CBSE Class 10th & 12th Result Explained

The CBSE result — whether Class 10 or Class 12 — does not show your marks directly in the way most students and parents expect. Instead, it shows grades, grade points, and CGPA — a system that confuses many students who compare their result with peers from state boards where percentage is displayed plainly.

Understanding exactly how CBSE converts your raw marks into a grade, how your CGPA is calculated, what the CGPA-to-percentage formula means, and what the precise passing criteria are — is not just academically useful, it is practically essential for college admissions, scholarship applications, and competitive exam eligibility where percentage or aggregate marks are required.

This guide explains the complete CBSE grading system for both Class 10 and Class 12, the relative grading logic, CGPA calculation with examples, passing rules for every subject type, and the key differences between how Class 10 and Class 12 results are structured.

CBSE Result 2026 – Key Dates Overview

The Core Concept: Relative Grading – Not Absolute

The most fundamental thing to understand about the CBSE grading system is that it is relative, not absolute.

In an absolute system, every student who scores 91–100 gets A1, regardless of how many students scored in that range. In CBSE’s relative system, grades are distributed based on a student’s rank position among all passing candidates in that subject — not based on a fixed marks bracket.

Why relative grading? Because the difficulty of question papers varies across years. A score of 75 in a hard year may represent better performance than a score of 80 in an easy year. Relative grading corrects for this — it rewards your rank among peers, not just your raw marks.

How it works:

1. CBSE collects all the marks of every candidate who passed a particular subject nationally.

2. Those passing candidates are arranged in descending order of marks.

3. That list is divided into eight equal segments — each segment receives one grade.

4. The top 1/8th gets A1, the next 1/8th gets A2, and so on through D2.

5. Candidates who did not pass (below 33%) receive grade E — Essential Repeat.

CBSE 9-Point Grading Scale – Complete Grade Table

Important qualification: The marks ranges shown above are indicative only — they vary from year to year depending on overall student performance. In a year where most students score high, the A1 cutoff may be pushed higher. In a harder year, A1 may start at a lower absolute score.

Tie-breaking rule: If multiple students score the same marks at a grade boundary, they all receive the same grade. The smaller segment absorbs the larger tie group — no student is unfairly penalised by being split across two grades because of a tie.

500-student rule: The relative grading system (eight-segment distribution) applies only when more than 500 candidates have passed a subject nationally. For subjects with fewer than 500 passing candidates, CBSE grades based on performance in comparable subjects to ensure fairness.

CBSE Class 10 Assessment Structure

Class 10 has two components for every subject:​

Internal Assessment (20 marks) breaks down as:

• Periodic Tests — 10 marks

• Student Enrichment Activity / Subject Enrichment — 5 marks

• Portfolio — 5 marks

For subjects with practicals (Science, IT, etc.), the structure is different:

CBSE Class 12 Assessment Structure

Class 12 has a similar split between theory, practical, and internal assessment:

The exact theory-practical-internal split varies by subject:

• Pure theory subjects (History, Political Science, Geography): 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal assessment.

• Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology): 70 marks theory + 30 marks practical.

• Commerce (Accounts, Business Studies): 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal.

• Mathematics: 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal.

• Languages (English, Hindi): 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal.

Passing Rules – Class 10

To be declared Pass in CBSE Class 10 board exam 2026, a student must meet ALL of the following conditions:

Rule 1 — Theory minimum:
Score at least 33% marks in the Theory (External) examination in every subject.

• For 80-mark theory papers: Minimum 26 marks out of 80 (33% of 80).

• For 70-mark theory papers (subjects with practicals): Minimum 23 marks out of 70 (33% of 70).

Rule 2 — Internal Assessment minimum:
Score above Grade E in all subjects of internal assessment.

Rule 3 — Practical minimum (where applicable):
Score at least 33% in the practical/lab examination separately — a student cannot compensate poor practical marks with high theory marks.

Rule 4 — Overall combined:
The combined marks of theory + practical + internal assessment must also meet the 33% threshold overall.

