Two Board Exams? Don’t Panic. How Problem-Based Learning is Making the 2026 Shift a Win for Our Kids
As a curriculum coordinator at Vega Schools, a progressive CBSE school in Gurgaon emphasizing problem-based learning (PrBL), CBSE’s announcement of two board exams for Class X starting 2026 feels like a natural evolution, not a disruption. This policy, rooted in NEP 2020’s push for reduced high-stakes pressure, allows a main exam in mid-February and an improvement chance in May for up to three subjects like Science, Math, Social Science, or languages. PrBL equips students to thrive here by fostering skills that go beyond rote memorization.
PrBL Builds Exam-Ready Resilience
PrBL immerses students in real-world problems, like designing sustainable water systems for Odisha villages, requiring research, collaboration, and iterative solutions. This mirrors the two-exam system’s “best-of-two” flexibility, teaching kids to learn from first attempts without fear much like NEP’s core capacities over cramming. Students develop critical thinking to tackle objective and descriptive question formats, handling full-syllabus retakes with confidence rather than panic.
Alignment with CBSE and NEP Goals
CBSE’s scheme mandates the first exam while offering targeted improvements, aligning perfectly with PrBL’s iterative cycles where prototypes fail and improve. NEP Para 4.37 emphasizes student choice and low-pressure assessments; PrBL delivers this through competency-based skills like analysis and application, preparing for modular future exams. Vega Schools take extra care to hone these skills. Internal assessments, done once pre-main exam, integrate seamlessly as PrBL portfolios showcase holistic growth. The shift is designed to do the exact opposite. It’s about moving away from that one “make-or-break” day in March that haunts students all year or may be several years afterwards! But to succeed in this new world, the old way of “cram, exam, forget” just won’t cut it anymore.
Essential Skills for the Future
- Problem-Solving: PrBL projects demand breaking down complex issues, directly transferable to board problems testing higher-order thinking.
- Adaptability: Multiple exam chances build grit, as students refine strategies post-first attempt, echoing NEP’s reduced coaching culture.
- Collaboration and Communication: Group PrBL hones teamwork for descriptive answers and peer reviews, vital for real-life success.
Why PrBL Outshines Rote Learning
Rote drills might score short-term but crumble under two exams’ demands for depth; PrBL always prioritizes what matters—future-ready thinkers navigating uncertainty. It prepares the children to accept the ‘’failure” and then prepare to achieve the desired goal strategically. At Vega Schools, our Class 10 PrBL units already simulate board scenarios, turning 2026 into a celebration of learning, not stress. Parents, embrace this shift—your children are prepared to win.
A Note to Parents: We’re in This Together
It’s natural to feel uneasy when the “rules of the game” change. But the shift toward 2026 is an invitation to let our children breathe a little.
Instead of asking, “How many hours did you study today?” try asking, “What did you figure out today?” Encourage their curiosity. If they want to build something, cook something, or research a weird topic, let them. That’s the heart of Problem-Based Learning.
Let’s stop worrying about the “double” and start focusing on the “doing.” The rest will fall into place.
Vega Schools offers holistic education to children in Delhi NCR and is rated among the top Schools in Gurgaon. Its modern infrastructure, facilities, and experienced teachers are a big asset to the learning & development of students, be it for Nursery, Primary or Senior children making Vega Schools the best schools in Gurgaon. For information about admission please visit the Vega Schools campuses in Sector 48 and Sector 76 Gurugram.