Victoria Academy – A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963
Students and parents frequently search for:
CBSE Term 1
CBSE Term 2
CBSE Term 3
CBSE Term 4
CBSE Term 1 syllabus
CBSE Term 2 syllabus
CBSE Term 3 exam
CBSE Term 4 exam
CBSE semester system
CBSE quarterly exams
CBSE half-yearly exams
CBSE periodic tests
CBSE Board exam pattern 2026
CBSE Class 10 two Board exams
But there is an important point to understand in 2026–27:
CBSE does not currently operate a nationwide four-Board-examination system officially called Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4.
A particular CBSE-affiliated school may divide its academic year into terms, quarters, periodic assessments, half-yearly examinations or other reporting periods. However, these school-level labels should not automatically be confused with a national CBSE Board examination structure.
There is another source of confusion: CBSE officially used a Term I and Term II Board-examination system during the special 2021–22 academic session. That was a special arrangement introduced during the pandemic period, with the syllabus divided approximately between two terms. (CBSE Academic)
The current system is different.
And from 2026, CBSE introduced another major change for Class X: two opportunities for Board examinations in an academic year. These are officially the First/Main Board Examination and Second Board Examination—not Term 1 and Term 2. (CBSE)
This guide explains what CBSE Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4 actually mean, what changed in 2026, how internal assessments work, and how the CBSE structure compares with more course-based international high-school systems.
Search Term
Is It a Current Nationwide CBSE Board Term?
What It May Mean
CBSE Term 1
No universal current Board term
School's first assessment period, or historical 2021–22 CBSE Term I
CBSE Term 2
No universal current Board term
School's second/half-year assessment, or historical 2021–22 CBSE Term II
CBSE Term 3
No official nationwide CBSE Board Term 3
School-level third assessment/quarter
CBSE Term 4
No official nationwide CBSE Board Term 4
School-level final quarter/annual assessment
CBSE First Board Exam
Yes, for Class X under current two-exam policy
Main Board examination
CBSE Second Board Exam
Yes, for eligible Class X students
Improvement/compartment opportunities
CBSE Periodic Tests
Yes, used within school/internal assessment structures
School-based assessment
CBSE Annual Exam
Yes, depending on class
End-of-year assessment
CBSE Class XII Board Exam
Yes
National Board examination
The biggest mistake is treating:
Term 1 + Term 2 + Term 3 + Term 4
as though CBSE currently conducts four national Board examinations every year.
It does not.
Different CBSE schools organize their school calendars differently.
One school might use:
Periodic Test 1
→ Half-Yearly Examination
→ Periodic Test 2
→ Annual Examination
Another may call them:
Term 1
→ Term 2
Another school may organize four reporting periods:
Term 1
→ Term 2
→ Term 3
→ Term 4
And another might use:
Quarter 1
→ Quarter 2
→ Quarter 3
→ Quarter 4
These labels can help the school manage:
reporting;
parent-teacher meetings;
unit tests;
projects;
internal assessment;
progress reports.
But the terminology used by a school does not automatically become the national CBSE Board-examination structure.
Yes.
This is why the keywords remain popular.
During the 2021–22 academic session, CBSE introduced a special term-wise system for Classes X and XII.
The academic session was divided into:
Approximately half of the syllabus.
Approximately the remaining half.
CBSE published official term-wise syllabi across major subjects including:
Mathematics;
Science;
Social Science;
English;
Hindi;
languages;
senior-secondary subjects;
skill subjects.
CBSE's own annual reporting confirms that the 2021–22 syllabus was divided into two terms with approximately 50% of the syllabus in each term. (CBSE Academic)
That arrangement was associated with the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic period.
It should not be assumed to be the current permanent structure.
Under the special 2021–22 arrangement, Term I covered roughly the first half of the academic syllabus.
Students completed the first centrally organized assessment during the academic year.
