To appear in the CBSE Class 12 board exam as a regular candidate, you must be a bona fide student of a CBSE-affiliated school and be registered by your school through the LOC. Students who are not eligible as regular candidates may apply as private candidates in specified categories.

Regular Candidates

• Studying Class 12 in a CBSE-affiliated school, admitted as per CBSE’s rules.

• Registered in the school’s List of Candidates (LOC) with correct data and valid subject combinations.

• Meeting CBSE’s attendance requirement of 75% (relaxation only on valid documented grounds).

• Subjects offered must follow the CBSE Scheme of Studies; invalid combinations are treated as not eligible.

Private Candidates

Private candidates apply online directly to CBSE. As reported for 2026-27, categories include Essential Repeat or Fail candidates, those short of attendance, compartment candidates of 2026, and candidates who passed in 2026 and want to improve their performance. See the next subsection for details.

Key Takeaways

• Regular students are registered through their school’s LOC.

• 75% attendance is required.

• Only valid subject combinations under the Scheme of Studies are accepted.

Pro Tip: Ask your school for your LOC data verification slip and check every detail — errors on your marksheet are hard to fix later.

Source: CBSE LOC circular 2026-27; CBSE page on attendance shortage; private candidate categories as reported (secondary)

Frequently Asked Questions

Students who cannot appear as regular candidates can take the CBSE Class 12 exam as private candidates. CBSE issued the notice for submission of Class 12 private candidate forms for 2026-27 on 7 October 2026.

Who Can Apply as a Private Candidate (As Reported for 2026-27)

Key Points

• The application is online only on cbse.gov.in.

• Private candidates download their admit cards themselves from the CBSE website.

• The subjects you can offer depend on your category, as specified in the CBSE notice.

Key Takeaways

• Private candidate forms for 2026-27 are online on cbse.gov.in.

• Categories include repeat/fail, attendance shortage, compartment and improvement.

• Private candidates get admit cards online.

Pro Tip: Read the CBSE private candidate notice carefully for your category — eligibility rules and allowed subjects differ by category.

Source: CBSE notice on submission of private candidate forms for Class XII (07.10.2026); categories as reported by Careers360 (secondary)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give the CBSE Class 12 exam privately?

Can a student who passed in 2026 improve marks?

How do private candidates get their admit card?