CBSE Class 10 passing marks 2027 unchanged: 33% overall in each subject

In short

CBSE clarified on 3 October 2026 that Class 10 passing marks for the 2027 Board Exams remain unchanged.
Students must secure 33% overall in each subject, combining both theory and internal assessment marks.
The minimum passing score for an 80-mark theory paper is 27 marks, and for a 20-mark internal assessment, it is 7 marks.
Students must pass both the theory and internal assessment sections individually to clear a subject.
The Class 10 board exams for 2027 will commence on 15 February 2027 and conclude on 10 March 2027.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) today, 3 October 2026, confirmed that the passing marks for Class 10 Board Examinations in 2027 will remain unchanged. Students appearing for the 2026-27 academic session will continue to require 33% overall in each subject, calculated by combining marks from both the theory paper and internal assessment.

This clarification by CBSE aims to address confusion that arose from the wording in the Class 9-10 curriculum for the 2026-27 session, which some interpreted as indicating a new requirement for separate minimum qualifying marks in external and internal assessments. A CBSE official stated, “In Class 10, combining both internal assessment and external exam, students should score 33 per cent.” The board had previously considered introducing a rule for separate 33% passing marks in external and internal assessments for Class 10 but has now rolled back that decision.

Passing Criteria for Class 10 Board Exams 2027

For the upcoming 2027 Class 10 Board Exams, the minimum passing marks in each subject will be 33 out of 100. This 33% requirement applies to the combined score of the theory paper and internal assessment. The board explicitly stated that there is no change in the passing criteria for the 2026-27 Class 10 examination, maintaining the same standards as the 2025-26 academic session.

Students must pass both the theory and internal assessment components individually. For an 80-mark theory paper, the passing score is 27 marks (33% of 80, rounded up from 26.4). For the internal assessment, which is out of 20 marks, the minimum passing mark is 7 marks (33%). Failing either section, even if the total marks exceed 33%, will result in a fail for that subject. A CBSE official confirmed, “We are continuing with the old format because a lot of changes are coming. So, we wanted to bring all the changes in one go later on. Right now, the old format.”

CBSE Class 10 Passing Marks 2026-27
Component	Total Marks	Min. to Pass	Notes
Theory Paper	80 marks	27 marks (33%)	External board exam
Internal Assessment	20 marks	7 marks (33%)	School-based evaluation
Overall (per subject)	100 marks	33 marks (33%)	Both must pass separately

Assessment Pattern and Grading System

The CBSE has confirmed that there is no change in the question paper design and assessment pattern for the academic year 2026-27. The board will issue Sample Question Papers (SQPs) and Marking Schemes (MS) for both Class 10 and 12 for the upcoming academic session. The Class 10 exams are scheduled to commence on 15 February 2027 and conclude on 10 March 2027, with all exams taking place in a single shift.

The CBSE grading system for Class 10 in 2026-27 is based on a 9-point positional grading scale. The D grade is the lowest passing grade, indicating a “Needs Improvement Pass.” An E1 grade places a student in the compartment category, while an E2 grade marks a fail. The board abandoned the practice of presenting marks alone to avoid putting students under unwanted pressure of comparing exact scores, instead using this grading system.

CBSE 9-Point Grading Scale for Class 10
Grade	Grade Point	Marks Range (%)	Performance Status
A1	10	91 – 100	Outstanding Pass
A2	9	81 – 90	Excellent Pass
B1	8	71 – 80	Very Good Pass
B2	7	61 – 70	Good Pass
C1	6	51 – 60	Average Pass
C2	5	41 – 50	Satisfactory Pass
D	4	33 – 40	Needs Improvement Pass
E1	–	21 – 32	Below Standard Fail (Compartment)
E2	–	0 – 20	Very Low Fail

Compartment and Improvement Examination Rules

For students who do not pass in certain subjects, specific provisions are in place. A candidate failing in two of the five subjects of the external examination in the Secondary Examination will be placed in the compartment category. Such a candidate may reappear at the compartmental examination held in July/August of the same year. They may also avail a second chance in March/April of the next year and a third chance in July/August of that year.

Also, a candidate who has qualified the Class 10 or 12 exam may appear for improvement in one or more subjects in the succeeding year only. Grace marks, which are extra marks given to help a student pass when they are very close to the passing limit, are not automatic. For Class 12 students, the requirement remains to score a minimum of 33% marks separately in internal and external assessments to clear a subject. In Class 12 subjects involving practical job a candidate must obtain 33% marks in theory and 33% marks in practical separately, plus 33% marks in aggregate.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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