The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has officially released the complete examination calendar for the academic year 2026, providing students and educators across the state with clear timelines for crucial academic assessments.
Examination Schedule and Key Dates
Board chairman Anand Kishor announced that the Class XII Intermediate examinations for arts, science, and commerce streams will commence on February 2, 2026, and continue until February 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the Class X Matriculation examinations are scheduled to begin slightly later, running from February 17 to February 25, 2026.
All examinations will be conducted in two daily shifts to accommodate the large number of students. The first shift will run from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM, followed by the second shift from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM.
Examination Pattern and Cool-Off Period
While the actual writing time for each examination remains three hours per shift, BSEB has introduced a significant change by providing students with a 15-minute "cool off" period during each shift. This additional time is specifically designed to allow examinees to carefully read and analyze questions while planning their answers effectively.
Chairman Kishor explicitly clarified that "examinees are not supposed to write answers of any question during the 'cool off' time", emphasizing that this period is strictly for reading and planning purposes only.
Practical Examinations and Admit Card Distribution
The board has also outlined schedules for practical examinations and internal assessments. For Intermediate students, practical examinations will be conducted between January 10 and January 20, 2026. Matriculation students will undertake their practical examinations and internal assessments from January 20 to January 22, 2026.
Regarding admit card distribution, the process will be streamlined through digital means. Intermediate examination admit cards will be available for school heads to download from the BSEB website between January 16 and January 31, 2026. For Class X students, the admit card download window is scheduled earlier, from January 8 to January 15, 2026.
Additional Important Examinations
Beyond the main board examinations, BSEB has announced dates for several other significant tests. The entrance examination for admission to Class VI at Simultala Residential School is set for January 7, 2026. Additionally, the joint entrance test for the Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) course will span a longer period, running from January 19 to February 18, 2026.
The board will also conduct the industrial training higher secondary level language test on April 29 and April 30, 2026, completing the comprehensive examination schedule for the academic year.
This early announcement of the complete examination calendar provides Bihar students with ample time to prepare systematically for their crucial academic milestones, allowing for better planning and reduced last-minute stress.
