How Many Times can I give 12th Board Exams?

Class 12 board exams can be attempted multiple times, depending on the board, with specific rules for compartment exams across CBSE, ISC, NIOS, and various state boards. Check details here.

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How Many Times Can I Give 12th Board Exams?
12th Board Compartment Exam

How many times can I appear for 12th board exams? Is a common question among students who are not able to score the minimum passing marks. Students who have failed to score the passing marks can appear for the compartment exams. Apart from that, boards like Karnataka are providing 3 chances to students to appear for the final exam and use their best scores out of 3. Similarly, from academic session 2025-26, the CBSE board is also going to conduct the 2 exams. Other than that, if a student wants to repeat a year, they can take admission in the same class again or they can appear through the NIOS board, which conducts final exams twice a year in April and October. To know more about the 12th board exams, you can go through the article below.

How Many Times Can I Give 12th Board Exams?

Check out the board-wise criteria to appear for the class 12 examination below.

1. CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education)

This year, the board has provided only one chance for the students to appear for the final exam. However, low-mark students can appear for the CBSE Class 12 Compartment Exam .
From the 2025-26 academic session, CBSE will conduct the exams twice a year.

2. ISC (Indian School Certificate - CISCE Board)

Apart from the final examination, you can appear for the ISC 12th Compartment Exam to score the passing marks.

3. NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)

Under the NIOS Board, you can appear for the class 12 examination twice a year. The exams are held in April and October.

4. State Boards - Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal Boards

Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat, and West Bengal Boards conduct only one final exam and after that provide the opportunity of supplementary examination once a year.
On the other hand, the Karnataka Board has started conducting the 3 exams a year and students are also allowed to keep the best scores out of 3.

12th Board Compartment Exam

To appear for the class 12 compartment exams, you must meet the following eligibility criteria.

You must have failed in one or two subjects.
You should have appeared for the main exam in the same year.
It is mandatory to complete the compartment exam registration form by paying the required fees in order to get the compartment exam admit card.

How to Apply for the 12th Board Compartment Exam?

Take help from school authorities to complete the registration form and pay the required fees.
Submit required documents like your previous mark sheet.
Download the admit card and appear for the compartment exam.

For more information about how many times you can appear for the 12th board exams, you can keep visiting the page. Any changes by any board will be provided here.