CBSE Class 10, 12 Practical Exam 2026: Important Guidelines Students Must Know

CBSE Class 10, 12 Practical Exams 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released updated guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Practical Examinations/Project/Internal Assessment for the 2025–26 session. These new rules aim to make practical assessments fair, transparent, and error-free across all CBSE schools. Since practical exams for regular schools are scheduled from January 1st to February 14th, 2026, it is important for students to understand the key changes, the role of examiners, and the strict rules governing mark submission.

Here are the essential guidelines every Class 10 and 12 student must know:

Important Guidelines in CBSE Practical Exams 2026

1. No Extension of Practical Exam Dates

CBSE has stated that no extension of exam dates shall be considered for any school. Practical exams must be conducted strictly within the given schedule (Jan 1 to Feb 14, 2026).

What it means for students

Students must appear on the exact date their school schedules for the practical exam. Rescheduling is only possible for valid reasons within the notified dates and no second chance will be provided if the overall schedule is missed.

2. External Examiner is Mandatory for Class 12

Class 12 practical exams will be conducted under an External Examiner appointed solely by the CBSE Board. Schools are not authorised to make their own arrangements or appoint alternative examiners at the local level.

Impact on students

Students can expect a more formal, structured viva and a fair evaluation since the examiner is independent of the school.

3. Strict Confidentiality and No Change in Marks After Upload

The marks awarded for the practical examination shall not be disclosed to the students or any person under any circumstances.

Once marks are uploaded to the CBSE portal and finalised, no correction or editing will be allowed later.

Why this matters: 

The Internal and External Examiners must jointly provide an undertaking that the correct marks have been entered. This places the onus on the examiners to ensure accuracy, as mistakes are permanent.

4. Mandatory Geo-tagged Group Photo Upload (Class 12)

Schools must upload one group photograph for each batch during the Class 12 practical examination.

Photo Requirement: The photo must include all students of that batch, the External Examiner, the Internal Examiner, and the Observer (if appointed).

Purpose: 

The photograph will be geotagged and time-tagged to provide irrefutable proof that the exam was conducted in the school lab at the specified time with all required personnel present.

5. Strict Batch Size and Assessment Rules

CBSE has instructed schools to avoid holding large combined practical exams. Schools must create batches of a maximum of 30 students each. The assessment of a batch must be completed on the same day and marks uploaded immediately.

Good for students: 

This ensures you get more time for your viva and experiment, reducing pressure and allowing for a proper assessment.

6. Fractional Marks Must Be Rounded Up

Examiners are strictly instructed that no fractional marks should be uploaded.

If a student's total practical score includes a fraction (e.g., 25.5), it must be increased to the next whole number (e.g., 26).

7. Viva + Practical Work Are Both Essential

Marks will be awarded based on the prescribed marking scheme, which includes assessment of:

• Practical file/Project work.

• Lab performance and accuracy of the experiment.

• Viva-Voce answers.

• Focus: Students should keep their files neat and practice experiment steps thoroughly for a complete and balanced score.

How Students Should Prepare for CBSE Practical Exams 2026

• Complete your practical file early and get it checked properly. A neat, error-free file creates a strong impression and reduces last-minute stress.

• Practice every experiment through hands-on work in the lab. Practical accuracy matters more than theory, so understand each step clearly.

• Revise all viva questions from NCERT and the practical manual. Clear concepts help you answer confidently in front of the examiner.

• Reach the lab at least 30 minutes before the exam begins. Early arrival helps you settle down and avoid unnecessary pressure.

• Carry all required materials such as an apron, notebook, file, and stationery. Being fully prepared ensures the exam goes smoothly without interruptions.