Chennai: For the first time, students appearing for the Class 12 Accountancy examination under the Tamil Nadu State Board will be allowed to use calculators, School Education Minister Mahesh announced on Monday.

Releasing the schedule for the 2025 public examinations at the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram, the Minister said the decision to permit calculators aims to ease students' preparation and align with practical accounting practices.

The Class 12 examinations will be held from March 2 to 26, while the Class 10 examinations are scheduled from March 11 to April 6. As many as 8.07 lakh students from 7,513 schools will take the Class 12 exams, and 8.70 lakh students from 12,485 schools will appear for the Class 10 exams.

Minister Mahesh also said that, in accordance with the State Education Policy, no public examination will be conducted for Class 11 students this year, except for those reappearing after failing previously.

The exam schedule has been finalised in consultation with the Election Commission in view of the upcoming Assembly polls. Senior officials, including School Education Secretary Chandramohan and Examination Director Sasikala, were present at the event.