CBSE Marking Scheme 2026 — How Examiners Give Marks
Complete breakdown of CBSE marking scheme for Class 10 and 12 — internal assessment, practicals, board exam weightage, and how examiners evaluate answer sheets.
CBSE marks are split into two parts: theory exam (board exam) and internal assessment (school-level). For Class 10, most subjects are 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal = 100 total. For Class 12 Science subjects with practicals, it is 70 marks theory + 30 marks practical. Understanding this split is critical because 20–30% of your final marks come from school-level assessment, not the board exam.
Class 10 Marking Scheme — Subject Wise
| Subject | Theory (Board) | Internal Assessment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Science | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Social Science | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| English | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Hindi / 2nd Language | 80 | 20 | 100 |
Class 10 Internal Assessment Breakdown (20 Marks)
| Component | Marks | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Periodic Tests | 10 | Best of 3 tests conducted during the year. Average of best 2 is taken for some schools. |
| Notebook Submission | 5 | Regularity, neatness, completeness of class notes and assignments. |
| Subject Enrichment | 5 | Varies by subject: Maths (lab activities), Science (practical lab work), English (speaking/listening), SSt (map work/project). |
Class 12 Marking Scheme — Subject Wise
Subjects WITH Practicals (Science Stream)
| Subject | Theory | Practical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Biology | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Computer Science | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Physical Education | 70 | 30 | 100 |
Subjects WITHOUT Practicals
| Subject | Theory | Internal Assessment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| English | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Hindi / Language | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Economics | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Accountancy | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Business Studies | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| History | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Political Science | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| Geography | 80 | 20 | 100 |
Class 12 Practical Marks Breakdown (30 Marks) — Physics Example
| Component | Marks | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Two Experiments | 8 (4+4) | One from each section. Examiner assigns experiments on the spot. |
| Practical Record | 6 | Complete record of all experiments done during the year. |
| Investigatory Project | 6 | Original project with hypothesis, procedure, observation, conclusion. |
| Viva Voce | 5 | Questions on experiments, project, and related theory. |
| Activities | 5 | Class activities and demonstrations done during the year. |
Maximise your board exam marks
Super Tutor has chapter-wise important questions, revision notes, and practice tests for CBSE Class 10 and 12 — designed around the actual marking scheme.
Start Preparing — FreeHow CBSE Examiners Evaluate Answer Sheets
Understanding how your paper is checked helps you write better answers:
- Marking scheme is fixed: CBSE provides a detailed marking scheme to all examiners. Each answer has specific "marking points" — keywords, steps, or concepts that earn marks.
- Step-wise marks in Maths & Science: Each correct step gets marks independently. Even if your final answer is wrong, correct method + formula + substitution earn marks.
- Keyword scanning: For theory subjects, examiners look for specific keywords and phrases. Underlining key terms helps them spot your answer points quickly.
- Diagrams carry dedicated marks: If the question says "with the help of a diagram," the diagram has separate marks allocated — usually 1–2 marks for a labelled diagram.
- Quality control: 5–10% of checked papers are randomly re-evaluated by senior examiners. If discrepancies are found, the examiner is flagged.
How to Maximise Marks in Each Component
| Component | Max Strategy |
|---|---|
| Theory Exam (70-80 marks) | Follow the mark-wise answer format. Show all steps. Draw diagrams. Underline key terms. Attempt all questions — partial answers score marks. |
| Periodic Tests (10 marks) | Take all 3 tests seriously since best scores are picked. Prepare specifically for each test — they are predictable. |
| Notebook Marks (5 marks) | Keep notes complete and neat throughout the year. Do not wait until the end. Add diagrams and colour where relevant. |
| Subject Enrichment (5 marks) | Participate actively in lab sessions, speaking activities, and map work. These are nearly-guaranteed marks if you attend and participate. |
| Practicals (30 marks) | Complete your practical file before the exam. Practise performing experiments. Know the theory behind each experiment for viva. Present your investigatory project clearly. |
Passing Marks and Fail Criteria
- Passing marks: 33% of total (theory + internal combined) — i.e., 33 out of 100
- For subjects with practicals: You must pass theory and practical separately. Minimum 23 out of 70 in theory AND 10 out of 30 in practical.
- Compartment exam: If you fail in 1–2 subjects, you get a compartment exam (supplementary). If you fail in 3+ subjects, you must repeat the year.
- Best of Five: CBSE calculates your "Best of Five" percentage including one language + four best-scoring subjects for the final result.
Marking scheme details are based on CBSE guidelines for the 2025–2026 academic session. Minor variations may apply. Always check the latest CBSE circular at cbse.gov.in for the most current information. Last updated: February 2026.
Want personalised study help?
Super Tutor gives you chapter summaries, revision notes, practice quizzes, flashcards, and mock exams — tailored to your board and syllabus.
Try Super Tutor — It's FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How are CBSE board exam marks calculated?
CBSE board exam marks = Theory exam marks + Internal assessment marks + Practical marks (where applicable). For Class 10, most subjects are 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal assessment = 100 total. For Class 12, subjects with practicals have 70 marks theory + 30 marks practical. Subjects without practicals have 80 marks theory + 20 marks internal assessment.
What is CBSE internal assessment and how is it calculated?
CBSE internal assessment (20 marks) for Class 10 consists of: Periodic Tests (10 marks — best of 3 tests), Notebook Submission (5 marks), and Subject Enrichment Activity (5 marks). For Class 12, internal assessment (20 or 30 marks) varies by subject — it includes practicals, projects, and viva voce for science subjects.
Can CBSE internal marks be changed by the school?
Schools submit internal marks to CBSE based on actual student performance. While CBSE has guidelines, schools have some discretion in evaluation. If there is a significant discrepancy between internal marks and board exam marks, CBSE may moderate the internal marks. Most schools award internal marks fairly based on documented performance.
How do CBSE examiners check answer sheets?
CBSE answer sheets are evaluated at centralised evaluation centres. Examiners follow a strict marking scheme provided by CBSE. Each answer has defined marks for specific points, steps, or keywords. Examiners check 25-30 papers daily. A sample of papers is re-checked by senior examiners for quality control. The process takes 3-4 weeks after the last exam.
Does CBSE give step-wise marks in Maths?
Yes. CBSE Maths papers follow strict step-wise marking. Each correct step earns marks independently — even if the final answer is wrong, you get marks for correct method, formula, substitution, and intermediate steps. This is why showing all working is critical. A 5-mark question might have 5 separate marking points.
What is the CBSE grace marks policy?
CBSE has a moderation/grace marks policy that is applied at their discretion. Typically: (1) If a student fails by 1-2 marks in 1-2 subjects, grace marks may be added. (2) If a particular paper was unusually difficult, marks may be moderated upward for all students. (3) The exact policy is not publicly disclosed and changes each year. Do not rely on grace marks — prepare to score on your own.
How are CBSE practicals marked for Class 12 Science?
Class 12 Science practicals (30 marks) are typically divided as: Experiments/Activities (8-12 marks), Project/Investigatory Project (5-7 marks), Practical Record/Viva Voce (5-7 marks), and Internal Examiner Assessment (5-7 marks). The exact split varies by subject. Practicals are conducted internally by school teachers with an external examiner present.
What happens if I fail in CBSE internal assessment?
You cannot technically 'fail' internal assessment alone since it is part of the total marks. However, if your combined score (theory + internal) is below the passing mark (33% of total), you fail the subject. If you score very low in internal assessment, you need a correspondingly higher score in theory to pass. The passing mark for each subject is 33 out of 100.