That historical structure is the origin of many searches such as:
CBSE Term 1 date sheet
CBSE Term 1 syllabus
CBSE Term 1 question paper
CBSE Term 1 result
But a student searching “CBSE Term 1 2026–27” today should first check whether the term refers to:
their school's internal Term 1
rather than:
a CBSE national Term I Board exam.
Term II represented the second portion of the special 2021–22 academic-year structure.
It was not equivalent to the current Second Board Examination for Class X.
That distinction is particularly important.
Part of the special 2021–22 two-term academic model.
Part of the Class X two-Board-examination policy introduced from 2026.
These are different systems.
There is no current nationwide CBSE Board examination officially called:
CBSE Term 3 Board Examination.
A school may independently use “Term 3” as its third academic reporting or assessment period.
For example:
April–June: Term 1
July–September: Term 2
October–December: Term 3
January–March: Term 4
That can be a legitimate school calendar.
But it does not mean CBSE conducts a national Term 3 Board exam.
Similarly, CBSE does not currently prescribe a national:
Term 4 Board Examination
for all students.
A particular school may use “Term 4” to describe its final quarter or final school assessment.
It may include:
revision;
projects;
internal assessments;
annual examinations;
pre-Board examinations;
practicals.
The exact schedule depends on the school and class.
CBSE's published 2026–27 curriculum identifies the current schemes of study for Classes IX, X, XI and XII rather than a nationwide four-term Board structure. (CBSE Academic)
For example, the current Class IX scheme uses:
Annual Examination
plus:
School-Based Internal Assessment
for applicable academic subjects. (CBSE Academic)
Internal assessment can include various methods depending on the subject, such as:
written periodic assessments;
multiple assessments;
portfolios;
subject-specific activities;
practical work.
The exact marks structure can differ by subject.
Class IX is primarily a school-assessed class.
CBSE currently describes Class IX subjects through an annual examination and school-based internal assessment rather than a national Term 1–4 Board structure. (CBSE Academic)
Your school may nevertheless organize the year into multiple assessments.
A possible school structure might be:
First periodic assessment.
Half-yearly assessment.
Post-half-year assessment.
Annual examination.
But this is an illustration of how a school might organize assessments—not a universal CBSE-prescribed national four-term schedule.
Class X changed significantly from 2026.
CBSE introduced two Board examination opportunities for Class X. (CBSE)
This has created another terminology problem.
Some students may incorrectly call them:
Term 1 Board Exam
and:
Term 2 Board Exam.
That is not the best terminology.
The official structure is:
and:
The first Board examination is the main examination.
Under the current policy:
It is mandatory for students to appear in the first Board examination. (CBSE)
The main examination begins around the normal Board examination period beginning in mid-February under the policy framework. (CBSE)
The second examination provides eligible students another opportunity.
Passed and eligible students can improve their performance in up to three main subjects from:
Science;
Mathematics;
Social Science;
languages.
The second examination also supports eligible compartment categories. (CBSE)
Under the notified framework, the second examination is held in approximately the May period. (CBSE)
For a student who has already passed and is satisfied with their performance, the improvement opportunity is not the same as a mandatory second sitting in every subject.
However:
the first/main examination itself is mandatory. (CBSE)
Students should therefore not understand the policy as:
“I can skip February and simply take Term 2 later.”
That is incorrect.
CBSE specifically clarified that a student absent from three or more subjects in the first examination cannot simply use the second examination as a replacement; such students can fall into the Essential Repeat category under the applicable rules. (CBSE)
No.
Under the two-examination Class X scheme:
Internal assessment is conducted only once before the main examination. (CBSE)
This is another reason the system should not be described as two completely independent academic “terms.”
It is better understood as:
one Class X academic programme
main Board examination
eligible second Board examination opportunity.
Class XI is primarily school assessed rather than having a national Class XI CBSE Board examination.
Schools may conduct:
periodic assessments;
unit tests;
half-yearly exams;
practicals;
annual examinations.
A school may call these Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4, but students should follow the school's published assessment calendar.
