CBSE Schools to Tweak Summer Holidays for Second Class 10 Board Exam

With the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) planning a second Class 10 board exam in May 2025, several affiliated schools are preparing to revise their academic calendars and adjust summer vacation schedules to manage exam duties and teacher availability.

As per the tentative schedule shared by CBSE, the second Class 10 exam may begin on May 15 and conclude by June 1, 2025, which would overlap with the traditional summer break. Typically, schools in most regions close by the second week of May, and in hotter areas, even earlier.

To accommodate this change, schools are considering staggered vacation plans and rotational duties for teachers to ensure sufficient manpower during exams and answer script evaluation.

“We will likely have to push back our summer break to manage exam duties,” said Loveleen Saigal, Principal of Birla High School, adding that her institution will finalize the revised schedule once CBSE confirms the final dates.

Similarly, South Point High School Principal Jaidev Ghosh said that schools may need to restructure academic calendars to fit in assessments and activities after the exams.

Most schools prepare their annual calendars by November–December so they can include them in the school diaries, which parents and teachers use to plan holidays. The revised calendar would therefore affect planning for both staff and families.

“We are exploring staggered holidays for teachers,” shared Anjana Saha, Principal of Mahadevi Birla World Academy, noting that faculty members may be asked to return midway through the vacation depending on exam requirements.

Schools such as BDM International are also designing rotation schedules to balance examination work and rest time for teachers. Principal Madhumita Sengupta explained that while teachers must be available for exam and evaluation duties, efforts are being made to ensure “some breathing space” during their limited annual leave.

For teachers, summer vacation remains the only extended break in the academic year, making the timing of this second exam particularly significant. While the number of students opting for the second attempt remains uncertain, school leaders expect that many may appear to improve their scores.