As the CBSE board exams are set to begin from February 15, stress levels are rising among students and parents. To help manage exam-related anxiety, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is once again offering its free-of-cost psycho-social counselling service for Class 10 and 12 students.

This initiative, which has been running since 1998, provides professional guidance before, during, and after exams.

For the 2025 academic session, the counselling service will be available in two phases. The first phase starts on February 1 and continues until April 4, covering the exam period. The second phase will be held after the results are declared.

HOW STUDENTS CAN ACCESS CBSE COUNSELLING

There are three ways students can seek guidance from CBSE in order to manage stress and stay focused.

A 24x7 toll-free Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) is available at 1800-11-8004. It provides support in both Hindi and English. The IVRS offers exam preparation tips, time and stress management strategies, answers to common queries, and important CBSE contact details.

Tele-counselling services will be available from Monday to Saturday, between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm. A team of 66 trained professionals, including school principals, counsellors, special educators, and psychologists, will provide guidance. Among them, 51 counsellors are based in India, while 15 will assist from Nepal, Japan, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE.