The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released detailed practical exam guidelines for 2026. Practical exams for regular schools will be conducted from January 1 to February 14, 2026. These Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) cover batch management, geo-tagged photography, rounding of fractional marks, and procedures to prevent Unfair Means (UFM) during assessments. CBSE emphasizes strict adherence to these guidelines to ensure uniformity, transparency, and fairness across all affiliated schools. The SOPs apply to both Class 10 and Class 12 practical exams and internal assessments, including science experiments, projects, and viva-voce evaluations.
CBSE 2026 Practical Exam Schedule and Rules
Class 12: External Examiner and Lab Protocols
CBSE appoints External Examiners and Observers, while schools assign one Internal Examiner. Pre-exam lab inspections are mandatory to ensure all materials are ready. Teachers deputed as examiners in other schools must be relieved from regular duties to avoid conflicts.
Batch Management and Geo-Tagged Photography
Each batch consists of 30 students, which may be divided into sub-groups of 15 to manage lab space. A geo-tagged group photo showing all students, External Examiner, Internal Examiner, and Observer must be uploaded using the CBSE-approved app.
Marking Scheme and Viva-Voce Rules
- Consensus on Marks: Internal and External examiners must agree; minor differences are averaged.
- No Fractions: Totals with decimals are rounded up to the next whole number.
- Project Originality: Innovative projects receive higher marks; copied or routine work scores lower.
- Viva-Voce: Questions must relate to the student’s project or experiments only.
Class 10: Internal Assessment Guidelines
Practical exams are conducted internally by teachers. Marks must be uploaded to the CBSE portal using Excel sheets. Schools retain answer books for one year after result declaration.
Attendance and Unfair Means
Exams missed due to genuine reasons can be rescheduled within the January 1 – February 14 window. Attempts to influence examiners or use unauthorized material will be recorded as UFM, with immediate reporting to the Regional Office.
