What Happens If a Student Misses a CBSE Board Exam?

CBSE 10th and 12th board exams are beginning from February 17, 2026. Board exams are extremely important for every student. But sometimes, due to unavoidable circumstances such as illness or emergencies, a student may not be able to appear for one or more papers. 

According to official CBSE guidelines, there are specific rules depending on whether the student is in Class 10 or Class 12 and how many exams were missed. 

5 Mandatory Subjects in CBSE Board Exams

In both Class 10 and Class 12, there are five mandatory subjects.

To be declared “qualified,” a student must:

• Appear in all 5 subjects

• Qualify in all 5 subjects

If a student does not appear in one or more examinations, certain provisions apply.

If a Class 10 Student Misses a CBSE 10th Board Exam

If a Class 10 student is not able to appear in two examinations, the student will be:

• Placed in the Compartment Category

• Allowed to appear in Supplementary examinations held in July

This gives the student another opportunity within the same academic year.

If a Class 12 Student Misses a CBSE 12th Board Exam

If a Class 12 student is not able to appear in one examination, the student will be:

• Placed in the Compartment Category

• Allowed to appear in Supplementary examinations held in July

The rule differs slightly from Class 10 in terms of the number of missed examinations.

If a Student Misses All Examinations

If a student is not able to appear in any examination, then:

• CBSE provides an opportunity the next year

• The student can appear in the Board examination as a Private Candidate

This means the student can take the exams again in the next academic cycle.

What if the CBSE Admit Card was Issued? 

If the Admit Card was issued but the student did not appear in any paper, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) provides a facility for the student to appear in all five examinations in the same year.

However, it is important to understand that:

• The examinations will be conducted under NIOS

• The certificate issued will be from NIOS, not CBSE

This provision offers students an opportunity to avoid losing a full academic year, even if they were unable to attempt the CBSE Board exams after receiving their Admit Card.