New Delhi: Nearly 6.7 lakh class X students have registered for the second edition of the CBSE board examinations this year, with the majority seeking to improve their scores from the main exam, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said on Friday.According to data based on the list of candidates (LOC), a total of 6,68,854 students have opted for the second examination in 2026. Of these, 5,25,655 have applied for improvement, 85,285 under the compartment category and 57,914 for both improvement and compartment.Gender-wise, male candidates account for a larger share at 4,02,643, compared with 2,66,209 female candidates, while two students fall under the ‘other’ category. Among female candidates, 2,15,215 have registered for improvement, 31,548 for compartment and 19,446 for both. For male candidates, 3,10,439 are appearing for improvement, 53,736 under compartment and 38,468 for both categories, underscoring that score improvement remains the primary motivation across groups.The second board examinations will be held from May 15 to May 21, 2026. In its notification, the CBSE said all examination processes, including LOC submission and publication of the date sheet, were completed in a timely and systematic manner. The date sheet was released on April 23 and is available on the board’s official website.From 2026, CBSE has introduced a two-exam system for Class X, making the first attempt mandatory and the second optional for students in the compartment category or those seeking improvement. The board will record the best score from either attempt in the final marksheet. Students who clear the first examination can reappear in up to three subjects—Science, Mathematics, Social Science or Languages—to improve their performance.As per the notification, results of the second examination will be declared by the end of June 2026.Students who did not opt for the second exam could use their first-exam results declared on April 15 and available on DigiLocker for admission to Class 11.Final passing certificates and merit certificates will be issued after the declaration of the second exam results.“The introduction of a flexible, multi-opportunity examination system reflects CBSE’s continued commitment to students and academic excellence,” the board said, adding that the move is aimed at reducing performance pressure while offering students additional chances to improve outcomes.