Patna: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Saturday declared the schedule for the 2018 Class X exams.

The exam will be held from February 21 to February 28.

The papers will be held in two shifts. General subjects such as English, maths, mother language and second language will be held in the first shift from 9.30am and end at 1.45pm. The second shift starts at 2pm and ends at 5.15pm for optional subjects such as home science and music. Fifteen minutes have been given to examinees to read and understand the question papers.

This time, BSEB will hold practical exams before the main exams. Last year, it was held after the main exams. The practical exams will be held in January. All schools have been directed to hold their sent-up examinations in November this year and send the list of sent-up candidates and non-sent-up candidates to BSEB in a format to the district education officer by December 10 this year. Only sent-up candidates will be issued admit cards. For science subjects, the internal assessment, literacy activities and project work have to be submitted to the district education officer by January 26 next year.

The board made it clear that arrangements will be made for blind and physically challenged examinees. Such examinees will be given 10 minutes per hour extra than regular examinees. The exams for both papers of English will be held on February 21 itself, while those for science and maths will be held on February 23 and 24 respectively.

The BSEB has tightened its grip on the use of unfair means this year, leading to a drastic drop in successful candidates. BSEB sources indicate that next year also the examination will be held tightly and those using unfair means will be expelled.