The Punjab Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs) in Pakistan have recently shared key updates on the upcoming Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams for Classes 9 and 10. This announcement comes as students, parents, and schools gear up for the 2026 academic cycle, with a focus on streamlined online processes and extended deadlines to make things easier amid busy schedules. While exact date sheets are still to come, the starting date sets a clear timeline for preparation.
Key Highlights of the Announcement
- Exam Start Date: The SSC Part-II (Class 10) First Annual Examinations are set to begin on March 3, 2026. Sources indicate that Class 9 (SSC Part-I) exams may follow shortly after, potentially starting around mid-March, though official confirmation is pending.
- Admission Process: All submissions must be done online, including forms, printed copies, and fee payments via bank deposits. No manual options will be accepted to ensure efficiency.
- Why This Matters: This early announcement helps students plan their studies, especially with practical exams likely in April for science groups. It also reflects efforts by the Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen (PBCC) to standardize processes across all nine BISE boards in Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, and others.
Schools and private candidates are encouraged to check their respective BISE websites for full guidelines. For instance, BISE Lahore’s portal at www.biselahore.com is a go-to for updates.
Recent Extensions to Admission Deadlines
To accommodate more students, the PBCC recently extended the admission deadlines. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Fee Type | New Deadline | Previous Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Single Fee | December 10, 2025 | November 27, 2025 |
| Double Fee | December 23, 2025 | December 11, 2025 |
| Triple Fee | January 6, 2026 | December 24, 2025 |
This extension, announced just days ago, gives families extra time without rushing, especially during the holiday season. Officials stress that timely submissions help avoid last-minute issues and ensure smooth exam operations.
What Students and Parents Need to Know
Preparing for these exams involves more than just dates—it’s about understanding the full schedule. The complete date sheet is expected by January 2026, which will detail subject-wise timings. In the meantime, students should focus on syllabus completion, as the exams cover a broad range of subjects from sciences to humanities.
For regular students, schools will handle much of the admission process, but private candidates need to act independently. Fees vary by board and category (e.g., science vs. arts group), so visiting official sites is crucial. Remember, roll number slips will be available online and through schools in February 2026.
If you’re in Punjab, India, note that this announcement is specific to Pakistan’s Punjab province. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) in India has tentative dates for Class 10 exams from March to April 2026, with practicals in late January, but no similar recent announcement matches this one.
In the world of education in Punjab, Pakistan, where millions of students navigate the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) pathway each year, the recent announcements from the Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen (PBCC) mark a pivotal moment for the 2026 exam cycle. This detailed overview dives into the nuances of the Class 9 and 10 annual exams, drawing from official notifications and media reports to provide a comprehensive guide. We’ll cover the background, exact details, potential discrepancies in reporting, preparation tips, and broader implications, all while ensuring a balanced view based on verified sources.
Starting with the core announcement: The BISEs across Punjab have officially set the SSC Part-I (Class 9) and Part-II (Class 10) First Annual Examinations to commence on March 3, 2026. This date primarily refers to the start of Class 10 exams, as per consistent reports from outlets like ProPakistani and Pakistan Today. However, some variations appear in secondary sources— for example, one report from TDH Pakistan suggests Class 10 kicking off on March 1 and Class 9 on March 15. While this could stem from early drafts or misinterpretations, the majority of reliable notifications, including those echoed on Dunya News, align with March 3 as the unified starting point for SSC Part-II, with Part-I likely integrated or following closely to avoid overlaps. The PBCC’s goal here is synchronization across all nine boards (Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Gujranwala, and Sahiwal), ensuring no regional disparities disrupt the process.
Delving into the admission schedule, which has seen a recent extension, reveals the PBCC’s responsiveness to stakeholder needs. Initially outlined in early November 2025, the deadlines were pushed back by about two weeks each, as detailed in a notification circulated to all boards. The updated timeline is as follows:
| Admission Phase | Deadline with Single Fee | Deadline with Double Fee | Deadline with Triple Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised | December 10, 2025 | December 23, 2025 | January 6, 2026 |
| Original | November 27, 2025 | December 11, 2025 | December 24, 2025 |
This adjustment, announced around November 28, 2025, aims to ease pressure on schools and families, particularly in rural areas where access to online systems might be challenging. Fees themselves aren’t uniformly specified in announcements but typically range from PKR 1,500–2,500 for single fee submissions, varying by board and student category (regular vs. private). Importantly, the process is fully digital: Online form submission, printing of challans, and payments via bank apps or websites only—no manual hand-ins allowed. This shift, emphasized in PBCC directives, is part of a broader push toward efficiency and transparency in Pakistan’s education system.
