The Central Board of Secondary Education has officially announced that the practical examinations for Classes 10 and 12 will begin from January 1. Schools have been directed to follow the revised marking scheme and updated guidelines issued for the 2025 board cycle. This early schedule is meant to streamline the evaluation process and make sure results are prepared on time.
I am writing about this update because lakhs of CBSE students across the country are already preparing for their board exams, and practical marks play a major role in the final score. Many students depend on these marks to boost their overall percentage, so understanding the marking scheme and guidelines becomes very important. Every year, confusion arises around when the practicals will start, how the marking will be done, what documents schools need to submit, and what examiners will check during the assessment. With the new guidelines out, it is the right time to break down the information in a simple and clear way so that students, teachers and parents can all stay prepared.
CBSE Practical Exams Starting January 1
CBSE has fixed January 1 as the starting date for practical exams, internal assessments and project evaluations for both Class 10 and Class 12. Schools will receive individual schedules based on their availability of external examiners and lab facilities.
Students are expected to finish their practical files and lab records before the final assessment. Schools have been advised to inform students at least one week before the exam so that nobody misses the internal marks.
Revised Marking Scheme for 2025 Practicals
The board has shared an updated marking pattern to ensure uniform evaluation across the country. The distribution will vary by subject, but CBSE has asked all schools to strictly follow the official pattern.
Some of the common components include:
• Practical file or project work
• Lab performance
• Viva voce on given topics
• Overall class participation during practical sessions
For subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Biology in Class 12, the practical marks usually range between 30 and 40. For Class 10 Science, the practical component carries 20 marks. Subjects such as Accountancy, Computer Science, Geography, Home Science and Political Science also have specific internal assessment formats.
What Students Should Prepare Before the Practical Exam
Preparing early can reduce stress. Students should keep the following things ready:
• Completed practical file signed by the subject teacher
• Clean and labelled materials for lab-based subjects
• Updated project work for subjects with research components
• Revision of viva questions based on experiments done in class
• Proper school uniform and ID card for the exam day
Teachers have been advised to verify the practical files internally before the external examiner arrives.
Guidelines Issued for Schools and Examiners
CBSE has asked schools to maintain transparency and follow the rules given in the manual.
Important guidelines include:
• External examiners must be appointed for Class 12 practicals
• Schools cannot change practical dates without prior approval
• Every practical exam must be recorded in the assessment register
• Marks must be uploaded on the CBSE portal on the same day to avoid delays
• Photographs and videos of conduct of exams may be required for verification
• Internal marks should not be inflated or unfairly reduced
These measures are aimed at improving the credibility of practical assessments.
Why Early Practical Exams Matter
Completing practical exams in January allows students to fully focus on theory papers later. It also helps CBSE in processing marks quickly, avoiding errors during result compilation. With board exams expected to start in February, this timeline gives students a better month-by-month preparation plan.
