CBSE Special Exams for Class 12 Students

What happened

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced special exams for Class 12 students in the UAE and other countries. The decision follows the cancellation of exams due to the regional conflict. CBSE introduced a special assessment scheme in March after the conflict forced it to call off Class 12 papers in 40 subjects.

The special exams are different from the regular Class 12 Supplementary Examination, which is normally meant for students placed in the Compartment category or students seeking improvement in performance. The exams will be conducted in 40 subjects, including 20 academic and 20 skill subjects, across seven countries: UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Who is affected

Eligible regular students of CBSE-affiliated schools in the affected countries whose List of Candidates (LOC) was submitted for the 2026 Main Examination and whose results were declared under the special assessment scheme can appear for the special examination in October. Students can choose the subjects in which they wish to appear. The marks obtained in the fresh examination will replace the earlier performance, and the result of the fresh examination will be final.

The special exams are open to students who want to improve on the marks they received under the board’s special assessment scheme. CBSE had announced on March 15 that it would be cancelling all board exams for Class 12 students living in the Middle East due to the ongoing regional situation.

Key dates and details

The exams will begin on October 23 and end on October 28. Admit cards are available for download from October 12, using the same login candidates used to apply. The board has set up one exam centre in each country, based on the submissions. Marks scored in the special exams will be final and will replace those awarded under the assessment scheme.

The exam schedule includes subjects such as Political Science, Economics, Mathematics, and Applied Mathematics on the first day, followed by Psychology and Business Studies on the second day. The exams will conclude on October 28 with English Core. All other papers will run from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

What you should do

Students who are eligible to appear for the special exams should check the full schedule and further updates on the official CBSE website. They should also download their admit cards from October 12 and prepare for the exams according to the schedule. It is essential for students to choose the subjects they wish to appear for carefully and prepare well to improve their performance.