There is no need to assume that another CBSE school uses exactly the same term labels.
Class XII currently remains based on the normal CBSE senior-secondary structure with subject-specific:
theory;
practical;
internal-assessment components
and the national Class XII Board examination.
CBSE's senior-secondary assessment framework identifies the Board examination as an annual examination for Class XII, rather than a current four-term national Board model. (CBSE Academic)
The current 2026–27 curriculum also publishes subject-specific paper designs.
For example, Class XII Mathematics currently has:
80 marks external examination
plus:
20 marks internal assessment
with the internal component including periodic tests and Mathematics activities. (CBSE Academic)
Different subjects can have different practical/internal structures, so students should always check their actual subject syllabus.
Periodic tests are school-based assessments conducted during the academic year.
Their purpose is not simply to generate marks.
They can help:
identify learning gaps;
give teachers feedback;
prepare students for larger examinations;
track progress;
support remedial learning.
In current subject curricula, periodic assessments continue to appear within internal-assessment structures.
For example, some 2026–27 subjects specify three periodic tests, with the best two used for the relevant internal-assessment component. (CBSE Academic)
However, students should check the specific curriculum for their class and subject because assessment structures are not identical across every subject.
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably by schools, but conceptually they can be different.
Usually:
smaller;
school conducted;
limited portion;
part of internal assessment.
Usually:
larger portion of syllabus;
broader assessment;
school calendar milestone.
Conducted under the national CBSE examination framework for the relevant Board class.
Students should not assume that every test called “Term 1” carries the same official weight across India.
Many CBSE schools conduct a half-yearly examination around the middle of the academic year.
It may sometimes be called:
Mid-Term;
Half-Yearly;
Term 1 Examination;
Term 2 Examination
depending on the school.
Again, the name is less important than:
syllabus covered;
marks;
weightage;
whether it contributes to internal assessment;
whether it is school-level or Board-level.
Students in Classes X and XII may also complete:
pre-Board examinations.
These are generally school-conducted examinations designed to prepare students for the final Board examination.
A pre-Board is:
not the CBSE Board examination itself.
Its purpose can include:
identifying weaknesses;
practicing time management;
becoming familiar with question-paper structure;
improving revision.
Schools can organize one or more pre-Boards.
Parents sometimes think CBSE marks come entirely from written examinations.
That is not necessarily the case.
Current CBSE curricula can incorporate:
periodic tests;
practical work;
projects;
portfolios;
multiple assessment;
speaking/listening activities;
subject activities.
CBSE's 2026–27 curriculum continues to emphasize annual examinations alongside school-based assessment in applicable classes and subjects. (CBSE Academic)
A school could create a four-part academic calendar such as:
School Period
Possible Activities
Term 1
Unit learning + periodic test
Term 2
Continued syllabus + half-yearly examination
Term 3
New units + periodic assessment
Term 4
Revision + annual/pre-Board/Board preparation
But this should be clearly described as:
a possible school-level organization
rather than:
the national CBSE Board Term 1–4 system.
Instead of asking only:
“When is Term 3?”
ask:
What does your school mean by Term 1, 2, 3 and 4?
Which exams contribute to the final school result?
Which assessments contribute to CBSE internal assessment?
How many periodic tests are conducted?
Is the half-yearly examination included in the final calculation?
When are practical/project marks submitted?
What is the Class X or XII pre-Board schedule?
Which syllabus is included in each examination?
Which marks appear on the school report card?
Which marks eventually form part of the Board result?
That gives much clearer information than relying on terminology alone.
Not automatically.
A four-term model can provide:
more frequent feedback;
smaller assessment blocks;
regular revision;
earlier identification of weaknesses.
But frequent testing can also create:
continuous exam pressure;
more time spent preparing for tests;
less time for projects and deeper learning.
The quality of education depends on the balance between:
learning
practice
feedback
and:
assessment.
Consider two approaches.