No division, no distinction, no aggregate percentage on Class 10 marksheet:
CBSE does not display overall percentage, division (First/Second/Third), or distinction on the Class 10 marksheet. Only CGPA and subject-wise grades appear.​

Additional subject provision:
If a student fails one subject but has opted for an additional (6th) subject, the additional subject can replace the failed subject — provided English or Hindi remains one of the main languages and replacement follows CBSE’s Scheme of Studies rules.​

Passing Rules – Class 12

To be declared Pass in CBSE Class 12 board exam 2026:

Rule 1 — Theory minimum:
Score at least 33% in the Theory (External) examination in every subject separately.

• 80-mark theory: Minimum 26 marks.

• 70-mark theory: Minimum 23 marks.

Rule 2 — Practical minimum:
Score at least 33% in the Practical examination separately — independent of theory performance.

Rule 3 — Internal Assessment:
Score above Grade E in all internal assessment subjects.

Rule 4 — Overall:
Combined marks (theory + practical + internal) must total 33% or above per subject.

Key difference from Class 10: In Class 12, both marks and grades are displayed on the marksheet — unlike Class 10 where only grades appear. College admissions use the Class 12 marksheet percentage for eligibility calculations, so Class 12 marks carry direct practical significance.

What Is CGPA? – Complete Explanation

CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average — it is the average of the grade points obtained in the five main subjects.

CGPA Calculation Formula

\text{CGPA} = \frac{\text{Sum of Grade Points in Best 5 Main Subjects}}{5}

Step-by-step:

1. Identify your five main subjects (language + four others as per CBSE Scheme of Studies).

2. Note the grade point for each subject from the 9-point scale.

3. Add all five grade points.

4. Divide by 5.

Example — Class 10 Student:

CGPA = 42.0 ÷ 5 = 8.4

For Class 12 with 6th optional subject: If a student has an additional 6th subject, CBSE takes the best 5 subjects for CGPA — the 6th subject is included in the best 5 only if it improves the CGPA.​

CGPA to Percentage Conversion

CBSE provides an official indicative formula to convert CGPA to an approximate percentage:

\text{Indicative Percentage} = \text{CGPA} \times 9.5

Examples:

Critical note: This percentage is indicative only — it is not the same as the actual percentage of marks scored. The CBSE formula provides an approximation for general purposes. For admission to DU, JNU, or other universities that require a specific minimum percentage, always verify whether they accept CGPA × 9.5 or require the actual marks-based percentage from the Class 12 marksheet.

Class 12 actual percentage: Since Class 12 marksheets display actual marks, the real percentage can be calculated directly:

\text{Actual \%} = \frac{\text{Total Marks in Best 5 Subjects}}{500} \times 100

Class 10 vs Class 12 – Key Differences in Result Structure

5-Point Grading Scale – Internal Subjects

For co-scholastic and activity-based subjects, CBSE uses a simpler 5-point scale (not the 9-point academic scale):​

This 5-point scale applies to:

• Art Education

• Health and Physical Education

• Work Education / SEWA (Social Empowerment through Work Education and Action)

These subjects do not carry grade points for CGPA calculation — they are assessed separately as co-scholastic activities.​

E Grade – Essential Repeat vs Compartment

Compartment exam rules:

• Class 10: A student failing in one or two subjects is placed in Compartment — they appear for those subjects in the July compartment exam. Failing in three or more subjects results in an Essential Repeat (repeat the full year).​

• Class 12: A student failing in one subject is placed in Compartment. Failing in two or more subjects requires repeating the full year.​

• Compartment result: If the student passes the compartment exam, their result is declared Pass. However, the marksheet notes that the pass was through Compartment — relevant for some competitive exam eligibility checks.​

Verification of Marks – CBSE Process

If a student believes their marks are incorrect, CBSE provides a formal mechanism:​

• Verification of Marks: Application for rechecking that marks have been correctly totalled and transferred. Fee payable per subject. No re-evaluation of answers.

