What are the assessment criteria for academic performance in the CBSE 2026 board exams?

Then a vindicated look at the assessment criteria for CBSE board examinations in 2025 for both Class 10 and Class 12:

1. Marks Distribution & Structure

Class 10: 

• • Proposition( External test) 80 marks
  • Internal Assessment 20 marks( systems, practical, tests, scrapbooks, etc.)
  • Total per subject = 100 marks

Class 12:

• • Analogous structure 80 marks for proposition + 20 marks internal/ practical assessments in  utmost subjects

2.Question Paper Format

• Competency- grounded/ Case- study: Around 50 of the proposition paper
• MCQs( ideal- type) 20 of the paper
• Descriptive( short/ long answer) 30

3. Passing & Grading Norms:

• Passing mark: Minimum 33 in each subject, combining both proposition and internal assessments for Class 10.
• In Class 12,  scholars must secure 33 independently in  proposition and practical, in addition to overall 33 in that subject.
• Failure: Marks below 33 progeny grade E. Internal assessment subjects must also have a grade advanced than E or external results may be withheld

4. Grading System

• CBSE uses a 9- point positional grading system grounded on percentiles of passed scholars in each subject:

A1( top 12.5), A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2(  smallest  end), E =  fail

• For internal assessment subjects, only grades A – E are shown( five- point scale)

5. Practical & Internal Assessment Guidelines

• Class 10 and 12 seminaries must upload internal examinations, practical,  systems, scrapbooks to the CBSE  gate by specified deadlines.
• Once entered, marks cannot be modified, so delicacy and proper attestation are essential

Summary Table 

Element Class 10 Class 12 

Theory Exam                                              80 marks                              80 marks

Internal/ Practical                                    20 marks                              20 marks( or 30  proposition 20

practical for some  wisdom

subjects)

Passing Criteria                                         ≥ 33% in each subject       ≥ 33% in  proposition and ≥ 33%

aggregate                             in practical( if any) ≥ 33% total

Grading 9- point positional                   ( A1 to D2, E)                       Same

Internal Assessment Display                 Grades only                         Same

Crucial Takeaways  

1. Prepare NCERT completely– they align with questions that test understanding( faculty- grounded & MCQs  regard for  70% of  proposition)
2. Internal assessments count – Keep scrapbooks, systems, and conditioning active — these contribute 20 marks which cannot be
3. Passing is subject-wise, not overall — failing in any individual subject leads to cube examinations, no aggregate distinction is awarded.
4. Grading is percentile- grounded — earning an A1 grade requires being in the top 1/8 of all passing scholars in that subject.
5. Schools must submit internal marks on time — detainments or inaccuracies can affect result protestation.