Updated status of Class X and XII board exams

February 2, 2021

-Mita Mukherjee

With schools remaining closed since March, students had been taught through online classes and there was confusion over how and when the Class X and XII board exams would be held this year.

In the normal situation, the Class X and XII board examinations would have been held in February-March and the examination boards would announce the final schedule by December end. With the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting normal academic activities, the examination boards were unable to announce the dates in time which resulted in anxiety among students, teachers and parents.

Students had been complaining about not being able to plan their studies for preparing for the board examinations because of the delay.

Following the delay, there were speculations whether the board examinations would be held online or there would be further reduction of syllabuses. But almost all boards have announced that the examinations will be held offline. Most boards have reduced 30 to 35 percent of the Class X and XII syllabus.

Several states gradually announced the dates of the Class X and XII examinations of their respective boards over the last few weeks bringing relief to several lakhs students.

Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced on December 31 that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would be held from May 4. Many state governments, like West Bengal, declared the dates of the state Madhyamik (X) and Higher Secondary (HS) after the announcement made by the Union education minister.

State Board Exam Update