The CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 must be known by students appearing for CBSE Class 10th board exams 2026.
With CBSE periodically refining its evaluation framework, students must clearly understand the latest passing rules, minimum marks required, subject-wise criteria, and compartment options.
According to official CBSE examination bye-laws, Class 10 results are declared based on subject-wise performance and not aggregate scores. Know the new rules, passing marks out of 100, and specific details for all the subjects, strictly aligned with CBSE’s official policy.
As per CBSE’s official examination rules, to pass the Class 10 board examination in 2026, a student must score at least 33% marks in each subject.
Key points of the CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 include:
Passing is calculated subject-wise and not on overall percentage
Students must secure 33% in external examinations
Internal assessment subjects are graded separately
No division, distinction, or aggregate is awarded
For subjects assessed externally by CBSE, scoring below 33% in even one subject can result in compartment or failure, depending on the number of subjects failed
Before appearing for Class 10 board exams, students must know ‘What Is the Passing Marks Out of 100 in CBSE Class 10?;
CBSE follows a 33% minimum rule, which means:
33 marks out of 100 are required to pass a subject
In subjects following the 80 + 20 pattern:
Theory (80 marks): 27 marks required
Internal Assessment (20 marks): 7 marks required
Both components are evaluated separately, and students must pass each component independently.
Under the CBSE New Rules for Class 10 2026, the board continues to emphasize conceptual understanding and continuous assessment. Important rules include:
Internal assessment subjects (Work Experience, Art Education, Physical & Health Education) are graded on a five-point scale (A–E)
External subjects are graded using a nine-point scale (A1–E)
A grade higher than ‘E’ is mandatory to pass
Schools must maintain cumulative assessment records
These rules ensure that students are evaluated not only through final exams but also through year-long performance
Here’s a subject-wise breakdown of passing marks according to the 2026 CBSE scheme:
|
Subject |
Total Marks |
Passing Marks |
|
CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 Maths |
80 (Theory) + 20 (Internal) |
26 in Theory + 7 in Internal |
|
CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 Science |
80 (Theory) + 20 (Practical) |
26 in Theory + 7 in Practical |
|
CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 SST |
80 + 20 |
26 in Theory + 7 in Internal |
|
CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 English |
80 + 20 |
26 in Theory + 7 in Internal |
|
CBSE Class 10 Passing Criteria 2026 Hindi |
80 + 20 |
26 in Theory + 7 in Internal |
CBSE provides multiple opportunities to students who fail to meet the passing criteria:
Compartment Exam: If a student fails in up to two subjects, they can appear for compartment exams
Provisional Admission to Class 11: Allowed until the first compartment result
Repeat Examination: Required if compartment chances are exhausted
CBSE allows multiple chances across July/August and the following academic year, as per official rules.