The Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan (RBSE), Ajmer, has introduced a major change in the examination system for Secondary (Class 10) and Praveshika examinations from the 2026-27 academic session. According to the official office order dated October 5, 2026, students will get two opportunities to appear for the board examination in the same academic session.
The first examination will be the Main Board Examination, scheduled around February-March 2027, while the second examination, referred to as the Second Board Examination (Improvement Examination), will be conducted around May 2027. The revised system has been introduced in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is aimed at allowing students to improve their academic performance.
RBSE Class 10 Exams to Be Conducted Twice from 2026-27
Under the new RBSE examination system, Secondary and Praveshika examinations will be conducted twice in one academic session.
The two examinations will be:
- First/Main Board Examination: Expected to be conducted in February-March 2027.
- Second Board Examination/Improvement Examination: Expected to be conducted in May 2027.
The Second Board Examination will provide eligible students with an opportunity to improve their marks, while candidates falling under the prescribed Essential Improvement (EI) provisions will also appear in the second examination for the relevant subjects.
RBSE Class 10 Two Board Exams 2026-27: Key Points at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Board | Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Ajmer |
| Applicable From | Academic Session 2026-27 |
| Examinations | Main Board + Second Board Examination |
| Main Exam | February-March |
| Second Exam | May |
| Improvement Subjects | Maximum 3 subjects |
| Final Marks | Higher subject-wise marks considered |
| Roll Number | Same for Main and Second Exam |
| Supplementary Examination | The existing supplementary examination arrangement will be discontinued from 2026-27. |
| Provisional Class 11 Admission | Permitted for students below 33% in up to two subjects |
| Essential Repeat | Absent or below 33% in three or more subjects; all subjects to be repeated next session |
| Policy Basis | National Education Policy 2020 |
Why Has RBSE Introduced Two Board Exams?
The revised examination arrangement is being implemented in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020. The system is intended to provide students with another opportunity to improve their performance without having to wait for the next academic session.
Students who successfully clear the Main Board Examination but want to improve their marks can use the second examination opportunity. This can be particularly useful for students who are aiming for better academic performance for admission to higher classes.
Students Can Improve Marks in Up to 3 Subjects
One of the most important provisions of the new RBSE rule is that students who pass the Main Board Examination can appear in the Second Board Examination for a maximum of three subjects to improve their performance.
Students cannot select unlimited subjects for improvement. The subjects chosen for the second examination must comply with the eligibility conditions specified by RBSE.
The board has also stated that the subject combination cannot be changed. Students may choose one, two or three of the subjects in which they appeared in the Main Board Examination.
As per the order, eligible subjects may include:
- Hindi
- English
- Science
- Mathematics
- Social Science
- Vocational Education subject
- Third Language
- Sanskrit (for Praveshika candidates)
Note: The total number of selected subjects for the Second Board Examination cannot exceed three.
How Will RBSE Calculate the Final Result?
An important change concerns the calculation of students’ final results. For students who appear in both the Main Board Examination and Second Board Examination, RBSE will consider the higher marks obtained subject-wise while preparing the final result.
This means that appearing in the second examination will not automatically disadvantage a student if the student scores lower in a particular subject the second time. The higher marks obtained in the relevant subject will be considered for the final result.
For Example:
Suppose a student scores:
| Subject | Main Exam | Second Exam | Marks Considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindi | 72 | 78 | 78 |
| English | 81 | 76 | 81 |
| Mathematics | 68 | 82 | 82 |
Note: In this example, the higher marks in each subject would be considered while preparing the final result.
What If a Student Does Not Appear in the Second Exam?
Students who pass the Main Board Examination but do not appear in the Second Board Examination will retain their Main Board Examination result.
The board’s order states that their pass certificate will be issued after the Second Board Examination, on the basis of the marks obtained in the Main Board Examination. It also states that the words “Supplementary” or “Fail” will not be written on any candidate’s marksheet. Students should therefore carefully check their result status and the official instructions issued by RBSE after the second examination.
What is RBSE Essential Improvement (EI) Rule?
The new system also introduces provisions for students who need to improve their performance in specific subjects. Students who score below the minimum qualifying marks (33%) in up to two subjects, or are absent in up to two subjects, in the Main Board Examination must appear in the Second Board Examination in those subjects under the Essential Improvement (EI) provision. These subjects will be marked “EI” on the Main Examination performance sheet.
EI candidates may also choose to improve their marks in subjects they have passed, but the total number of subjects, including the EI subjects, cannot exceed three.
What If a Student Is Absent or Scores Below 33% in Three or More Subjects?
If a candidate remains absent in three or more subjects in the Main Board Examination, or obtains less than the prescribed minimum qualifying marks (33%) in three or more subjects, the student will not be eligible for the Second Board Examination under the improvement provision.
The result of such candidates will be declared as “Essential Repeat” (ER), and they will have to appear in all subjects in the Main Board Examination of the next session. The same applies if a candidate is still below 33% in even one subject after the higher marks of the two examinations are counted.
