Students are graded on the basis of their performance and marks obtained in exams from years.
CBSE has offered a well-curated grading system that is enough to assess individual students studying in class 10 or 12.
So how does this grading system look? And what is the manner of its working?
The CBSE grading system that has been followed for decades includes a 9-point grading system for the passed students.
To know the details of this grading system and how learners are actually evaluated, you will need this article.
We will also explain about CGPA, use of different assessments, and benefits of this grading process.
Table of Contents
What is the CBSE Grading System?
CBSE grades are shown as it is through a 9 point grading system which is now operated on relativity.
The old grading system of absolute grading is put down and new relative grading is brought into the systems of the Indian education system.
This suggests that students can be checked on the basis of their academia and co-scholastic performance.
Even if two 2 students get the same marks in different subjects, they might get different grades in both subjects. It is due to the reason that here, grades are awarded based on how students perform relative to others in each specific subject, not on absolute marks
This shows that present grading systems are assessing two individuals not on only marks but overall competition.
To understand the mechanism of these grading systems, let’s individually assassinate the marking scheme of class 9 and 10, and then of class 11 and 12.
1. CBSE Grading System for Classes 9 and 10:
Pupils appearing for class 9 or 10, would be allotted grades as per their relative achievement among all their competitors.
A simple or generic grade scheme is used for learners in 9th or 10th CBSE.
In this system, a nine points scale is present in which A to E grades are given (like A1, A2, till E).
A1 responds to 91-100 marks (grade 10), A2 represents 81-90 marks (grade 8), B1 for 71-80 (grade 7), and similarly teaching to the last, E is the criteria of failed students or failed-level marks.
Another interesting property of this scale is that learners are divided into 1/8th of total populace in each group.
For example, if there are 5000 students appearing for the exams, each grade section would have 625 learners.
Now, these individual grades (like 10, 9, 8, etc.) of each subject are added and divided by 5 to get their average, which is your CGPA.
The received number is then multiplied by 9.5, and viola! Your percentage or say final result for class your 10th boards is found.
This system is created to finally analyse students on the basis of their competence and practical skills along with their academic field achievements.
2. CBSE Grading System for Classes 11 and 12:
A similar strategy is followed for class 11th and 12th class of CBSE for grading patterns as it is in class 9 and 10.
A minimum mark of 33 is required to pass each subject, where if the subject has practicals, each section i.e. theory and practical should have 33% of total marks.
To illustrate, if your science has practicals or internal tests, your theory would be of 70 marks and practicals 30.
You would be expected to score 33% of 70 which is 23 marks in theory and 10 marks in practicals to actually pass the subject.
Here’s a table for greater clarity:
| Marks Range (%) | Grade | Grade Point | Performance Descriptor |
| 91 – 100 | A1 | 10 | Outstanding |
| 81-90 | A2 | 9 | Excellent |
| 71-80 | B1 | 8 | Very Good |
| 61-70 | B2 | 7 | Good |
| 51-60 | C1 | 6 | Fair |
| 41-50 | C2 | 5 | Average |
| 33-40 | D | 4 | Below Average / Marginal Pass |
| 21-32 | E1 | – | Needs Improvement (Fail) |
| 00-20 | E2 | – | Needs Improvement (Fail) |
Understanding Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
As its name denotes, the CGPA functions as the average of in-total performance of the young learners based on the grading points and marks distribution.
It gives a more structured and easily understandable view of investigating results.
Whatever grade points a student gets besides their individual marks on performance, are added sequentially to find a total.
This sum of grade points is then divided by 5 to get the CGPA finally.
The next process includes converting this CGPA into a percentage. Here, the CGPA is multiplied simply by 9.5 and your final percentage for your respective boards exams is with you.
Internal Assessment and Its Role in Grading
No grading would be complete without internal assessments as per latest rules from CBSE result circular.
These tests cover if active participation of learners happened in extracurricular activities, practicals, weekly tests, or final viva, and how much marks they scored to get the final results.
CBSE circular of 2024-25 shows that internal tests conducted comprises 20% and theory is of 80% marks for final result calculation.
The role of these assessments go much deeper than what we realise.
It shows that the academic system of CBSE is focused on evaluating even the tiniest activity and participation of learners.
Those students who only were dependent on books and rote learning previously to get the highest possible marks in the boards will have to focus on gaining some real practical knowledge.
Finally, these assessments lead to a well-structured CGPA displayed on result cards that gives attestment of your final performance among your peers.
To support this, from the sessions of 2026-27, biannual exams are going to be conducted, where two-term structures and practical assessments will be evaluated. Here, it is crucial to note that the biannual exam policy applies to class 10 only and is not yet applicable to class 12.
Advantages of the CBSE Grading System
Our novel CBSE grading system includes creativity and active performance achievement for marking students.
It has other benefits too over the traditional marking scheme, that includes:
- It reduces unnecessary stress among learners that comes with cut throat competition due to minute marks difference.
- It provides an overall performance evaluation for a whole year and encourages students’ developing co-curricular skills and personality development.
- It focuses on practical learning rather than only on rote memorization.
- Teachers and evaluators can conveniently navigate the weaknesses and strengths of their students through detailed evaluation.
- It supports 21st century skills for students‘ development in higher schools of education.
Recent Changes in CBSE Assessment
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has shown major shifts in the outlook of assessing students by following the latest National Education Policy, 2020 guidelines.
One such change is the promotion of competency-based learning, where real skills and knowledge from MCQs, case studies, lab works, etc. will be judged by the paper.
It is a great way to reach the best potential of learners and prepare them for the future upcoming challenges.
Besides this, the class 10 boards exams will now be done twice in a year in which total syllabus will be asked each time.
One will be conducted in February and another chance will come in May to appear for board exams.
The best results declared by the 9 point grading system will be used by students in their career’s long run.
The question scheme for class 10th and 12th has also changed which reflect:
- 50% questions from practical sources and knowledge (like competency-based practical tests, case studies, or researches).
- 30% for short and long answer questions
- 20% MCQs
All the major and minor changes are done to promote real learning in students for their upskilled future and employability.
Conclusion
It is quite impressive to look at the calculated changes made in the CBSE grading system to attain the best potential evaluation of learners.
This way of formal assessment can be widely accepted globally or nationally.
The impactful shift to competency-based education tells how the new grade system has moved beyond just rote learning.
Now is the time when parents, teachers, and learners will thrive in life while participating in all extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
You may also want to read
