CBSE 12th Passing Marks 2026: Check Stream, Merit Certificate & Grading System

CBSE 12th passing marks are prescribed by the examination authority. The pass marks in each subject are 33%. For subjects involving practical work, candidates must obtain 33% separately in both practical and theory papers. 

CBSE Class 12th Passing Marks

CBSE 12th passing marks are prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education. It is done to ensure uniform academic standards across schools in India. The pass marks in each subject are 33%. For subjects involving practical work in CBSE Class 12, candidates must obtain 33% separately in both practical and theory papers. Students are required to appear in five papers. The grade that students need to achieve in every subject must be above Grade E. CBSE follows a 9-point grading system in the CBSE Class 12 exam. The grades offered to students are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1 & E2. The grades are offered on the basis of percentage and division. The passing marks for 70 marks paper are 35%. CBSE also offers merit certificates in each subject to the top 0.1% of the candidates.

Students need to meet the minimum subject-wise and component-wise criteria prescribed by the board. Understanding the rules is necessary for result interpretation. In this article, we have explained CBSE Class 12 pass marks, merit certificates, grading system, etc.

What are the CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2026?

The passing marks in CBSE Class 12 refers to the minimum marks a student must secure to be declared as ‘Pass’ in a subject as well as overall. The board follows a criteria-based evaluation system, not relative grading. Students need to pass individually in each subject. They are also required to pass both theory and practical exams separately.

Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Result 2026

CBSE 12th Passing Marks 2026 Stream-Wise

We have provided below the stream-wise CBSE Class 12 passing marks separately for Science, Arts, and Commerce.

CBSE 12 th Passing Marks for Science Stream

Passing marks in CBSE Class 12 Science stream out of 70 are given below.

CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2026 for Arts Stream

The passing marks for CBSE Class 12 Arts Stream are given below.

Also Read: CBSE Class 12 Dates 2026

CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks 2026 for Commerce Stream

The CBSE 12th passing marks 2026 for the Commerce stream are given below. 

CBSE 12th Class Passing Marks 2026 for Other Subjects

Other subjects in Arts Stream like Geography and Biotechnology, have a 70-mark theoretical paper. Skill subjects like Painting, Graphics, Computer Applications, etc., are usually held for 30 marks and thus follow relevant criteria. Students are required to secure 33% to pass the subjects.

CBSE Class 12 Passing Marks Criteria 2026

Candidates must check the passing criteria mentioned below by CBSE.

• To get the pass certificate from the Board, candidates must achieve a grade higher than E in all subjects of internal assessment. The result of the external examination will be withheld for one year if candidates fail to meet the criteria.
• Students must obtain a grade higher than E, which is atleast 33% marks in all five subjects of the external exam in the main or compartmental. The pass marks in each subject are 33%
• Students will not be awarded division, distinction, or aggregate
• If candidates fail in two of five subjects, they will have to appear for the compartment exam

CBSE Class 12 Grading System

Students are offered grades from A1 to E. For awarding the grades, the Board puts all the passed students in a rank order and then award the same. In the table below, we have explained the grading system.

What is the CBSE Class 12 Grading Criteria?

The grading criteria of CBSE 12th Class 2026 exam are given below.

• Minor variations in the proportion of candidates are made to adjust ties
• In case of a tie, all the students getting the same score will get the same grade
• If the number of students at a score point needs to be divided into two segments, the smaller segment will go with the larger.
• The method of grading will be used in subjects where the number of candidates who have passed is more than 500
• In respect of subjects where the total number of candidates passing in a subject is less than 500, the grading is adopted on the pattern of grading and distribution in other similar subjects

CBSE Class 12 Merit Certificates 2026

The guidelines related to awarding merit certificates are given below.

• CBSE awards Merit Certificates in each subject to the top 0.1 % of candidates clearing that subject, as per the criteria set by the board
• The number of CBSE Merit Certificates in a subject is determined by rounding the number of candidates passing the subject to the nearest multiple of a thousand
• If the number of candidates passing a subject is less than 500, no merit certificate is issued
• In the matter of a tie, if one student gets a Merit Certificate, all candidates getting that score will get the Merit Certificate