• Photocopy of Answer Sheet: Students can apply for a photocopy of their evaluated answer sheet to verify marking.

• Re-evaluation: After receiving the photocopy, a student may apply for re-evaluation of specific questions by paying the prescribed fee. Marks can go up or down after re-evaluation.​

All three services have specific application windows immediately after results — typically 15–20 days. Miss the window and the application is not accepted.​

How CBSE CGPA Affects College Admissions

Delhi University (DU) Admissions

DU uses the CUET (Common University Entrance Test) for undergraduate admissions since 2022 — Class 12 percentage is used only for eligibility verification (minimum 45–50% for most courses), not for merit ranking.​

Central Universities and CUET

For all central university admissions under CUET, the actual Class 12 percentage (calculated from marksheet marks) is used for eligibility, and CUET score determines merit.​

IIT/NIT/IIIT (JEE Advanced/Mains)

For JEE-based admissions, students must have scored at least 75% marks in Class 12 (or be in the top 20 percentile of their board’s passing candidates) — whichever is lower. CBSE students use their actual marks for this calculation, not CGPA × 9.5.​

NEET (Medical Admissions)

NEET requires a minimum of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology combined in Class 12 — again, actual marks from the marksheet, not the CGPA formula.​

CBSE 2026 – New Assessment Features

For the 2026 exam cycle, CBSE has introduced or continued the following:

• Competency-Based Questions: Approximately 50% of the question paper consists of application-based, case-study, and source-based questions — not just recall and rote memorisation. These questions test real-world understanding and critical thinking.

• Reduced Syllabus Pressure: CBSE’s rationalised syllabus continues — the board removed 30% content in 2020 and subsequent years have maintained a streamlined syllabus.

• Internal Assessment Integrity: Schools are required to upload internal assessment marks to CBSE’s portal before board exams — reducing last-minute inflation.

• Holistic Report Card: Beyond marks and grades, CBSE encourages schools to report on co-curricular achievements, values, and life skills.​

FAQs

Q. Does the CBSE Class 10 marksheet show percentage?
No. CBSE Class 10 marksheets display only subject-wise grades and CGPA — no overall percentage, division, or distinction is shown. Use CGPA × 9.5 for an indicative percentage.​

Q. What is the minimum marks to pass in CBSE 2026?
Students must score a minimum of 33% marks in the Theory examination and 33% separately in the Practical (for subjects with practicals) in every subject. A combined total below 33% in any subject results in an E grade (fail).

Q. How is CBSE CGPA calculated?
CGPA = (Sum of Grade Points in 5 main subjects) ÷ 5. Each subject’s grade point is taken from the 9-point scale (A1 = 10.0 down to D2 = 3.0).

Q. How do I convert CBSE CGPA to percentage?
Multiply your CGPA by 9.5. Example: CGPA 8.6 × 9.5 = 81.7%. This is an indicative percentage — not the exact percentage of marks scored.

Q. What happens if I fail in one subject in CBSE Class 12?
You are placed in Compartment — you appear for that one subject in the July compartment exam. If you pass, you receive your Class 12 pass certificate. Failing two or more subjects requires repeating the full year.​

Q. What is the difference between E1 and E2 in CBSE grading?
E1 and E2 both represent failure. E1 (marks 21–32) indicates performance just below the passing threshold. E2 (marks 0–20) indicates very low performance. Both result in an Essential Repeat for that subject.​

Q. Why does CBSE use relative grading instead of absolute marks cutoffs?
Relative grading ensures fairness across years with varying paper difficulty. A student who scored 75 in a very hard year is ranked fairly against someone who scored 80 in an easier year — both receive grades reflecting their rank among peers, not just raw numbers.

Q. Is CBSE CGPA × 9.5 accepted as percentage for JEE or NEET eligibility?
Generally, no — JEE and NEET use the actual percentage calculated from Class 12 marksheet marks, not the CGPA formula. Class 12 marksheets show actual marks, so a direct percentage calculation is available and is used for competitive exam eligibility.