Starting from the academic session of 2024-25, students entering Class X and XII will have the option to participate in a new board exam format. A senior official from the Ministry of Education revealed that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) intends to introduce this format, with the first set of exams scheduled for 2025. The only exception to the current annual pattern was in 2021 when the board exams were divided into two sessions due to the impact of Covid-19.

Unlike the traditional system, participation in the twice-a-year board exams for Class X and XII will not be mandatory, as per official reports.

The primary goal of this new approach is to alleviate stress for students who worry about missing out on a single chance. The official explained, "If a candidate feels adequately prepared and is content with the results from one set of exams, they can choose not to appear for the subsequent exam."

In 2023, a significant 38.82 lakh candidates took the Class X (21.86 lakh) and XII (16.96 lakh) CBSE board exams.
The initial set of 2025 board exams is expected to be conducted in November-December 2024, with the second set scheduled for February-March 2025. The final results and merit list will be based on the highest scores achieved across the two exam sessions.

It's noteworthy that in August 2023, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF) was announced, aligning with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, introduced the multiple exams format during this announcement.

According to the Ministry of Education's NCF, developers and evaluators for board papers will be required to undergo university-certified courses before taking on these responsibilities.
 

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