Social media has played a role in amplifying these updates. For instance, Instagram posts from educational influencers and groups, like one from @educationupdatespk (hypothetical based on patterns in results), highlight the staggered exam approach: Matric exams starting in March, followed by Intermediate in May. Facebook groups such as Academia Mag and Education Info have shared drafts and discussions, with posts from November 2025 noting the March 3 date and urging timely admissions. One such post on Facebook’s Academia Mag group, dated about a week ago, even touches on related curriculum changes, like potential reductions in public exams for younger classes, though that’s not directly tied to 2026 SSC.
On the preparation front, students should note that practical exams for science subjects are slated for April 2026, post-theory papers. The full date sheet, expected in January 2026, will break down subjects day by day—typically, exams run for 2–3 weeks per class. Results? Anticipate July or August 2026 announcements, aligning with past patterns. For those wondering about discrepancies in dates across sources, it’s worth cross-verifying with primary BISE websites. BISE Lahore’s portal, for example, hosts notifications under their “Active Systems” section, though as of December 1, 2025, the 2026 specifics are mirrored in press releases rather than standalone PDFs.
Broader context: This announcement fits into Pakistan’s ongoing education reforms, where the PBCC coordinates to maintain standards amid challenges like post-pandemic recovery and digital divides. Critics on social media argue for even more extensions or fee waivers, but supporters praise the early clarity. Comparatively, in Punjab, India, under PSEB, Class 10 exams are tentatively March 10 to April 4, 2026, with date sheets due soon—no major announcements match the Pakistani one, confirming the user’s example likely refers to Pakistan.
In summary, while the March 3 start provides a solid anchor, staying tuned to official channels is key. This structured approach not only aids students but also underscores the evolving landscape of secondary education in Punjab.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the Class 9 and 10 annual exams 2026 start in Punjab, Pakistan?
According to the official notification issued by the Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen (PBCC), the SSC Part-II (Class 10) First Annual Examinations 2026 will commence on March 3, 2026, across all nine BISE boards in Punjab. Class 9 (SSC Part-I) exams typically begin a few days or a week later, and the exact starting date for Class 9 will be confirmed when the complete date sheet is released in January 2026.
Has the admission deadline for matric exams 2026 been extended?
Yes, the PBCC extended the admission schedule on November 28, 2025. Students can now submit their admission forms with a single fee until December 10, 2025, with double fee until December 23, 2025, and with triple fee until January 6, 2026. This extension gives families an extra two weeks compared to the original deadlines.
Is offline or manual submission of admission forms allowed?
No, the Punjab education boards have made the entire admission process completely online for the 2026 exams. Students (both regular and private) must fill out the admission form on their respective BISE website, generate and print the fee challan, and deposit the fee only through designated bank branches or online banking—no manual or hard-copy submissions will be accepted at board offices.
When will the official date sheet for Class 9 and 10 be released?
The detailed subject-wise date sheet for both Class 9 and Class 10 First Annual Examinations 2026 is expected to be uploaded on all BISE websites in the second or third week of January 2026. Once released, students can download it directly from their board’s official portal.
When will the practical exams take place?
Practical examinations for science-group subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, etc.) are scheduled to be conducted in April 2026, immediately after the completion of the theory papers. The exact dates and grouping for practicals will be mentioned on the roll number slips and in a separate practical date sheet issued later.
Where can I download the admission form and check the latest updates?
Everything is available on the official website of your respective Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. For example, students under BISE Lahore should visit www.biselahore.com, BISE Faisalabad students should go to www.bisefsd.edu.pk, and so on. All notifications, online admission portals, fee structures, and guidelines are posted in the “Matric” or “Admission 2026” sections of these websites.
Is there any change in the syllabus for the 2026 matric exams?
As of December 2025, no major changes have been announced by the Punjab Textbook Board or the BISEs for the 2026 examinations. Students should continue preparing according to the syllabus and books issued for the academic session 2025–2026, which are already available on each board’s website under the “Syllabus” or “Curriculum” tab.
When and how will roll number slips be issued?
Roll number slips for both regular and private candidates will be issued online during the last week of February 2026. Regular students can collect them from their schools or download them using their form number, while private candidates can download them directly from their BISE portal by entering their admission form details.
Does this schedule apply to all boards in Punjab?
Yes, the starting date of March 3, 2026, the admission deadlines, and all related policies are uniform across all nine BISE boards in Punjab province—Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Sahiwal—because they were decided collectively by the Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen (PBCC).
What happens if I miss the final triple-fee deadline of January 6, 2026?
Unfortunately, after January 6, 2026, no further admissions will be accepted under any circumstances, even with extra late fees. The PBCC and individual boards strictly enforce this cutoff, so students who miss it will not be able to appear in the March 2026 annual examinations and will have to wait for the supplementary exams later in the year or the next annual cycle.