Study
→ Term Exam
→ Study
→ Term Exam
→ Study
→ Final Exam
Learn
→ Assignment
→ Feedback
→ Project
→ Test
→ Feedback
→ Final Evaluation
Both can assess learning.
But they emphasize different patterns of student performance.
A student may understand a subject but perform poorly on one particular examination because of:
stress;
time management;
weak revision;
misunderstanding questions.
Another student may memorize extensively for an examination but later struggle to apply the same knowledge practically.
That is why modern education increasingly values both:
knowledge
and:
application.
Strong students need to be able to:
remember;
understand;
apply;
analyse;
evaluate;
communicate.
CBSE itself continues moving toward more competency- and application-oriented assessment rather than purely textbook-driven recall. (CBSE Academic)
CBSE and Ontario secondary education use different structures.
Students generally follow:
class-based annual progression;
school internal assessment;
periodic assessments;
annual/Board examinations;
centralized Board examinations in Classes X and XII.
Students earn individual:
course credits
toward graduation.
Results are built course by course rather than through one single nationwide Grade 10 or Grade 12 Board examination determining the entire diploma.
Students still complete assessments and applicable final evaluations.
Therefore the distinction is not:
CBSE has exams / Ontario has no exams.
The stronger distinction is:
centralized Board-exam structure vs course-credit-based secondary-school structure.
Potentially, where workload and the student's academic plan permit.
For example:
CBSE School
One Ontario High-School Course Online
can provide experience with a different academic model without automatically requiring the student to leave their existing school.
The student must still comply with their CBSE school's:
attendance;
examinations;
internal assessments;
practicals;
Board requirements.
A parallel international course does not cancel local-school obligations.
Some families want students to continue:
Indian schooling
while also developing:
Academic English;
critical thinking;
research;
presentations;
independent learning;
international university readiness.
For such students, a carefully planned parallel pathway may create broader academic exposure.
The workload should remain realistic.
There is no current nationwide CBSE Board examination officially called Term 1 for every class. Your school may use “Term 1” for its own assessment period.
Schools may use the term, but today's normal CBSE structure should not be confused with the special official Term II system used in 2021–22.
There is no national CBSE Term 3 Board examination in the current published scheme.
There is no nationwide CBSE Term 4 Board examination. A school may use the name for its fourth assessment/reporting period.
Because CBSE officially used a special Term I/Term II examination system in the 2021–22 academic session. (CBSE Academic)
Yes. CBSE's official records describe approximately 50% syllabus in each term under that special arrangement. (CBSE)
Not as a nationwide Board examination system.
Schools can organize school-level assessment and reporting periods, so terminology can differ. Students should check their school's calendar.
The current scheme includes annual examination and school-based internal assessment for applicable subjects. (CBSE Academic)
Yes. CBSE introduced two Board examination opportunities from 2026. (CBSE)
Yes. (CBSE)
No. It is a second Board examination opportunity under the new Class X policy.
Eligible students can improve performance in up to three specified main subjects under the current policy. (CBSE)
The notified policy says internal assessment is conducted once before the main examination. (CBSE)
The 2026 Class X two-Board-examination policy should not be automatically applied to Class XII.
A school-based assessment used to track learning and contribute to applicable internal-assessment structures.
No.
A school-conducted preparation examination before the actual Board examination.
Yes. The exact structure and weightage depend on the class and subject.
No. Current curricula can include periodic assessment, projects, activities, practical work and other internal-assessment components alongside examinations.
No. The approximately 50/50 split applied to the special 2021–22 term-wise system. It is not a universal current rule.
Students should use the current official CBSE curriculum for their academic session and subject rather than an old term-wise syllabus.
Ontario uses a course-credit model rather than a single national-style Grade 10/12 Board examination system.
No. Ontario courses still use formal assessments and applicable final evaluations.
Potentially, where the student's workload and academic plan permit.
