CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam 2026: Date Announced, Exam on July 15 — Eligibility, LOC Dates, and How to Apply
CBSE will hold the Class 12 supplementary (compartment) exam on July 15, 2026 — a single-day exam. LOC submission opens June 2, 2026. Around 1,63,800 students are in the compartment category. Regular students apply via school; private candidates apply online at cbse.gov.in.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced that the CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam 2026 will be held on July 15, 2026. This is a single-day examination. The announcement comes days after CBSE declared the Class 12 Result 2026 on May 13, 2026, recording an overall pass percentage of 85.20 per cent — meaning approximately 2.7 lakh students could not clear the board exams this year.
CBSE Class 12 Result 2026: Key Numbers Behind the Supplementary Exam
The CBSE Class 12 board examinations 2026 were conducted from February 17 to April 10, 2026, for a total of 17,80,365 registered candidates. Of these, around 2.7 lakh students failed to pass. The board has officially placed 1,63,800 candidates in the 'Compartment' category — these students failed in one or more subjects but are eligible to appear for the supplementary exam and still secure their Class 12 pass certificate without losing an academic year.
What Is the CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam? (FAQ)
Q: What is the CBSE supplementary exam, also called the compartment exam? The CBSE Class 12 supplementary exam — commonly referred to as the compartment exam — is a second-chance examination offered by the board to students who either failed in one subject or wish to improve their score in one subject. It allows students to clear their Class 12 board exam without repeating the full academic year.
CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam 2026 Date
| Exam | Date |
|---|---|
| CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam 2026 | July 15, 2026 |
| LOC Submission Starts | June 2, 2026 |
| Result Declared | May 13, 2026 |
The exam will be conducted as a single-day examination. The board has advised all schools and students to note this date carefully and prepare accordingly.
Who Is Eligible for CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam 2026?
CBSE has defined three categories of students who are eligible to appear for the supplementary examination:
1. Improvement Candidates (2026 Batch) Students who have already passed the CBSE Class 12 examination in 2026 but wish to improve their marks in one subject only are eligible to sit for the supplementary exam.
2. Compartment Candidates (2026 Batch) Students from the 2026 exam cycle who have been placed in the 'Compartment' category by the board — meaning they failed in one or more subjects — are eligible to appear.
3. Compartment Candidates (2025 Batch) — Last Chance Students who appeared in the CBSE Class 12 board exam in 2025 and were placed in the Compartment category are also eligible. Importantly, the board gives a maximum of three chances to clear the compartment examination. For 2025 batch students, this will be their final (third and last) opportunity to clear the compartment. Students from this batch must not miss this chance under any circumstances.
FAQ: Compartment Exam Eligibility
Q: Can I appear for the CBSE supplementary exam if I failed in two subjects? CBSE places students who fail in one subject in the 'Compartment' category. Students who fail in more than one subject are typically declared 'Failed' and may not be eligible for the compartment route. Check your marksheet category carefully.
Q: Is this the last chance for 2025 compartment students? Yes. CBSE allows a maximum of three attempts to clear the compartment. The July 2026 supplementary exam is the third and final chance for students from the 2025 exam cycle who are still in the Compartment category.
LOC (List of Candidates) Submission: Dates and Process
The LOC (List of Candidates) submission will begin from June 2, 2026. Schools must submit the LOC online through the official CBSE portal at cbse.gov.in. The board will release a detailed official notification on this shortly.
Key points to note regarding LOC submission:
- The LOC will be submitted online by school authorities for regular students.
- No changes — including addition or deletion of names or subjects — will be permitted after submission.
- The board has issued a strict advisory: no application will be accepted after the last date. Schools and students must adhere to the schedule without exception.
- Private candidates can apply for the CBSE supplementary exam online directly through cbse.gov.in.
FAQ: LOC and Application Process
Q: How do regular students apply for the CBSE Class 12 compartment exam 2026? Regular students must apply through their respective schools. The school authorities will compile and submit the List of Candidates (LOC) online to the CBSE.
Q: How do private candidates apply for the CBSE supplementary exam 2026? Private candidates can apply directly online through the official CBSE website, cbse.gov.in.
Q: When does the LOC submission open for CBSE supplementary exam 2026? The LOC submission window opens on June 2, 2026. Students and schools should not wait until the last date.
Q: Can I change my subject after submitting the LOC for the supplementary exam? No. CBSE has made it clear that no addition or deletion of names or subjects will be allowed once the LOC is submitted. Review all details carefully before submission.
What Students Must Do Right Now
If you are in the Compartment category or wish to appear as an improvement candidate, here is your action checklist:
- Check your result and category on cbse.gov.in — confirm whether you are placed in 'Compartment' or 'Pass'.
- Contact your school immediately to confirm your name will be included in the LOC starting June 2, 2026.
- Private candidates should keep checking cbse.gov.in for the online application link.
- Begin preparation now — July 15, 2026 is approximately two months away. Use CBSE sample papers, previous year question papers, and NCERT textbooks.
- Do not miss the LOC deadline — CBSE has categorically stated that late applications will not be accepted.
FAQ: General Queries
Q: Will CBSE release admit cards for the supplementary exam 2026? Yes, CBSE will release admit cards for the supplementary exam. Schools will distribute them to regular students; private candidates can download them from cbse.gov.in. The exact date will be announced in the upcoming official notification.
Q: How many subjects can I improve in the CBSE supplementary exam? Improvement candidates can appear in one subject only in the supplementary exam.
Q: Where can I find the official CBSE supplementary exam 2026 notification? All official updates are published at cbse.gov.in.
Q: Does passing the CBSE compartment exam affect my overall percentage or marks? The marks obtained in the compartment exam replace the previous marks in that subject. Your revised marksheet will reflect the new score.
Bottom Line
The CBSE Class 12 Supplementary Exam 2026 is scheduled for July 15, 2026 — a critical second chance for over 1.63 lakh compartment students and an opportunity for passed students to improve in one subject. With LOC submission opening on June 2, 2026, time is short. Students must act immediately, coordinate with their schools, and begin focused preparation. For the 2025 batch compartment students, this is the final opportunity — miss it, and the compartment window closes permanently.
Stay updated at the official CBSE website: cbse.gov.in