CBSE Minumum Passing Marks for Class 10 & 12: Check Exam Criteria, Fail and Compartment Rules

CBSE Passing Marks: The exam session is ongoing, and students want to know the score they require to pass the examination. Well, there are separate guidelines for the CBSE passing marks out of 100 for theory and practical. The practical exams are over, and schools have submitted the marks onto the CBSE Portal. The theory exams will be conducted from February 15, 2025, for Class 10 and Class 12. Read this article carefully and understand what the passing criteria are for CBSE 10th and 12th. Also, find out the CBSE passing marks for Class 10 and 12 out of 70, 80, and 100. Here you will also know the criteria for pass, fail and compartment for board exams.

Check | CBSE Class 10 Syllabus 2025

Check | CBSE Class 12 Syllabus 2025

CBSE Exam General Rules

CBSE has outlined its examination related guidelines that every student and teacher should know for a smooth conduction of examination. Here some general rules to know:

• Exam Structure: CBSE conducts external examinations at the end of Class 10th and Class 12th, based on the prescribed syllabi. Class 9th and 11th exams shall be conducted internally by the schools.
• Assessment Format: Examinations include both theory and practical components, depending on the subject. Marks are awarded separately for each.
• Marks or grades will be awarded for each subject individually, and total aggregate marks will not be provided.

Check | CBSE Class 10 Sample Paper 2025

Check | CBSE Class 12 Sample Paper 2025

CBSE 10th and 12th Grading System

Knowing the grading system is essential for students to prepare accordingly and get their desired score. CBSE follows grading and numerical scores for Class 10 and 12, respectively. Know more about the grading system below:

Marks & Grades: Theory and practical exams are assessed in numerical scores. External exams show both marks and grades, while internal assessments display only grades.

Grading Scale:

• External exams use a nine-point scale (A1 to E).
• Class 10 internal assessments use a five-point scale (A, B, C, D, E).

Qualifying Marks:

• 33% required in each subject for Class 10 and 12.
• For subjects with practicals, students must score 33% separately in theory, practical, and overall total to pass.

Grade Allocation: Students are ranked and graded as follows:

A1 – Top 1/8th of passed students

A2 – Next 1/8th

B1 – Next 1/8th

B2 – Next 1/8th

C1 – Next 1/8th

C2 – Next 1/8th

D1 – Next 1/8th

D2 – Next 1/8th

E – Failed candidates

• Minor adjustments may be made to avoid ties.
• If students have the same marks, they get the same grade.
• Grading applies when more than 500 students pass a subject.
• If fewer than 500 students pass, grading follows a similar pattern to other subjects.

Check | CBSE 2025 Exam Dates

Download | CBSE Class 10th, 12th Admit Card 2025

CBSE Passing Criteria

CBSE Passing Criteria for Class 12 (Senior School Certificate Examination)

• Pass Criteria
• Must score at least 33% marks (Grade higher than E) in each subject.
• If a subject has practicals, 33% in theory, 33% in practical, and 33% overall is required.
• No total aggregate or distinction is awarded.
• Compartment Exam
• Students failing in one subject can appear for a compartment exam.

CBSE Passing Criteria for Class 10 (Secondary School Examination)

• Pass Criteria
• Must score at least 33% marks (Grade higher than E) in each subject.
• Internal assessment subjects are graded on an A to E scale.
• No overall division, distinction, or aggregate marks are awarded.
• Compartment Exam
• Students failing in up to two subjects can appear for a compartment exam.

CBSE Compartment Exams Class 10 & 12

• Students can attempt three chances for the compartment exam:
• First attempt – July/August.
• Second attempt – March/April next year.
• Third attempt – July/August of that year.
• If unsuccessful in all three chances, they must reappear in all subjects next year.

CBSE Practical Marks In Case of Compartment

• If a student fails theory but passes practicals, practical marks will be carried forward.
• If a student fails practicals, they must retake both theory and practicals.

CBSE Merit Certificates

CBSE awards Merit Certificates to the top 0.1% of candidates in each subject, provided they meet the Board's pass criteria.

Check | CBSE Board Exam Admit Card 2025 Out, Get Here the PDF

CBSE Class 10 & 12 Scheme of Examination

The CBSE Class 12 scheme of examination follows the below mentioned points:

• Most subjects have a single theory paper of 100 marks with a duration of 3 hours.
• Subjects that include practicals have both theory and practical exams, with marks distributed as specified in the syllabus, generally 70 for theory and 30 for practical.

The scheme of examination for CBSE Class 10 include:

• Assessment in subjects like Work Experience, Art Education, and Physical and Health Education is conducted internally by schools, using a five-point grading scale (A to E).

The above information is directly taken from the scheme of examinations and passing criteria released by CBSE. Click Here for complete documet.

Check | CBSE Class 10 Exam Pattern 2025

Check | CBSE Class 12 Exam Pattern 2025

Related:

• NCERT Class 10 Textbook PDFs

• NCERT Class 12 Textbook PDFs