PSEB prescribes the curriculum and textbooks for affiliated schools, registers students, conducts the annual Class 10 and Class 12 examinations together with supplementary sittings and examinations for open school and private candidates, evaluates answer books and declares results. Each subject usually carries a written theory paper with practical or internal assessment where the subject requires it, and papers are set on the board's own syllabus, which broadly follows the national curriculum framework and includes Punjabi as a compulsory subject under state rules. The board also handles school affiliation, revaluation and rechecking requests, migration and duplicate certificates, and vocational education streams. Its certificates are recognised across India for higher education, while selection for professional courses is decided by separate entrance test agencies and counselling authorities.