The Kerala government recently announced that the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations for 2026 will begin on March 5 and conclude on March 30, marking the start of one of the state’s largest academic exercises involving more than 4.25 lakh students.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that around 3,000 exam centres have been set up across the state, with seven in the Gulf region and nine in Lakshadweep, ensuring that every registered student has access to a nearby centre.

The evaluation process will run from April 7 to 25, and results are expected to be announced on May 8, 2026, he added.

Alongside the SSLC exams, nearly nine lakh students are slated to appear for the Plus One and Plus Two (Higher Secondary first and second year) examinations.

The Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary first-year exams will be held from March 5 to 27, while the second-year exams will take place from March 6 to 28. Their evaluation will begin on April 6, with results likely out by May 22, 2026.

Students must secure a minimum of 33% marks in each subject and in aggregate to pass the Class 10, 11, and 12 examinations.

Record-breaking results in 2025

In 2025, Kerala recorded an impressive 99.5% pass percentage in the SSLC exams. Out of 4,27,021 students who appeared, 4,24,583 passed, with Kannur leading at 99.87% and Thiruvananthapuram reporting 98.59%. A total of 2,331 schools achieved a 100% pass rate, while 61,449 students earned A+ grades in all subjects.

The 2025 exams, held from March 3 to 26, were conducted at 2,964 centres, including nine in Lakshadweep and seven in Gulf countries, underscoring the Kerala Board of Public Examination’s commitment to accessibility and high academic standards.