Tamil Nadu issues G.O. to cancel 11th standard public exam from this academic year

In a step towards implementing the State Education Policy, the Tamil Nadu government has issued a Government Order (G.O.) to cancel the 11^th standard public exams from this academic year.

According to the G.O., starting from the academic year 2025-2026, students in the 11^th standard will take their examinations following the procedure that was in place before the 2017-2018 academic year. It may be noted that 11^th standard board exams were introduced in 2017 to ensure that all schools taught the 11^th standard syllabus.

However, the Director of Government Examinations will continue to conduct the 11^th standard public examination for the next five years, until March 2030, but only for students who have failed the 11^th board exam, the order stated.

“The Director of Government Examinations will change the system of issuing integrated mark certificates to students studying in 11^th from the academic year 2025-2026 and implement a system of issuing mark certificates that include only the Class 12 marks after they have written the Class 12 public exam,” the order said.

The cancellation of the 11^th standard public exams had been a long-pending demand of various schools and teachers’ associations. The government order has been issued to operationalise the State’s announcement to cancel the exam when the State Education Policy was released in August, 2025.