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CBSE Exams
CBSE Passing Criteria for the 2025-26 Academic Year: Key Details for Students
Jan. 13, 2026, 5:15 p.m.
CBSE 2025-26 Passing Criteria Explained
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board exams are some of the most important exams for students in India. They are conducted in classes 10th (secondary) and 12th (higher secondary). Depending on their chosen stream, these exams assess students’ academic knowledge and performance across various subjects, such as English, mathematics, science, and others.
For the 2025-26 academic year, CBSE has announced the passing criteria for all subjects on its official website. Here's a simplified breakdown in this blog:
What are the minimum CBSE passing marks for board exams?
CBSE’s 2025–26 passing criteria keep the same core rule for Classes 10 and 12: a student must score at least 33% marks (grade above E) in each subject to pass, with separate conditions where practical exams are involved.
Grading system
To qualify for the certificates, students must score at least a Grade D in each subject. If a student gets a Grade E in any subject, they will need to take a supplementary exam to improve their grade.
Levels
Passing Marks Required
Passing Grades Required
Board Name
Central Board of Secondary Education
Central Board of Secondary Education
Class 10th
Minimum of 33% marks
Minimum D-Grade
Class 12th
Minimum of 33% marks
Minimum D-Grade
Students who don’t meet the CBSE minimum passing marks or grades in a subject or overall will need to take a supplementary exam for that subject. Otherwise, they will be marked as failed.
To make it easier to understand how a grade is calculated, we've simplified the process for you.
Major Changes in the 2025-26 Boards Exam
The CBSE board exams for classes 10 and 12 in 2025 will follow a new exam pattern. There will be moremultiple-choice questions (MCQs) and questions that test your skills and understanding. Thus, there will be fewer short-answer and long-answer questions compared to last year's exam paper.
To help students understand the exam pattern and marking criteria, CBSE provides clear guidelines for passing. If you’re curious about the types of questions asked and how marks are distributed, keep reading to find out more.
CBSE passing criteria 2025-2026 Class 12
What are the criteria for special consideration of students?
CBSE understands the needs of students with disabilities and offers various exemptions and support as outlined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
To make things easier, certain schools are designated as exam centers for special students.
Disability certificates from any authorized authority will be accepted.
Students can choose their own scribe/reader or ask the exam center to provide one.
Duration and Marking Criteria for CBSE Board Exams
Schools calculate a student’s practical marks based on their overall academic and non-academic performance. The practical assessment is usually calculated for 20 marks, and the theory exam paper is set for 80 marks. The practical marks are given by the subject teacher and are based on:
Attendance: The student must have at least 75% attendance or more.
Assignments: All assignments should be completed on time.
Discipline: The teacher values the student’s behavior and participation in extracurricular activities conducted in class
Steps to prepare for competency-based questions for CBSE Board Exams?
Stick to your timetable and focus on subjects based on your Class 10 or Class 12 board priorities.
Go through question banks, past years’ papers, and sample papers to understand the pattern.
Practice many questions of the same type to get comfortable with the format.
Read the given statement or paragraph carefully at least twice to understand the context or situation fully.
Keep practicing similar questions to build confidence and improve accuracy.
How to Prepare to Meet CBSE Passing Criteria for the Board Exam
Meeting the CBSE passing criteria is not only about studying harder, it’s about preparing in the right way. Since CBSE now focuses more on competency-based questions, MCQs, and practical performance, students need a balanced and planned approach. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you prepare confidently for your board exams.
Understand the CBSE Passing Rules Clearly
Focus on High-Weightage Topics
Prepare Well for Practical Exams
Practice Competency-Based & MCQ Questions
Create a Realistic Study Timetable
Revise Regularly Instead of Studying Once
Get Expert Guidance When Needed (like Eduzia Learning's Crash Course)
Stay Calm and Take Care of Yourself
Struggling to Meet the CBSE Passing Criteria? Eduzia’s Crash Course Can Help!
If you’re worried about meeting the CBSE passing criteria for 2025–26, Eduzia’s one-on-one Crash Course is the right solution. This course is specially designed for last-minute revision, competency-based question practice, and exam-focused preparation.
With Eduzia’s Crash Course, you get:
Personal attention from expert teachers
Clear explanation of important concepts
Focused practice for theory and practical marks
Customized study materials for quick revision
Whether you’ve missed classes or need extra support to pass confidently, Eduzia’s Crash Course has you covered.
Enroll in Eduzia’s Crash Course today and secure your CBSE Board Exam success 2025–26!
The CBSE minimum passing criteria for the academic year 2025-26 require students to score at least 33% overall in each subject to pass.
The CBSE minimum passing marks for the academic year 2025-26 state that students must achieve at least 26.5 marks in each subject to meet the passing requirements.
Each CBSE exam lasts for 3 hours (180 minutes).
To pass and qualify for higher studies, students need at least a Grade D in each subject.
Yes. For subjects with practicals, students must secure the minimum passing marks separately in theory and practicals. Failing either component may result in a supplementary exam.
Yes. CBSE has increased the weightage of competency-based and MCQ-type questions. These questions test understanding, application, and critical thinking rather than rote learning
Absolutely. Eduzia’s Crash Course is specially designed for last-minute revision and exam-focused preparation, making it ideal for students who feel short on time or missed earlier classes.
Yes. While the course helps students meet CBSE passing criteria, the structured guidance and practice also help many students score better and gain confidence before the exam.
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