More than 8,000 exam centers have been set up for the UP Board exams this year, and over 5 million students will appear. The board has issued important guidelines for students ahead of the exams.

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education's high school and intermediate exams are scheduled to begin on February 18th, 2026. This time, over 8,000 exam centers have been set up across the state, and over 5 million students will appear. Before the exams, the board has issued rules, security arrangements, and important guidelines for students. Now that the UP Board exam dates have been released, let's take a look at the complete dos and don'ts for students.

Strict rules regarding OMR sheets

OMR sheets will be used in the high school exams, as before. Of the 70-mark question paper, 20 objective questions will have to be solved on OMR sheets. The remaining 50-mark questions must be answered in writing on the answer sheet. The Board has made arrangements to print students' roll numbers and subject information on the OMR sheets to minimize errors. Students must fill in the correct circles using a blue or black ballpoint pen. Cutting, erasing, or using correction fluid on the OMR sheet may result in the copy being cancelled. In such circumstances, an orange OMR sheet will be provided, on which the student will have to fill in all the information themselves. At the end of the exam, the OMR sheet and its counterfoil will be sealed separately to prevent tampering.

What if the admit card is forgotten?

If a student forgets to bring their admit card due to haste, they may be permanently disqualified from appearing in the exam. However, it will be mandatory to submit the original or duplicate admit card before the next exam. Failure to do so will result in disqualification for future exams. Students arriving late may receive a 30-minute grace period. However, the condition is that there must be a valid reason for arriving late. Additionally, students with disabilities will be given 20 minutes of extra time and seating arrangements will be made for them on the ground floor at multi-story centers. Thousands of students were unable to appear for the Intermediate practical exam due to various reasons. Consequently, the Board has announced that these students will be given a second chance after the written exam on March 12th. Students absent due to illness or other genuine reasons will receive a total of two opportunities.

Dos and Don'ts for Students: Guidelines

What to Do?

• Before the exam, the Board and the Education Department have advised students not to start new topics at the last minute.
• This is a time solely for revision; solve model papers, review notes, and clarify doubts with teachers.
• Follow all instructions given by the invigilator during the exam without arguing.
• Maintain complete calm and decorum.
• Before starting to write, carefully check and fill in all the details on your answer sheet.
• Report any discrepancies in your question paper immediately.
• Furthermore, time management is crucial in the exam hall. Solve easy questions first, highlight important points, and set aside the last 5 minutes to check your answers.

What not to do?

• Don't stress out just before the exam and don't compare yourself to others.
• Stay away from mobile phones and social media.
• Don't carry any prohibited items with you on the day of the exam.
• Don't leave the exam room without reason.
• Don't do anything wrong or try to cheat.
• Don't disturb other students during the exam.
• Don't use exam materials that aren't in accordance with the instructions.