carry a weightage of 20%, and students must qualify in both theory and practical components separately.
Download official Circular : Guidelines_SOP_Practical_Examination_01122025.pdf
The complete guidelines document with subject-wise mark distribution is available on the official CBSE website at cbse.gov.in.
This article is part of our CBSE 2025 Education Series, designed to help students, teachers, and parents understand the major reforms introduced by CBSE and NEP 2020. Explore related guides for deeper insights.
