The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that there is no change in the Class 10 passing criteria for the 2026-27 academic session.
Students appearing for the Class 10 board examination will continue to require a minimum of 33% marks overall in each subject, calculated by combining marks from the internal assessment and external examination.
The clarification followed confusion over wording in a recent CBSE circular, which appeared to suggest that students would need to secure 33% marks separately in internal and external assessments.
CBSE subsequently clarified that the existing assessment system will continue for Class 10. The 80:20 assessment pattern will remain applicable, with 80% weightage for the external examination and 20% for internal assessment.
During a CBSE webinar, an official confirmed that Class 10 students need to secure 33% when internal and external marks are considered together. A proposed requirement for separate passing marks in the two components has been withdrawn for the current academic session.
However, the rule remains different for Class 12 students. They must secure at least 33% marks separately in both internal and external assessments to pass a subject.
CBSE has also said it will release Sample Question Papers and Marking Schemes for Classes 10 and 12 to provide guidance on question-paper design, curriculum coverage and assessment.
The board reiterated that there is no change in the question-paper design, assessment pattern or passing criteria for the 2026-27 academic year.
