CBSE Passing Marks Explained: Out of 80, 70 and 100 (Class 10 & 12)
CBSE passing marks for Class 10 and 12 explained simply, including out of 80, 70 and 100, theory vs practical rules, and what happens if you fall short.
CBSE requires at least 33% in each subject. How that works depends on your class and subject.
Class 10
Theory and internal assessment are counted together. For a typical subject with 80 theory + 20 internal assessment, you need 33 out of 100 overall.
Class 12
You need 33% in each subject, and in subjects with practicals you must pass theory and practical separately.
| Theory paper | 33% of theory | Typical subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 80 marks | about 26–27 marks | Maths, Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics |
| 70 marks | about 23 marks | Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
For a 70 + 30 subject, you also need 33% of the 30 practical marks (about 10).
What if you fall short?
You can take the supplementary exam, usually held in July, without losing the year. Class 10 students can usually appear in up to two subjects and Class 12 students in one. CBSE confirms the rules each year on cbse.gov.in. See results and supplementary exams.
Passing is the floor, not the goal
The fastest way to move well above 33% is to practise real board questions in the highest-weightage chapters. Start with chapter weightage.
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