If you search:
CBSE Term 1
CBSE Term 2
CBSE Term 3
or:
CBSE Term 4
first identify which of these you mean:
The special official 2021–22 Term I/II structure.
Your individual school's academic reporting period.
An internal school assessment.
The new two-examination policy introduced from 2026.
These are four different concepts.
Confusing them can lead students to:
study the wrong syllabus;
download outdated question papers;
misunderstand exam dates;
assume incorrect marks weightage.
Victoria Academy – A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963
Victoria Academy provides eligible students with access to Ontario high-school learning and pathways toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), subject to successful completion of all applicable Ontario graduation requirements.
For students accustomed to CBSE's class and Board-examination structure, Ontario provides a different academic model.
Students work through individual courses and build academic credits toward graduation.
Learning can include:
lessons;
assignments;
projects;
tests;
research;
teacher feedback;
final evaluations.
Eligible international students may be able to study Ontario high-school courses online from their home country.
Where academically appropriate, an Ontario course may potentially be studied alongside an existing local-school pathway, allowing students to experience another academic system without automatically replacing their Indian schooling.
For students and parents comparing education systems, the key question should not simply be:
“How many terms or exams are there?”
A stronger question is:
“How does the assessment system help the student learn consistently, demonstrate knowledge, develop practical skills and prepare for university?”
STAY LOCAL. STUDY CANADIAN. THINK GLOBAL.
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CBSE Board Exam 2026–27
CBSE Class 10 Two Board Exams Explained
CBSE First Board Exam vs Second Board Exam
CBSE Periodic Test vs Term Exam
CBSE Half-Yearly vs Annual Exam
CBSE Internal Assessment Explained
CBSE Class 9 Assessment Pattern
CBSE Class 10 Assessment Pattern
CBSE Class 11 Assessment Pattern
CBSE Class 12 Assessment Pattern
CBSE vs OSSD Assessment
OSSD vs CBSE
No Board Exam Schooling Explained
Online School in India
Local School + OSSD Parallel Pathway
Canadian Online High School in India
Practical Schooling vs Traditional Schooling
Future of School Education
SEO Title:
CBSE Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 & Term 4 Explained: 2026–27 Exam Guide
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Search-Focused SEO Title:
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Does CBSE have Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4 in 2026–27?
CBSE does not currently operate a nationwide four-Board-examination system officially called Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4. Individual schools may use these labels for internal assessment periods. CBSE officially used a Term I/Term II model during the special 2021–22 session. From 2026, Class X instead has a First/Main Board Examination and a Second Board Examination opportunity, which should not be confused with the old Term I/Term II system. (CBSE)
CBSE Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 & Term 4 – 25 Frequently Asked Questions
CBSE Exams & School Education
Alternative:
CBSE Updates & Assessment
CBSE, CBSE Term 1, CBSE Term 2, CBSE Term 3, CBSE Term 4, CBSE Board Exam, Periodic Test, Internal Assessment, Class 10, Class 12, OSSD, Victoria Academy
Use this article as the main:
CBSE Assessment Structure
pillar:
/blog/cbse-term-1-term-2-term-3-term-4
Then create supporting pages:
Supporting Blog
Suggested Slug
CBSE Class 10 Two Board Exams
/blog/cbse-class-10-two-board-exams
CBSE First vs Second Board Exam
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CBSE vs OSSD Exams
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OSSD vs CBSE
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The search journey becomes:
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→ Periodic Assessment
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→ International Assessment Comparison
→ OSSD / Canadian High School
This is a particularly strong SEO topic because it captures both historical searches from the 2021–22 Term I/II system and new 2026 searches created by the Class X two-Board-examination policy, while clearly explaining that the two systems are not the same.
Important Academic Note: CBSE schools may use different names and schedules for school-level terms, periodic tests, half-yearly examinations and pre-Boards. Students should always follow the current CBSE curriculum for their academic session together with their own school's assessment calendar. The historical 2021–22 Term I/II structure should not be used as the current 2026–27 syllabus or examination pattern.