Provisional Admission in Class 11 After Main Exam
RBSE has stated that the Main Examination performance sheet will be made available on Raj-e-Vault and can be used for provisional admission to Class 11. The final result will be declared after the Second Board Examination, and pass certificates will then be issued to all successful students. Students who are eligible for the Second Board Examination can therefore continue the admission process while awaiting the final result.
For students who have deficiencies in up to two subjects under the specified conditions, provisional admission may be granted, with their admission status being made final after the Second Board Examination result.
Same Roll Number for Both Examinations
Students appearing for the Second Board Examination will retain the same roll number as used in the Main Board Examination.
This provision is expected to make it easier for the board to connect a student’s Main Examination and Second Examination records while preparing the final result.
Practical Examination Rules for Vocational Subjects
According to the RBSE order, students who have already passed the relevant practical examination will not be allowed to appear in the practical again; their Main Examination practical marks will be carried forward. However, candidates who have not secured the minimum qualifying marks in the practical examination must appear in the practical examination again in the Second Board Examination. They can also improve their theory marks in that subject if they wish.
RBSE Board Exam 2026-27: Syllabus and Internal Assessment
RBSE has stated that both examinations will be based on the full syllabus prescribed for the session, and the study scheme and examination scheme will remain the same for both. Internal assessment will be conducted only once, before the Main Examination, and the same marks will be used in the final result. Grace marks will be given as per the Main Examination, and the final consolidated result will show 1st Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division, Pass or Essential Repeat (ER) in place of EI.
Special Provision for Students Participating in National and International Sports
Eligible students may be permitted to appear in the Second Board Examination in subjects where the examination dates coincide with their sports participation, provided the information, with proof, reaches the board office through the school head before the examination. This will be their final chance for that session: if they score below 33% in even one of these subjects, the result will be “Essential Repeat” (ER).
This provision is intended to ensure that students taking part in national and international sports events do not lose an academic opportunity because of a genuine examination-date conflict.
Changes for Future RBSE Examination Classes
The official order also mentions provisions concerning future examination systems. From the 2028 examination, the rule that allowed Class 10 and Praveshika students who passed in Category-01 to appear for marks improvement in selected subjects in the following year (Category-06) will be discontinued.
Students who want category improvement in all subjects (Category-2) will be admitted only to the next session’s Main Examination under Board Examination Rules 33 and 34. Scrutiny will be available separately for both examinations, and CWSN students will get the same facilities in the Second Board Examination as in the Main Examination. RBSE has further clarified that examination rules may be amended at the board level where required, and such amendments will become part of the applicable examination regulations.
What Should RBSE Class 10 Students Do Now?
Students appearing for the RBSE Class 10 Board Examination 2027 should not treat the second examination as a reason to reduce preparation for the Main Examination.
Students should:
- Prepare seriously for the Main Board Examination.
- Focus on completing the prescribed syllabus on time.
- Identify weak subjects before the Main Examination.
- Maintain proper records of internal assessment and practical work.
- Use the Second Board Examination only when improvement is genuinely required.
- Carefully check RBSE’s notification before selecting subjects for the second examination.
- Keep track of the official timetable, application dates and result announcements.
Also Read:
CBSE Class 10 Pass Criteria 2026-27: 33% Aggregate Rule Retained
Rajasthan Trains Teachers to Use AI Tools as RBSE Shifts Toward Analytical Questions
Fee Structure for IIT JEE Coaching in Sikar Rajasthan for 2026
Best Boarding Schools in Sikar 2026: A Complete Parent’s Guide
Conclusion
The RBSE two-exam system for Class 10 and Praveshika from 2026-27 is a significant change in Rajasthan’s school examination framework. Students who pass the Main Board Examination will have an opportunity to improve their marks in up to three subjects, while the subject-wise higher marks from the two examinations will be considered for the final result.
Students should also understand that the second examination has specific eligibility conditions. Candidates who are absent or fail in three or more subjects will not get the improvement opportunity and will have to appear in the next Main Board Examination.
Frequently Asked Questions
RBSE has introduced the two-exam system to provide students with an additional opportunity to improve their performance, in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
No. The Second Board Examination is not compulsory for students who are satisfied with their Main Board Examination result. However, it is compulsory for students placed under Essential Improvement (EI), and the Main Board Examination is compulsory for everyone. It mainly provides an opportunity for eligible students to improve their marks.
No. A student who is eligible for improvement can appear in a maximum of three subjects, subject to the conditions prescribed by RBSE.
Students do not have to worry about losing their better Main Examination marks. The higher marks obtained in each subject from the two examinations will be considered for the final result.
No. Students cannot freely change their subject combination for the Second Board Examination. The subjects must be among those permitted under the RBSE rules and the applicable examination scheme.
Yes. Under the prescribed conditions, eligible students can take provisional admission to Class 11 after the Main Examination while appearing for the Second Board Examination to address their subject deficiency.
Yes. The new examination arrangement announced by RBSE applies to both Secondary (Class 10) and Praveshika examinations from the 2026-27 academic session.
