CBSE Board Exam 2026: 10th-12th exams to begin on February 18, check guidelines

CBSE Board Exam 2026: Arriving at the CBSE Board Exam Center on time can take advantage of 15 minutes of reading time. CBSE has advised students to leave home on time, taking into account traffic, weather conditions, and the distance to the center. Additionally, a standardized bell system has been implemented to keep track of time during the exam. This will provide hourly progress updates for students.

CBSE Board exams for 10th and 12th grades will begin on February 18, 2026, and continue until March.

CBSE Board Exam 2026 Timing and Guidelines

Students appearing for the CBSE Board Exam 2026 must adhere to the timing and other guidelines. Even a 2-minute delay may prevent you from entering the exam center.

What time will entry be allowed at the CBSE exam center?

Entry to the CBSE exam center will begin at 9:00 am. The board has clarified that the gates will close at 10:00 am (IST). Students are advised to reach the exam center by 9:30 am. This will avoid the hassle of checking admit cards and finding a room.

15 minutes of reading time will be useful

CBSE question papers will be distributed at 10:15 am. For the next 15 minutes, i.e., until 10:30 am, students will only be allowed to read the question paper. No writing of answers will be permitted during this time. This time is used to read the questions and develop a strategy for writing answers.

Complete Bell Schedule Information

The Central Board of Secondary Education has developed a standard bell system to prevent students from wasting time constantly checking their clocks:

• Long Bell (10:30 AM): This officially signals the start of writing.

• Single Bell (every hour): A short bell will ring every hour during the exam.

• Warning Bell (10 minutes before): A warning bell will ring exactly 10 minutes before the end of the exam, allowing students to wrap up.

• Long Bell (end): Signals the end of the exam, after which there will be no opportunity to write.

CBSE Exam Dress Code Guidelines

Regular CBSE students are required to come in their school uniform. Private students are advised to wear light-colored, simple clothing. Only admit cards in a transparent pouch, pens, pencils, and a transparent water bottle are allowed inside.

What cannot be brought into the CBSE Board Examination Center?

Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth, earphones, calculators, or any other electronic gadgets are prohibited inside the CBSE Board Examination Center. If a student is found with these items, they may be disqualified from the examination under the Unfair Means (UFM) Act.