CBSE Class 10, 12 private candidate forms open: apply by October 23 for 2027 exams
In short
- Private candidates for CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exams 2027 can apply online until October 23, 2026.
- The online submission of forms for private students began on October 8, 2026, on cbse.gov.in.
- Candidates declared Essential Repeat, Compartment, or Fail in previous years, or those improving performance, are eligible.
- Practical exams are anticipated in January 2027, with theory exams in February and March 2027.
- A late fee of Rs 2,000 per candidate will apply for List of Candidates (LOC) submissions after October 21, 2026.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the online application and fee submission window for private candidates intending to appear in the Class 10 and 12 board examinations in 2027. The application process, which commenced on October 8, 2026, will conclude on October 23, 2026.
This initiative allows eligible private candidates to register for the upcoming board examinations, expected to be held in February and March 2027, with practical exams likely in January 2027. All applications and fee submissions must be completed online through the official portal, cbse.gov.in.
Eligibility Criteria for Private Candidates
Private candidates can apply under several categories for both Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. For Class 10, this includes candidates declared ESSENTIAL REPEAT in 2026, those declared FAIL/ESSENTIAL REPEAT between 2021 and 2026, candidates who could not appear due to medical reasons in 2026, or those placed in Compartment in two subjects in 2026. Students who passed in 2026 and wish to improve their performance in one or more subjects are also eligible.
Similarly, for Class 12, candidates declared ESSENTIAL REPEAT in 2026, those placed in COMPARTMENT in 2026, candidates declared FAIL/ESSENTIAL REPEAT between 2021 and 2026, and passed candidates from 2025-2026 seeking performance improvement can apply. A new Roll Number will be allotted by the Board for candidates appearing in 2027.
| Category | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| FULL SUBJECTS (A) | Candidates whose result has been declared as ESSENTIAL REPEAT at the Secondary Examination (Class X) 2026. |
| FULL SUBJECTS (B) | Candidates whose result has been declared as FAIL/ESSENTIAL REPEAT at the Secondary School Examination (Class X), in the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026. |
| FULL SUBJECTS (C) | Candidates who had completed a regular course of studies and had been allotted Roll No. for appearing at the Secondary Examination but could not appear for the Class X examination due to medical reasons except shortage of attendance at the Secondary Examination (Class X) 2026. |
| FULL SUBJECTS (D) | Candidates who have been placed in Compartment in two subjects may opt for appearing in 5/6/7 subjects in which he/she had appeared in the Board’s Examinations 2026. SUCH CANDIDATE SHOULD SELECT HIS/HER CATEGORY AS ESSENTIAL REPEAT WHILE APPLYING ONLINE. |
| COMPARTMENT | Students whose result has been declared as COMPARTMENT in the Board’s Main and Supplementary Examinations 2026 can apply only in the subject(s) in which he/she has been placed in the Compartment. Such students should select his/her category as COMPARTMENT while applying online. |
| IMPROVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE | Only such students who have passed the examination of the Board in 2026 can apply to improve his/her performance in one or more subjects provided he/she should have appeared in the same subjects in the examination held in 2026. |
| S. No. | Category |
|---|---|
| 1. | Candidates of the session 2025-26 who have been declared ESSENTIAL REPEAT in the result of the 2026 examination. |
| 2. | Candidates of the session 2025-26 who have been placed in COMPARTMENT in Board’s Main and Supplementary Examinations 2026. (Second Chance Compartment Candidates) |
| 3. | Candidates who have been declared FAIL/ESSENTIAL REPEAT in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026. |
| 4. | Passed out candidates of 2025-2026 who wish to appear for Improving their Performance in one or more subjects |
Application Process and Fees
The application process requires candidates to submit their forms and fees exclusively online. No offline applications will be accepted, nor will submissions after the specified deadline. Fees for all activities, including additional subjects and practicals, must be paid through online payment modes such as Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card. Candidates can make corrections to their application form, including subject and centre choices, up to the last date of submission.
The examination centre will be allotted based on the city chosen in the online form and will not be subject to change. For any queries, candidates can contact the CBSE Helpline No. 1800-11-8002, available between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM on all working days. The syllabus for private candidates is available on cbseacademic.nic.in/curriculum_2027.html, and sample papers for Class 10 and 12 board exams 2027 have been published on cbseacademic.nic.
| Fee type | India | Nepal | Other countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional subject | Rs 320 | Rs 320 | Rs 320 |
| Practical (Class 12, per subject) | Rs 160 | Rs 175 | Rs 375 |
| Late fee | Rs 2000 | Rs 2000 | Rs 2000 |
List of Candidates (LOC) Submission and Passing Criteria
Alongside the private candidate applications, the CBSE List of Candidates (LOC) submission for Class 10 and Class 12 main examinations also commenced on September 24, 2026. Schools can submit the LOC without a late fee until October 21, 2026. Submissions made between October 22 and October 30, 2026, will incur a late fee of Rs 2,000 per candidate.
To pass the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations, students must secure a minimum overall score of 33% in each subject. The CBSE board exam 2027 timetable, which will include subject-wise exam dates, timings, and guidelines, is expected to be released after the LOC process is completed. The board also provides exemptions and concessions to students with disabilities as defined in the RPWD ACT-2016.
| Subjects | Theory Exam | Practical Exam |
|---|---|---|
| English | 80 | 20 |
| Sociology | 80 | 20 |
| Political Science | 80 | 20 |
| Physics | 70 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 |
| History | 80 | 20 |
| Geography | 70 | 30 |
| Economics | 80 | 20 |
| Computer Science | 70 | 30 |
| Chemistry | 70 | 30 |
| Business Studies | 80 | 20 |
| Accountancy | 80 | 20 |
| Biology | 70 | 30 |
| Hindi | 80 | 20 |
Further reading
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