Haryana Board Revolutionizes Examination System with Biannual Pattern
The Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) has announced a groundbreaking change to the academic assessment framework for secondary and senior secondary students. Starting from the 2025-26 academic session, Class X and XII board examinations will be conducted twice annually, marking a significant shift in the state's educational approach.
Dual Examination System to Reduce Student Stress
This innovative biannual examination system is specifically designed to alleviate academic pressure and provide enhanced flexibility to learners across Haryana. Under the new framework, students will have two opportunities to appear for their final board examinations within the same academic year. The most advantageous aspect of this system is the "best of 2" scoring mechanism, where the higher score achieved by a student will be considered final, while the lower score will be automatically disregarded.
BSEH chairman Pawan Kumar Sharma emphasized this point, stating: "Whichever score is higher for a student — in a consolidated marksheet — will be considered final, while the lower score will automatically be dropped." This approach ensures that students are not penalized for a single poor performance and can showcase their true academic potential.
Structured Examination Schedule and Special Provisions
The board has carefully planned the examination schedule to maintain academic continuity. Sharma explained that two comprehensive annual examinations will be conducted with approximately 15 days gap between them, ensuring the academic calendar remains intact. Both examinations will be treated as integral components of a single unified academic year, preventing any disruption to the educational timeline.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of the new system involves special concessions for students engaged in extracurricular activities. Those participating at state or national levels in sports, NCC, or cultural activities who cannot appear for the first annual examination due to official commitments will receive special consideration. These students will be permitted to appear for all subjects in the second annual examination, tentatively scheduled for June-July 2026.
Sharma described this as a "special exception to ensure such students are not academically disadvantaged" due to their commitments beyond the classroom. This provision recognizes the importance of holistic development and supports students balancing academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Improvement Opportunities for Regular Students
For regular students, the second examination primarily serves as an improvement opportunity with specific guidelines:
- Students can appear in a maximum of three subjects during the second examination
- Participation in at least one subject during the first annual exam is mandatory
- No subject changes will be permitted between the two examination sessions
The registration process for the second examination session will commence within one week after the completion of the first annual examination, providing students with adequate time to make informed decisions about their improvement attempts.
Implementation Timeline and Expected Impact
The biannual examination system represents a progressive step in Haryana's educational reforms, aligning with broader national efforts to reduce examination-related stress among students. By providing multiple assessment opportunities and implementing the best-score consideration policy, BSEH aims to create a more supportive and flexible learning environment.
This initiative is expected to benefit thousands of students across Haryana, particularly those who face challenges with single-examination pressure or those balancing academic commitments with extracurricular achievements. The structured approach maintains academic rigor while introducing much-needed flexibility into the assessment process.
