For 12th-grade students, CBSE in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and six other countries has provided an opportunity to retake subjects that were previously canceled due to the regional conflict. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct exams in 40 subjects—20 academic and 20 specialized—in seven affected West Asian countries: UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. This decision was made after the introduction of a special assessment scheme in the affected countries.
It is important to note that these special examinations differ from the standard Class 12 Supplementary Examination, which is usually intended for students categorized as 'Compartment' or those wishing to improve their results according to CBSE rules.
This opportunity is available to regular students meeting the requirements of schools affiliated with CBSE in the affected West Asian countries whose Lists of Candidates (LOC) were submitted for the Main Examination 2026, and whose results were declared under the special assessment scheme. Private candidates may also apply if they submitted forms for the Main Examination 2026 and their results were determined under this scheme.
Students choose the subjects they wish to participate in themselves. Furthermore, the marks obtained in these new exams will replace previous results, and the result of this new exam will be final.
The application period for eligible regular and private candidates is set from September 22 to September 26, 2026. There is no fee for participating in the examination. Regular candidates must personally provide their LOC, while private candidates are required to submit their examination forms in person within the specified timeframe. CBSE has stated that the exam date and detailed schedule will be announced after the submission of LOCs and forms, emphasizing that the deadline will be strictly observed without any extensions.
The exams will take place exclusively in the seven affected West Asian countries and will not be organized in other nations. According to the CBSE notification, the examination venues for students in the UAE will remain unchanged. Students who were absent from the Main Examination 2026 for any reason are not eligible for this new exam; new regular or private candidates who did not participate in the Main Examination 2026 also cannot apply. Additionally, subject changes are not permitted, and students cannot take an exam in a subject already conducted by CBSE.
No, they are not the same. Under the standard CBSE system, students who do not meet the qualification criteria in one subject may be placed in the Compartment category and get another chance to pass that subject. In 2023, CBSE renamed the former 'Compartment Exam' to the Supplementary Examination, citing the National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on providing students with additional opportunities to improve their performance. For Class 12, the usual supplementary route also allows eligible students who have already taken the exam to improve their knowledge in one subject according to applicable rules. CBSE registrations for 2026 still separately indicate the Class 12 Supplementary Examination from the special examination organized for students in West Asia.
A student who fails to meet the qualification requirements in one subject may be placed in the Compartment category and participate in the Supplementary Examination in accordance with CBSE rules. The special assessment notification issued for the disrupted exams in West Asia also mentioned that Compartment exams would be held after the declaration of results for students who failed to meet the qualification requirements in one subject, if circumstances permit. For students who passed the exam, standard CBSE rules allow them to improve their performance in one subject in the supplementary exam, provided applicable conditions are met.
This is an important distinction for families in the UAE. Since 2026, CBSE introduced a Two-Exam Policy for Class 10. This means that Class 10 students can take a second exam, according to the 2026 rules. Dr. Shiba Jojo, Director of GEMS Our Own English High School, explained: 'From this year, CBSE has introduced two exams for Class 10 students. The first exam will be in February/March, and the second in May.' She added that among the students eligible for the second exam are those who were placed in Compartment after the first exam, those eligible for improvement in three core subjects, those falling under both Compartment and Improvement provisions simultaneously, those who took a subject replacement exam, and those who participated in the February/March exam.
However, this two-exam system does not mean that Class 12 students receive two regular exams. For Class 12, the standard system remains based on the Main Examination, followed by the Supplementary Examination and other post-examination opportunities if necessary. CBSE registrations for 2026 separately specify the Class 12 Supplementary Examination. Nadia Zinar, Head of Assessment at Woodlem Park School, Ajman, noted that this difference is particularly important for families in the UAE. She said that for Class 12 students, those placed in Compartment can participate in the Supplementary Examination if they meet the requirements. Zinar emphasized that students who have already taken the exam can also have the opportunity to improve their results in one subject according to CBSE rules. She concluded: 'It is crucial for families in the UAE to understand the exact category of the student's result, their eligibility, allowed subjects, deadlines, and registration requirements. Parents should always rely on their school's examination department and official CBSE notifications, not on information circulated on social media.'