CBSE releases alternate Class 12 assessment scheme for students in West Asia

CBSE has announced a special assessment scheme for Class 12 students in West Asian countries following the disruption of board exams due to the ongoing regional conflict. The move will impact thousands of students across Gulf nations, where examinations were underway but could not be completed due to prevailing circumstances.

In Short

• CBSE announces Class 12 assessment scheme for West Asia
• Pre-board marks to help calculate final scores
• Supplementary exams likely in July 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE, has announced a special alternative assessment scheme for Class 12 students in West Asia after cancelling board examinations in several Gulf countries due to safety concerns.

Amid escalating tensions and extraordinary circumstances in parts of the region, CBSE said the decision applies to CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Class 12 board examinations scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, could not be conducted, prompting the board to prioritise student safety and academic continuity.

With options for supplementary exams and fresh opportunities, the board's student-centric approach aims to safeguard academic progression amid uncertainty.

WHY DID CBSE CANCEL CLASS 12 EXAMS IN WEST ASIA?

CBSE said the decision was taken due to "prevailing extraordinary circumstances" in West Asian countries that made conducting examinations infeasible.

All Class 12 examinations scheduled from March 16 to April 10, 2026 have been cancelled. Exams that had earlier been postponed in March were also cancelled. The Board emphasised that student safety and educational security were the primary considerations behind the move.

However, exams conducted earlier in February 2026 remain valid. CBSE clarified that actual performance in those subjects will be considered while preparing the final results. For subjects that could not be conducted, the Board has created an alternate evaluation mechanism.

HOW MANY EXAMS WERE CONDUCTED BEFORE CANCELLATION?

According to the official notification, examinations scheduled up to February 28, 2026, were successfully conducted. In total, 27 subjects, including 17 academic subjects and 10 skill subjects, were completed before the disruption. These results will be used wherever available to determine final scores.

HOW WILL CBSE CALCULATE MARKS FOR AFFECTED STUDENTS?

CBSE has divided students into different categories depending on how many examinations they appeared for. These include students who appeared in all subjects, some subjects, or none at all, as well as compartment candidates from previous years. Based on these categories, the Board will compute results using available exam performance and school-based assessments.

The Board clarified that the Class 12 assessment consists of two components, theoretical examination and practical/internal assessment. Depending on the subject, theoretical marks may carry 80, 70, 60, 50 or 30 marks, with the remaining marks assigned to internal assessment or practical work.

WHAT ROLE WILL SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS PLAY?

For students who could not appear in some or all subjects, schools will submit performance data from quarterly exams, half-yearly exams and final pre-board examinations. In subjects with 80 or 70 theory marks, the best performance among these three assessments will be considered.

In subjects with 60, 50 or 30 theory marks, marks from the final pre-board examination will be used. Practical and internal assessment marks already uploaded by schools will remain unchanged.

WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO DID NOT APPEAR IN ANY EXAM?

Students whose examinations were completely pending will be assessed entirely on school-based evaluations. However, CBSE has also indicated that students dissatisfied with the assessment may be allowed to appear for fresh examinations later, subject to feasibility. Marks obtained in those exams will be treated as final.

Compartment candidates or those appearing in a single subject will also get an opportunity to appear in supplementary examinations expected to be conducted in July 2026.

WHEN WILL SCHOOLS UPLOAD MARKS?

CBSE has announced that schools must upload marks between April 6 and April 13, 2026. The Board stated that once marks are uploaded, no correction requests will be accepted.

Schools must maintain records for verification, and CBSE may review submitted data to ensure fairness and transparency.

For students in the UAE and other Gulf countries, the policy provides clarity and reassurance. Results will be declared using a uniform mechanism and released along with other Class 12 results. The Board also confirmed that students who fail to meet the qualifying criteria will be placed in the compartment or essential repeat categories and given another chance through later examinations.

The cancellation of CBSE Class 12 exams in West Asia highlights how geopolitical developments can directly impact education. By introducing a structured alternative assessment scheme, CBSE has attempted to balance fairness with flexibility.

The policy ensures that students in the UAE and other affected countries are not academically disadvantaged, while also maintaining credibility.

- Ends