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

The pass marks in each subject are 33%. For subjects involving practical work, candidates must obtain 33% separately in both practical and theory papers. Students are required to appear in five papers. CBSE follows 9-point grading system.

CBSE Class 12 merit certificate in each subject is awarded to the top 0.1 % of
candidates passing that subject. This is subject to passing the exam.

The grading system of CBSE Class 12 is given below.

CBSE may award grace marks in exceptional cases where a student falls short of passing by a small margin. It is given at the discretion of the board. 

For subjects whose total marks are calculated out of 100, the passing marks are 33%. This applies to subjects without internal/practical or to those where theory and internal assessment are combined into a single score.

Many CBSE Class 12 follows an 80-mark theory and 20-mark internal assessment pattern. In such cases, students must secure a minimum of 26 marks out of 80 in the theory paper and 7 marks out of 20 in internal assessment.

It is compulsory to pass in CBSE Class 12 internal assessment. Students will be considered as fail if they don't qualify in internal assessment.

If a student fails in one subject in CBSE Class 12, they become eligible for the compartment exam. Passing the exam allows the student to be declared passed without repeating the year.

CBSE maintains a consistent passing criteria of 33%. Any changes to passing marks are officially notified by CBSE.

If you are not satisfied with the marks, you can apply for revaluation or rechecking of the paper. The marks awarded after the rechecking/revaluation shall be considered as the final marks. Then a new marksheet will be issued to you thereafter. 

In the Accountancy subject, the CBSE Board has decided to do away with the answer books wherein tables were provided for the subject of Accountancy.

CBSE released the CBSE 12th sample papers 2026 on the official website- cbseacademic.nic.in. You can download CBSE Class 12 sample question papers 2026 from the official website or from this page too. Students must solve and practice the CBSE 12th question papers of previous years' to know the marking scheme, the types of questions asked in the exam, gauge the difficulty level and more. 

It is advised that students solve and practice the CBSE sample papers to ace the board examinations.

Yes, you can attempt questions in any sequence in CBSE board class 12. Just ensure that while attempting your CBSE board exam that you have attempted all the question with a question number written in such a way that examiner can see it properly. And in order to get good marks, it is important to make an impression which can be made by attempting those questions first that you know well. Thus, if you know question no. 12, then instead of 1, 2, attempt those question that you remember properly. 

CBSE 12th marking scheme for is such that 80 marks are allotted for Theory and 20 marks for Internal Assessment. The marking scheme for Science subjects have 70 marks and 30 for practicals.

Not exactly the same, but, CBSE can ask questions similar to what were asked in the previous years of CBSE 12th exams. Thus, you are advised to download and practice the previous years' question papers thoroughly for better preparation. 

 The exam pattern shares the marking scheme, weightage to every topic, duration of exam and more. Students must know the CBSE exam pattern as this helps them form a strategy and to decide which question to solve first.