CBSE clears Class 10 passing criteria confusion, says no change in 33% rule
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that there will be no change in the Class 10 passing criteria for the 2026-27 academic session. For the upcoming CBSE board exams, students will continue to follow the 33 percent qualifying requirement, with theory and internal-assessment marks combined.
CBSE issued the clarification alongside the release of the Sample Question Papers (SQPs) and Marking Schemes for Classes 10 and 12 for the 2026-27 academic session. The board also confirmed that there will be no change in the question paper design or assessment pattern for the session.advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryWHY WAS THERE CONFUSION OVER THE CLASS 10 PASSING RULE?The confusion emerged after the release of the CBSE curriculum and assessment framework for 2026-27, which was understood to indicate that students might be required to secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in the external examination and internal assessment.
Such a change would have marked a departure from the existing system and raised concerns among students, parents and schools, particularly for students who perform better in internal assessments than in the written board examination.
CBSE has now clarified that the existing passing criteria will continue for the 2026-27 academic session.CBSE CONTROLLER CLARIFIES 33% QUALIFYING CRITERION
The clarification was also reiterated during a CBSE webinar held on Tuesday for schools regarding the submission of the List of Candidates (LOC) for the Class 10 and 12 Board Examinations 2027 and the correction of students' demographic details.
During the webinar, CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj clarified that the proposal to require students to secure 33 per cent marks separately in individual components had been withdrawn. He said the existing system, in which theory and internal-assessment marks are combined, would continue for Class 10.
This means students will not have to secure 33 per cent separately in theory and internal assessment. The qualifying requirement will continue to be calculated by combining marks obtained in both components.
For subjects following an 80:20 theory-to-internal-assessment structure, for instance, a student securing 15 out of 20 marks in internal assessment would need 18 out of 80 marks in the written examination to reach 33 out of 100.CBSE CLASS 10 BOARD EXAMS 2027: WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW
For students appearing in the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2027, the passing criteria and assessment pattern will remain the same as those applicable in 2025-26.
The clarification should not be interpreted as a rollback of the entire 2026-27 curriculum. Students must continue to follow the syllabus, subject structure and assessment requirements prescribed by CBSE for their academic session.
CBSE has also not yet released the tentative datesheet for the 2027 Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exams. Last year, the tentative datesheet for the 2026 board exams was released on September 24.
During Tuesday's webinar, CBSE also advised schools to ensure that students' details are entered correctly at every stage of registration and LOC submission. The board has already started the LOC process for the 2027 Class 10 and 12 Board Examinations, while the registration process will follow as per the board's schedule.
Until the official datesheet is released, students are advised to rely only on official CBSE notifications for the final examination schedule and any further changes.- Ends
